In September 2005, NSC nonwoven and Rieter Perfojet announced the start of their co-operation to join forces in combining their competences and technologies to offer turnkey solutions to nonwovens producers.

Both partners are in a position to supply together complete systems covering almost 90 percent of the nonwoven applications on the market.

One outcome of this co-operation is the completion of the pilot line of Rieter in Montbonnot with the Thibeau Excelle card from NSC nonwoven.

Pilot line for a wide range of applications under industrial conditions.

This line offers the same performances than industrial lines do. Opening and blending is possible for any type of fibres: either natural, synthetic or blends can be processed.

The on-line card allows to demonstrate nonwoven fabrics from 10 to 150gsm . The fabric weight can exceed 150gsm in other configurations. Maximum winder speed with this card is up to 250m/min .In combination with another process, such as spunmelt, the line speed can reach 600m/min .

Decisive elements for high flexibility
The three major elements of the new complete pilot line are the Excelle card, the JETlace 3000 hydro-entanglement system and the PERFOdry 3000 air-through dryer.

The Thibeau Excelle card is designed for a wide range of products with an output capacity over 450kg/hr/m , a consistent web quality at high production level and a high productivity with minimum downtime andease of maintenance.

The Excelle card available in Montbonnot is equipped with the VarioWeb three doffer delivery, a system for optimum industrial production of 30 to 80gsm nonwoven fabrics.

The JETlace 3000 hydro-entanglement system based on Rieter's twenty year experience produces high quality spunlaced fabrics. The self-clamping injectors, which are the core technology, generate high quality water jets to achieve high performances with the hydro-entanglement system.

The combination of these injectors with the well-known patented MPA sleeves improves the bonding of the fibres with measurable energy savings. A Rieter patterning sleeve can complete the JETlace system to produce customized spunlaced fabrics while operating at optimal speeds.

The Rieter filtration system recycles the process water up to 100 percent.

The PERFOdry 3000 compact air-through dryer provides efficient moisture removal up to 3,000kg/hr at high throughput speeds and low energy consumption.

Inauguration of the pilot line for customers’ trials
At the occasion of the completion of the line, Rieter Perfojet and NSC nonwoven celebrate its inauguration on June 29, 2006.

The pilot line in the facilities of Rieter in Montbonnot offers capacities for customers’ trials under production conditions. Rieter Perfojet and NSC nonwoven teams support the development of innovations under high confidentiality to ensure the competitive advantage of their common customers.

Rieter Group operates internationally, developing and producing sophisticated systems for the textile and automotive industries. In fiscal year 2005 Rieter generated sales of Mio. CHF 3,160 with some 14,650 employees worldwide.

The Textile Systems Division accounted for Mio. CHF 1,109 and the Automotive Systems Division for Mio. CHF 2,037 of this total sales.

World-class player, the NSC Group designs and manufactures machinery and equipment for the textile and packaging industries. In 2005, NSC generated Mio. Euro 125.3 sales with 950 employees.

NSC nonwoven designs and manufactures integrated production lines which produce textile fabrics in a continuous process. It accounts for almost 50 percent of the Group’s global turnover.