Returning after an 18-month break, the INDEX exhibition in Geneva enjoyed a large number of visitors, a good overall atmosphere, and clearly discernible investment interest. Over 500 exhibitors from 44 countries showcased their products at the world’s largest nonwovens exhibition. GKD Group (GKD) also saw a very well attended stand on all four days of the event. Visitors from the sector displayed particular interest in the new process belt meshes and enhanced, proven products for both nonwoven forming and thermal bonding.
Special topography and short delivery times The new GKD CONDUCTIVE 2215 process belt material – a cross twill weave produced from special polyester filaments for airlay and meltblown nonwoven forming – received extremely positive feedback. Here, carbon-coated filaments ensure secure discharge of unavoidable electrostatic charges which occur during forming processes. The innovative interaction of material choice, filament diameter, weave technology, and air permeability also creates a special texture to the new forming fabric from GKD. It guarantees precise and homogeneous nonwoven deposit, while at the same time delivering good extraction and a minimized risk of fiber entanglement or loss. These characteristics in particular qualify this new fabric type for processing short-fiber, bleached cotton using airlay forming. For the end user, good delivery time secured through end-to-end production at GKD in Germany is another benefit associated with this product. This eliminates the usual uncertainties and long delivery times associated with sourcing from other providers with supply chains in the Far East or overseas and subsequent assembly in Europe. In today’s climate of supply chain woes, customers at the stand displayed a keen interest for additional information and concrete quotations.
Glass hybrid lightweights with anti-stick coating
The glass hybrid fabric belts with anti-stick coating for sophisticated thermal bonding processes were a second attraction to visitors at the GKD trade fair stand. Numerous existing and prospective customers took the opportunity to learn about the reinforced fabric design of this belt type, which was being presented at INDEX for the first time. Glass hybrid fabric belts from GKD have been successfully established for years in thermal bonding of highly voluminous or heavily compressed products in double-belt ovens. Thanks to their single-ply mesh design, employing stainless steel wires in the weft direction and warp wires produced from fiberglass strands, they are energy-efficient lightweights and thereby particularly economical in use. This cost-effectiveness is achieved by a significantly higher production speed, a service life that extends over several years, and minimized cleaning intervals. The complete PFA coating of wires, strands, and intersections especially qualifies this belt type for highly adhesive products or those with great shrinking forces. With the further reinforced fabric design – available in both magnetic and non-magnetic form – the already excellent properties of cross stability, tracking stability and service life have been further improved.
Field-proven products for drying and filtration
The seamless spiral belts produced by GKD also proved to be popular problem solvers at the INDEX exhibition. In sophisticated nonwoven production operations, the PPC belts designed to meet specific customer or application-based requirements in terms of air permeability, tracking stability and dimensional stability guarantee drying processes that are gentle on products, despite operating at up to 180°C. The products showcased by GKD at the exhibition were rounded off by metal filter media for central filters and spinning beams, as well as blower screens for polymer filtration. Many users and machine builders took the opportunity to get a close up look at the high-performance product range of the world’s leading technical weavers and directly discuss concrete challenges in nonwoven production with the experts from GKD.
