MORE THAN 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN NONWOVENS

Founded in Buggenhout (Belgium) in 1953 by Louis Baert, WATTEX is one of the pioneers in the field of staple fibre nonwovens. Where in the beginning mainly natural fibres were processed, man-made fibres gradually made their entry in the industry. Consequently, WATTEX decided to produce polypropylene staple fibre.

Needlepunched broadloom and bitumen backed carpet tiles being the core business for quite a number of years, the management of WATTEX soon discovered the challenge of a new venture : polyester nonwovens, used as carriers by the waterproofing industry.

Nowadays, more than 25 years after the introduction of PET nonwovens, the newest Advanced Composite Materials only vaguely resemble the nonwovens they descend from.

It is generally recognised by the engineers of leading waterproofing membranes manufacturers that a high elongation and a good dimensional stability are incompatible. Hence the use of reinforcing materials in nonwovens, especially in spunbonds where the very high elongation is typical of the manufacturing process. The ulterior motive of the reinforcement being the diminishing of the elongation.

The WATTEX EDS (Extreme Dimensional Stability) range of carriers features a unique property : the base consists of a blend of glass- and PET fibres, proportionally adjustable depending on which level of fire resistance is intended. In the same manufacturing process, reinforcing filaments are applied and integrated into the base material in the machine and/or cross direction in order to improve on tensile strength. As this matrix is indivisible (and not a sandwich- or glued-on construction), there is no risk for de-lamination. This results in a matrix that combines the advantages of both spunbonds (high tensile properties) and staple fibre fleeces (possibility to blend with mineral fibres to improve stability).

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