NIRI upgrades its pilot-scale capability with the latest Meltblown Technology
NIRI has expanded its facilities by investing in the latest pilot-scale meltblown technology. This new state-of-the-art equipment from Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) will further facilitate R&D and prototyping across a whole host of applications. Dr Matthew Tipper, CEO at NIRI explains: “We were mindful when specifying the new equipment that we wanted to invest in the most flexible and adaptable technology available, to enable the development of a wide range of nonwoven structures – with the potential to develop unique filament and mechanical properties, further facilitating our clients’ R&D and prototyping.” Impact of COVID-19 on meltblown demand During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand and value of meltblown fabrics increased, due to its critical usage within medical grade textiles, including face masks, surgical gowns and PPE more generally. Dr Ross Ward, NIRI’s New Business Development Manager, comments: “In response to the COVID-19 pandemi...