Nadelfilze – SOLTA®TEC

Nadelfilze for Your Technical Applications

In addition to the traditional felting methods that have been in use for millennia, which involve heat, friction, and moisture, the technique of needle felting has been developed since the beginning of industrialization. The process of needling fibers to create needle felts has been employed by us for several decades, and we have continuously optimized the process to deliver top-quality results. Needle felting involves the use of special felting needles equipped with barbs that pierce through the fiber layers, reorganizing the structure of the fabric and creating compression, resulting in felt. Almost any fabric can be used for needle felting. After the needling process, the felt can undergo further treatment to ensure even better compression, typically using steam. Unlike wool felt, needle felting does not require the exclusive use of natural sheep’s wool – it allows for optimal interweaving of synthetic fibers as well.
The processing of fabrics into felt is done mechanically using thousands of needles mounted on plates or bars. By repeatedly inserting and withdrawing the needles, the individual fibers entangle to form a tightly compacted fabric. The duration of this process determines the strength and firmness of the felt. At our facility, needle felting is done without the addition of adhesives or fiber fusion – this guarantees you an absolutely pure product that can be used in various industrial applications.

A Brief Explanation of the Differences Between Wool and Needle Felt

Wool felt and needle felt may appear similar from the outside, but they possess fundamentally different characteristics. If you want to use felt according to your specific requirements, it’s important to understand the differences, as this will help you choose the right felt product for your needs. We would like to highlight the distinctions between the two felts to facilitate your decision-making process.
Wool felt is a natural product, whereas needle felt is often made from synthetic fibers. At our facility, we use a blend of sheep’s wool and synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers or blends cannot be processed into a dense fabric using the felting technique alone. Therefore, felting needles are used to interlock synthetic fibers. When examining felt closely, you can immediately notice the first difference: Wool felts have a more disordered structure, with fibers often remaining visibly long during the compression process. Needle felt, on the other hand, exhibits a highly organized structure and a visibly dense fiber arrangement. The mechanical processing of needle felt is evident, while wool felt still gives the impression of being handcrafted.

Furthermore, the two felts also differ significantly in terms of their tactile qualities. Wool felt is particularly soft and fibrous to the touch, while needle felt has a noticeably more robust surface and a more uniform structure. These characteristics directly translate to their respective applications: Wool felt is gentle on surfaces, but it tends to wear out faster. If the felt constantly rubs against a surface, as is the case with felt gliders, it will be less durable. This means that not only the appearance and texture of the two felts differ, but their material properties also vary. Therefore, depending on the intended use, either our SOLTA®TEC needle felt or our SOLTA®FELT wool felt will be employed.

SOLTA®TEC Needle Felt – Functions

• Material protection
• Sealing
• Damping
• Transmission
• Braking
• Cleaning
• Your idea – We help further

SOLTA®TEC Needle Felt – Characteristics

Whether needle felt or wool felt, the properties of these materials are similar, making them popular choices in the industry. They are temperature-resistant and flame-retardant, and they provide warmth and insulation, which is crucial in outdoor and textile applications. Felt, in general, is extremely durable and resilient – this applies even more so to needle felt, as the fibers are tightly interwoven and difficult to separate. Needle felt is used in numerous industrial applications, such as insulation or seals. Here’s what our SOLTA®TEC needle felt can do:

• Non-flammable / self-extinguishing: Ideal for high-temperature applications
• Store and transmit liquids: Suitable for ink storage, such as stamp pads
• Polishing: For cleaning and polishing surfaces, such as in vehicle washing
• Sealing: As a stamped part or cut strips, it is suitable for sealing
• Insulating / Damping: Insulates heat, cold, noise, or vibrations
• Mechanically stable: Withstands high tensile loads or shear forces, such as in brake pads
• Elastic: Good resilience after compression, as with gaskets
• Chemically stable: Suitable for contact with chemicals
• Thermally deformable: Suitable for molded parts in vehicles or interior design

Depending on the specific fibers or fiber blends used, needle felt exhibits specific properties. Additional treatments after needling can further optimize or enhance these properties. With our SOLTA®TEC needle felt, you can also obtain additional features, such as antistatic attributes.

SOLTA®TEC Needle Felt – Applications

Needle felt is widely used in various industries. Whether as padding, insulation, or bearing material, as a material for clothing and accessories in the fashion industry, or in the production of home accessories and in architecture for decor or insulation materials – our SOLTA®TEC needle felt is a versatile all-rounder and impresses with its functional properties.

List of SOLTA®TEC applications (separate document – to follow)

SOLTA®TEC Needle Felt – Technical Facts

We offer our SOLTA®TEC needle felt as standard meter goods with individual widths of up to 2,400 millimeters. Depending on your specific requirements, we provide different thicknesses and densities ranging from “soft as cotton wool” to “stiff as a board”. Thicknesses between 1 and 50 millimeters are possible. Depending on the type of fiber and fiber blend, you can benefit from the versatile and specified properties of our needle felt. Thanks to numerous additional equipment options, you can get exactly the needle felt you need for your requirements. Need a needle felt that provides cold insulation and heat insulation? No problem – we can make it happen! Just let us know where our needle felt will be used, and together, we will explore the possibilities and manufacture your desired product.

Examples of Customized Equipment for Our Needle Felt

We have made a name for ourselves as a reliable and competent partner in the development and production of highly specialized felts and stand for bringing out the best for you. Our products are subject to high quality control and are always oriented to demand. We are constantly investing in our production facilities and employees so that we can offer you excellent and top-class products. Thanks to our in-house laboratories, we test every product before it goes on sale, and innovative new developments also take place here. In each of our production steps, we pay attention to sustainable as well as environmentally friendly handling and continue to expand our sustainability concept – so that you can use our products with a clear conscience.