Nonwoven industry

Quality control for a range of nonwovens

Neither woven nor knitted

Nonwovens are fabric-like material made from staple fiber (short) and long fibers (continuous long), bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. Nonwovens are fabrics, such as felt, which are neither woven nor knitted. To further increase strength, some nonwoven materials are densified or reinforced by a backing. In recent years, nonwovens have become an alternative to polyurethane foam.

Measure at multiple positions in a single line

The M-Ray based measuring systems of Hammer-IMS can be easily placed at different sites in a nonwoven production line. Our technology provides accurate and reliable measurements, enabling manufacturers to optimize their production processes and improve product quality while reducing waste.

Depending on your needs and application we can:

Measure the fibre matt weight distribution after the chute (also possible for airlaid products)
Homogeneity Index monitoring and defect detection after carding
Basis weight / Thickness measurement of the final product (also possible before needle punching)
Defect inspection

Picture of a nonwovens line with the Hammer-IMS solutions integrated

M-Ray for basis-weight measurements

M-Ray technology plays a crucial role at two key stages of the production process:

Initial Card Infeed: M-Ray is utilized at the beginning of the line to measure card infeed density. This ensures consistent material input, crucial for maintaining product integrity and quality throughout production.
Final Basis Weight Measurement: At the end of the production line, M-Ray performs the final basis weight measurement. This step verifies that the nonwoven material meets exact weight specifications, essential for meeting industry standards and customer expectations.

How does M-Ray work?

L-Ray for thickness control

Our L-Ray laser-based sensors are seamlessly integrated into the final step of the production process, enabling a complete analysis of the material’s thickness profile. This integration ensures precise measurement and quality control.

How does L-Ray work?

Edge-Vision-4.0 for surface inspection

The Edge-Vision-4.0 system is integral to optimizing nonwovens production by detecting foreign objects, defects and anomalies at critical stages:

Start of the Line: Positioned at the beginning of the production process, Edge-Vision-4.0 monitors card outfeed homogeneity, ensuring consistent material quality from the outset.
End of the Line: At the final stage of production, Edge-Vision-4.0 does a quality inspection, providing detailed analysis to verify product integrity before distribution.

Discover our Edge-Vision-4.0

Trusted by industry leaders

Together with the Autins Group we introduced a novel real-time evaluation of high-loft nonwovens uniformity using our patented in-line measurement technology. Autins Group, a leader in thermal and acoustic materials for the automotive industry, utilizes this technology with a modified uniformity index algorithm for precise quality control.

The integration of our technology has led to: