Components and OEM
Mesh and filter components to build into your product
Sefar Appliance is the Sefar range of woven monofilament mesh and finished filter components for injection moulders and OEM manufacturers. The mesh is supplied as ribbons, tubes, stampings, pleated elements or with adhesive, ready for insert moulding or assembly. Sefar is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 13485 and IATF 16949.
- Yarn diameter
- 19–2,000 µm
- Smallest micro tube, up to 500 m long
- Ø 2 mm
- Ribbons in one pleated element
- 5 layers
- Quality system for the automotive industry
- IATF 16949
From polymer to finished component
Sefar controls the whole chain from yarn to finished part. The subsidiary Monosuisse spins the monofilament in plants in Switzerland, Poland, Romania and Mexico. Sefar weaves, finishes and fabricates the mesh and works as a development partner for injection moulders and manufacturers, with field sales and engineering staff who develop customised solutions.
Bigman is the Sefar distributor in Sweden, Norway and Iceland. We help you choose mesh and format, and components developed for you can be stocked in Spånga. The lead time is given once the product has been developed.
- Polymers: ECTFE, ETFE, FEP, PA (PA6, PA6.6, PA6.10, PA11, PA12), PEEK, PET, PFA, PP, PVDF and PTFE.
- Weaves: plain weave, twill weave, dutch weave, plain reverse dutch weave and satin weave.
- Quality control of mesh opening, thread count, open area, thickness and air permeability with optical or pressure-sensitive equipment.
- Full traceability and consistent lot-to-lot quality.
Formats and fabrication
Sefar fabricates the mesh into the form your production needs, and the parts can be optimised for injection moulding. Rigid weaves are adapted for insert moulding.
| Format | How Sefar makes it |
|---|---|
| Tubes | Heat slit, where two layers are slit at the same time and welded together at the edges, or ultrasonically welded with one overlapping seam. Micro tubes from Ø 2 mm and up to 500 m long, depending on fabric and dimensions. |
| Tube cuts | Cut to length, ready for further processing. Laser or cold cutting, depending on the required edge quality. |
| Ribbons | The mesh is slit and wound into ribbon rolls. The slitting method is chosen to suit the application, for example for a sealed, non-fraying edge. |
| Stampings, discs and shapes | Polygons and irregular flat pieces cut to your drawing. |
| Pleated elements | Up to five layers of ribbons are cut and ultrasonically welded together, pleated and cut to a defined number of pleats. |
| Tape and dispenser products | Mesh, foil or film with one or more adhesive layers, single- or double-sided, or on dispenser tape for automated assembly. |
Edge quality by cutting method
The edge differs depending on how the mesh is cut or stamped.
| Method | Used for | Advantage according to Sefar |
|---|---|---|
| Cold | Cutting, stamping | Works for all weaves |
| Heat | Cutting, slitting | Closed edge due to melting. Works for most weaves, not fluoropolymers |
| Laser | Cutting | No special tools, high flexibility |
| Ultrasonic | Slitting, welding | Very clean edges, small material build-up, tight tolerances |
For higher weld strength in tubes, Sefar recommends ultrasonic welding. According to Sefar, ultrasonically welded seams are considerably more durable and tighter and can be used as a functional seam.
Applications in household appliances and power tools
The Sefar Appliance brochure describes eight applications, seven indoor and one outdoor. A high open area gives higher flow, so the filter area can be made smaller.
| Application | Function | Recommended fabrics |
|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher filters | Self-cleaning and manually cleaned filters for food residue and grease | SEFAR PETEX 07-190/70, SEFAR S-TEX PET, SEFAR BASIC, SEFAR S-TEX PA, SEFAR PEEK 17-195/70 and 17-220/56 |
| Washing machine filters | Catch objects and protect the pump from clogging | SEFAR PETEX 07-190/70, SEFAR S-TEX PET and PA, SEFAR BASIC. Can be combined with nonwoven |
| Tumble dryer filters (lint filters) | Hold back lint and withstand hot air and mechanical stress | SEFAR PETEX 07-400/48, SEFAR S-TEX PET and PA, SEFAR BASIC |
| Air filters for small engines | Keep particles from entering the engine | Filter fabric 20–100 µm and support fabric 600–1,000 µm in SEFAR PA or SEFAR PETEX |
| Air conditioning | Spacer fabrics and filters for split units and larger industrial units, with depth filters such as HEPA and HVAC | SEFAR DELTA 150–1,000 µm, SEFAR PETEX 5–1,000 µm |
| Watering cans, coffee and tea brewers | Reusable and washable filters | SEFAR PETEX 100–250 µm, 32–46% open area |
| Water filters | Remove particles that disturb the process | SEFAR PETEX 200–500 µm, 39–48% open area |
| Spray and foam nozzles | Distribute or foam cleaners and care products | SEFAR PROPYLTEX 05-75/21, 05-150/34 and 05-280/41 |
| Lawn mowers, chain saws, hedge clippers, leaf blowers | Air filters, often as pleated elements for a larger filter area | Filter fabric 20–100 µm and support fabric 600–1,000 µm in SEFAR PA or SEFAR PETEX |
Standard fabrics with mesh opening
Several of the fabrics recur in most of the applications. Sefar gives these mesh openings:
| Fabric | Material | Mesh opening |
|---|---|---|
| SEFAR BASIC 43/110-80W PW | PET | 149 µm |
| SEFAR BASIC 36/92-90W PW | PET | 183 µm |
| SEFAR BASIC 32/83-100W PW | PET | 209 µm |
| SEFAR PET 1500 24/60-120W PW | PET | 294 µm |
| SEFAR PA 36/92-90W PW | PA | 190 µm |
| SEFAR PA 24/60-160W PW | PA | 252 µm |
How to read the designation
- Standard designation, for example 07-250/50: material code (07 = PET), mesh opening 250 µm and open area 50%.
- SEFAR S-TEX, for example PET 200-60: material, mesh opening 200 µm and thickness 60 µm.
Surface treatments
The mesh can be given additional properties as options. Sefar finishes it with coating, heat treatment, calendering, chemical finishing, plasma and dyeing.
- Hydrophobic and oleophobic, by coating or plasma. Most coatings are fluoropolymer-based.
- Hydrophilic and oleophilic, by coating or plasma.
- SEFAR AntiBac: silver ions that are a fixed component of the yarn.
- Antiflame: coating and/or PEEK mesh that limits flame spread, heat release, burning droplets and smoke.
- Antistatic: prevents or reduces static charge.
- Dyeing to customer specification, defined in the CIE Lab colour space.
Certifications and standards
Sefar is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949, and works to standards such as ISO, DIN, REACH, RoHS and FDA. For water filters, Sefar states FDA conformity.
Automotive industry
Sefar is certified to IATF 16949, the quality standard of the automotive industry. Beyond the certification, the Sefar brochures mention two automotive applications:
- Heated interiors, seat belts and armrests with SEFAR PowerHeat NT, and de-icing and floor heating in heavy vehicles (see below).
- SEFAR TETEX DLW Coolant, filter belts for coolant cleaning on belt filters in metalworking, steelworks and the automotive industry. Sefar states efficiently cleaned coolant, high and stable filtration rates, excellent surface quality and a lower total cost of ownership, for example through longer tool life.
SEFAR PowerHeat NT, heating textile
SEFAR® PowerHeat NT is a heating textile in which the conductive components are woven into the fabric with patented technology. The textile can be freely shaped with curves, straight lines and cut-outs while keeping the same power density and temperature. It is thinner than 1 mm.
- Uniform temperature without hot spots, and fast heating.
- Keeps working even if the fabric is damaged.
- Not visible on the surface with thin, hard 3D lamination.
- Compatible with soft and hard lamination, thermoforming, injection moulding, back foaming and sewing.
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Automotive | Interior heating, seat belts, armrests |
| Heavy vehicles | De-icing for trucks, floor heating in buses, trains and motorhomes |
| Household | Beds, furniture, slow cookers, mirror cabinets |
| Medical | Operating tables, incubators |
| Clothing | Jackets, trousers, shoes |
The Sefar sheet gives no values for power, voltage or materials. The textile is adapted to the customer’s application.
Reinforcement mesh for ion exchange membranes (IEM)
Sefar weaves customised reinforcement fabrics for membranes and separators in electrolysis. The fabrics have an extra high open area, low thickness, a defined mesh opening and polymers that withstand chemicals and heat. All types have the Stabilized finish.
- Tight tolerances on mesh opening and high flatness for membrane preparation.
- Thickness tolerance within a few micrometres across whole rolls and batches.
- Low shrinkage and low levels of extractables.
- Smooth surface without foreign particles.
- PEEK and fluoropolymers for aggressive environments and high temperatures.
| Type | Thickness | Mesh opening | Open area | Polymer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEM 17-240/62 | 120 ±10 µm | 240 ±10 µm | 62 ±5% | PEEK |
| IEM 17-195/70 | 60 ±5 µm | 195 ±10 µm | 70 ±5% | PEEK |
| IEM 07-195/70 | 65 ±10 µm | 195 ±10 µm | 70 ±3% | PET |
| IEM 05-195/70 | 70 ±5 µm | 195 ±10 µm | 70 ±3% | PP |
| IEM 19-195/70 | 110 ±20 µm | 195 +10/−70 µm | 70 +3/−15% | PFA |
Sefar may adjust the specifications without notice. With a no-change agreement, the fabric design is not changed without notifying you first.
Frequently asked questions
Can the mesh be moulded in directly during injection moulding?
Yes. Sefar supplies rigid weaves adapted for insert moulding, and ribbons, tubes and stampings that can be optimised for the injection moulding process.
How narrow are the tubes Sefar can make?
Micro tubes down to Ø 2 mm, and tubes up to 500 m long, depending on fabric, manufacturing technology and dimensions.
Which certifications does Sefar have for the components?
ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001 and IATF 16949. Sefar also works to ISO, DIN, REACH, RoHS and FDA.
Can Bigman stock the components?
Yes. We stock components developed for you in Spånga. The lead time is given once the product has been developed.