Producing composite nonwovens
The technology for medical protective clothing and how it can be used flexibly.
The material of hoods, gowns, full body suits and other products for the protection of our medical personnel differs in terms of basis weight, structure and properties. With Reicofil composite technology, almost all material variations can be produced reliably and in high quality on the same line.
Producing composite nonwovens
The most important questions at a glance
How are Reicofil composite lines constructed?
Reicofil composite lines combine the two technologies spunbond (S) and meltblown (M) in one line. For this purpose, so-called spunbond and meltblown beams are placed next to each other in a modular fashion. Each beam produces a layer of material, which is layed down on a conveyor belt that runs through the line at up to 1,200 m/min. The result is a composite nonwoven of up to seven firmly bonded layers.
Here are some examples of possible line configurations:
- SMS (minimum layer structure for very inexpensive protective clothing, not OP-compatible)
- SMMS (protective clothing, also suitable for surgery but not in best quality and only at reduced throughput)
- SMMMS (typical layer structure of medical protective clothing)
- SSMMMS (High product flexibility)
- SSMMMMS (highest quality plus high flexibility)
Flexible production by switching beams on and off
The spunbond and meltblown beams can be switched on or off individually. In this way, different layer structures and thus different materials can be produced.
Flexible production through independent operation of the meltblow beams
The meltblow beams within a composite system can be brought into the so-called offline position. This allows the independent production of pure meltblown nonwovens for use as filter media while the main line continues to produce other medical or hygiene products.
What medical products can a Reicofil composite line produce?
The line configuration is the decisive factor in determining which products the technology can produce. The SMMMS line configuration offers a high degree of flexibility with regard to medical protective clothing.
The following materials can be produced with an Reicofil SMMMS line:
- Pure spunbond
- Material for protective hoods and shoe covers, as well as lightweight protective suits
- Outer and inner layer of face masks
- SMS nonwovens with up to four layers of meltblown
- Material for protective gowns and suits
- Meltblown
- Filter layer in breathing masks
If the composite line is operated with two winders, pure meltblown nonwovens (filter medium in respiratory masks) and SMS products (medical protective clothing) or pure spunbond (outer and inner layer in respiratory masks) can be produced simultaneously.
What is the optimum width of the line for medical protective clothing?
Reicofil composite lines are available in line widths from 1.6 to 5.2 meters. For the production of medical protective clothing we recommend a line width of 3.2 meters. A line of the same width would be sufficient for the textile dimension of 1.6 meters, but would be much less economical to operate.
How much material does a Reicofil composite plant supply?
A 3.2 meter wide Reicofil Composite line in the SMMMS configuration delivers up to 1.4 million m² of nonwoven for medical protective clothing every day.
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