In papermaking, the dryer section is where efficiency, profitability, and product quality are ultimately determined.
Every mill manager knows that reliability in this section comes down to one critical component: the dryer fabric.
For decades, woven dryer felts were the industry standard. But as machine speeds increased and energy costs climbed, their limitations became harder to ignore. Today, mills across North America are making the switch to spiral dryer felts because the advantages are undeniable—longer service life, lower operating costs, and consistently higher sheet quality.
The Spiral Advantage
Cristini North American Group has engineered a comprehensive line of spiral dryer felts specifically designed to address the challenges papermakers face every day. These fabrics are built for durability, stability, and cleaner operation, ensuring dependable performance in even the most demanding environments.
Spiral dryer felts from Cristini deliver:
- Higher efficiency – Uniform airflow for faster drying and reduced energy consumption
- Extended service life – Modular construction enables on-machine repairs, limiting downtime
- Cleaner operation – Less contamination and fewer chemical washes
- Superior sheet quality – Smooth, non-marking surfaces ideal for coated, fine, and specialty grades
The result is less downtime, lower costs, and reduced process fluctuations.
Why Choose Spiral Over Woven?
Compared to woven designs, spiral felts provide clear and measurable advantages:
- Seamless construction – No stitched seams means no seam marks, no weak points, and no risk of premature failure.
- Repairable design – On-machine repairs extend fabric life and reduce production interruptions.
- Cleaner running – PTFE anti-contaminant yarns keep the structure open, reducing wash cycles and chemical usage.
- Energy efficiency – High, uniform permeability promotes faster drying and lower energy bills.
- High-speed stability – Excellent MD/CD balance prevents narrowing or distortion at today’s machine speeds.
- Heat & hydrolysis resistance – PPS and modified PET yarns withstand extreme dryer conditions.
- Non-marking surfaces – Protect sheet quality across fine, coated, and specialty grades.
For mills under constant pressure to reduce costs and improve output, spiral dryer felts represent a proven path forward.
Cristini Dryer Fabric Solutions
Cristini offers two advanced spiral platforms—MaxDry™ and MaxFlat™—each engineered with specialized variations to handle the full range of dryer environments.
MaxDry™ Series – Versatility Meets Performance (300–1000 CFM)
- ST™ – Standard PET, suitable for most applications
- CL™ – Anti-contaminant yarns, ideal for recycled and sticky grades
- XT™ – PPS yarns with maximum hydrolysis resistance
MaxFlat™ Series – Flat Profile Innovation (100–900 CFM)
- Smooth, uniform surface for non-marking operation
- Larger contact area for improved heat transfer
- Available in ST™, CL™, and HT™ variations
Specialized Solutions for Extreme Conditions
- MaxFlat HT™ – Built for high-temperature dryer groups
- MaxDry CL™ & MaxFlat CL™ – Designed with self-cleaning properties for recycled and contaminant-heavy positions
Spirabelt, The Cost-Saving Alternative to Corrugator Belts
Cristini: A Fabric for Every Challenge
No two mills face the same challenges. Whether producing fine papers, packaging, or recycled grades, Cristini spiral dryer felts provide measurable advantages where they matter most:
- ✔ Reduced downtime with repairable construction
- ✔ Lower operating costs through energy efficiency and cleaner running
- ✔ Enhanced sheet quality thanks to smooth, non-marking surfaces
- ✔ Longer service life under harsh dryer conditions
Cristini’s application-specific approach ensures there is a spiral fabric solution for every dryer group and every production requirement.
The Cristini Difference
With over 100 years of innovation in papermaking fabrics, Cristini continues to lead the industry with cutting-edge solutions that help mills improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain sheet quality. Our spiral dryer felts are more than just a replacement for woven fabrics — they are a proven upgrade that pays for itself in performance and longevity.
👉 Learn more at www.cristini.com or contact Mike McCloud at
