Specialised solutions for industrial applications

The main industrial applications for our nonwovens include the production of glass-fibre or carbon-fibre reinforced plastics that are used, for example, in automotive construction, shipbuilding, the aircraft industry or wind turbines. Three different production techniques are used:

• In the RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) process, our nonwovens are used as core materials that allow optimum distribution of the resin between the fibre mats.
• During vacuum moulding, in which the resin is distributed between the fibre mats with the aid of a vacuum, the nonwoven layer acts as a breather material and absorbs excess resin.
• Furthermore, in these two processes as well as in manual layup, which is used for small quantities and large components, our nonwovens are also employed as the surface material to ensure that the surface structure of the GRP is homogeneous and clean.

A further key application of our nonwovens is their use as insulating materials. This includes acoustic insulation (e.g. in loudspeakers or in recording studios) and insulation against low temperatures (e.g. thermal protection clothing for people working in cold stores) or against high temperatures (e.g. membrane roof systems, e.g. the Olympic Swimming Centre in Munich in which white, air-permeable polyester fibre nonwovens were used).

Technical solutions include linings for swimming pools and ponds, where stable nonwovens are installed underneath the pool foil to even out bumps, coarse-fibre nonwovens for flexible grinding materials (e.g. grate cleaners or floor-polishing machines) as well as nonwovens for filtration systems (e.g. as pre-filters against paint or oil mists).

HACOform, Ziegler's white or salmon-coloured jeweller's cotton is used by the trade to display jewellery. It also ensures that silver does not oxidise. Optically brightened snow wadding is used commercially by decorators to create a Christmas atmosphere. Like the entire Ziegler range, these two HACOform products are available in any size and finish.