Novafiber starts up textile recycling and airlay lines from ANDRITZ at its mill in Palín, Guatemala

Novafiber, a prominent company in Guatemala specializing in the production of nonwovens from post-industrial textile waste, has successfully established a textile recycling line and an airlay line at its mill in Palín, Guatemala. These cutting-edge technologies, delivered, installed, and commissioned by international technology group ANDRITZ, have been in operation since December 2022, enabling Novafiber to achieve sustainable production at high throughputs.

The recycling line, the second tearing line supplied by ANDRITZ to Novafiber, is dedicated to processing post-industrial textile waste from Central America. By utilizing this line, Novafiber efficiently recycles fibers, which are then fed into the state-of-the-art Flexiloft airlay line provided by ANDRITZ. The airlay line is responsible for manufacturing nonwoven end-products utilized in the bedding and furniture industries. This integration of the tearing and airlay lines exemplifies a circular textile-to-nonwoven approach, ensuring optimal material usage. Notably, any waste generated during the production process is redirected back into the tearing and/or airlay line via an advanced edge trim recycling system.

The combination of ANDRITZ tearing and airlay lines empowers Novafiber to process substantial quantities of postindustrial garments while maintaining control over the entire supply chain, from raw material to final product. Moreover, this implementation allows for energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint by minimizing shipments.

The commissioning process, facilitated through close collaboration between Novafiber and ANDRITZ Laroche, was completed within a remarkably short timeframe. Jean Philippe Bernard, CEO of Novafiber, expresses his satisfaction with the project, stating, "It has been a great pleasure to collaborate with ANDRITZ again on a waste-to-value project. Seven years ago, we launched our first textile recycling and nonwovens production project together with ANDRITZ Laroche. Our new project has also been a perfect opportunity to take advantage of ANDRITZ's technological innovations to achieve an even better fiber opening quality along with higher capacity."

Novafiber, located in Palín, Guatemala, is renowned for its leadership in the production of nonwovens derived from post-industrial textile waste. The company caters to both the domestic market and export demands.

In summary, Novafiber's adoption of ANDRITZ's textile recycling and airlay lines in Palín, Guatemala, has paved the way for sustainable and efficient production processes. This collaboration not only enables the processing of significant textile waste but also demonstrates Novafiber's commitment to the circular economy and reducing environmental impact in the textile industry.