Strategic co-operation between FEHRER and SCHLUMBERGER
in the papermaker felt technology sector.

FEHRER has formed a strategic alliance with the Schlumberger Group companies THIBEAU and ASSELIN for the marketing of complete papermaker felt lines.

THIBEAU and ASSELIN number among the industry´s leading non-woven card and cross-lapper manufacturer, but up to now, they have lacked a capability in the papermaker felt needle punching sector. Conversely, FEHRER is one of the leaders in this field with a reputation based on decades of experience. It was therefore only logical to found a strategic alliance with the aim of designing and supplying complete plants to the papermaker felt branch as a technologically powerful group.

This co-operation was first made public on the occasion of the 7th International Papermaker Felt Industry Symposium in Flims / Switzerland, organised and held by the EMS Chemie company. The announcement took place in the course of a specialist address by Mr. Laurent Glacet from THIBEAU/ASSELIN, in which a revolutionary process for the optimisation of web quality, called ProDynŽ, was presented.

As was evident from the spontaneous response of the audience, the special importance of the new alliance to customers is the fact that practical testing can take place at THIBEAU, ASSELIN and FEHRER. Both THIBEAU and ASSELIN have ProDynŽ test and demonstration lines consisting of a card and a cross-lapper, which will now be supplemented by a special needling machine located in the FEHRER technology centre in Linz.

Fehrer Focus No. 25/June 2000