Since 1949 Rando® Machine has led the way providing innovative and high quality air laid machinery. Rando offers world-class fiber preparation, web formation and recyclingmachinery that create high quality webs from the widest array of natural and synthetic fibers.Rando has significantly invested in new capabilities including a second manufacturing site since coming under new ownership in 2019.
WEB FORMATION
Rando’s web formation equipment is globally recognized for its ability to run challenging fibers into both low and high loft mats.
FIBER PREPARATION
Rando compliments its state-of-the-art web formation machinery with a wide variety of fiber preparation equipment including:
Bale Breakers and Pre-feeders
Blend Line and Weigh Conveyors
Volumetric Reserves
Openers / Blenders
RECYCLING MACHINERY
The Rando Shredder / Refiberizerreclaims excess finished material produced from a nonwoven line.The Shredder / Refiberizer includes state-of-the-art technology that breaks down edge trimmings into small, uniform tufts that are then reintroduced to production and blended to create a finished product.
PILOT LINE TESTING
Rando’s on-site Pilot Linetesting facility is available to customers for product and process development. Working closely with you Rando will ensure you are using the exact fiber recipe for optimal web formation. The pilot line is also available for small production runs.
REPLACMENT PARTS / SERVICE
Maintain high performance with original replacement parts manufactured by Rando for every Rando machine, even vintage models. In addition, Rando offers fast turnaround torecloth/rewire wired rolls to the original factory specifications.
Rando’s highly trained technicians provide service globally including:
On-site performance evaluations
Commissioning of new machines
Maintenance and Repairs
Machine upgrades and retrofits
Preventative Maintenance programs
RANDO’S LATEST INNOVATION – HIGH LOFT CONDENSER MAKING 10” INCH HIGH WEBS POSSIBLE!
Rando now offers three types of forming styles that all can be used on the main frame of their Webbers:
SB Condenser – heavier fibers, 100 denier and above
SD Condenser – finer fibers, nano up to 100 denier
SHL Condenser – the capability of the SD style with added high loft, up to 10” inches in height
The SHL Condenser allows you to form webs from 3/4″ inch to 10″ inches highby only changing the speeds on the HMI. The SHL Condenser excels with a wide range of fibers including fiberglass, synthetic fibers, and natural fibers such as hemp, jute, wood, and cotton.
Bring your challenging application to Rando today and let us show you what we can do!
As the cotton industry boomed across the American South, the industry had a problem it could not throw away. Its cotton mills and associated industries were producing waste fiber by the ton: short, tangled, uneven, and useless to the machinery of the day. In 1949, Rando was founded to solve exactly that. The idea was simple: take the fiber nobody wanted, and turn it into something with value.
To do it, Rando helped pioneer random air-laid nonwoven forming, a method of using custom technology to form fibrous webs. This was Rando’s solution to utilizing a sub-grade cotton fiber, a messy input with limited value. This origin story, dating back to 1949, has opened the lane the company has occupied ever since. Today, Rando’s capabilities far exceed just random airlaid technology. The company has since pioneered methods to handle the toughest fiber challenges. From fiber blending, opening, bonded panel recycling, and more, Rando has found a niche as both a global pioneer of nonwoven fiber manufacturing technologies, while also being the only company in the United States to manufacture nonwoven solutions to this day.
From a workshop idea to a machinery company
Following the invention of unique air-laid forming technology in the 50’s and 60’s from a small workshop, Rando has grown into a company with a global portfolio of installations. The following decades broadened Rando’s narrow expertise of waste cotton fiber into a company capable of producing full lines of machinery. In 1974, Rando was formally incorporated as Rando Machine Corporation in Macedon, NY. What began as a way to reclaim waste cotton grew into fiber preparation, web forming, and recycling equipment, sold to manufacturers who needed custom built solutions for their most difficult challenges.
The thesis of Rando has stayed true: Rando’s reputation was built on applications that were too demanding, too specialized, or too unusual for standard equipment. That is still where the company wins today in 2026.
Why the old advantage is still the advantage
Rando’s core forming technology uses pressure and vacuum together to lay the web of fibers. The result is an isotropic structure, meaning the fibers are oriented randomly and evenly in every direction, rather than pulled into a grain, as is seen with carding technology. This randomized uniformity resulting from this technology even resulted in the namesake of the business, Rando Machine. It shows up as measurable performance in insulation and filtration, and it is difficult for competitors to replicate. It is the reason Rando is recognized worldwide as the best choice for commercial floor scrubber pads, and for most applications that run on stainless steel fiber.
Stainless steel fiber is a good illustration of the whole philosophy of Rando Machines. It is stiff, heavy, and abrasive, the kind of material that defeats equipment built for polyester. Rando has won global contracts for stainless steel abrasive nonwoven pads, and today it is recognized as the global leader for abrasive nonwovens. The same is true for short and difficult to process fibers, like carbon and aramid. These challenging fibers are a natural fit for Rando Machines. Today, with global textile waste requiring innovative solutions to solve recycling challenges, recycled and regenerated shoddy fibers containing cotton, polyesters, lyocell, and more also find a natural fit in Rando’s nonwoven manufacturing portfolio.
What Rando is today
Three quarters of a century in, Rando designs and builds fiber preparation, web forming, and recycling equipment in New York, with machines running on six continents. The company found its next evolution in 2019, when Andy Wilcox, the owner of EIS and Inline Cleaning Solutions, acquired Rando Machine. With EIS and Inline Cleaning Solutions already possessing industrial machining technologies in its manufacturing center in Indiana, Rando has found ways to leverage production cost savings by extending its footprint beyond its New York State manufacturing hub. In a globally competitive environment for nonwoven OEM technology, Rando today is able to produce price competitive machines produced entirely in the United States.
Following the acquisition of Rando by Wilcox, substantial investments were made into Rando’s trial line. Wilcox, working with Rando’s brilliant engineering mind Bill Hardy, understood the importance of customers needing to build confidence in the technology through laboratory testing. From its workshop in Victor, New York, new and existing customers can prove out a process before they buy it. This trial line is one of the few places in North America to trial staple-fiber airlay at production scale. Rando’s trial line has processed cotton, textile shoddy, difficult natural fibers like hemp, flax, jute, and more. With an engineering-first mindset, Rando understands the importance of continued service and after-sales parts. Rando has a team of parts and field service technicians, able to work globally with their customers to ensure downtime is minimized and that production output is maximized.
Sustainability from day one
The nonwoven and textile industry talks about the importance of fiber recycling and utilization as if it were new. For Rando it is the founding purpose. The company was born reclaiming waste cotton, and it has been building recycling machinery ever since. Today that means fiberglass edge trim recovery, bonded panel reclamation, and the recycled and regenerated fibers that started it all. The sustainability story writes itself: it’s the how and why of Rando’s founding.
Seventy-five years is a long time to keep solving the same problem, but the technology and the solutions have not stayed the same. Rando Machines portfolio of technology today handles fibers that weren’t part of the conversation in 1949. While Rando’s competition focuses on cost reduction and winning the easy categories, Rando stays ahead by focusing on the demanding applications, the difficult fibers, and the jobs that call for a true engineering partner. Since 1949, that is what Rando has built.
Explore what Rando’s machinery can do with your fiber, or bring your material to the pilot line and see Rando’s capabilities for yourself.
Fiber Recycling: What It Is, How It Works & Why It Matters in 2026
Introduction
What Is Fiber Recycling?
Nonwoven fiber recycling is the process of taking waste or scrap materials and breaking them down into usable fiber that can be used to manufacture new products. Fibers can be recovered during the manufacturing process (before or after bonding), as well as recycling used materials such as textiles. Some examples include:
reusing edge-trim in the manufacturing process
Re-fiberizing skeletons or scrap bonded material to recover and reuse the fiber
Shredding and re-fiberizing textile waste
Blending recycled fibers into virgin material streams to manufacture new products
Using chemical processes to break down textile waste into component fibers which can then be used to manufacture new products
Using mechanical processes such as shredding and re-fiberizing to create fibers which can be blended with virgin fiber to create new products
Types of Fiber Recycling
Fiber recycling is commonly divided into two main categories based on how materials are processed.
1. Mechanical Fiber Recycling
Shredding tears materials into small pieces which can be re-fiberized in an opener or card machine
Opening or re-fiberizing pulls shredded materials apart using wired rolls so the output can be used to manufacture new products
Quality loss factors include fiber length and color consistency. Many fibers can be mechanically recycled with quality similar or even surpassing virgin fiber. Mechanical recycling can shorten fiber length for certain fibers such as cotton, which necessitate blending a percentage of virgin fiber with recycled fibers to maintain strength
2. Chemical Fiber Recycling
Chemical fiber recycling uses chemical processes to break down fibrous materials into molecular building blocks, which can then be used to create new high quality fibers equal in quality to virgin fibers. Chemical recycling can be more energy intensive than mechanical recycling, and can also create chemical waste streams from the chemical inputs. However chemical recycling can be used to recycle difficult materials such as contaminated materials or blended materials which are difficult to mechanically recycle.
3. Closed-Loop vs. Open-Loop Fiber Recycling
Closed-loop recycling turns waste textile materials into new high quality products of the same type, such as making new clothing from old clothing, or taking scrap or waste products from the end of the manufacturing process and reclaiming the fiber for re-introduction into the manufacturing process. Open-loop recycling turns waste textiles into lower value products (such as turning used clothing into automotive insulation or stuffing).
Closed Loop Recycling examples:
Sound Absorbing Panels: Acoustical Panels are collected, shredded, and refiberized, and then formed into a new web to make new acoustical panels for buildings.
Cotton Face Pads: Rayon or Bleached Cotton fibers are airlaid into a web and then processed into rolls. Face pads are die cut from this web, and the remainder (skeleton) is shredded, refiberized, and introduced back into the manufacturing process to make new face pads.
Insulation Panels: Natural or Fiber Glass fibers are airlaid into a web to make products for the construction industry. Edge trimmings and non-conforming produce is shredded, refiberized, and then reintroduced to the manufacturing process for new panels.
Open Loop Recycling examples:
Plastic Bottles made into fiber for use in athletic clothing
Paper shredded and converted into cardboard
How Fiber Recycling Works (Step-by-Step Process)
Collection of fiber waste. Industrial fiber waste is collected at the manufacturing facility, either directly inline (such as edge-trim waste), or at the end of the manufacturing process (such as skeletons or scrap material). Post-consumer waste fiber is more difficult to collect and normally relies on facilities dedicated to specific materials such as used carpet or clothing to prevent contamination.
Cleaning and decontamination. Initial sorting focuses on removal of contaminants or non-fibrous materials such as buttons, buckles, zippers, etc. After decontamination the materials are packaged in bales.
Mechanical or chemical recycling. Materials are broken down into useable fibers or monomers (in chemical recycling) for use in new products
Benefits of Fiber Recycling
Environmental Benefits
Reduces landfill waste
Lowers carbon emissions
Preserves forests, crop land, and other natural resources
Economic Benefits
Low-cost raw material source
New revenue streams for manufacturers selling waste to recyclers instead of paying to dispose in landfills
Industry Benefits
Helps businesses meet environmental goals
Meets consumer demand for sustainably-produced products
Fiber Recycling in Key Industries
Fiber Recycling in Textiles (Apparel, Fashion, Home Furnishings)
Outdoor furniture edge trims recycled back into main product.
Clothing made into synthetic shoddy or cotton shoddy for other products.
Fiber Recycling in Packaging & Paper Manufacturing
Sheet pulp converted into Fluff Pulp to make Diapers .
Sheet pulp used to make pigs for oil spills.
Fiber Recycling in Construction Materials
Wood fibers converted into short wood fibers to make mats for erosion control.
Fiber Glass and Natural fibers recycled reclaimed from edge trimmings or skeletons and reintroduced into the manufacturing process.
Fiber Recycling in Automotive & Aerospace
Soft edge trims from cotton shoddy insulation products shredded and reintroduced into the manufacturing process.
Carbon fiber edge trims put back into main product for structural and insulation aerospace products.
Challenges in Fiber Recycling
Mixed fiber blends
Contamination
Dye removal
Loss of fiber strength.
Best Fiber Recycling Machines & Technologies
Include:
Fiber shredders which process bonded or post-consumer materials into small pieces suitable for a re-fiberizing machine
Re-fiberizer machines which pull fibers apart so the fibers can be reused in manufacturing processes
Industrial cleaning machines which remove contaminants, short, or long fibers so the fibers can be reused in production processes
Defibering machines which separate fiber from non-fibrous components. These machines are most often used in natural fibers such as coconut or sugar cane.
Solvent-recycling systems which separates fibers from a composite material or textile blend
AI optical sorters which use physical properties such as color or shape to sort material for mechanical or chemical recycling
Fiber Recycling vs. Virgin Fiber Production
Feature
Fiber Recycling
Virgin Fiber Production
Cost
Lower
Higher
Environmental Impact
Low
High
Resource Use
Minimal
Heavy water & energy use
Sustainability
High
Low
Future of Fiber Recycling
AI & robotics integration are making recycling economically feasible for post-consumer materials which must be sorted before recycling
Zero-waste circular manufacturing is the end goal of every manufacturer as it can reduce economic costs, supply risk, and environmental impact
High-quality regenerated fibers are becoming the norm as both mechanical and chemical recycling processes improve to the point where the recycled fibers are equal to or higher quality than virgin fibers
Conclusion
FAQs on Fiber Recycling
What types of fibers can be recycled?
Many types of fiber can be recycled. The most common include natural fibers such as cotton or wood, polyester, nylon, and fiberglass. Other materials such as contaminated or blended materials are more difficult to recycle and require specialized processes.
Is fiber recycling cost-effective?
It depends on the material. Many fibers are highly cost-effect to recycle, while others depend on many factors such as purity or distance to a recycling facility.
Can mixed fibers be recycled?
Some mixed fibers can be recycled, especially by chemical processes. While most fibers can be recycled, some are not economically feasible.
What industries benefit most from fiber recycling?
The textile and apparel industry is the largest user of recycled fiber, which is driven by consumer demand for sustainably-produced materials. Many clothing items include recycled polyester (rPET) from recycled plastic bottles.
The automotive industry in increasing it’s use of recycled fibers in materials such as insulation and soundproofing, carpets, fabrics, and recycled carbon fibers replacing heavier metal components.
The construction industry uses recycled materials (and natural fibers) in materials such as insulation and geotextiles (used for erosion control)
Fiber-based packaging such as cardboard and molded pulp use high amounts of recycled fibers
What is the difference between mechanical and chemical fiber recycling?
Mechanical recycling uses a process such as shredding or opening to mechanically separate fibers for reuse. Chemical fiber recycling uses chemical processes to break down materials into their molecular building blocks to be re-made into high quality fibrous materials
How many times can fibers be recycled?
Some fibers can be recycled indefinitely (especially chemically recycled materials), while others must be blended with virgin material or downcycled due to degradation that occurs during recycling
What products can be made from recycled fibers?
Many products are made with recycled fibers including. Some of the most common include:
What Is Airlay? A Complete Guide to the Nonwoven Process
The Random Airlaid Process is a dry-laid nonwoven technology that uses airflow to randomly deposit individual fibers into a uniform web structure. Unlike carded or spunbond nonwovens, The Airlaid process achieves true isotropic orientation, which enhances strength, durability, and dimensional stability.
Introduction to Airlay Technology
Airlay, also known as the dry-laid process, is a nonwoven textile manufacturing method where loose fibers are dispersed in an airstream and deposited onto a forming belt to create a web. Unlike wet-laid or spunbond processes, Airlay does not require water or extrusion, making it ideal for blending natural and recycled fibers. This unique Airlay technology supports sustainable textile solutions and offers high versatility across multiple applications.
The Airlaid process while running at a slower production speed makes a stronger bond with the fibers than a carding machine. Carded fiber pad has a tendency to delaminate or come apart in layers while a random Airlaid fiber pad holds a more consistent and stronger pad and can achieve a higher loft.
How Airlay Nonwovens Are Made
Fiber Preparation
Fibers are selected based on the desired properties (e.g. pulp, viscose, cotton, polyester).
Used in trunk liners, acoustic dampening panels, and seat padding.
Home insulation materials
Wall and roof insulation panels with strong thermal performance.
Filtration media
Airlaid material makes excellent filter media.
Bedding and mattress padding
Comfortable and breathable layers in mattresses.
Benefits of the Airlay Process
Allows incorporation of high-recycled content
Airlaid equipment allows you to use not only recycled content but by adding a refiberizer you can run your own scrap back through the equipment after it has been bonded.
Highly customizable GSM and thickness
You are able to get a more consistent product with tighter tolerances using an Airlaid machine instead of carding equipment.
Innovations in Airlay Technology
High Loft Condenser
Versatility: make webs from ½” to 10” with no changeover, and runs a wide variety of natural and synthetic fibers
Web quality: The High Loft Condenser makes an isotropic web in a single pass, eliminating cards and cross lappers
Vertical Pre Opener
This new machine is designed to allow fiber to be fed vertically and pre-opened with a feed roll, main cylinder and brush roll. Rando rolls are wired vs. the competitors pinned rolls. Wired rolls are more cost effective to manufacture and require less servicing by the customer. Robustly built, the Vertical Pre-Opener is manufactured in standard widths from 36” to 100”. The vertical design creates a smaller footprint than earlier designed pre-openers that fed horizontally, thus running cleaner with gravity and constant vacuum pressure.
Conclusion
Airlay represents a powerful and sustainable method for producing versatile, high-performance nonwovens. With its flexibility in fiber sourcing, bonding, and structure, it is rapidly expanding across automotive, construction, and eco-friendly packaging sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Airlay process used for?
Airlay is used to manufacture insulation, acoustic padding, filtration media, and sustainable packaging.
What materials can be used in Airlay nonwovens?
Natural fibers, synthetic scraps, reclaimed textiles, and recycled blends including vinyl fiber, polyester, nylon, stainless steel, rayon, and carbon.
Are Airlay fabrics environmentally friendly?
Yes, especially when made with recycled or natural materials and dry-laid processing.
What’s the difference between carded and Airlay webs?
Carded webs are fiber-aligned using mechanical rollers, while Airlay uses air currents for deposition.
How does Airlay improve thermal insulation performance?
Its lofted, layered structure traps air and resists heat transfer effectively.
What industries benefit most from Airlay nonwovens?
Automotive, construction, bedding, filtration, and sustainable packaging.
Is Airlay suitable for acoustic insulation?
Absolutely. Its porous, dense structure absorbs sound and reduces vibration.
Can Airlay materials be made from 100% recycled fibers?
Yes, depending on bonding technique and fiber quality.
What is the GSM range typically supported in Airlay fabrics?
Airlay fabrics can range widely from 15 GSM to over 5,000 GSM+, depending on the application.
Rando Airlaid® technology is an advanced nonwoven manufacturing process that delivers high-loft, isotropic, and uniform fiber webs ideal for demanding applications such as air filtration, medical wipes, thermal insulation, automotive acoustics, and hygiene products. Developed by Rando Machine Corporation, this airlay method ensures superior fiber distribution, performance consistency, and design flexibility.
Rando Machine 100 Rawson Road, Suite 230 Victor, New York 14564 USA 646.817.4218 www.randomachine.com
This new machine is designed to allow fiber to be fed vertically and pre-opened with a feedroll, main
cylinder and brush roll. Rando rolls are wired vs. the competitors pinned rolls. Wired rolls are more cost
effective to manufacture and require less servicing by the customer, keeping your line up and running!
Robustly built, the Rando Vertical Pre-Opener is manufactured in standard widths from 36” to 100”. It is
highly recommended for BICO, Natural, Metal and Ceramic fibers. Our engineers are dedicated to finding
new ways to open high-cost fiber such as BICO. Ensuring all bundles, tufts and filaments are 99% opened
saves on material costs and creates better bonding characteristics.
The vertical design creates a smaller footprint than earlier designed pre-openers that fed horizontally, thus
running cleaner with gravity and constant vacuum pressure.
In trials The Rando Vertical Pre-Opener was used successfully with natural fibers for reducing breakage.
Rando had great success in running fiberglass in stick form; pre-opening the sticks so downstream
equipment can process the fiber with less fiber loss and better opening.
This new machine from Rando can be mounted to other feeding machines or can be pneumatically fed. The
fibers are pre-opened and are removed with an air handling system to the next machine in use. It can also
be used as a standalone machine.
Since 1949, Rando Machine has been the pioneer in air laid technology for the nonwoven textile industry. Headquartered in Victor, New York, Rando Machine added a second manufacturing location in Lafayette, Indiana after coming under new ownership in 2019. Rando offers a complete line of machinery from Fiber Preparation to Web Formation. As a global provider; Rando has no geographical limits and their machines can process both synthetic and natural fibers, as well as metallic and ceramic, all with outstanding track records!
For more information on the Rando Vertical Pre-Opener, or to see how Rando Machine can improve your production process, contact us today! [email protected]
Rando Machine 100 Rawson Road, Suite 230 Victor, New York 14564 USA 646.817.4218 www.randomachine.com
Globally recognized, Rando compliments its state-of-the-art web formation by adding fiber preparation equipment such as:
Bale Breakers
Volumetric Reserves
Pre-feeders
Opener/Blenders
This offers a more effective approach to fiber applications.
LABORATORY TESTING
Rando’s on-site Laboratory Testing Facility allows customers to:
Experience Rando’s air laid environment.
Test, experiment and innovate with various fibers, fiber blends and processes to improve current products and create new offerings.
Out-source and contract Rando’s test lab as a long term resource.
REPLACMENT PARTS / SERVICE
Rando keeps you up and running at peak performance with its highly technical replacement parts and services team.
Protect your performance with original replacement parts manufactured by Rando for every Rando machine, even vintage models. In addition, Rando offers reclothing/rewiring of wired rolls, using the original roll for your Rando rolls.
Rando’s highly trained technicians provide service globally, offering:
On-site performance evaluations
Installation of new machines
Repairs
Machine upgrades and retrofits
On-site maintenance
REPLACMENT PARTS / SERVICE
Rando is proud to announce the launch of its new product – the Rando™ Shredder Waste Reducer / Refiberizer; designed to refiberize and reclaim excess finished material produced from a nonwoven line. The Rando™ Shredder Waste Reducer / Refiberizer is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology to break down edge trimmings into small, uniform tufts that can then be reintroduced to production and blended to create a finished product.
Material transformation:
Material travels down a textured conveyor.
The edge trimmings are distributed into the feed rolls.
The feed rolls tightly pinch the fibers, and distribute them into the shredder’s main cylinder.
The main cylinder, equipped with more than 1,500 bear claws, shreds the fiber into uniform tufts, which are transported back into the production line by vacuum fans.
Customers report that excess material trimmed from the finished products take a heavy expense on their organizations — outside services are hired to remove and dispose of the excess material. A Rando™ Shredder Waste Reducer / Refiberizer eliminates this expense and refiberizes the excess fiber so it can be blended into their finished product.
Bottom Line: The Rando™ Reclaim Shredder provides an attractive option for manufacturers looking to save money and improve environmental practices, creating a more efficient and environmentally sound practice for the organization.
