A reinforced element for use in the construction and assembly of an industrial textile, the element comprising a fibrous reinforcing material encapsulated by a thermoplastic polymer matrix, wherein: the thermoplastic polymer matrix comprises an amorphous polyester, a low-crystallinity polyester, polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), or a mixture thereof; the fibrous reinforcing material comprises continuous filaments selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polymeric filaments, thermosetting polymeric filaments, glass fibers and a mixture thereof such that a majority of the continuous filaments are oriented in a first direction and the remainder of the continuous filaments are oriented in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction; a temperature at which the amorphous polymer substantially enters a liquid state, or the melting point of the low-crystallinity polyester, is at least 10° C. less than the melting point of the thermoplastic polymeric filaments; and the polymer matrix and the fibrous reinforcing material are both substantially transparent to radiant laser energy in a range of from about 800 nm to about 1200 run.

A woven fabric seam area is provided including a top surface and a bottom surface, with the woven fabric being formed of warp yarns interwoven with weft yarns in a repeating pattern, and either the warp yarns or the weft yarns are formed at least in part of a laser energy absorbent material. Within the fabric seam area yarns formed of laser energy transparent material can be bonded to yarns being formed at least in part of a laser energy absorbent material by laser welds in order to maintain or achieve a desired flexibility and/or shear resistance of the fabric. A method of forming such a fabric seam area is also provided.

A woven fabric seam area is provided including a top surface and a bottom surface, with the woven fabric being formed of warp yarns interwoven with weft yarns in a repeating pattern, and either the warp yarns or the weft yarns are formed at least in part of a laser energy absorbent material. Within the fabric seam area yarns formed of laser energy transparent material can be bonded to yarns being formed at least in part of a laser energy absorbent material by laser welds in order to maintain or achieve a desired flexibility and/or shear resistance of the fabric. A method of forming such a fabric seam area is also provided.

A clothing, in particular a seam felt for a machine producing a fibrous material web, in particular a paper, paperboard, tissue or pulp web, includes a base structure including or formed of a two-layer laminate structure formed of one or more flat-woven fabrics. The laminate structure has MD threads forming seam loops at two end sides of the base structure, and the two layers of the laminate structure are connected to one another by the seam loops. The clothing is made endless by connecting the end sides by a seam. The seam is made by interengaging the seam loops of both end sides and introducing an insertion element. The diameter of the seam loops LD and the diameter of the associated MD threads MDYD have a ratio LD/MDYD of between 2.5 and 4, in particular between 2.7 and 3.6.

A clothing, in particular a seam felt for a machine producing a fibrous material web, in particular a paper, paperboard, tissue or pulp web, includes a base structure including or formed of a two-layer laminate structure formed of one or more flat-woven fabrics. The laminate structure has MD threads forming seam loops at two end sides of the base structure, and the two layers of the laminate structure are connected to one another by the seam loops. The clothing is made endless by connecting the end sides by a seam. The seam is made by interengaging the seam loops of both end sides and introducing an insertion element. The diameter of the seam loops LD and the diameter of the associated MD threads MDYD have a ratio LD/MDYD of between 2.5 and 4, in particular between 2.7 and 3.6.

A fabric, in particular a felt, for use in a machine for producing a tissue web, has a base structure, which has a textile structure with MD threads, and at least one layer of nonwoven fibers. The MD threads predominantly or as a whole have a diameter ranging between 0.25 mm and 0.45 mm, in particular between 0.3 mm and 0.35 mm, and the thread density of the MD threads is more than 37%, in particular between 37% and 45%. There is also described a machine and a method for producing a tissue web using such a fabric.

A seamed felt for use in a machine for producing a tissue web has a single-layer or multilayer base structure and at least one layer of non-woven fibers. The base structure has a textile structure with MD threads which form seam loops at the two front edges of the base structure. The fabric can be made endless by connecting its front edges by way of a seam. The seam can be formed by interlocking the seam loops of the two front edges and introducing a push-in element. The MD threads wholly or predominantly have a diameter between 0.25 mm and 0.45 mm, in particular between 0.3 mm and 0.35 mm, and the thread density of the MD threads is more than 37%, in particular between 37% and 45%. There is also described a corresponding machine and a method for producing a tissue web.

A seamed felt for use in a machine for producing a tissue web has a single-layer or multilayer base structure and at least one layer of non-woven fibers. The base structure has a textile structure with MD threads which form seam loops at the two front edges of the base structure. The fabric can be made endless by connecting its front edges by way of a seam. The seam can be formed by interlocking the seam loops of the two front edges and introducing a push-in element. The MD threads wholly or predominantly have a diameter between 0.25 mm and 0.45 mm, in particular between 0.3 mm and 0.35 mm, and the thread density of the MD threads is more than 37%, in particular between 37% and 45%. There is also described a corresponding machine and a method for producing a tissue web.

A seam connecting fabric edges is formed by surrounding a first fabric edge with a first plush material strip suitable for the attachment of a hooked material. The first plush material strip defines a first front surface and a first rear surface. A second fabric edge is surrounded with a second plush material strip having a second front surface and a second rear surface. A single strip of a hooked material is deployed behind the first rear surface and the second rear surface. Then, with the first surrounded edge substantially in contact with the second surrounded edge, a force is applied to engage hooks of the single strip of hooked material with said first rear surface and said second rear surface.

A seam connecting fabric edges is formed by surrounding a first fabric edge with a first plush material strip suitable for the attachment of a hooked material. The first plush material strip defines a first front surface and a first rear surface. A second fabric edge is surrounded with a second plush material strip having a second front surface and a second rear surface. A single strip of a hooked material is deployed behind the first rear surface and the second rear surface. Then, with the first surrounded edge substantially in contact with the second surrounded edge, a force is applied to engage hooks of the single strip of hooked material with said first rear surface and said second rear surface.