Fibres, Fabrics, Non-wovens - Part 2

Each Freudenberg site has its own specialities. For the US site this are liners for floppy disks: They help to keep the floppy disk clean and functioning perfectly by protecting its surface. Other US products are spun-wear like Lutravil spun-bonded fabrics and piloms, but they are also produced in Taiwan. Due to its durability, reliability and isotropic strength Lutradur is suitable for the ceiling of roofs with bituminous coating where it has to retain its insulating properties.

Japan's speciality is Viwarm - Violeene that warms. Closeness to the market with plenty of local manufacturers and suppliers guarantees world-wide availability.

In Yorkshire, Great Britain, Violeene and bond-fabrics are manufactured as carriers for extremely fine abrasives.

In Spanish arenas non-wovens are combined with leather in regional costumes. Tests how new materials can be combined with adhesives are also carried out in Spain.

But everything began in Weinheim/Bergstraße with manufacturing high-quality leather - products that are internationally acclaimed. And the link with leather still exists today: The enforcing of heel-parts of shoes as well as heel-grip linings are done with non-wovens. Because of spun-bonded non-wovens running tracks can be used even under heavy rain. Generally spun-bonded fabrics are also suitable for purposes like separating the subsoil from coarser material or for covering fields because of its softness and the large dimensions it can be produced in. It lets air, moisture and sunrays through while it keeps parasites and pests out. In roof-gardens non-wovens are used for the roof-sealing, the separation layer between the humus and the drainage layer, the back of chairs and the table cloth. The intrinsic worth of these materials plays an important role for nappies: convenience, drying properties, gentleness and tear-resistance. Lutracil is the key-word. It has also breathing properties and is used for warm padding. Because non-wovens are strong, tough and light as a feather, they are used for sleeping bags.

In Japan they are used to create fashionable clothing that retains its shape, e.g. for winter sports. And when it doesn't work that well with skiing, non-wovens come into play again: they are used on plastic casts, as soft cushions for bandages and wound pads that don't stick to the wound. They are the base material for plasters and adhesives because they don't fray or lint. As they are resistant to wear and tear and keep hygiene they are also to be found in disposable garments for operating theatres, surgical covers and operating masks. The microfibre holds back up to 99% of the germs in the air. It protects the respiratory tract as filter medium in air filters and it is also used for respirator masks and helmets.