Wedge Welding Geotextiles, Nonwovens & Flexible Textiles
Geotextiles and geosynthetics were among the applications that established Novaweld’s wedge-welding experience. Today GT wedge-welding applications are much broader, while the BPR advantages developed for geotextile welding remain highly relevant to nonwoven and flexible-textile applications.
GT-200 for Nonwoven Textile Applications
The GT-200 is designed for compatible nonwoven textile applications where the material remains supported while an integrated BPR machine moves along the seam. This arrangement can reduce unnecessary material handling and allows the equipment to be configured around field or production workflow.
T-joints and multilayer intersections are a major BPR advantage. Because the pressure roller works against the supporting surface, selected GT-200 configurations can cross an existing welded seam and create a T-joint without forcing the layered intersection through a fixed opposing-roller gap.
Polypropylene, Polyester, Nylon & Other Flexible Textiles
Different textile constructions behave differently at the wedge. Weight, thickness, surface condition, reinforcement, layer count, and required seam performance matter more than a material name by itself.
Polypropylene
Woven and nonwoven polypropylene has a long history in geotextile wedge welding and remains one of the most familiar flexible-textile applications for GT equipment.
Polyester
Polyester can behave differently at the wedge than polypropylene and may require different speed, support, and process settings. The actual textile construction determines the correct approach.
Nylon
Compatible nylon constructions can also be wedge welded. As with other materials, the complete material and the required seam determine whether handheld or integrated equipment is the better fit.
GT-100 for Direct Operator Control
The GT-100 can be used on compatible nonwoven textiles and other flexible materials when handheld control, portability, access, repair work, detail welding, or lower equipment investment is more important than a dedicated integrated system.
Because welding motion is supplied by the operator rather than a powered feed system, there are no drive-system jams and no production downtime for clearing drive/feed jams. The GT-100 can also weld dissimilar flexible materials together when both materials can be heat welded.
The same machine is used far beyond geotextiles—for industrial fabrication, heavy vinyls, straps, patches, reinforcements, edges, maintenance, and field work. Current GT-100 specifications list operating speed up to 60 feet per minute, with actual speed depending on the material and application.
GT Wedge Welding Extends Well Beyond “Geo”
Early Novaweld applications were strongly associated with geosynthetics. The same GT engineering now supports a much wider range of industrial flexible-material work.
Need a GT Wedge Welder for a Textile or Flexible-Material Application?
For current GT-100 and GT-200 equipment, application engineering, quotations, service, or support, use Novaseal.com. For broader technical information about wedge welding, materials, BPR, OPR, and process selection, continue at WedgeWelding.com.