INDEX 2023: latest developments and innovations in nonwovens - a preliminary overview of the exhibitors

The International Exhibition of the Nonwovens Industry INDEX 2023 will provide a number of solutions to the current problems faced by manufacturers, processors and end users of nonwovens. Visitors from all over the world will gather from April 18 to 21, 2023 in Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland, for an exhibition traditionally held every three years.

Due to the current energy crisis and problems in supply chains that have yet to be solved, INDEX 2023 with the participation of 550 exhibitors, will clarify industry problems covering the entire supply chain of nonwovens. The exhibitors plan to showcase their innovations in order to find new potential customers, strengthen relationships with current customers and establish partnerships with both categories of customers for years to come.

Taking into account the current problems and the desire to find more sustainable and closed-loop-oriented answers, the nonwovens industry is becoming increasingly competitive. Sustainability and cyclicity continue to increasingly determine the direction of the industry's development.

To keep abreast of the latest problems and solutions, as well as to get acquainted with the extensive portfolio of exhibitors, INDEX23 will hold several seminars and training events. These sessions will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the industry and the macro environment. Seminars and training events will include:

• A look into the future of sustainable nonwovens
• Sustainable use of geosynthetic materials in megaprojects in the field of civil and environmental construction
• Nonwovens are necessary for the transition to mobility
• Why nonwovens are indispensable in healthcare
• Energy efficiency in the current conditions for overcoming the crisis

A series of presentations of new products will be held at the event, and many innovations will be presented at the exhibitors' stands and as part of the exhibitors' product presentations. This successful format (in which a large number of visitors attended each presentation at the last exhibition) will take place again, with various innovative products from several industry sectors. During the first three days, more than 30 presentations are planned at INDEX.

Participation in the INDEX is a cost-effective way to attract potential customers, expand your current business and find new projects and contacts. Making the most of the time, exhibitors and visitors will be able to meet partners and new contacts in one place, as well as learn about the latest innovations in just a few days.

Autefa Solutions

Booth 1614

Autefa Solutions will demonstrate its latest technical developments in the field of nonwovens production technologies. The focus is not only on classical mechanical engineering with its ambitions "higher-faster-further", but also the protection of renewable and non-renewable resources of the planet.

Water - the source of life - is the basis of the "spanlace" process, which the company Autefa has been actively developing and promoting for many years. A wide range of products of the company offers advanced technologies for the formation of the web, as well as hydro-weaving and, finally, drying of manufactured nonwovens.

Shaping the canvas with Autefa Injection Card and Crosslapper CL 4006 SL with its globally proven and widely used technology has provided Autefa customers with a great advantage to maintain or expand their leading positions, especially in the highly competitive materials market "spanlace". The leading position is guaranteed by increased productivity due to higher speeds and increased line efficiency.

Autefa Solutions Injection Card allows you to form canvases with very high performance. The injection carding machine uses a combination of mechanical and aerodynamic principles for gentle processing of fibers. Thus, the mechanical stress acting on the fiber is reduced and maximum performance is ensured with minor damage to the fibers. Accordingly, the transverse stacker Crosslapper Topliner CL4006 SL with WebMax web profile control and closed-loop system ensures the best uniformity of the web at high laying speeds.

Autefa also pays special attention to saving energy and resources in the production process of "spanlace". Thanks to the unique combination of the hydro-entanglement node V-Jet Futura and square drum dryers SQ-V energy consumption during the production of "spanlace" can be reduced by up to 30%. The specially designed V-Jet injector with a reduced distance from the nozzle outlet to the web also allows customers to upgrade existing production lines and thereby contribute to energy and resource savings.

www.autefa.com

Campen Machinery

Stand 4325

Campen Machinery will demonstrate the latest innovations in aerial fiber laying equipment (airlaid), as well as the latest developments in sustainable processes and products manufactured using airlaid technology. One of the main products presented at the INDEX are biodegradable trays produced by air stacking with subsequent pressing. They are made of 100% natural and compostable fibers that can be made 100% waterproof. This revolutionary product is a sustainable alternative to traditional cardboard and plastic packaging and can contribute to the creation of a closed-loop economy in the packaging industry.

Campen Machinery will also introduce a new forming head airlaid. This patented technology makes it possible to recycle waste fibers and produce airlade material for various end uses, including napkins, hygiene products, cotton pads and packaging for food and non-food products. Airlaid lines using Beater Former from Campen, compact and efficient, consume significantly less energy than similar systems, which leads to lower operating costs, as well as the creation of high-quality material airlaid.

At the exhibitionCampen will also present its state-of-the-art test center airlaid in Denmark. This facility is open to international companies wishing to rent premises for testing and development of products and various combinations of fibers. Pilot line Campen can work with any fibrous material and offers a wide range of end uses, making it an excellent choice for companies seeking to develop new environmentally friendly products.

www.campen.dl

Comerio Ercole

Booth 1122

Comerio Ercole, a well-known Italian company founded in 1885 and manufacturer of high-performance calenders for nonwovens production plants, in cooperation with STP Impianti, an Italian company founded in 1985, which is a manufacturer of complete installations spunmelt, presents the latest technological combination aimed at the continuous production of spinning products from PET and/or biko PET.

Spunmelt-installation BicoPET companies STP Impianti is equipped with an innovative and patented 3-roll calender Duetto, preceded by an innovative high-speed thermal fixation unit Thermofix, both new technologies from Comerio Ercole are used to optimize energy saving.

New installation configuration BicoPET, which is an innovative implementation in the field of nonwovens for industrial use and, in particular, the three-roll calender Duetto will be presented at the INDEX23 exhibition in Geneva. The main purpose of factories BicoPET is the production of thermally bonded PET and bico- PET.

www.comerioercole.it

Dilo Group

Stand 2010

At the exhibition INDEX Dilo Group plans to present the latest developments in the field of needle punching technology and draw the attention of visitors to the latest environmental sustainability requirements in the production of nonwovens. Research work Dilo Group is traditionally focused on production lines for forming cloths and needle-punched materials from staple fibers. After several years of improving the technology of intensive needle punching, she managed to implement the technology of intensive needle punching "MicroPunch" on an industrial scale. The good abrasion resistance of this needle-punched material allows the production of clothing, artificial leather, battery separators and filter materials, as well as medical and hygienic nonwovens.

The production of napkins weighing from 30 to 60 g/m², made from mixtures of fine polyester and viscose fibers, has so far been the main area of spunlace technology. This product, which is a typical single-use product, is in the crossfire regarding sustainability and recyclability. Therefore, biodegradable, compostable or reusable fibrous material is a goal in the company's aspirations for greater environmental sustainability. In addition, low carbon emissions and low energy consumption are important criteria for evaluating the process of web consolidation.

The classical needle punching technology and its ability to produce lightweight nonwovens with low cost have been technologically and economically confirmed after many years of research work. This was made possible due to the high concentration and tinting of needles in the needle holder, along with a modular design that ensures their quick installation and replacement. Compared with the "spanlace" technology, the needle punching technology "MicroPunch" provides a sharp reduction in energy consumption (electricity and gas) during the production process.

www.dilo.de

Kansan

Booth 1170

Kansan, a leading manufacturer of equipment for the production of wet wipes, has been providing the most important production solutions for all aspects of the production of wet wipes for 30 years, from flat packaging and cross folding machines to packaging machines, lid application robots, box packers and pallet stackers. These modern production systems are very versatile and designed for simple processing of the most delicate nonwovens used for the production of various types of dry and wet wipes, baby wipes, wet toilet paper, wet wipes, cleaning wipes, disinfecting wipes, etc. Kansan machines for the production of wet wipes allow you to work with the flushable and biodegradable raw materials of a new generation with high efficiency and productivity. At the INDEX exhibition, the company will demonstrate a fully functioning wet wipes production line, as well as a box packer and a pallet stacker robot.

The Kansan group is working hard on the design and production of a wet laying line "wetlaid" under the name Kansan Materials to meet the growing demand for sustainable raw materials. The idea is to provide a sophisticated but simple, eco-friendly, economical, sustainable and flexible manufacturing solution for dispersible and biodegradable nonwovens to be used in hygiene and filtration, healthcare, automotive, construction, insulation, defense industry and other fields. This line has already been installed at the AOSB plant in Izmir in Turkey and is at the testing stage. The speed, productivity, quality and uniformity of the canvas far exceed the minimum requirements. The line can process cellulose and lyocell fibers into cloths weighing from 20 to 80 g/m² and at a speed of up to 220 meters per minute.

The line "wetlaid"Kansan Materials consists of a pressure box, a hydro-entanglement unit, a dewatering system, an air dryer and a winder designed and manufactured by Kansan Materials. The system has a working width of 3.6 m on a winder with a design speed of 220 m/min. Each node of the wet laying line Kansan Materials can also be easily integrated into other nonwovens manufacturing processes, such as "spanlace", CP, SPC and SP.

www.kansanmak.com

Poligof SpA

Booth 2150

Poligof SpA, a European company founded in 1980, specializes in films and laminates used for the production of absorbent hygiene products. Poligof currently operates five plants in Italy, Russia, India and Mexico. With a total extrusion capacity of 3 billion square meters per year, it offers: multilayer polyolefin films, breathable films, breathable textile substrate, printing up to eight colors, disposable hygiene products for children and women's hygiene. Quality, process control, priority of human health, environmental attitude and social responsibility are confirmed by the company's certificates, including:

• ISO 9001, ISO 14001
•  Asthma Allergy Denmark and Nordic
•  OekoTex Standard 100
•  Eco-labeling     
•  Nordic Swan
•  Ecolabeling of the EU
•  MSKP Plus

The company's eco-friendly approach is also expressed in the following:

• use of water-based ink only
• installation of solar panels in 2023 at the main plant (Mira-Venice)
• use of LED lights at all production sites

The company Poligof has invested in two modern extrusion and printing lines designed for the production of breathable film with very low weight (lt;12 g/m²) with eight-color synchronous printing. These lines, launched at the end of 2022, allow Poligof customers to receive a very economical backsheet, while contributing to a significant reduction in the use of plastic in their products.

www.poligof.com

Sandler

Stand 1530

This year at the exhibition INDEX Sandler will demonstrate high-quality nonwovens, which are a precursor of environmentally friendly products optimized from the selection of raw materials to its processing and production of final products. Sandler also uses its experience in various production technologies: recent developments in the field of napkins show trends towards climate neutrality through the use of more energy-efficient production processes. In accordance with established quality standards, these materials combine softness and optimized cleaning properties. Thanks to a special production process, a wider selection of alternative raw materials, including raw materials from renewable sources, can be used. In addition, the use of special Sandler process technology reduces CO₂ emissions by 70% compared to established processes for the production of rolled napkin materials.

Together with customers and partners throughout the supply chain, Sandler continues to expand its initiatives in the field of environmentally friendly products. Sandler is also testing ways to recycle and reuse scraps or defective materials generated during the production of its technical nonwovens. Thus, by saving resources in a closed cycle, Sandler implements the concept of a closed cycle economy and reduces the carbon footprint of its products.

Sandler also offers a sustainable solution for the automotive industry: Fast Forward Fabric is a symbiosis of maximum performance and resource savings. This non-woven fabric is the base material for various self-supporting molded parts for indoor and outdoor use in automobiles. The material is made of 100% polyester and has up to 80% recycled fibers in its composition, and is completely recyclable at the end of its service life. Fast Forward Fabric supports the implementation of specific design concepts in all types of vehicles. As a result of its processing, highly stable molded parts with complex geometry are obtained. At the same time, the material is significantly lighter in weight compared to standard materials, high temperature stability and resistance to all common engine compartment fluids. Its open-pore structure combines sound absorption and thermoregulation. Specific configurations and combinations of materials allow you to optimize the acoustics of the car both inside and outside - in relation to the environment.

www.sandler.de

Suzano

Booth 2441

Suzano, the world's largest producer of hardwood pulp, will demonstrate at the INDEX exhibition this year its innovative fluffed cellulose based on eucalyptus Eucafluff, produced in accordance with all the norms of the concept of environmental sustainability of the product.

www.suzano.com.br

Tentoma

Booth 1153

At the INDEX 2023 exhibition, Tentoma Packaging Solutions, specializing in the packaging of nonwoven rolls, will demonstrate its innovative RoRo StretchPack solution for waterproof sealed packaging of nonwoven rolls in just one operation. Last year, Tentoma introduced its XL Power machines, suitable for hermetically packing rolls of non-woven material up to 19 m wide.

RoRo StretchPack technology is suitable for packaging non-woven rolls. The rolls are packed horizontally in a tubular stretch film, so the final package has only a strong short weld at each end. This means that there is no long weld along the side of the roll, which can subsequently be damaged. Such packaging provides 100% water resistance, which protects against the penetration of dirt and moisture during storage and transportation. This is an advantageous solution for rolls in the production of hygienic nonwovens.

In addition, the geotextile industry also benefits from RoRo StretchPack, as it is a way of automating all packaging processes that is indispensable when packing large and heavy rolls of non-woven material. RoRo StretchPack not only improves the quality of roll packaging, but also provides customers with the benefits of a fully automated packaging line with high reproducibility. The system can be integrated into a high-performance production line or used as a stand-alone solution.

Using tubular stretch film, customers get tight packaging and avoid excessive use of the film. In cases with clients, Tentoma observes a 60% reduction in the amount of film compared to conventional packaging solutions. This is due to the use of a dense single-layer packaging sleeve. The reduction in the amount of film is also due to the fact that RoRo StretchPack stretches the film for its full use, unlike shrink packaging, when customers use an excessive amount of film, which subsequently needs to be heated to reduce. Thus, RoRo StretchPack makes it possible to remove any shrink system from the packaging line, and thereby significantly reduce energy consumption.

www.tentoma.com

Trima

Booth 4421

Trim is a world-class developer and manufacturer of winding machines and a partner in improving productivity. Founded in 1991 and with about 60 employees, Trima has been part of the Dietze und Schell group since 2007. Trima develops, manufactures, maintains and maintains a wide range of fully automatic equipment for winding and rewinding of rolled materials including (Roll to Roll), in particular mats based on glass, fabrics, nonwovens, woven technical fabrics, multilayer materials and laminates. The company has extensive experience and knowledge in the field of rewinding and processing from the most sensitive fabrics, including nanomaterials, to very rigid and high-density fabrics at both high and low speeds.

www.trima.com

Vaporjet

Booth 1238

Vaporjet Group is home to two leading companies in the nonwovens industry with many years of experience. Vaporjet Ltd., based in Israel, is the world's leading manufacturer of nonwovens «spanlace» with four modern high-speed parallel carding and hydro-weaving lines. Novita S.A., based in Poland, produces white and non-colored nonwovens using "spanlace" technology; with cross-stacking (additional cross lapper ad drafter) and needle-punched nonwovens. In January 2019, the company added a line for the production of non-woven materials «spanlace» parallel laying.

Vaporjet Group offers various non-woven solutions for children, household, personal hygiene, feminine hygiene, industrial applications, medical cleaning, automotive industry, filtration, food industry and much more.

www.vaporjet.co.il

And, of course, such an important event as INDEX 2023 will not do without the participation of the top giants of the nonwovens industry, which do not need a separate presentation, because they are always on hearing: Reifenhauser Group, Andritz Group, Trützschler Group, A.Celli Group.

See you at INDEX 2023!!!