For Oerlikon Nonwoven, the IDEA Show, taking place between March 25 and 28 in Miami Beach, Florida, US, kicked off with the signing of a contract. The customer, a renowned European meltblown specialist, invested in a two-beam, stand-alone meltblown system from the Neumünster-based plant manufacturer in order to meet its strongly increasing demand.

In the future, the system will be deployed to manufacture meltblown nonwovens for various applications, especially from the filtration and wipes sector. The commercial production launch is scheduled for the first half of 2020, said the company in a press release.

Meltblown technology as stand-alone or as upgrade solutions for even better product quality. The market for meltblown nonwovens is expanding by an average of 6 per cent per annum. The Oerlikon nonwoven meltblown technology enables the cost-efficient manufacture of high-end meltblown and spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) products. Stand-alone monocomponent and bicomponent meltblown plants produce nonwovens for a whole range of filtration, insulation and sorption applications. As ‘plug & produce’ installations in already existing and new third-party composite systems, the meltblown technology is deployed for a whole range of medical and hygiene products. This solution permits the cost-efficient upgrading of new or existing spunbond systems and offers nonwoven manufacturers access to markets with especially high-quality requirements. In addition to standard polymers, such as polyester and polypropylene, for example, promising polymers such as fluoropolymers can also be optimally processed.

Oerlikon develops modern materials, systems and surface technologies and provides specialised services aimed at securing high-performance products and systems with long lifespans for customers. Supported by its technological core competencies and its strong financial footing, the corporation continues its medium-term growth plan by implementing three strategic factors: focusing on attractive growth markets, ensuring structural growth and expanding through targeted M&A activities. Oerlikon is a globally-leading technology and engineering corporation, operating its business in two segments (surface solutions and manmade fibres) and employing around 10,500 members of staff at 175 sites in 37 countries worldwide. In 2018, Oerlikon generated sales of CHF 2.6 ($2.62 billion) and invested around CHF 120 ($120.73) million in research & development.

With its Oerlikon Barmag, Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon nonwoven brands, Oerlikon manmade fibres segment is the world market leader for manmade fibre filament spinning systems, texturing machines, BCF systems, staple fibre systems, solutions for the production of nonwovens and as a service provider—offers engineering solutions for the entire textile value added chain. As a future oriented company, the research and development at the division of the Oerlikon Group is driven by energy-efficiency and sustainable technologies (e-save). (PC)