Diaper Testing International, a laboratory in Houston, TX, specializing in testing and consulting services for the absorbent personal hygiene industry, announced the release of US Walmart Report: All Good and Rascal + Friends. Readers will gain insight into the two new Walmart exclusive baby diaper brands that have made their way to the aisles of the U.S.’s biggest retailer. The report will provide context into these new brands including: Photos of their packaging, relative price per unit, and value proposition to consumers Diaper core performance benchmarks including rewet, speed and capacity and comparing against the range and average of 17 brands in the U.S. market Estimated GSM of various nonwoven components compared to the U.S. benchmark Close up photos with 40X magnification of nonwoven and hook & loop components of each brand The free report is available at: https://diapertesting.com/walmart-update-report/.

Over 1300 business and product developers converged at Chicago’s Navy Pier for the inaugural edition of FiltXPO, North America’s only exhibition and technical conference dedicated exclusively to filtration and separation products and processes. Well over 100 exhibitors (several exhibitors from China had to withdraw due to the COVID-19 situation) displayed their products and services to an inquisitive crowd that included many first-time attendees, and the concurrent Technical Conference featured seven distinct sessions and 31 outstanding presenters during the three-day event Feb. 26-28. Many exhibitors praised the high-quality interactions they had with senior-level decision makers they met on the floor for the first time. These new acquaintances were seriously looking for new materials and solutions to current design challenges they are facing. “The ability to forge new connections with first-time attendees in new business areas provided strong value that will generate high returns,” says Doug Brown, president, Biax-Fiberfilm. New technologies featured on the FiltXPO show floor included: TSI International demonstrated automated filter testers Albarrie representatives discussed new designs and presented fabric samples for air and liquid filtration Ahlstrom-Munksjö shared their new approaches on protecting the environment and people with its industrial filtration offerings Air Techniques International tested filter media on site for efficiency and resistance The Technical Conference, chaired by Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Ph.D., associate dean at North Carolina State University and executive director of its Nonwovens Institute, featured sessions on Biopharmaceutical Filtration, Membrane Filtration, Air & Gas Filtration, Nanofiber Filter Media, Water Filtration, Macro/Nano Modeling and Separation & Filter Media Technology. Conference attendees were impressed with the caliber and content of the speaking professionals. The two-day Filter Media Training Course, conducted by Chris Plotz, director of Education & Technical Affairs at INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, drew the maximum of 35 attendees who were extremely pleased with the level and quality of the instruction provided. FiltXPO replaces the International Filtration Expo and Conference, which was organized annually by INDA for 27 consecutive years and, in the later years, alternated between Chicago and Philadelphia. FiltXPO is intended to be broader in scope, covering separation and membrane technologies, processes, and equipment. FiltXPO will be fixed in location at the Navy Pier in Chicago and take place every 18 months, with the next edition taking place October 12-14, 2021. 

02.28.20 By ordinance entering into force on February 28, 2020 at 10 a.m., the Swiss Federal Council has prohibited all events bringing together more than 1,000 people. In the current circumstances, the situation is qualified as a force majeure event. As a result, taking into account the negative evolution of the situation, INDEX20 is postponed to October 20-23, 2020. The situation has recently significantly deteriorated with the appearance of the first confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Switzerland. The organizers had no other choice than to review their assessment of the situation and to act in strict compliance with the ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council.  “We sincerely regret this situation, as large numbers of people around the world have invested in ensuring that the event takes place. However, the well-being and health of all INDEX exhibitors, visitors, and exhibition staff, as well as their business needs and expectations, remain our highest priority. We trust that all participants will understand this forced decision,” says Pierre Wiertz, EDANA general manager. The world continues to discover the important role of nonwovens in protecting healthcare staff and patients through medical devices and personal protective equipment, such as surgical masks, respirators, gowns, drapes and coveralls. It is of course unfortunate that the biggest nonwovens trade show ever, with over 730 exhibitors and covering 24,700m2, has had to be postponed because of the largest epidemic in decades. PALEXPO and EDANA remain at disposal for any further information. Please consult www.indexnonwovens.com and www.edana.org for any updates.

Following its temporary cutting back of production at the Nanjing site in China, Lenzing has now once again ramped up operations on all production lines to reach full capacity. Recently supply shortages of important raw materials arose as a result of intense transport controls in connection with the current situation surrounding the coronavirus. For this reason, output from two production lines was scaled back for a short time. All production lines are now fully operational again after the successful resumption of the required supplies to the manufacturing facility.  

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has developed a new Carded Airlaid Carded (CAC) line to create a more sustainable three-layer nonwoven for wipes. These can be used for personal hygiene and cleaning purposes. This new line will use 100% cellulose content, including viscose and pulp from certified sources, resulting in a nonwoven material that is fully biodegradable. The new technology being used for the planned CAC line—located at Mondi's plant in Ascania, Germany—will make it possible to combine three layers into a highly functional and stable composite material. This will deliver optimal absorption and lotion load for high-quality biodegradable wipes and uses fewer resources than comparable carded mono-structures. The technology will be able to produce the entire sustainable nonwoven material in-line, while enabling hydro-embossing to increase softness and improve cleaning power. “The innovative technology means we can produce 100% biodegradable, high-performance nonwovens for wipes that are more accessible, and we are looking forward to introducing this to the market.” explained Kelly Wright, Mondi’s product expert for Personal Care and Components. The new line is set to be fully operational by 2021

Freudenberg completed the sale of its South American hygiene nonwoven business to Fitesa effective from February 6, 2020. The relevant antitrust authorities approved the transaction. Freudenberg sees the sale of the hygiene business as the best opportunity for it to succeed over time. Fitesa is a main supplier of nonwovens to the global hygiene market. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Freudenberg has had success in Brazil with nonwovens for the regional South American hygiene market since 1985. However, over the past few years, the hygiene market has shifted from a regional market to a global one. “Fitesa is geared to the global hygiene market. Under this set up, our current regional business can perform better and grow long-term in the new structures,” says Dr. Frank Heislitz, CEO Freudenberg Performance Materials. “We are very happy to have found a reputable global player in the hygiene business with Fitesa, which has similar values to Freudenberg. This will be a good new home for our staff.” “Acquiring Freudenberg’s South American hygiene business gives us a state-of-the-art production facility, as well as a professional and well-trained workforce, to help us better serve the needs of our customers,” states Silverio Baranzano, CEO of Fitesa. The sale is limited to the hygiene business, run by Freudenberg Hygiene Brazil Ltda. The company has 100 employees. The sale does not affect Freudenberg Performance Materials’ Brazilian and other South American businesses in apparel, shoe and leather sectors. In the future, the company will be an innovative solution partner for customers in nine global market segments: apparel, automotive, building interiors, construction, energy, filter media, healthcare, shoe and leather goods, as well as special applications.