MultiFil Composite Filament System

Produce high-quality meltblown and spunbond nonwovens in a wide range of polymers with standalone units or just one MultiFil system.

Choose your next nonwovens line from the company that combines quality with innovation.
Why choose a Nordson company?
Over 4,000 professionals in 32 countries ensure expert attention to your requirements. Four decades of field-proven technologies yield reliable equipment with consistent, repeatable application results. Strong research and development programs generate new technologies to help increase your profitability. Nordsons financial strength is your assurance well be here to assist in the future.

JM Laboratories, a division of Nordson Corporation, brings you financial strength and worldwide resources coupled with a solid record of innovation and quick response to the needs of the nonwovens manufacturer. At JM Laboratories, we go beyond buzzwords and slogans. Every aspect of our business is guided by our commitment to give you elegantly simple solutions to complex problems. This manufacturing philosophy stipulates that every advancement in manufacturing must result in a streamlined, timesaving process where less is more. Less downtime, more profitability. Less complexity, more reliability.

Every JM Laboratories employee is dedicated to: Unrivaled customer service and support, Design excellence, Unsurpassed supplier quality, Exceeding your expectations every time, Quality and cost-effectiveness built into all products, Continual improvement. When you partner with JM Laboratories, you benefit from single-vendor expertise and accountability. When you have a question or problem, one call puts you in touch with a worldwide network of support. Single source accountability means we respond to your questions until you are satisfied. Period.

Strong, strategic partnerships with our vendors allow us to provide the highest quality components at the lowest possible cost. Those savings are passed on to you. We view our clients as more than customers. Every company that uses JM Laboratories equipment is a full-fledged business partner. And now, JM Laboratories brings you the added benefits of the worldwide Nordson organization and its expertise.

MultiFil System provides your key to nonwovens profitability.

For years, JM Laboratories has defined the leading edge of meltblown technology. Many fiber suppliers asked us to apply that same expertise to the growing field of spunbond nonwovens. Now JM Laboratories offers standalone spunbond systems, delivering the same level of excellence youve learned to expect with our standalone meltblown lines. And, for additional flexibility, the MultiFil Composite Filament System allows you to convert from meltblown to spunbond in minutes. The MultiFil I and MultiFil II HP systems deliver either meltblown or spunbond homopolymer fabric. The MultiFil II HP system provides increased throughput as compared with MultiFil I. The MultiFil III BICO system accommodates bi-component applications. Every core component of the MultiFil system is designed, engineered and manufactured at JM Laboratories. MultiFil is not a piecemeal system; it is an integrated whole, ensuring ease of installation and speed of operation. The MultiFil system provides your production with the ultimate in manufacturing options.

A single MultiFil system can produce all or components of the following: air and liquid filters, artificial suede and leather, auto covers, battery separators, bedding, cable insulating paper, carbon filters, carpet, diapers, elastic webs, feminine hygiene products, furniture, geotextiles, industrial wipes, medical drapes and gowns, roofing and thermal insulation. In fact, the MultiFil system can be used for any meltspun nonwovens application.

MultiFil versatility maximizes your investment.

Your production line is one of the largest investments you make. At JM Laboratories, we are dedicated to making sure you get the most out of every capital equipment dollar spent. You need a production line that can keep pace with market-driven developments. You need to take advantage of every meltblown and spunbond opportunity without resorting to purchasing high-priced rolled goods. You need to ensure profitability for today and tomorrow. You need the MultiFil Composite Filament System from JM Laboratories. The MultiFil system is the first nonwovens production system to offer true versatility. Other systems may claim to be versatile, but after their system is installed, the configuration does not change without costly retrofits. With the MultiFil system, youre never more than a few minutes away from configuring your production line to meet any need. Whether you require spunbond, meltblown, highloft, or combination output, you can produce any nonwovens fabric from the same MultiFil system. At every stage of production, the MultiFil system offers unmatched versatility. Whatever you manufacture, JM Laboratories engineers the MultiFil system to exceed your expectations.

Step #1:
Slide the Meltblown Quenchboxes along the track into the tool changer.

Step #3:
Raise the spinning beam and push the Spunbond Quenchboxes / Fiber Attenuator Unit along the track into active position.

Step #2:
Replace the Meltblown Spin Pack with the Spunbond Spin Pack.

Input Versatility.
The MultiFil system takes advantage of the full range of polymers: Biodegradeables, Nylon, Polyethylene, Polyesters, PBT, Polypropylene, PA, and Elastomerics.

System Versatility.
The only limit to the MultiFil system is the number of beams you purchase. Each beam is capable of producing: Meltblown, High loft meltblown, Spunbond, Fine denier spunbond, Bi-component spunbond, and Bi-component meltblown.

Product Versatility: Reconfigure in minutes!

With the unique quick-change technology, you can reconfigure a beam in minutes. Depending on the number of beams purchased, the MultiFil system can produce: S M, S M S, S M M S, S S S, M M M, S S F (F is turret film unwinder) S A M A S, and S M S M S. Each part of the MultiFil Composite Filament System demonstrates quality design and long-term performance. Innovative technology paired with precise attention to detail delivers a system you can depend on for years to come.

Step #4:
Change the polymer.

Step #5:
Go!

MultiFil MB delivers excellent meltblown quality and throughput.

MultiFil combines the quality meltblown system youve come to expect from JM Laboratories with the flexibility to change fiber configurations. Just one look at the meltblown fabric from the MultiFil system demonstrates the fabrics fiber density consistency. Specific forming distances and other research-based innovations allow JM Laboratories to improve fiber density consistency dramatically. The meltblown system causes the fibers to crisscross, essentially creating a thatched roof effect. A high degree of fiber quenching increases the fabric loft, improving the filtration characteristics and the hydrohead. Improved filtration characteristics include increased air permeability and uniform pore size. The above average hydrohead produced by MultiFil means you can use less material to provide a superior liquid barrier while allowing vapor to escape.

JM Laboratories gives you unparalleled efficiency.

Energy Consumption
Polymer Melt Blown System Energy Consumption vs. Throughput 3 70 60 Throughput 2 50 40 1.5 Log. (Specific Energy 20 Consumption) 10 Log. (Throughput) 30 Specific Energy Consumption

Energy Consumption (KW/Kg-Hr)

2.5

.5

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0

Fiber Diameter (microns)

Note: This data is based on 800 MFR PP and is subject to reconfirmation for individual product / process specifications.

The JM Laboratories MultiFil system provides unparralleled efficiency. The throughput of JM Laboratories equipment is typically higher than any other equipment supplier.

Specifications
Fiber size: Web weight: Polymer: Machine width: Web uniformity: Forming wire speed: Throughput MultiFil MB: MultiFil BICO, side by side: Slitting/winding: 0.5 to 80 micron 1 to 500 gsm 35 to 2500 MFR polypropylene (typical) 1.2 to 7 m 3 percent 30 to 2000 ft/min (9 to 610 m/min) (web weight dependent) 5.5 lb/in./hr (99 kg/m/hr) 4.6 lb/in./hr (83 kg/m/hr) JML-RW series in-line, horizontal surface winder with multiple-slit slitting station

The thatched roof effect of JM Laboratories quenched fibers also improves appearance, drapability and hand all important considerations in your customers perception of quality. In addition to a variety of quenching options, JM Laboratories delivers many other productivity enhancing innovations. For example, the meltblown beam can be rotated on its axis for variable trim widths. In addition, R.A.D.A.R., a new technology from JM Labs that is based on a randomly dimensioned array of holes in our die tips, delivers higher throughputs with finer fibers than any other equipment supplier. The MultiFil MB system provides throughput up to 5.5 lb/in./hr (99 kg/m/hr) while the MultiFil MB BICO yields up to 4.6 lb/in./hr (83 kg/m/hr). The throughput of JM Laboratories equipment is typically higher than any other equipment supplier. You can get the job done with one meltblown beam when most other equipment requires two.

Process control: Rockwell Automation PLC5 with ControlNet and RSView software

MultiFils fiber size Excellent air permeability yields excellent distribution sets the standard. filtration efficiency for your fabric application.
Fiber Size Distribution
50
100

Filtration Efficiency
100 50.0

Air Permeability

Filtration Efficiency (%)

80

40.0

(ft3/min/ft2)

60 40

(cc/s/cm2)

40

MFR 35 1400 1400

30.0 20.0

% Frequency

30

50

20

20

10.0

Mean = 1.3 Std. Dev = 0.7

0 6 8 10 12 14 16

10

0 0 20 40 60 80

DCD (inch)

Mean Pore Diameter (m)

0 1 2 3 4

Diameter (microns)

JM Laboratories superior web formation of small diameter fibers delivers high-performance filtration characteristics and air permeability.

JM Laboratories equipment consistently produces high-quality fibers. (Source of data: Georgia Institute of Technology)

Best of all, MultiFil combines speed with precision. It can produce consistent, highquality fibers at the sub-micron level at web speeds up to 600 m/min.

JM Laboratories understands that keeping energy consumption in check improves your bottom line. The MultiFil system is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Low pressure blowers, quick-change Spin Packs, higher per hole throughputs and higher performance webs allow this meltblown system to use less energy than competitive machinery.

MultiFil combines the flexibility you need to meet the changing demands of the nonwovens marketplace with the consistent, high-quality output that will keep your customers coming back for more.

MultiFil II HP gives you superior spunbond fibers.

In many cases, multi-function machinery performs none of its tasks particularly well or with great efficiency. In contrast, the MultiFil Composite Filament System spins excellent meltblown and superior spunbond. Why is this multi-function equipment able to confound the conventional wisdom? Its simple. JM Laboratories developed high-quality standalone machinery for meltblown and for spunbond first. Then they combined the technologies guided by the company philosophy that every advancement in manufacturing must result in an elegantly simple solution to a complex problem. This philosophy created the environment necessary to combine two elegantly simple technologies into one. Spunbond manufactured with JM Laboratories equipment sets itself apart in several ways. First, it is a strong, uniform fabric.

High-speed drawing methods yield excellent results.

Filament Denier vs. Velocity
9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 0
At throughput of 0.5 g/h/min

Filament Velocity (m/min)

Filament Diameter

Computer-modeled slot fiber attenuation designed for full range filament speeds operates at low pressures to efficiently attenuate fibers.

Second, it provides excellent filtration properties and hydrohead. And, third, it demonstrates superior hand and drapability. MultiFils high-speed drawing technique yields excellent fiber attenuation. These small fibers dramatically increase tensile strength as compared to typical spunbond applications.

Specifications
Fiber denier: Web weight: Polymer: Machine width: Web uniformity: Forming wire speed: Throughput MultiFil I: MultiFil II HP: MultiFil BICO, side by side: Calender patterns: Calender: Slitting/winding 0.5 to 5 dtex 4 to 500 gsm 35 MFR polypropylene 1.2 to 7 m 3 percent 30 to 2000 ft/min (9 to 610 m/min) (web weight dependent) 6.04 lb/in./hr (108 kg/m/hr) 13.4 lb/in./hr (240 kg/m/hr) 12.1 lb/in./hr (216 kg/m/hr) Proprietary JM Laboratories 2- or 3-roll configuration, dual stack, up to 36 in. electrically heated, centrifically cast, temperature profile 1C JML-RW series in-line, horizontal surface winder with multiple-slit slitting station

Process control: Rockwell Automation PLC5 with ControlNet and RSView software

Small fibers demonstrate high tensile strength.

Tensile Strength per Denier of Filament
Tensile Strength (MPa)
330 300 270 240 210 180 150

MultiFil uses less energy than other units.

Spunbond Energy Consumption
1.25

High throughput delivers high productivity.

Spunbond Throughput

1.0

0.75
0
At throughput of 0.5 g/h/min

Throughput KG/H/M

200

100 MF III BICO MF III BICO MF III BICO

Filament Denier

MF II HP

As fibers stretch and become smaller, tensile strength increases.

MF II HP

1 Detex

1.0 Denier

2.0 Denier

3.0 Denier

The drawing technique also serves to crimp the fibers. The crimping action improves the spunbond fabric in several ways. First, it provides better air permeability and loft. It improves the moisture/vapor transmission rate (MVTR). It provides a softer fabric with greater drapability. And it increases the void volume.

Fiber Size / Process

MultiFils high throughputs allow for quick return on investment. The MultiFil I system provides throughput up to 6.04 lb/in./hr (108 kg/m/hr). For applications requiring greater throughput, the MultiFil II HP system provides throughput up to 13.4 lb/in./hr (240 kg/m/hr). And MultiFil BICO spunbond provides 12.1 lb/in./hr (216 kg/m/hr).

Multifils high throughputs allow for quick return on investment, as well as high production capacity.

MF II HP

MF I

MF I

MF I

MultiFil components help keep your line up and running.

Every component of the MultiFil system yields maximum productivity with minimum maintenance.

Extruder.
Two extruders per beam allow single or bicomponent filament production. A specialized extruder achieves 5:1 turndown ratios with different polymers. Projected meltblown/ spunbond ratios are approximately 3:1. A screw extractor simplifies screw changeouts. From 9 lb/hr (4 kg/hr) to 2000 lb/hr (900 kg/hr), JM Laboratories supplies Davis Standard extruders to match your needs precisely. All are equipped with electrically heated barrel and flange zones, your choice of hydraulic or manual screen change options, automatic and manual operation modes, and closed loop pressure/temperature controls. In addition, each extruder has a built-in port for a reclaim extruder interface. Each spunbond beam can feature a small secondary extruder for waste recycling.

Die System.
For maximum efficiency, the MultiFil system features computer-modeled polymer and air distribution systems. The bottom or side-loading quick-change Spin Packs keep turnaround time to a minimum, while the monomer collection system keeps your process clean. Scientifically modeled to precisely control resin flow, distribution channels allow resin to reach every portion of the die at the same moment. This controlled resin flow combined with the Nekton Optimized Viscous Fluid Flow Modeled Coathanger allows equal residence time, pressure drop, temperature and shear history. The MultiFil system allows perfect polymer distribution in one to seven meter dies. Multiple coathanger technology allows you to achieve crossweb and machine direction uniformity of 3 percent.

The patented quick-change Spin Pack delivers: Increased efficiency, Improved production smoothness, and Significant cost savings. Spin Pack maintenance is typically the most costly area of spunlaid nonwovens production. A simple changeout can mean an entire day of production lost. In contrast, JM Laboratories Spin Packs change out in minutes, with machinery up and running as

quickly as you can change the polymer. Locked into place with two slide-in keys, this cuttingedge design eliminates the need for bolts. Less complexity equals more profitability. The precision of computerized technology and the discrimination of the human eye combine to form a die tip free of irregularities. MultiFil die tips do not allow resins to be caught inside where they can burn and block holes.

Precision Air Heaters.

Process air heaters control air stream and element temperature precisely to within 1 F (0.5 C). Durable construction means years before replacement.

Vector Drive Systems.

All motor-driven components in the MultiFil system provide a wide range of available speeds while still maintaining precise speed control.

Drawing System.
JM Laboratories superior engineering allows filament speeds up to 26,247 ft/min (8000 m/min). The patented Cool Fog technology includes blowing cold air over the web when extruded, dramatically improving energy efficiency and cost effectiveness. JM Laboratories low-pressure process air blower systems cost less to purchase and operate than air compressor technology. This process consumes less energy and requires fewer parts, dramatically reducing, or eliminating, maintenance.

Real World Computer Controls.

JM Laboratories offers the most sophisticated, field-tested computerized controls available. You can control the entire line from a single PC. Recipes for start up and shut down ensure product consistency every time. Extensive functionality allows historical trending, realtime trending, data logging, PID tuning and digital output. In conclusion, computer control systems provide the operations information you need while improving production line efficiency and consistency.

Vacuum System.
The computer-modeled vacuum distribution system provides efficient, uniform distribution.

Forming Table.
The stainless steel belt system operates at speeds of up to 2000 ft/min (609 m/min). The seamless belt may be either cleaned or replaced.

Superior Temperature Control.

Die temperatures are controlled to within 1 F (0.5 C). This is made possible by placing temperature controls every 3 inches (76 mm) along the die head, extending out 6 inches (152 mm) beyond the holes. Filament quality remains constant, even along the edges.

See the MultiFil difference for yourself.

To see the MultiFil Composite Filament System first-hand, contact your JM Laboratories representative. A demonstration MultiFil machine is available at our Dawsonville, Georgia, facility to give you an in-depth look at performance results. Or, well be happy to send you technical information.

JM Laboratories training, testing and installation maximize your investment.

To maximize your investment in new equipment, weve developed the International Training and Testing Program (ITTP). With ITTP, you receive a multitude of benefits. Pre-shipment testing with your people at our state-of-the-art facility; Pre-shipment disassembly with your technicians at our plant; Pre-shipment line operation training, both classroom and hands-on; On site line operation training, both classroom and hands-on; On site line maintenance training, both classroom and hands-on. JM Laboratories also offers turnkey installation. When your system is installed, its ready to operate. The system we install in your plant is a known quantity, ready to increase profitability from day one. A successful installation is just the beginning of a beneficial relationship with JM Laboratories. Our business partners profit from our extended Research and Development services. We offer: Product development assistance, Product analysis service, and Marketing and product application consulting. Choose your next fiber line with quality and versatility in mind. When profitability is the goal, a MultiFil system is the means.

12 JM Drive Dawsonville, Georgia 30534-5124 Phone: (888) 4JMLABS (706) 216-1520 FAX: (706) 216-1517 Internet: www.jmlabs.com European Hub Ferdinand-Porsche-Strae 2 63073 Offenbach / Main Germany Telefon: 49 (0) 69 - 89 90 99 / 0 Fax: 49 (0) 69 - 89 90 99 / 29 e-mail: jmleurope@aol.com
1999 Nordson Corporation All Rights Reserved. Nordson reserves the right to make design changes between printings. JML-99-1500 Issued 2/99 Printed in USA Rockwell Automation, Control Net and RSView are trademarks of Rockwell International Corp.