NEO Industrial Invests in Antimicrobial Fibre Manufacturing
March 27, 2012 - Finland
Avilon Ltd, part of Neo Industrials Viscose Fibre Segment, invests in production line of antimicrobial special fibres in Valkeakoski factory. With this investment one of the factorys post-processing machines will be modified for antimicrobial fibre manufacturing. The value of this investment is EUR 200,000. Post-processing investment will support Avilons strategy to specialize in special fibres.
The company is planning to start the commercial production of antimicrobial fibres gradually during next summer and autumn. The production is based on bought fiber until Avilon restarts its own production of viscose fiber production. With this post-processing investment the company will achieve the growing market of antimicrobial special fibres. The estimated annual production will be about 3,500 tons, which is almost 5 % of global production. After the viscose factory will be restarted, the production can be increased in accordance with the market situation.
Antimicrobial fibers are used e.g. in hospital and sport textiles, working clothes and in various hygienic products. The market is growing, especially in the United States.
The manufacturing process of antimicrobial fibres is based on the ionomer-technology developed by Avilons Finnish partner. This technology utilizes the well-known antimicrobial effect of silver in a new- patented technic. Avilon invests in post-processing equipment, which can modify the raw fiber into antimicrobial products. The same technic can later be used on Avilons other production lines in a greater scale.The antimicrobial fibre produced by this cost-efficient technology is ideal for making high-quality and durable antimicrobial textiles.
In spite of the corporate restructuring process, Avilon has continued actively research and development projects. Besides antimicrobial fibres the Viscose segment has developed PPV-technology, enabling the usage of paper pulp in the viscose manufacturing process. Global marketing of this technology has just started. The environmental friendly carbamate-technology was announced in January 2011. This method, enabling the viscose production without carbon disulphide, is planned to be commercialized in 2013.
The company is planning to start the commercial production of antimicrobial fibres gradually during next summer and autumn. The production is based on bought fiber until Avilon restarts its own production of viscose fiber production. With this post-processing investment the company will achieve the growing market of antimicrobial special fibres. The estimated annual production will be about 3,500 tons, which is almost 5 % of global production. After the viscose factory will be restarted, the production can be increased in accordance with the market situation.
Antimicrobial fibers are used e.g. in hospital and sport textiles, working clothes and in various hygienic products. The market is growing, especially in the United States.
The manufacturing process of antimicrobial fibres is based on the ionomer-technology developed by Avilons Finnish partner. This technology utilizes the well-known antimicrobial effect of silver in a new- patented technic. Avilon invests in post-processing equipment, which can modify the raw fiber into antimicrobial products. The same technic can later be used on Avilons other production lines in a greater scale.The antimicrobial fibre produced by this cost-efficient technology is ideal for making high-quality and durable antimicrobial textiles.
In spite of the corporate restructuring process, Avilon has continued actively research and development projects. Besides antimicrobial fibres the Viscose segment has developed PPV-technology, enabling the usage of paper pulp in the viscose manufacturing process. Global marketing of this technology has just started. The environmental friendly carbamate-technology was announced in January 2011. This method, enabling the viscose production without carbon disulphide, is planned to be commercialized in 2013.