Polymer Group, Inc. (PGI) unveiled a new platform technology yesterday to produce nonwovens containing submicron fibres that it says can deliver improved performance properties for healthcare, industrial, filtration and new emerging market applications. PGI's proprietary Arium technology produces a matrix of fibres predominately sized less than one micron in diameter. 

"Arium is a completely new technology platform for the industry that will enable us to meet the market need for increasingly cost-effective fabrics with improved performance at a value proposition unmatched by any other submicron fibre technology," said Veronica ‘Ronee' Hagen, PGI's chief executive officer.

"Just as we did with our Apex and Spinlace technologies, PGI is leading the industry and investing in game-changing platforms." PGI says it has improved the process of producing submicron fibres with its new process after significant R&D efforts.

"While other processes can generate fibres at the submicron level, none can do it as efficiently, and with the same commercial level of throughputs, as Arium technology," said Bob Dale, PGI's senior vice president of research and development.

PGI has invested in a pilot line in the U.S. at its Waynesboro, Va. facility to produce fabrics using the Arium technology. The technology can stand alone or be retrofitted to PGI's existing meltblown equipment.

"Our Arium technology allows us to be more competitive in our core markets while opening up new opportunities in other markets," said John Heironimus, the company's senior vice president, chief marketing and chief sustainability officer.

"By combining technologies, or utilizing Arium technology alone, PGI can deliver innovative product solutions to the market."

According to PGI, the submicron fibres contained in materials produced with the Arium technology can provide higher surface area, biosafety and tuneable porosity that enhance performance benefits such as absorbency, adsorption, opacity, softness, barrier protection, acoustic performance and high-efficiency filtration.

With one of the broadest range of process technologies in the nonwovens industry, PGI is a global supplier to leading consumer and industrial product manufacturers. The company operates 12 manufacturing and converting facilities in nine countries throughout the world.