Swedish Automation Powers Filter Products In Textile Manufacturing
Members of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association, are providing vital automation and manufacturing solutions to the filtration sector, a key but often overlooked part of the global textile industry.
Technical woven and nonwoven fabrics are used in filtration systems for air, gas and liquid filtration, impacting a wide range of industries from aerospace to home appliances, and ensuring cleaner air in transportation, industrial processes and household systems like air conditioning, washing machines and vacuum cleaners.
For example, Interfil’s Skjåk manufacturing plant in Norway produces an annual 230,000 air filter units across 15,000 variants, with 9,000 products continuously moving through production at any time. Similarly, Filtration System Products (FSP) in the US produces over 2,200 filter hoses and media daily.
Automated Material Handling
Both Interfil and FSP benefit from the automation expertise of TMAS member Eton Systems, which designs individually addressable product carriers that eliminate manual transportation. This ensures each product arrives at the correct position precisely when needed for each step of production.
Interfil has used Eton’s automated overhead conveyor system since 2014, linking production halls at their Skjåk plant and improving efficiency, quality control and safety. FSP saw a 60% increase in production output after implementing an Eton system in 2023, without increasing operator numbers or hours. Eton’s system also ensures that only flawless products are unloaded, improving quality control and saving space while creating a safer, more ergonomic work environment.
“We were unsure if an automated system could handle the demands of filtration media production, but Eton’s solution tracked carriers in real time and proved perfect for our needs,” says Jerker Krabbe, CEO of Eton Systems.
Automated Filter Bag Production
TMAS members ACG Kinna Automatic and ACG Nyström, in cooperation with Juki Central Europe, have developed a fully automated micro-factory for filter bag production. This system eliminates labour-intensive manual work, enabling the production of 120 finished filter bags per hour.
ACG’s micro-factory includes two interconnected modules: the Smart Filter Line (SFL), which handles fabric feeding, folding and seam construction (sewing, welding or taping), and the Filtermaster 2.0, which automatically attaches reinforcements and completes the filter bag with a robotic arm.
Christian Moore, CEO of ACG Kinna Automatic, states, “Automation eliminates the hours of manual labour previously needed, offering faster, more precise production.”
A Vision for the Future
TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson adds, “The innovations from our members showcase a deep understanding of automation techniques and the growing demand for sustainable processing. Minimizing manual handling is crucial for textile manufacturers to remain competitive, especially in Europe and the United States.”
