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From idea to transfer

Center of Excellence in Nonwovens

Processes, Technologies, Products

The Center of Excellence in Nonwovens combines almost all nonwoven formation and solidification processes in the technology areas of nonwovens and extrusion fabrics. Comprehensive know-how and tailored pooling of excellence with other departments are important guarantees for successful processing of research and development work.

Any questions?

Your contact

Patrick Engel, M. Sc.
Manager Center of Excellence in Nonwovens

Phone: +49 371 5274-209

 

 

Fibre nonwovens (dry laid principle)

       – Carding principle
       – Randomised web formation Airlay principle (long fibres)
       – Randomised web formation Airlaid principle (short fibres)

  • Needlepunched nonwovens
  • Stitch-bonded nonwoven type Maliwatt
  • Stitch-bonded nonwoven type Malivlies, Kunit, Multiknit
  • Randomised nonwovens Airlay, thermally bonded
  • Randomised nonwovens Airlaid, thermally bonded
  • Needle punched spacer nonwovens
  • Nonwoven composites
  • Processing of carbon and other high-performance fibres (aramid, glass, metal, basalt, ...)
  • Processing of renewable raw materials (hemp, flax, nettle, sisal, coconut, jute, kenaf, kapok, ...)

 

 

Your contact

Patrick Engel, M. Sc.
+49 371 5274-209
Email


Dipl.-Ing./Dipl.-Wi.-Ing.
Ina Sigmund

+49 371 5274-203
Email
 

Dr.-Ing. Barbara Schimanz
+49 371 5274-202
Email


Liana Lein, M.Sc.
+49 371 5274-255
Email


Spunbond Nonwovens

  • Development of innovative nonwoven products
  • Testing of new polymer materials for spunbond processing
  • Development of biologically degradable spunbond nonwovens
  • Process optimization for the production of micro and hollow filaments

Your contact

Dipl.-Ing. Tim Hühnerfürst
+49 371 5274-1217
Email


Dipl.-WA Ralf Taubner
+49 371 5274-262
Email
 


Meltblown Nonwovens

  • Development of innovative meltblown nonwovens
  • Production of composite nonwovens type SMS, CMC and further process combinations
  • Testing of new polymer materials
  • Process development to use additives with adjusted rheology

Your contact

Dipl.-WA Ralf Taubner
+49 371 5274-262
Email


Dipl.-Ing. Chem. (FH)
Johanna Spranger

+49 371 5274-218
Email
 


Hydroentangled nonwovens

  • Process optimisation to reduce specific energy consumption
  • Improvement of the service life of nozzle bars
  • Testing of screen belts, pattern, structure and perforation stencils
  • Production of functional composite structures
  • Process water management

Your contact

Dipl.-WA Ralf Taubner
+49 371 5274-262
Email


Dipl.-Ing. Chem. (FH)
Johanna Spranger

+49 371 5274-218
Email
 


Fibre preparation & yarn production

  • Preparation of natural fibres, functionalised special fibres and recycled fibres
  • Sliver and yarn development (short staple spinning)
  • Quality assessment of fibres, intermediate and end products

Your contact

Dipl.-Ing./Dipl.-WI Ina Sigmund
+49 371 5274-203
Email
 

  

Textile recycling

  • Cutting, cut-grinding and tearing of textile waste, also from special fibres, e.g. carbon, aramid, glass
  • Material cycles and recycling-friendly construction
  • Nonwovens and mats made from torn fibres and textile shreds
  • Secondary recycling
  • Recycling of smart textiles

Your contact

Johannes Leis, M. Sc.
+ 49 371 5274-254
Email
 

 

 

 


 

 

Fields of application

 

 

Research News

BioHyg – Sustainable and bio-based hygiene nonwovens

The main objective of the research project was the development of a functional, marketable hygiene textile based on nonwovens consisting of several layers with different property profiles. The nonwoven was supposed to be made of bio-based and ecologically safe materials ensuring wearing comfort as well as haptics and barrier safety.

The project started in October 2020 and was awarded with the Innovation Award at Techtextil 2022.

(Picture: Hygienic pad with layer structure TopSheet, ADL, absorbent core, BackSheet – from top to bottom)

 

Contact

Patrick Engel, M. Sc.
+49 371 5274-209
Email

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Art and Technology

Project: Experiment Structure

"Nonwovens developed according to the pile fibre nonwoven knitting technology Kunit are used in industry to realise technical filters, acoustic structures as well as elements with a cushioning effect. The fact that nonwovens can also be very visually appealing and extraordinary when implemented in such a structure with an understanding of design was impressively demonstrated by the students in the project. The orientation of the fibres from the nonwoven surface into the third dimension without the need for an additional textile construction element makes this technology particularly exciting and versatile."

Patrick Engel, Manager Center of Excellence in Nonwovens at STFI

In the fashion project, the 1st semester students in the Design / Fashion Design course at the Schneeberg Faculty of Applied Arts at the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau experimented.

The project is a practical implementation with three-dimensional structures on the body. The basis are modified geometric shapes creating extraordinarily complex structures. The body becomes the carrier of the structure, shapes it and sets it in motion – an attempt to transfer three-dimensionally structured surfaces into sculptural clothing.

(Picture: Design by Lilian Fuchs – Project Experiment Structure 1st semester, 2021)

Further projects

Application of an electron beam process for desizing textile webs, fibres and 3D structures

Schematic representation of the electron array (Source: Evonta)
Schematic representation of the electron array (Source: Evonta)

When processing textile structures made of glass, carbon or carbon recycled fibres into fibre composites, sizings, coatings or impurities on the fibres can lead to disturbances of the fibre-matrix adhesion. In order to still achieve a composite strength, interfering layers (e.g. sizing) must be removed from the fibres.

The aim of the research project was to free textile reinforcement structures from the overlays using an adapted electron beam process. For this purpose, a method proven in medical technology was used, which works by means of accelerated electrons according to the principle of Braun's tube. Material-specific tests and microscopic observations of the fibre composite samples proved the suitability and effectiveness of the new desizing process.

Project duration: 09/2019–02/2022

 

Contact

Dr.-Ing. Barbara Schimanz
+49 371 5274-202
Email

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Completed Projects

Title

Duration

Editor

Design und Prozessverhalten von
Vliesstoff-Gewebe-Verbunden für
die Fest-Flüssig-Filtration

11/2019–10/2022

B. Schimanz

Sustainable Sleeping – vliesstoffbasiertes
Isolationsmaterial

04/2020–09/2022

P. Engel

ReFiPro

12/2019–05/2022

R. Taubner

Lintingarme Spinnvliesstoffe

01/2019–10/2021

U. Heye

FibreScan

01/2019–07/2021

I. Sigmund

Hanf-Lyocell

04/2019–06/2021

I. Sigmund

Cooperations & Networks


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