Intermas: experts in high-temperature netting for the filtration industry

The increased global demand for cleaner air and liquids leads to new challenges for the filtration industry. Today, a broad range of industrial applications require the use of high-temperature resistant materials within the most demanding environments.

Intermas is one of the few companies in the world able to design and manufacture netting with technical polymers, such as PA6 and PBT, as well as polyolefins such as PP and PE. These nets are used as pleat support in different types of filters. 

Let us walk you through our range of products which has exceeded the most demanding requirements of the world’s filtration leaders. 

Pleat support netting for filter media 

Inside every filtration unit filter media is pleated. Netting is used to reinforce this pleat and ensure its constant pitch and depth, while minimizing overall thickness. 

Most common air filters do not need to withstand temperatures beyond 80ºC (175ºF). In these cases, Intermas extruded plastic netting made in Polyethylene (PE) or Polypropylene (PP) is the ideal solution for HVAC filters, dust collectors, cabin air and intake filters. 

When it comes to liquid filtration, filter components are usually exposed to much higher operation temperatures, rising up to 155ºC (310ºF), while being in contact with aggressive environments. Intermas extruded netting products made in Polyamide 6 (also known as Nylon 6) and Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) are engineered to resist heat even under the presence of certain chemicals such as fuels, oils, lubricants and brake fluids.  

Intermas netting comes in rolls and it can be directly used in a pleating machine to be co-pleated with the filter media. This is the most common approach for most filter manufacturers.  

Another solution for performance filters is to use rolls of a composite material consisting of a bonded net + filter media. This bonding is achieved through an industrial process known as lamination, which can be performed with or without adhesives. Lamination boosts the performance of a filter ensuring a uniform bond between the net and the media after pleating, especially at the crests. 

Intermas is equipped to heat-bond PA6 and PBT meshes to a nonwoven material (airlaid, wetlaid, spunbond or meltblown). 

Continuous R&D with reliable production processes 

Each one of our customers has its own standards and tests regarding how a filter unit must perform in different scenarios of operating temperature cycles and fluid compositions. Over the last 25 years Intermas has been developing nets which have been tested and approved by the leading filter manufacturers in the industry. Our R&D engineers work closely with our customers to provide them with the most adequate solution for each challenge. 

Customer quality requirements are now stricter than ever. In this regard, it has become key to implement robust internal protocols in terms of production process and quality control, along with intensive and continuous production staff training. All these actions have enabled Intermas Group to excel in product quality and production stability. Last but not least, our Management Quality System has been audited by several automotive related companies following the VDA 6.3 process audit requirements. 

The perfect net for each project 

With over 60 years of production experience, at Intermas Group we work closely with our industrial partners. Understanding our customers’ needs and developing accurate customized solutions according to the required technical standards has become an essential part of our DNA.  

Our customization capabilities encompass many aspects of our products: 

• Polymer blends and additives 

• Net structure: square or diamond  

• Unique adapted geometries, weight, and thickness (as low as 0,4mm or 16mil) 

• Customized lengths and widths 

• In-house specialized slitting machine to accurately cut flexible nets (PA6 & PBT) 

• Lamination of our netting with filter media (without adhesives)

The only way for a fully recyclable filter: plastic netting

Intermas nets are 100% polymer based and can therefore be easily recycled. Furthermore, filters manufactured with plastic nets represent a metal-free solution, so they do not require to be disassembled before they can be incinerated or safely disposed.  

For more information on our range of products for filtration, you can check our website, or contact our technical sales team.