Page 52 - April-May-2017

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Nonwovens
when
quality is
super-
critical…
USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD 2 – Detection and
elimination of natural and synthetic contamination
USTER® fiber cleaning systems prevent Uster Technologies acquired Jossi AG in 2013 and
contamination in hygiene and cosmetic applications now applies the USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD 2
and USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD T systems,
Yarn spinners already understand the importance of using multiple detection principles to eject all
preventing contamination in their products. A total of polypropylene particles, however minute. The finest
3,500 worldwide installations of Jossi fiber cleaning white PP contamination is reliably and efficiently
systems – now produced by USTER – is proof of that. detected with the USTER® JOSSI MAGIC EYE in
The USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD solutions are combination with the USTER® JOSSI VISION
highly effective at removing even the smallest SHIELD. Practically all types of foreign matter,
contaminants, including polypropylene. For including polypropylene and polyethylene, are
nonwovens producers, however, the risk of eliminated by USTER® JOSSI MAGIC EYE, with a
contamination is possibly even greater: in medical minimum of waste.
and hygiene applications, for example, quality
standards are super-critical and zero contamination Special challenges for nonwovens
is essential. producers
Compared to yarn spinning, nonwovens products
Contaminated yarn is one of the spinner’s biggest and processes bring some special challenges and
headaches, potentially leading to customer claims even more demanding requirements. Imagine, for
and rejects when synthetic particles such as example, a scratchy remnant of polypropylene in a
polypropylene (PP) remain undetected in cotton until make-up removal pad…or any kind of contamination
the fabric reaches the dyehouse. Today, the range of in hospital products such as absorbent cotton,
USTER® JOSSI systems is proven to deal with this alcohol swabs, or nonwoven gauze. Such problems
problem with unbeatable effectiveness, detecting and would be totally unacceptable. Not surprisingly,
removing foreign matter from cotton at the spinning markets for medical and hygiene products in the
preparation stage. USA, Europe and Asia are extremely quality-oriented.
With developments in synthetic fibers, there was a
USTER® JOSSI MAGIC EYE – Unsurpassed detection
performance with all kinds of plastics
trend about 25 years ago for nonwovens applications
to switch from pure cotton to synthetics. Initially,
consumers preferred the dry and light texture of
synthetic fibers. In the last decade, however, many
applications are seeing a return to pure cotton as the
favored option, particularly where allergenic issues
such as skin reddening and irritation are possible.
Manufacturers of nonwovens for these demanding
end-uses now require an efficient contamination
control system, guaranteeing a zero-tolerance
standard – for defects bigger than 1 mm – in their
products. In nonwovens, fiber cleaning is the only
way to control contamination – unlike in spinning
where yarn clearing can make a final check at the
winding stage. Product quality in nonwovens
therefore depends absolutely on the efficiency of the
fiber cleaning system, which makes investment in the
USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD system a logical step.
Nonwovens: big in Japan
Most of the machinery for nonwovens hygiene
products is made by Japanese companies and
Japan itself plays a leading role in manufacturing
goods for medical and cosmetic applications, as well
as food packaging materials. “Japan is growing as a
market for USTER® fiber cleaning systems, thanks to
these nonwovens applications,” says Oswald
Baldischwieler, Product Manager Fiber Cleaning
within Uster Technologies. “The combination of
USTER® JOSSI VISION SHIELD and USTER® JOSSI
MAGIC EYE supports the manufacturers to control
contamination continuously at a high level.”