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Thanks to their highly versatile properties, nonwovens rank among the world’s most wanted materials.
By 2017, an annual growth in demand of 5.4 percent to a production volume of about nine million tons is anticipated. Because the trend is for high-performance nonwovens to become thinner and lighter, the square meterage of processed nonwoven fabrics can be expected to increase by a much greater factor. As this demand grows, so do the challenges facing manufacturing and processing companies. Rising energy and processing costs call for innovative and customised solutions to ensure a sustainable increase in efficiency. At the world’s leading nonwovens expo, INDEX, which runs from 8 to 11 April 2014 in Geneva, GKD – GEBR. KUFFERATH AG (GKD) will be presenting tomorrow’s woven process belt solutions for the manufacture of nonwovens. At the GKD stand, the focus will be on innovative belt coatings that substantially prolong cleaning cycles and on ultra-flexible, selftracking woven metal V-crimp type belts for high-speed applications in the hygiene sector. Light, flexible and highly durable, nonwovens are becoming increasingly popular as a costsaving alternative to conventional materials. Depending on the specific requirements of the application, raw materials and manufacturing processes are adapted to the product. This is where the custom-configured, high-performance process belts made by GKD – WEAVE IN MOTION offer a wealth of potential for optimisation in demanding production processes. But the woven technical mesh specialists from Dueren, Germany, provide more than just market- relevant innovations. Their customers also benefit consistently from GKD’s decades of expertise in providing qualified and competent consultancy and service – also regarding thirdparty products. Individual calculations, engineering and customised belt designs through to efficient commissioning all make this expert for process belts one of the world’s most sought-after partners for reliable solutions.
High-performance coatings
GKD responds to demands for smooth-running processes and prolonged cleaning cycles with innovative belt coatings. Adhesion and fouling, even with extremely sticky products, can be reduced or even completely prevented by using custom-coated woven metal process belts. This prolongs the cleaning cycle by up to 150 percent. The benefit: a substantial increase in consistency of quality and in the productivity of manufacturing processes running at temperatures up to 240°C. Self-tracking V-crimp type belts GKD is also setting new standards for the growing market for hygiene products with its selftracking woven metal belts for high-speed applications running at up to 800 metres per minute. V-crimp type belts with ultra-stable special plastic cables woven in parallel to the running direction are particularly suitable for coping with the extreme forces involved in embossing processes. These belts can be relied on to handle high speeds and tight bending radii. The V-crimps on the underside of the mesh are what give this type of belt its name. They ensure optimal and reliable self-tracking, so additional belt tracking is no longer needed.
Optimised nonwovens forming
With regard to aerodynamic nonwovens forming, GKD has a new weaving technology that allows it to create process belts with graded air permeability across the complete width of the belt. This makes it possible to positively influence the aerodynamics in the air-laid fibre deposition process. For optimisation of belt routing, GKD now also offers forming belts like the Conductive 7700 with tracking profiles along their edges. These ensure that the belt’s run is stable and consistent throughout the plant, and thus also help to increase process reliability. In addition to its process belt solutions, the Dueren-based technical mesh specialist will also be showcasing filter discs specially made by its business unit SOLID WEAVE for polymer melt filtration in plastics extrusion lines of highspeed spunbond applications.
