Oerlikon receives Saudi order for five BCF plants

“The combination of sophisticated technology, outstanding quality and profitability were the determining factors in our decision to choose Oerlikon Neumag BFC technology”, said Al Abdullatif Al Abdullatif, CEO of Al Abdullatif Industrial Investment. “With this order we add the Saudi Arabian market to our already broad reach in the growing carpet yarn market”, said Stefan Kross, Head of the Oerlikon Textile Manmade Fibers Business Unit.

Manmade fiber yarns account for nearly 90 % of the carpet market. BCF yarns are increasingly more popular than staple fiber yarns because they are cheaper to produce, more robust, low maintenance and hypoallergenic. With a 2012 market share in excess of 80 %, Oerlikon Neumag is the market leader in the manufacture of BCF yarn systems.

The S+ plant, which delivers 99 % efficiency and significant cost savings, is the latest Oerlikon Neumag machine. The S+ combines the benefits of the S5 and Sytec One to create a fast, efficient solution with tried-and-tested components incorporating winder design improvements and an optimized yarn path. The system, which has also been available for polyester processing since last year, can increase productivity by up to 25 % and offers outstanding user-friendliness.

The Al Abdullatif Industrial Investment Company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-end tufted and woven carpets. The company, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is vertically integrated from extrusion and spinning plant all the way through to finished carpets. With a production capacity of some 125 tons of carpet yarn per day and a global network, the company services a vast international market. “With this additional equipment from Oerlikon Neumag we will further strengthen our market position in the growing carpet yarn market”, said Al Abdullatif Al Abdullatif.

The contract includes three S+ BCF systems for mono-color polypropylene and two further systems for polyester. The systems are scheduled to be commissioned and to start production at beginning of 2014.

About Oerlikon

Oerlikon is one of the world’s leading high-tech industrial groups specializing in machine and plant engineering. The Company is a provider of innovative industrial solutions and cutting-edge technologies for textile machines, drives, vacuum and solar energy systems, thin-film coating and advanced nanotechnology. A Swiss company with a tradition going back more than 100 years, Oerlikon is a global player with around 12,700 employees at more than 160 locations in 34 countries and sales of CHF 2.9 billion in 2012. In 2012, the company invested CHF 106 million in R&D, with over 1,000 specialists working on future products and services. In most areas, the company ranks either first or second in the respective global markets.

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