Stitch-bonded non-woven material is made on an industrial knitting machine which bonds a web of plastic-based fibres together with a longitudinal yarn. This gives the fabric a softer texture that is flexible and highly durable. Romatex is a leading manufacturer and supplier of stitch-bonded non-woven material in South Africa.
This sustainable textile has many uses that vary from shopping bags and vertical window blinds to footwear components and eco-bricks. The uses are evolving as the world shifts towards more sustainable living and this plastic-based textile is perfectly suited for eco-friendly uses.
Romatex has the capacity to manufacture two million square metres of stitch-bonded non-woven material every month. In a single year, this is enough to keep 54 million plastic bottles out of landfills and the environment. Due to recent investments and funding, Romatex will be increasing its capacity in the near future.
Important properties of this textile
There are various methods to produce non-woven fabric, such as needle-punch, thermal-bond and chemical-bond, but stitch-bonding gives the textile certain properties that are beneficial to its end uses. Its durability and strength are two such properties.
During finishing, acrylic resins can be added to make the fabric more rigid, which is useful for vertical window blinds, for example. Other treatments and additives can also be used to make the textile more flame-resistant and waterproof where such characteristics are desirable or required.
More properties and characteristics
Here are some more important properties of stitch-bonded non-woven material:
- Variable textures and thicknesses to suit the end use.
- Highly durable and strong due to tensile strength.
- The flat surface lends itself to printing and customisability.
- Additives and treatments can give the fabric improved qualities and characteristics.
- Porosity can vary, making the textile breathable or water-resistant.
Many of these properties come from the fact that the material is made from extruded plastic fibres, which are hydrophobic and durable. However, one of the most essential properties of plastic-based textiles is recyclability. Stitch-bonded non-woven material can be mechanically or chemically recycled, or, the material can be re-purposed.
This contributes to a more sustainable textile industry and helps to keep plastic waste out of landfills and the environment. As a result, more and more uses are being discovered for stitch-bonded non-woven material due to its varied and beneficial properties. For more information on our products and textiles, please contact us today.
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Romatex has been a leading manufacturer and supplier of stitch-bonded non-woven materials and homeware for over 50 years. Romatex is a Level 2 B-BBEE company that is owned by Deneb Investments Limited, a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI), which is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
Our head office is based in Cape Town but we have branches in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. For more information about our products, please contact info@romatex.co.za. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for our latest news and industry insights.
Our head office is based in Cape Town but we have branches in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Free State. For more information about our products, please contact info@romatex.co.za. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for our latest news and industry insights.
