Airlaid Nonwovens Report: Magic among the main players for production lines investments
Nonwovens Industry Airlaid Nonwovens Report deals with the investments in airlaid production lines.
Compared to competing technologies, airlaid continues to represent a small share of nonwovens capacity globally as manufacturers continue to recover from a period of excessive overcapacity in the early 2000s. Venture has been moderate in recent years and only three companies invested in production plants; together with those of Glatfelter and Domtar, the report presents the case and the strategy of Magic which inaugurated a new line for the production of Airgel G-grade and g-pad.
Airlaid Nonwovens Report: what is said about Magic
Magic invested in a Campen supplied airlaid line capable of making several types of thermal bonded airlaid products with or without tissue and nonwovens as carrier sheet, choosing the Danish company for its know-how about product development and technical experience of airlaid production. The goal was to add into process Spongel, a super absorbent biodegradable powder, developed and patented by the company.
Before investing in the new machinery, Magic acquired airlaid from external suppliers and was highly specialized in converting airlaid for the food, medical, hygiene and personal care industries. After Spongel development, the need to develop and produce its own airlaid arose.
Mauro Giani, owner and CEO of Magic Srl, states: “Our need was to produce a new kind of high absorbing and sustainable airlaid containing Spongel. After Spongel development, we focused our efforts on the application of the powder in the airlaid material, and we realized that we needed to be able to control the whole production process.”
Magic carried out product testing and was convinced by the results that surpassed the expectations. The airlaid line was first delivered in late 2019 but Covid-related issues delayed the line’s completion to June 2021.
Magic airlaid: the production line
The line consists of hammer mill lines, fiber opener, drum forming heads, SAP dispenser, compactor, thermal bonding oven, a calender unit with cooling zone, process air filter and humidification system. An unwinder for tissue and winder for final winding of the product as well as a metal detector and in-line scanner system for measuring g/m2 are also part of the line.
“The investment in this high-tech airlaid machine transformed us from a converting company into a production company, as well as making it possible for us to create Airgel g-grade, a very exclusive compostable airlaid with Spongel.”
G-pad launch
In 2022, Magic launched g-pad, a compostable absorbent pad for food absorbent, the natural development of Spongel and Airgel g-grade, and like them OK Compost certified.
G-pad combines Airgel g-grade with a compostable film through a hot bonding process: no glue, chemical additives, or adhesives are used, while the absorbent capacity is the same as traditional plastic film pads. The pad was conceived and designed according to circular economy principles, so that at the end of its life cycle it can be disposed of with household organic waste for industrial composting.
