By Jutta Stehr, Head of Marketing, Trützschler Nonwovens
T-SUPREMA, which focuses on needle-punching technology, is a joint venture between Trützschler Nonwovens and Texnology, an Italian manufacturer of textile machinery. Under the T-SUPREMA brand, this cooperation provides full production lines for needle-punched nonwovens.
Trützschler Nonwovens contributes a wealth of expertise in web forming and fiber preparation to this partnership. With a focus on mechanical needling, Texnology has amassed exceptional knowledge in this area. The superior web forming of the Trützschler roller card in combination with these cutting-edge needle looms is a major factor in the T-SUPREMA’s ability to serve a wide range of nonwoven applications.
Needle-punching, a mature and yet very modern process
Fiber entangling for web bonding with steel needles is a crucial step in the creation of durable, dry-laid nonwovens, which is the main application for this technique. The treatment of long-lasting geotextiles, automotive textiles, and filter media are the main uses for this technology. End products made from needle-punched nonwovens come in a wide variety. It comprises, among many other things, carpets, coated substrates, insoles, tennis balls, and acoustic insulation.
Over the past few decades, there has been a notable and consistent increase in the market for needle-punched nonwovens. Needle-punched nonwovens are highly sought after in a variety of sectors for applications like cushioning, filtration, insulation, and reinforcing due to their performance attributes and adaptability. The primary drivers of the segment’s growth include rising automobile production, infrastructure expansion, and sustainability/healthcare spending, which are all closely correlated with total industrial growth.
T-SUPREMA – quality, flexibility, and ease of use
T-SUPREMA represents a significant advancement in the field of needle-punched nonwovens, combining the expertise of Trützschler Nonwovens and Texnology to offer a modern, efficient, and adaptable solution for various applications in the textile industry.
Flexibility
One of the strengths of T-SUPREMA is its adaptability, allowing it to work with a wide range of fibers, including man-made, natural, mineral, and high-performance fibers. It offers unique levels of flexibility – one line can produce lightweight as well as all heavyweight nonwovens, from 30 grams per square meter (gsm) up to more than 2,000 gsm.
Clean operation and ease of use
All T-SUPREMA machines feature a clean concept that minimizes downtime. Components are designed to ensure high product quality. A patented, frictionless gear system within the needle looms crosshead realizes the rapid up and down movement of the needle boards. Vibrations impacting the needling process as well as wear and tear of bearings are minimized so hardly any maintenance is needed during the needle loom’s lifetime. To reduce the cleaning effort when processing brittle fibers, a highly effective dust suction system is optionally available.
The Trützschler machines are noted for ease of maintenance and operation. Sealings, enclosures, directed air streams, and powerful aspirations prevent fiber migration to the machines’ inside. Moreover, cards and needle looms can easily move apart to simplify cleaning and maintenance.
T-ONE inside
Additionally, the T-SUPREMA line includes the T-ONE digital working environment, supporting routine tasks such as quality control and guiding toward better product quality and line performance.
T-SUPREMA in NCTC Egelsbach
Visitors to the Trützschler Nonwovens Customer and Technology Center in Egelsbach can now observe the super-flexible T-SUPREMA line in motion. The industrial-scale setup has a working width of 4 meters after the cross-lapper. It features Trützschler Nonwovens’ T-BLEND system for fiber preparation, a multi-purpose card and cross-lapper, the needling section with a Texnology pre-needle loom, a felt drafter (that can be bypassed), a finish needle loom and a winding section.
Tests and trials with this high-performance needle-punching line have already impressed companies from across the global nonwoven industry. The speed of production, user-friendly interface, wide range of applications, and the high quality of output have attracted the interest of Egelsbach visitors, leading to additional planned trials.
