Andritz Announces Acquisitions and Collaborations at ITMA
International Technology Group Andritz announced its collaboration with Nouvelles Fibers Textiles and Pellenc ST, as well as the acquisition of Dan-Web at the ITMA 2023.
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Andritz, Pellenc ST and Nouvelles Fibres Textiles have joined forces to start up their industrial-scale automatic textile sorting line in Amplepuis, France, combining automated sorting and recycling technology.
This new line, mainly dedicated to R&D activities, is the result from the collective reflection of these three players in the textile industry, aligned with the specific needs of the sector and as a means of differentiation to meet its future needs. It is then perfectly tailored to the textile value chain, integrating upstream sorting solutions, and offering an optimal configuration, including the removal of non-textile parts.
With its advanced capabilities, the line can sort complete garments based on their composition and color, achieving maximum purity through accurate and fully customized settings. This adaptability caters to the requirements of both the post-consumer waste and post-industrial waste markets. Furthermore, the line’s flexibility offers an answer to the nonwovens and spinning manufacturers, providing them with the highest quality fibers best suited to the yarn industry, as well as the nonwoven forming and bonding processes.
Ultimately, the line shall offer traceability throughout the entire supply chain, from collection to the production of new recycled fibers. This feature is essential for supporting textile industry stakeholders in their pursuit of valorization and circularity, as well as helping them to achieve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) program targets.
Andritz plays a crucial role as an integrator in this partnership, particularly in project management, completing the line’s implementation within a remarkable timeframe of less than a year.
Andritz Strengthened Nonwovens Business by Acquiring Dan-Web
Andritz has signed an agreement with Dan-Web Machinery A/S based in Galten, Denmark, to take over 100% of its shares. Dan-Web is a leading supplier of a wide range of technologies for the production of airlaid nonwovens. This acquisition further extends and strengthens Andritz’s product and service portfolio in the field of nonwovens.
Dan-Web engineers, designs and builds customized machines and turnkey plants to produce airlaid nonwovens for baby diapers, fem care, incontinence products, wipes, and other applications.
With this acquisition, Andritz Nonwoven is adding competence in airlaid technology to its comprehensive product portfolio, which already includes air-through bonding, needlepunch, spunlace, spunbond, wetlaid/WetlaceTM, as well as converting of nonwovens, also textile finishing, textile recycling, and natural fiber processing technologies. Andritz has been cooperating with Dan-Web for the supply of airlaid systems when providing complete production lines for many years.
Kurt Soerensen, President of Dan-Web, says: “I am delighted about joining forces with Andritz. As part of the Andritz Group, our product portfolio will be integrated into first-class process applications. Our common approach is to put a focus on further developing the range of environmentally friendly production technologies for the nonwovens industry.”
Andreas Lukas, Head of Andritz Nonwoven adds: “After more than two decades of successful collaboration, we now have decided to move closer together, which allows both of us to further develop certain processes much faster. I would like to personally thank Kurt Soerensen for his trust in Andritz and look very much forward to having the Dan-Web team on board.”