1. Freudenberg expands its meltblown output, specifically for manufacturing masks that meet the standards and certifications.
Freudenberg Performance Materials is expanding its production capacity for non-woven media, which is specifically used to manufacture certified mouth and nose protective masks that meet EN14683 standards, and FFP 1, 2 and 3 masks that meet EN149 standards. This medium is specially developed and sold for the medical technology processing industry. The additional capacity will be carried out on a new meltblown production line at its Kaiserslautern plant in Germany. The production line should be completed in the first quarter of next year.
"As the world's leading manufacturer of technical textiles and filter media, Freudenberg Performance Materials has deep expertise in certified mask materials. By expanding our production capacity in Kaiserslautern, Germany, we are responding to Covid-19 Contributed to the challenges faced and provided certified masks and FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3 masks in Germany and Europe." said Dr. Frank Heislitz, CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials.
2. Berry installed a new production line in the French factory and added a non-woven embossing department
Berry has installed the first three-dimensional embossing production line in its French factory. In response to the market's growing demand for high-level softness and comfort, Berry's investment will provide high-quality, high-value-added and high-performance solutions for the non-woven hygiene market.
The new production line will manufacture 3D embossed and perforated top and bottom layers for the European hygiene market. The product line has visually attractive embossing patterns and high product flexibility, providing a high-quality experience for the end consumers of the product. The combination of 3D technology and Berry's high-quality soft nonwoven solutions provides advanced fluid management and skin comfort, as well as enhanced cushioning. The materials of the production line will be used to make diapers, adult incontinence and feminine care products. The production line will be fully installed by the end of this year.
3. Spain will ban the sale of KN95 masks from October, and only allow the sale of CE marked products
According to Le Monde, the anti-epidemic "temporary authorization" agreement signed in April 2020, due to the "shortage of personal protective equipment (EPI)", allows the use of KN95 masks. Mass purchases of masks from all over the world include masks produced in China. At that time, KN95 masks according to Chinese production standards were considered equivalent to FPP2 and were equally safe. However, this resolution expired on September 30, which means that from October, Spain will ban the sale of KN95 masks, and only products with the European Testing Standard (CE) mark are allowed to be sold.
After September 30, with the United States (NIOSH-42CFR84), China (GB2626-2006), Australia (AS/NZ 1716:2012), South Korea (KMOEL-2017-64) and Japan (Japan JMHLW-Notification 214, 2018) ) The protective equipment of the inspection standard will disappear from the store.
Spain is currently the first known EU country to formally abolish the provisional regulations, namely the standard treatment principle for masks. It is not known whether other countries will follow up in the future. But what is certain is that in the future, countries will continue to strengthen the management of epidemic products. Therefore, compliance of products produced by domestic manufacturers is the first factor for export to Europe.
At present, the epidemic is not over in Europe. The second war is inevitable, and it will also lead to a shortage of epidemic prevention products. Governments will only have higher and higher requirements for epidemic prevention products. In this case, products comply with regulations. Is the only last word.
4. Smithers' latest data tracks the market prosperity of medical nonwovens
The latest data from Smithers shows that by 2020, the global demand for nonwovens in the medical field will reach 2.49 billion US dollars, an increase of 19.2% compared with 2019. With the control of the coronavirus infection, the peak demand in 2020 will ease in the following years, but medical non-woven fabrics will continue to be one of the key applications in the non-woven fabric market, and demand will continue to grow by 2025.
According to the data analysis in the Smithers market report "The Future of Medical Nonwovens by 2025", the value of medical nonwovens will increase to 2.95 billion U.S. dollars in 2025; higher than the 2.09 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. By 2025, this area will increase from 9.05 million square meters in 2019 with a total weight of 480,700 tons to 12.94 million square meters and 674,400 tons.
Smithers’ exclusive market modelling tracks how the medical industry will affect the demand for 21 medical nonwoven applications (including institutional incontinence products and sanitary napkins). The data shows that the main opportunity is for manufacturers of spunbond non-woven fabrics. By 2020, spunbond products will account for 74.4% (weight) of the market.
The biggest growth caused by Covid-19 is the meltblown nonwovens used for masks, especially N95 or N99 type nonwovens. The demand in 2020 has increased by as much as 10 times, and its demand far exceeds the supply. Especially when the international supply chain has been disrupted and countries with strong production capacity have placed more emphasis on domestic supply than exports, various manufacturers have responded by rapidly adding new production capacity, and industrial non-woven production lines have been re-used to make face masks. material.
In order to free up resources for Covid-19 patients, elective surgery has been cut, and sales of surgical drapes and gowns have been relatively reduced, thus balancing this surge in the market. However, these are the largest uses of medical non-woven fabrics, accounting for 49%-54% of the total consumption. Once back to normal, surgeons begin to reduce the backlog of operations postponed to 2020, and this demand will also surge.
