nir-vana innovation network

An Italian company designed a machinery that obtain masks from the overlap of three layers of nonwoven fabric (external Spunbond, Meltblown and internal Spunbond), the insertion of the nose wire and eventually the welding of two elastic ear loops. The machine, capable of a production of 120 pieces per minute, has reduced overall dimensions (8 m x 4,5 m x 2,2 m) and requires the presence of two operators for the masks’ unloading and packaging.

The machine is split in stations (each for every phase), spanning from material storage to the achievement of complete masks.

- Station 1: it consists of three fabric spools that are manually locked to the structure and an engine that puts them into rotation to push them forward;
- Station 2: a pair of shaped rollers allows the overlap of the three materials and creates the necessary folds for the welding in the next phase;
- Station 3: the nose wire is inserted in the fabric; a roller then welds the three previously folded fabrics and at last a blade cuts them obtaining separate masks;
- Station 4: Masks get distanced from each other and distributed on two lines that conduct them to the final station;
- Station 5: Masks transported by a belt are completed with the welding of elastic ear loops;
- Station 6 (optional): an automated system for finished masks storage.

The company is looking for machine manufacturers to collaborate to develop the new machinery under a technical cooperation agreement and to produce and sale it under a license agreement.

Advantages & innovations

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the machine permits a large-scale production, allowing the satisfaction of an ever-increasing demand (with an estimated output of 2 million pieces per month) while keeping the cost down. The machinery will be built with CE certified materials and commercial components, to give production continuity and durability, reducing maintenance times to the minimum. In addition, unlike similar machines that are already on the market, screens and barriers have been added to the project, in order to protect operators and to ensure complete sterility of the product.

Stage of development

Available for demonstration

Partner sought

Type: Machine manufacturers Role: the partner sought should collaborate with the SME to develop the new machinery under a technical cooperation agreement and to produce and sale it under a license agreement, by paying royalties to the SME .