Reichel & Drews’ Carrierless Membrane Production System is an automated manufacturing solution designed for the production of self-adhesive bitumen waterproofing membranes – without traditional saturated reinforcements such as fiberglass or woven polyester.
Carrierless membranes are constructed by encapsulating a highly modified bitumen compound between layers of protective film. During installation, one film layer is removed to expose the adhesive compound, while the remaining film stays in place to protect the membrane and enhance long-term waterproofing performance.
Common uses of these non-reinforced membranes include:
Reichel & Drews is the exclusive North American supplier of equipment to manufacture reinforcement-free membranes. Utilizing our proprietary technology, the system’s flexible design allows manufacturers to produce a wide range of membrane constructions. In addition to standard single-compound membranes, the line can manufacture more advanced multi-layer products, including dual-compound membranes where different bitumen formulations are applied in precise layers to achieve specific performance characteristics. Specialized constructions for applications such as green roofs can also be produced, combining multiple compound layers and films to deliver optimized adhesion, durability, and protection.
This industry-proven production platform is engineered for maximum versatility. Its modular configuration enables the creation of everything from simple membrane designs to highly sophisticated, multi-layer waterproofing products — all on the same production line.
A key advantage of the Reichel & Drews system is its unique coating application technology, which applies bitumen without the use of rotating rolls. This roll-free process produces an exceptionally smooth, glass-like surface finish while eliminating the influence of tension during product formation. Precision thickness control, combined with energy-efficient cooling belt technology, ensures consistent product quality and excellent dimensional stability.
The result is a high-performance carrierless membrane, manufactured efficiently and economically, with outstanding appearance and performance characteristics.
Our carrierless membrane equipment provides a number of significant advantages for manufacturers including:
Dual-compound capabilities with even distribution of each bitumen compound layer
Located at the entry end of the cooling belt, the Film Unwind Unit feeds the polyethylene film or siliconized paper and bottom side selvage edge film onto the cooling belt for coating.
The Coating Box Module is an advanced engineered coating application system. The electrically heated application box uses gravity to precisely apply coating compound without the use of rotating rolls. The result is a smooth-as-glass coating finish and consistent, precise thickness.
The Cooling Belt performs several functions in the Carrierless Membrane System. In addition to supporting and transporting the membrane through the coating process, it cools the membrane while the hot coating is applied.
The innovative Nested Accumulator gathers free loops of finished membrane material for further air cooling, and provides a continuous supply of finished material for winding and cutting.
Consisting of the Pull Roll, Shock Roll, Dancer and Membrane Guide, the Web Delivery System provides a smooth transition of the membrane between the Nested Product Accumulator and the Membrane Winder.
The Membrane Winder takes the finished sheet and rolls it to a specific length. The product is cut to the specified length, taped and ejected so that another roll can be processed.
The Core Inserter is designed to insert a core into a wound roll of carrierless membrane material as it is ejected off the Winder.
The Roll Palletizer transfers finished membrane product rolls from the production line to pallets to prepare them for shipment.
