Beaulieu Engineered Products to announce customer R&D and capacity support for diverse world of textiles at ITMA 2019
- New pilot line for joint R&D projects with customers
- More high-tenacity fibres for growing Geotextiles segment
- New PET-core-BICO Fibres deliver on softness and ultrasonic bonding trends for resilient, high loft hygiene nonwovens
Wielsbeke, Belgium – June 19, 2019 – Global raw materials’ provider Beaulieu Engineered Products invites ITMA 2019 visitors to tap into the inspiring performance of its fibres, yarns and technical textiles in order to enhance innovation and sustainability for high end textiles (Hall 3 Stand C130A).
2019 is seeing the introduction of exciting advances for many of the application segments served by the various businesses of this Beaulieu International Group division. And more is to come, including increased support on the co-development front.
Spearheading Beaulieu Engineered Product’s news at ITMA 2019, is the announcement of new, fully operational pilot line supporting R&D projects for industrial and hygiene applications. It will also support the development of innovative fibres for new markets and applications. Beaulieu Fibres International’s (BFI) pilot line answers increasing customer demand for co-developments. It is extremely flexible and can replicate any type of staple fibre spinning technology, using different type of polymers and additives, and different type of cross sections.
More capacity on horizon to boost cost-efficient, strong Geotextiles: new high tenacity staple fibres capacity will be available from the end of 2019 at BFI’s Italian plant. BFI’s high tenacity fibres HT8 offer unique high tensile strength without compromising on elongation. The fibres provide opportunities to reduce geotextile system cost by maximizing machine efficiency and ensure desired performance at reduced weight – up to 15% compared with standard geotextile fibres.
New PET-core BICO staple fibres bring loft to Hygiene products: the fibres are available in a dtex range from 1,3-6,7dtex/40mm in both polymer-configurations PP/PET (Polypropylene / Polyethylene terephthalate) and PE/PET (Polyethylene /Polyethylene terephthalate). The specific use of PET in the core improves the resilience/loft of the nonwoven. The use of PE in the sheath provides softness as required in top sheets, for example, while the configuration with PP in the sheath answers the requirements for ultrasonic bonding. Fibres come in an antimony (Sb)-free version, as required by the latest hygiene safety regulations.
Realising 100% recyclable sustainable needlepunched fabrics: BFI’s new and unique polyolefin staple fibre UltraBond eliminates the need for latex or other chemical binders to consolidate nonwovens, contributing to a fully recyclable system. The award-winning innovation opens up a new path to create 100% PP needlepunched fabrics which meet the same performance requirements while reducing the end-of-life environmental impact. CO₂ emissions are reduced by 35% over the full production process during fabrics’ production.
Renewable natural resources for carpets – biomass-balance EqoBalance® PA6 yarns: following their pioneering introduction in mid-2018, Beaulieu Yarns is seeing interest increase in 2019 in its drop-in alternative for carpet manufacturers. EqoBalance® yarns support the global goal of strong, immediate CO₂ emission reduction, allowing a reduction of up to 75% of CO₂ eq/kg compared to Beaulieu Yarns’ fossil-based products.
These Green Product Award winning yarns deliver the same quality and performance as the fossil-based equivalents, and enable carpet manufacturers to contribute to a sustainable future through less use of fossil resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Beaulieu Yarns’ EqoBalance® is the very first yarn certified by TÜV Süd as meeting the new REDcert[1] standard on the “use of sustainable biomass for material purposes in the chemical industry”.
Karena Cancilleri, Engineered Products, Beaulieu International Group, comments: “Textiles have expanded well beyond apparel. At ITMA 2019, we look forward to sharing pioneering solutions and practical co-development support to enable diverse industries to take a more innovative and sustainable direction in their future applications.”
Be inspired by the possibilities. Meet the fibres, yarns and technical textile teams from Beaulieu Engineered Products at ITMA 2019 in Hall 3 Stand C130A (20-26 June 2019, Fira de Barcelona, Spain).
– End of press release –
Beaulieu International Group
Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) is a global specialist in raw chemical materials (polymers), semi-finished engineered products (yarns, fibres, technical textiles and technical sheets) and is a leader in a broad range of floor coverings for the residential and commercial markets (vinyl rolls, vinyl planks, laminate, parquet, carpet, needle felt, artificial grass and mats) as well as upholstery fabrics.
Headquartered in Belgium, B.I.G. employs more than 5,000 people across 29 plants, 18 sales and distribution offices, with a major presence in 17 countries all over Eurasia, the Americas and Oceania. The company achieved a 2018 turnover of €2 billion and is serving customers in 140 countries. True to its roots as a family business, B.I.G. puts sustainability, innovation and care for its employees central.
Beaulieu Fibres International
As largest European producer of polyolefin fibres, our company is part of the Engineered Products Business Unit of Beaulieu International Group, with headquarters in Belgium.
With three production sites in Europe – two in Belgium and one in Italy, we supply Mono/BICO fibres with round and trilobal cross section with linear densities of 1.0 to 500 dtex to customers in industries such as Automotive, Hygiene, Geotextiles, Flooring, Filtration and Upholstery. Our broad portfolio includes colored fibres, high elongation fibres, high tenacity fibres, ultrasoft fibres with different cross-sections, including trilobal, suitable for a wide range of processing technologies.
Beaulieu Yarns
Beaulieu Yarns is an independent entity within the Belgian family-owned business Beaulieu International Group and part of its Engineered Products Business Unit. It is a leading manufacturer of polyamide (PA) and polypropylene (PP) yarns for contract, automotive, residential and technical applications. Its products are supplied in the form of bulk continuous filament (BCF) and ennobled yarn (twist, heatset and frisé). Beaulieu Yarns distinguishes itself with an entrepreneurial yet simultaneously warm-hearted partnership approach, inspired by an open, SME culture, to create a wide range of high-quality yarns and related services that are often developed in close collaboration with customers and always with due respect to man and nature.
Beaulieu Yarns has two production sites in Europe – one in Belgium, one in France – and one production site in China.
Beaulieu Technical Textiles
Beaulieu Technical Textiles, member of the Beaulieu International Group, is an established leader and driving force in the global market of technical textiles. They combine a pioneering spirit with hands-on expertise. Its dedicated line-up of benchmark products is engineered to provide a tailored and high-tech response to present and future trends and demands. The result: a range of solutions that demonstrate exceptional quality and durability. Beaulieu Technical Textiles represents the cutting edge in the customer-oriented and market-specific production of polymer textiles. Its name has become a mark of excellence in the fields of carpet backings, agrotextiles, geotextiles, packaging and building textiles.
[1] REDcert extended the initial scope of its standard to allow for considerations of impact. Sustainable technologies can only benefit the environment if they can be widely adopted or impact sectors with a large economic footprint (such as the tufting industry). EqoBalance® has been validated and certified with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), meaning it complies with the ISO 14025 standard.
Caption: Beaulieu Engineered Products to announce customer R&D and capacity support for diverse world of textiles at ITMA 2019.
(Photo: © Beaulieu International Group)
