GRAZ - International technology group Andritz has delivered, installed, and commissioned a mechanical textile recycling line and an airlay line at Novafiber’s nonwovens production mill in PalÃn, Guatemala. Both lines have been successfully operating since December 2022.
The recycling line – the second tearing line Andritz supplied to Novafiber – processes post-industrial textile waste from Central America. The recycled fibres feed the latest Andritz Flexiloft airlay line, which produces nonwoven end-products for the bedding and furniture industries – a clear example of a circular textile-to-nonwoven approach.
The production process ensures complete material use as a state-of-the-art edge trim recycling system returns any waste directly to the tearing and/or airlay line.
This combination of Andritz tearing and airlay lines allows Novafiber to process large amounts of post-industrial garments, controlling the supply chain from raw material to final product. In addition, it enables energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint due to the reduction of shipments.
As a result of the cooperation between Novafiber and Andritz Laroche, commissioning was completed within a very short time. Jean Philippe Bernard, CEO at Novafiber explained: “It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with Andritz again on a waste-to-value project. Seven years ago, we launched our first textile recycling and nonwovens production project together with Andritz Laroche. Our new project has also been a perfect opportunity to take advantage of Andritz’s technological innovations to achieve an even better fiber opening quality along with higher capacity.”
Based in PalÃn, Novafiber is a major company in Guatemala for producing nonwovens from post-industrial textile waste for both the local market and export.
