Kadant plays a key role in the textiles and nonwovens industry, where precise heating, cooling, and fluid transfer are essential to product quality and operational efficiency. In both synthetic and natural fiber manufacturing, Kadant’s advanced rotary joints and unions provide reliable transfer of steam, water, and thermal oil into rolls and dryers during fiber drawing, stretching, finishing, and drying stages, ensuring consistent temperature control and stable performance. Such applications are used to create a large portfolio of products, including spunbonded olefin and aramid, among others.
Supporting these systems, Kadant’s flexible metal hose assemblies deliver durable, leak-free connections that withstand vibration, thermal cycling, and high-pressure conditions common in textile production environments. By combining robust sealing technologies with engineered fluid-handling solutions, Kadant helps textiles and nonwovens manufacturers achieve greater process efficiency, reduced energy costs, and long-term sustainability, while maintaining the high standards of quality required across diverse applications.
RX® Rotary Union
The RX rotary union is designed for reliable water service in textiles and nonwovens processing applications such as heated calender rolls, embossing rolls, drying cylinders, and laminating lines, where consistent temperature control and continuous operation are critical. Its balanced mechanical seal, supported by precision ball bearings or optional tapered roller bearings, ensures smooth performance under high roll loads with minimal maintenance. Featuring a stainless-steel nipple and assembly plate for corrosion resistance and extended bearing life, this robust solution is available in single- and dual-flow configurations to provide dependable, long-lasting fluid transfer across demanding fabric finishing, bonding, and thermal processing operations.
SX® Rotary Joints
The SX rotary joint provides a durable, leak-resistant connection between stationary piping and rotating cylinders in textiles and nonwovens processing applications such as steam-heated dryers, calender and embossing rolls, laminating lines, and thermal bonding equipment. Designed with an optimized seal diameter, a convex seal ring operating in compression, and maximum carbon guide separation, the SX rotary joint delivers extended seal life and reduced maintenance in continuous high-temperature service. Available in through-flow and dual-flow configurations, it supports speeds up to 550 RPM and temperatures up to 650°F (343°C), while adjustable syphon clearance and self-aligning seal technology enhance joint stability and condensate removal, ensuring consistent heat transfer and reliable performance across demanding fabric finishing and bonding operations.
ELSX™ Rotary Joints
The ELSX rotary joint is engineered for extended-life steam and thermal oil service in demanding textiles and nonwovens applications, including heated calender stacks, embossing rolls, thermal bonding systems, and dryers. Designed to perform in high-load, high-speed, and vibration-intensive environments, the ELSX incorporates a convex seal geometry that increases pressure-velocity (PV) capability by up to 20% and extends seal ring life by up to 15% over traditional rotary joint designs. This advanced sealing technology enhances uptime, supports consistent roll temperature control, and reduces maintenance frequency in continuous web processing operations where productivity and uniform product quality are essential.
Flexible Metal Hoses
Kadant flexible metal hoses are essential components in the steam, condensate, and process piping systems that support the textiles and nonwovens industry. Found in various locations throughout the production process, flexible metal hoses compensate for misalignment and movement between critical equipment. They ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of process piping systems, extending equipment life and improving production uptime.
