GUJARAT - India's Tufropes is to install a new line from longstanding partners Truetzschler Nonwovens and Voith which, the company says, will be used to produce a range of five different environmentally friendly, hydroentangled nonwovens fabrics.
The new installation relies heavily on Truetzschler/Voith core components for wet-laying, carding and hydroentangling with the carded/pulp (CP) technology combining a cost-effective, wet-laid pulp layer and a carded web layer from cellulosic fibres.
Proprietary refinements will then allow Tufropes to produce a wide range of materials including natural fibre, biodegradable and high performance fabrics which will be targeted at India's growing disposables market.
Founded in 1992, Tufropes is regarded as a regional market leader in the manufacture of high quality rope and netting solutions which are used in a wide array of industries such as aquaculture, marine, safety, sports, shipping and defense. The Truetzschler/Voith will see the company expand into the nonwovens industry. “The team of Truetzschler and Voith stands out due to extensive experience with the wet-laid/hydroentangled d nonwoven technology," said Tufropes director, Madhav Goel, (Promoter/Director). "Several wet-laying/spunlacing plants and their CP line at a European customer are running at full capacity. Besides profound knowledge, expertise and running solutions, the local set-up of both companies in India convinced us. We wanted to invest in a unique and progressive technology and we are pleased to have found the best partners in Truetzschler and Voith to realise our first step into a new business field.”
Tufropes says that its new production line will deliver fully functional, affordable and 100% bio-degradable nonwovens. “A special advantage of our CP nonwovens technology is the very consistent distribution of stock suspension for highly flat profiles,” explained Oliver Crasser, sales manager, Inclined Wire Solutions at Voith Paper.
“The NCT high-speed card delivers a carded web into the manufacturing process. It offers additional flexibility in web forming and end products,” added Christian Maennich, area sales manager at Truetzschler Nonwovens.
A.T.E's product head for Nonwovens, Rupali Chitnis, also worked closely with Truetzschler Nonwovens. “Truetzschler and Voith implement a customer-oriented, tailor-made solution that guarantees an efficient and sustainable nonwoven manufacturing process. This project will equip Tufropes to manufacture superior quality, eco-friendly nonwoven products for the mass market. A perfect solution for India.”
Based in Gujarat, India, the line is expected to be commissioned next year.