Highest-performing glass non-woven production line starts up at the USA plant

Owens Corning, a global residential and commercial building products leader, has signed the takeover document for its new Fort Smith glass non-woven production line. This means the world's highest-performing non-woven line is now in production. The machine includes the most extensive layout Voith has ever created for a glass nonwoven production line. The scope of delivery includes the forming, binding and drying sections.

The technological highlights include the world's largest inclined wire former HydroFormer, the FiberDry glass mat dryer and a comprehensive Papermaking 4.0 and automation package to increase efficiency, product quality and machine availability. Voith also supplied two IntensaPulper machines based on the Process Line Package (PLP) concept, which has set industry standards in the field of pulping with its energy-efficient technology. The HydroFormer covers a width of 5.5 meters and enables exceptionally uniform forming of fibers up to 40 mm in length with extremely low stock consistency. Sustainability and efficiency were important factors for Owens Corning when deciding on the individual components.

The design speed of the line is 510 m/min, which will enable the production of 90,000 tons of glass nonwovens per year. Already two months before the target date, the line is achieving a speed of around 300 m/min.

Success based on a trusting partnership
This success lies in a strong partnership between Owens Corning and Voith from the start of the project through the takeover. Both teams focused on finding solutions and moving forward using a goal-oriented approach.

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