Andritz is to supply a second complete neXline needlepunch line to Manifattura Fontana, part of the Sioen Industries Group, for the production of geotextiles at its site in Romano d’Ezzelino, Italy.

Start-up of the line is planned for the fourth quarter of 2022. It will cover all process steps from fibre opening to automatic packaging of the product and include the latest ProWin profiling technology to enhance web weight evenness on cards and crosslappers.

Another important feature is waterproof roll packaging, which is increasingly in demand on the market. Manifattura Fontana will be one of the very few players in the world to deliver fabric rolls with waterproof protection.

“Operating the first Andritz line turned out to be a great success because of the excellent cooperation between our two companies,” said Orwig Speltdoorn, head of Sioen’s Nonwovens Division. “The follow-up on progress and training by the Andritz technicians quickly put our operators at ease with the new technology. With the second line, we are confident that the plant will become the most productive and cost-efficient unit, producing geotextile nonwoven fabrics of the highest quality standards.”

Manifattura Fontana geotextiles are supplied for many applications such as the construction of roads, railways, reservoirs, dams and tunnels, as well as for earthworks, foundations, erosion control, drainage, waste disposal or containment. The Belgian Sioen Industries Group is a leading producer of technical textiles with an annual turnover of more than €600 million and around 4,500 employees in plants located in 15 countries.

www.andritz.com