Nonwovens industry on the upswing

Nonwoven fabric is a fabric-like material consisting of long fibres that are bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. In the textile industry, nonwovens refer to fabrics, such as felt, which are neither woven or knitted. In recent years, nonwovens have become an alternative to polyurethane (PU) foam and are now gaining acceptance in a wider range of products.

At the recent OUTLOOK? Asia (13-14 March), the nonwovens personal care products conference organised by EDANA, the lineup of experts and topics brought into focus the whole supply chain for absorbent personal care products and wipes, which have become a growing market segment for nonwovens. The event was held for the first time in Asia with Singapore as the chosen venue, although it has been held in Europe for several years. Two-hundred twenty delegates from 98 different companies from 26 countries across Asia and the globe were present. 

EDANA, the organiser, is the international  association  serving  the nonwovens and related industries. Mr. Pierre Wiertz, General Manager of EDANA, in his opening speech says: “As we are all here to some extent involved in the supply chain for absorbent hygiene products and wipes, we do know the value of those products for the billions of people (babies, women and adults of all ages and both genders, whose daily life relies on these modern, high-performance single-use products.” He added
that their mission is to create an environment beneficial to innovation and sustainable and profitable growth of the industry participants through the active promotion of sustainable development,  consumer  interests  and transparency. The first transfer in Asia of the successful OUTLOOK model established for more than 11 years in Europe is part of EDANA’s outreach campaign, intended to share its experience and success in bringing the whole value chain together to the benefit of the market development.

New properties stressed

Additionally, product presentations stressed the future of nonwovens and the directions by which new products are being developed.

Ms. Flora Chan, ExxonMobil Chemical’s Asia Pacific Nonwovens Segment Manager Polypropylene, introduced the Vistamaxx  propylene-based elastomers attributes. It has high elasticity, drapability, softness and adhesion to PP. 

Its properties are derived from a combination of ExxonMobil Chemical’s metallocene  catalyst  technology  and polymerisation reactor technology. Its ease of processing and compatibility with a wide variety of polymers enables customers to bring innovation solutions to the nonwoven market. This effective solution in areas of elastic or soft nonwovens application includes hygiene products, medical fabrics and industrial uses.

The Vistamaxx  propylene-based elastomers address key nonwoven market trends. For elasticity, hygiene products sophistication drives increased use of elastic components. Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers are truly elastic polyolefin. It has lower total cost than SBC tri-laminates. For softness trend, improved softness with Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers and PP blends. The fabrics maintain strength characteristics. It runs on conventional equipment. It is used for hygiene products and medical gowns.

ExxonMobil Chemical soft solutions bring differentiated soft spunbond from existing  traditional  spunmelt assets; reasonable cost premium relative to traditional polypropylene spunbond; potential to down gauge in top sheet to replace carded fabric because of higher tensile strength. 

Another company giving  product preseNike React Element 87