Success is built by connecting the right people with the right product, says textile machinery manufacturer Oerlikon. In a global marketplace, this means collaboration is just as important as competition - companies need to focus on their strengths, while finding practical ways to innovate and expand upon their capabilities, the company says.

In order to do so, working together often makes the most sense, Oerlikon adds. This is what motivated Procter & Gamble and Oerlikon Nonwoven – Teknoweb Materials to agree on an exclusive license agreement to market and sell the Phantom platform worldwide, the company says.

The patented process for hybrid nonwovens combines the best of both airlaid and spunmelt technologies to deliver new, flexible ways of creating wet and dry wipes. Phantom technology is said to offer additional benefits by reducing resources and cost, while increasing overall performance.

The exclusive license gives Oerlikon Nonwoven – Teknoweb Materials the rights to distribute the technology worldwide. In addition, Oerlikon Nonwoven – Teknoweb Materials has further refined the process into its own Levra technology – an entry-level option which offers tailored production volumes with lower investment costs but is still suitable to be upgraded to the premium Phantom model in the future.

Quality products that cost less

Essentially, Phantom technology was developed to produce hybrid substrates. The spunmelt and airlaid processes are merged into one step to combine cellulose fibres, long fibres such as cotton, or even powders with polymer fibres in unprecedented ways. The technology has clear advantages in terms of resources, performance, and cost compared to the previous processes on the market. By removing hydroentanglement, it is no longer necessary to dry the material, Oerlikon explains. Adjusting the process can optimize relevant product characteristics such as softness, strength, dirt absorption, and liquid absorption. In the end, this even increases the quality of the product itself, the company says.

The greater freedom for formulating continuous and discrete fibres allows for more flexible and absorbent structures and highly textured materials, Oerlikon adds. Wipes are said to feel softer to the touch while providing more protection for the hands. Up to 90% of the material can consist of pulp fibres, although natural alternatives like cotton or synthetic fibres can be added to the mix.

Phantom technology has not only found a practical application in a variety of wipes – such as hygiene wipes, anti-bacterial wipes, surgical wipes, or industrial wipes – but also in absorbent cores, for instance in diapers or fempro products. With so many applications, Oerlikon Nonwoven – Teknoweb Materials are fully prepared to deliver Procter & Gamble’s innovative Phantom technology to the global nonwovens market, concludes Oerlikon.

Oerlikon Website