How Twine is Made
At Renco Nets we sell durable braided nylon and polyethylene twine for a variety of industries. Used either in strand form or as part of our trusty nets, twine is an essential part of the gardeners’, crafters’, builders’ and fishing fleets’ arsenal.
But have you ever stopped to consider how this multipurpose marvel is created? Discover the manufacturing processes of synthetic (braided) twine below.
Twine Creation – A Brief History
Twine creation has come a long way over the centuries. The Ancient Egyptians developed the first known ropemaking tools and 13th century Europeans made twine in long ropewalk buildings. Today, Renco Nets’ twine is manufactured using our machines.
Relatively new materials such as nylon and polyethylene have made it possible to create longer-lasting twine. Weigh up the most suitable choice of fibres here.
The Raw Materials
Twine forms the main ingredient of the nets we’ve skilfully manufactured for over 25 years. Yet, nylon or polyethylene has to be created beforehand.
Nylon is created when diamine acid and dicarboxylic acid react against one another. This process binds the molecules together. Whereas, polyethylene is formed via polymerisation – where millions of ethylene molecules have their double-bond broken by a catalyst such as metal oxide. This produces a long chain of connected atoms.
Both methods produce a material that’ll last. Polyethylene is water-resistant and pliable. This means it stretches slightly and shouldn’t break. Nylon is stronger still, but is best avoided in marine environments.
The Braiding Process
The many combinations of diameter, materials and colours we offer are all created using the braided method of making twine. We take the single extruded nylon or polyethylene – made by mechanically pulling these manmade materials through a metal die.
It’s now time for the doubling process. This joins these strands into long slivers. Manmade, these fibres align better than natural materials would.
To create a cross braided structure, a machine feeds in different yarns via plates that rotate in both directions. As one strand is taken in, another strand is fed there from the opposite direction. The result is a woven twine.
Braiding more strands of extruded nylon or polyethylene increases the twine’s diameter. The number of twists is important too. Shortening the overall length through twisting the plies around one another, the twine compresses more fibres and is stronger as a result.
Braiding techniques produce twine that surpass those of ‘the twisted method’. It can support heavier objects in warehouses, fishing, construction projects and other sites where safety is paramount.
Safety-first Additions
We’ll ensure that you receive twine that’s fit for purpose.
Having achieved certification to British, European and M1 standards, we use flame-retardant materials. This sets us apart from twine and netting producers that coat their products after the manufacturing stage. Ideal for maintaining netting at indoor play centres and parks. You can rest assured that rain or water won’t compromise our twine’s fire-retardancy.
Many of our twines benefit from the addition of a UV stabiliser during the manufacturing process. This treatment is ideal for use in sunny areas.
These benefits allow you to use our twine in numerous ways. Whether you’re a business owner or a consumer, the chances are you’ll need twine.
Ready to purchase high-quality twine? Browse our nylon and polyethylene categories or call 01469 575 804 to find the right twine for you!
