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BFI Stretches Nonwovens Possibilities At Techtextil 2019

Opening up a path to 100% recyclable PP needlepunch carpets and fabrics
High tenacity fibres for lightweight geotextiles at reduced system cost
Customised bonding fibres for lightweight automotive composites
New PET-core-BICO Fibres for resilient, high loft hygiene nonwovens that deliver on softness and ultrasonic bonding trends

Beaulieu Fibres International (BFI), the global solutions provider of value added fibres, is lifting polyolefin and PET core nonwovens to new performance heights (Hall 4.2 Stand F19). At its Techtextil 2019 showcase, BFI will give centre stage to innovations helping producers to extract the most out of their production equipment and pursue new opportunities in areas like automotive, geotextiles, flooring, filtration, upholstery, concrete reinforcement and hygiene. Karena Cancilleri, President Engineered Products, Beaulieu International Group, comments: “The nonwoven market is constantly looking for added value and system cost reduction opportunities. With our latest product innovations, Beaulieu Fibres International shows again that we are committed to helping our customers stay at the forefront of segment trends and efficiency.” Highlights of BFI’s latest support for nonwovens at Techtextil 2019, include: Headway for greener needlepunch fabrics – BFI’s new and unique polyolefin staple fibre UltraBond brings significant sustainability and cost-efficiency benefits to the broad world of needlepunch fabrics. UltraBond eliminates the need for latex or other chemical binders to consolidate nonwovens, contributing to a fully recyclable system. It opens up a new path to create 100% polypropylene (PP) needlepunch fabrics which meet the same performance requirements while reducing the end-of-life environmental impact. Supporting the growing market for lightweight Geotextiles – BFI’s high tenacity fibres HT8 offer unique high tensile strength without compromising on elongation. The fibres provide opportunities to reduce geotextile system cost by maximizing machine efficiency and ensure desired performance at reduced weight - up to 15% compared with standard geotextile fibres. BFI also offers a higher dtex range for environmental applications (TRM) and soil reinforcement. [caption id="attachment_16345" align="aligncenter" width="650"]

The finalists of the essenscia Innovation Award in the presence of HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium.[/caption] Lightweight automotive Composites - Beaulieu Fibres International introduces UltraLink, a family of engineered polypropylene (PP) bonding fibres for thermoplastic lightweight composites. The UltraLink fibres are designed to provide an optimal cost to performance ratio in needlepunched compression moulded composite materials, when blended with glass, natural or synthetic reinforcement fibres. The UltraLink fibres are customized to improve the mechanical, thermal and functional properties of the composite, supporting the automotive industry in the continuous strive to reduce weight and improve comfort in a sustainable way. “Fresh” innovation for Hygiene – Straight from their March global premiere and now available, BFI’s new PET-core-BICO staple fibres support the segment’s search to improve final product performance. They bring the advantages of PP or PE sheaths to resilient hygiene-destined nonwovens. The use of PE in the sheath provides softness as required in top sheets, for example, while the configuration with PP in the sheath answers the requirements for ultrasonic bonding. Fibres come in a dtex range from 1,3-6,7dtex/40mm in their antimony (Sb)-free version, as required by the latest hygiene safety regulations. The new fibres are part of BFI’s extensive range of Meraklon® man-made fibres meeting key market requirements for softness, opacity and lightweight fabrics for hygiene products.