CALENDERING MACHINE

CALENDERING MACHINE
TYPE	SPECIFICATION		NOTE
YBG321	working width	4800mm	oil heating
	speed	1~10m/min
	power	80kw

What is it and what does it do?

Imagine you have a piece of fabric that’s a bit rough or uneven. You might iron it to make it smoother and give it a more finished look. A calendering machine does something similar to non-woven fabrics.

Its main job is to take a non-woven fabric and pass it between heated rollers to smooth it, flatten it, and/or impart a specific texture or finish.¹ It’s like the “ironing and finishing” stage for non-wovens.

How is it done?

Calendering machines use a combination of heated rollers and pressure to achieve this:²

1. Infeed: The non-woven fabric is fed into the calendering machine, usually coming from a previous process like needle punching or bonding.³
2. Heated Rollers: The fabric passes between two or more rollers that are heated to a specific temperature.⁴ The heat softens the fibers slightly, making them more pliable.
3. Pressure: The rollers apply pressure to the fabric, smoothing it, flattening it, and reducing its thickness.⁵ The amount of pressure determines the degree of smoothing and flattening.
4. Surface Texture (Optional): Some calendering rollers have special surface patterns (e.g., embossed designs) that can be transferred to the fabric, creating a desired texture or appearance.⁶
5. Cooling (Optional): After passing through the heated rollers, the fabric may pass over cooling rollers to set the finish.
6. Output: The finished non-woven fabric is then delivered out of the machine, ready for further processing or use.

Use in the Non-Woven Sector

Calendering machines are used in non-woven manufacturing when you need:

1. Smoothness and Uniformity: They create a smoother, more uniform surface on the non-woven fabric, improving its appearance and feel.⁷
2. Controlled Thickness: They can reduce the thickness of the fabric to meet specific requirements.⁸
3. Surface Texture: They can impart a desired texture or pattern to the fabric, enhancing its aesthetic appeal or functionality.⁹
4. Improved Properties: Calendering can sometimes improve certain fabric properties, such as its strength, stiffness, or drape.¹⁰

Think of it this way:

Imagine rolling out a piece of clay with a rolling pin. You can control how smooth and flat the clay becomes by adjusting the pressure. The calendering machine is like a very precise, heated “rolling pin” for non-woven fabrics.

In short, the calendering machine is a finishing step that refines the surface and properties of non-woven fabrics by smoothing, flattening, and texturing them.¹¹ It’s a key process for achieving the desired look, feel, and performance characteristics in the final non-woven product.