Wetlaid Line Speed, Width, and Production Economics
topic
Wetlaid nonwoven production economics use paper machine technology at widths of 1 to 5 metres and speeds of 20 to 500 metres per minute depending on basis weight and fibre type, with high capital investment in forming and drying sections justified by high production volumes for commodity wetlaid products while specialty glass microfibre and technical nonwovens operate at lower speeds with higher product value per kilogram justifying smaller line investment.
Role
Determines the commercial viability of wetlaid nonwoven production for each application through the combination of production volume, line speed, and product value that governs return on the significant capital investment required for wetlaid production equipment, with specialty high-value technical wetlaid applications justifying lower production speeds and smaller line widths than commodity wetlaid products requiring maximum throughput to compete on cost.