ECCO GLEITTECHNIK GMBH

Industrial fibres made of renewable raw
materials

Object

The intention is to introduce a technically
high quality fibre (SETRALIT®), made of renewable raw materials, as an
alternative to synthetic fibres and conventional natural fibres, which is of
ecological and economical interest. All this is based on an increasingly
favourable political environment, the rising market of fibres made of renewable
raw materials, and the experience that in every mass market also high quality
products are needed. The development of natural fibre products has basically
been terminated.

History

Development of SETRALIT® - fibres was initiated
in 1989 by the friction lining industry after replacement of asbestos was
required by law. In the years that followed ECCO managed to develop the
so-called “Ultrasonic Breakdown”, a method to gain natural fibres – mainly bast
fibres of annual plant like flax or hemp – of constantly pure quality. Now
these fibres are commercially available. They are already applied in friction
linings, and in several other applications which are technical demanding they
are ready for marketing. ECCO holds patents about the ultrasound method and
device as well as about several refinement and finishing steps that make the
SETRALIT® - Fibre to an unique high-performance substance.