Magazine September 2019

We are looking to both the past and the future

Just an image

Wet nonwovens block the sewage system

Flushable wipes have been all over the worldwide media for years. Unfortunately, these small technological miracles have become a problem for many. This is because some wipes that are described as flushable do not disintegrate or decompose after they are flushed. Instead, they are deposited in the sewage system or in the treatment plant at the latest, where they block the pump. The process for removing them is extremely time-consuming.

Because the demand for wet wipes is constantly increasing, the organizations inda and edana passed the forth edition of the guideline for assessing the flushability and disposal of nonwoven products. This is an important step in improving the image of the little everyday helpers. Because flushable wipes are already used in most households – including as toilet wipes, car cleaning wipes or cosmetic and baby wipes.

While the market 30 years ago was hardly measurable at all, the positively rated nonwovens are predicted to reach a value of 3.5 billion US$ by 2023. This amounts to an area of 3.6 million square meters of nonwovens with a weight of 57,200 tons – roughly the equivalent of 10,000 elephants.

Just an image

Nonwovens for young and old

If you have never used wet wipes yourself, you will almost certainly have come into contact with hydroentangled nonwovens as a small child – around 1/5 of the materials used in diapers are nonwovens! In Japan, the more diapers have been sold for adults than for babies for the past 3 years. But this trend is not limited to the country of the cherry blossom and can gradually also be observed in other regions of the world.

Diaper consumption is increasing, along with the requirements such as absorption, padding and maneuverability. So we can expect a further increase in demand for textile fabrics in diapers in the future. Even the current RISE Award winner innovation is a diaper.

Just an imageHyTec® P jet strip

Spring-hard steel for sensitive applications

The Groz-Beckert jet strips for hydroentanglement, also known as the spunlace technique, are available in all conventional dimensions and specifications. All of our jet strips also comply with the ISO standard “jet strips” – DIN 60006.

The HyTec® P jet strip stands for optimal productivity, quality and efficiency. Our production process guarantees sharp-edged, homogeneous jet edges and geometries; because our focus is on helping you to achieve your goals and the best possible product.

Your water – our service

In addition to the jet strip, the quality of process water plays an essential role in the manufacture of spunlace products. This is particularly true for the production of hygiene products. It is therefore essential to ensure that the water is hygienic.

Our central laboratory at the headquarters in Albstadt spans 1,300 square meters and contains the divisions materials testing, textile testing and chemistry. We will be happy to help you with a precise assessment of the process water in use in your company. In a specific laboratory analysis in the central laboratory, we will analyze your process water for 21 key water-chemical parameters. This provides a precise overview of your water quality.

  • Did you know?

    Because there is currently no hydroentanglement system in our technical center, we work closely with institutes such as STFI in Germany (Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. in Chemnitz) and NWI in the USA (The Nonwovens Institute at NC State University, North Carolina).