The two companies have come to an agreement in principle on establishing a new, jointly-owned company. This is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. With this development, Oerlikon strengthens the Oerlikon Neumag nonwovens systems business within the Manmade Fibers segment and expands into the attractive disposable nonwovens market, the company explains.

At this year’s Index, taking place in Geneva this week, Oerlikon Neumag and Teknoweb Materials will be presenting a broad range of technologies for the efficient manufacture of nonwovens. The experts of both companies will be providing information on process solutions for industrial applications, such as filtration, roofing, geotextiles, automotive, medical and hygiene applications and also disposable nonwovens.

Strategic partnership

Teknoweb Materials is an established technology provider focusing on nonwovens used in disposable products. The company has its own patented and particularly energy-efficient manufacturing process (Arvell), with which wipes can be produced using an efficient spunbond-airlaid nonwovens process instead of the complex carded-spunlace process.

The Arvell technology dispenses with hydroentanglement and subsequent drying, which is said to result in considerable energy and hence cost savings for customers. Together with Oerlikon Neumag’s know-how and equipment for manufacturing technical nonwovens, both partner companies aim in future to occupy a significant position within the nonwovens production solutions market.

“Our objective was to join forces with a strategic investor with outstanding know-how, excellent technologies and machine and systems solutions. Oerlikon offers all these from a single source. Furthermore, we will in future also profit from professional engineering and the global service network of the entire Oerlikon Manmade Fibers segment,” said Fabio Zampollo, CEO Teknoweb Materials.

Attractive new market

“We are pleased to be announcing this strategic partnership with Teknoweb. With this, Oerlikon Neumag gains access to innovative technologies, hence expanding its product portfolio as a total solutions provider for nonwovens production systems,” commented Georg Stausberg, CEO of the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers segment.

“This allows us to expand into an attractive new market. Not least, the collaboration underlines our strategy of broadening the Manmade Fibers segment product offerings, with the aim of making its overall portfolio – currently with its primary focus on the filament business – more balanced in the long term.”

As a result of the partnership, the Manmade Fibers segment further advances its interests in the disposable nonwovens market. With a market volume of around CHF 300 million and average growth of between 4-5% expected over the next few years, the disposable nonwovens market is particularly interesting for Oerlikon Neumag.

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