Weight uniformity and strength - quality characteristics for papermaking felts

The selected fibers are first opened, cleaned and blended to obtain a homogeneous fiber blend. This step is crucial to ensure a uniform web structure. After gentle fiber preparation, the AUTEFA Solutions Masterfelt cards guarantee the highest fiber blending effects without stressing the individual fibers.

The production of paper felt nonwovens requires specific characteristics, especially in the nonwoven cards. The special design of the Masterfelt breaker card guarantees very high web quality, together with absolute reliability due to the extremely robust structure and cast iron material. The cards are equipped with a dust extraction system that allows the fibers to be processed with a slight internal vacuum to keep the sides of the machine clean.

AUTEFA Solutions' paper felt lines include the Ecoliner CL 3000 intermediate crosslapper between the Masterfelt breaker card and the finisher card. A conveyor belt is integrated to connect and level the height between the Ecoliner delivery belt and the infeed of the second card. The intermediate crosslappers main function is to create a uniform batt to enhance the quality and long-term uniformity in the finished felt. Enhanced fiber blending is achieved in the accumulation of multiple carded layers in the batt presented to the finisher card Masterfelt. 

The unique design of the Masterfelt card ensures the highest web quality and absolute reliability due to its extremely robust machine construction. The employment of a breast cylinder and two main cylinders with a high number of worker/turner groups combined with intermediate doffing to ensure optimal web quality and uniformity. The Masterfelt card is fed by the crosslapper Ecoliner with WebMax, which ensures uniform weight distribution of the carded web. Quality is monitored by online web profile measurement.

The crosslapper is the central element of a paper felt line in terms of quality, uniformity, and productivity. AUTEFA Solutions crosslapper Topliner CL 4000 PF increases both web uniformity and throughput speed, thus eliminating any bottlenecks. The uniform web laydown in combination with the WebMax and the CLOSED LOOP system ensures consistently high quality. The Topliner CL 4000 PF is the finishing crosslapper specially designed for paper felt producers, which significantly increases production output thanks to the lapper principle with short web passage and patented layering belt guidance in the laydown area.

This layering process is optimized by the WebMax web profile control system and several measuring points throughout the line. This WEBMAX profiling is integrated into our 3-level Closed Loop Control System, which ensures that the fabric is uniformly profiled in both machine direction and cross direction. Profiling results in fewer edge-related problems and makes felt life more predictable and longer. 

Needling machines for the production of papermaking felts (PMF) are true giants among textile machines and hold several records: With an impressive working width of up to 15.8 meters and a breathtaking weight of over 800 tons, they are undoubtedly the kings of the industry.

The Stylus Variliptic pre-needle loom for papermaker felts ensures maximum production efficiency after web forming. Preparing the highest quality web rolls is also key to producing the highest quality press felts. Utilising the patented Variliptic drive modules, the NL16 Variliptic provides an improved felt surface, higher production speeds, reduced draft and therefore less shrinkage and higher uniformity. The Stylus Variliptic pre-needle loom is available in working widths of up to 17 metres.

The Stylus finishing Needle Looms mark the high-end of needlepunching technology. Working width, number and arrangement of needling zones, needle pattern, stroke frequency, feeding tables and the felt tensioning system are all tailored to customer`s needs. Fully automatic felt production according to recipes including exact stops for splicing and felt tension control is state of the art. AUTEFA Solutions rigid steel frame provides high-precision needling and minimum vibration levels even at a working width of 15,8 meters. It also provides a continuous stroke frequency of 1200 rpm.