Although nonwovens and textile industries have some common traditions, nonwovens industry has developed into a series of engineering fiber and polymer products driven by high-speed, low-cost, innovative and value-added processes. The nonwovens industry has created an ecosystem based on automation and reduced dependence on low-cost labor - therefore, the industry does not have to establish production facilities in low-cost areas of the world. Nonwovens are usually manufactured and converted at the place of sale to minimize transportation costs.
For example, the industry adopts the technology of pulp and paper industry and extrusion industry to produce the required products at a reasonable cost. For many years, automatic conversion has been an important part of the nonwoven supply chain. Today, the industry can produce more than 1000 diapers per minute.
Obviously, the high speed, large capacity and low unit cost of production require complete automation. This in turn means that the short-term operation and flexibility of the product become limited.
At present, the Nonwovens Sector of the industry includes raw material suppliers, roll product manufacturers, converters / manufacturers of end-use products, machinery industry supporting the first three categories, auxiliary material suppliers, winding, slitting, packaging equipment manufacturers, etc. This list is not as clear as people think, because different degrees of vertical and horizontal integration in the industry further blur the picture. Globally, the situation is further complicated by the nuances of local markets and economies.
However, it is obvious that the nonwovens industry is still a highly adaptable, innovative and opportunistic industry. This means that in the next few years, there may be a range of products that can replace more traditional textiles - some may see this as an opportunity, while others may see it as a threat.
From disposable to reusable
Several drivers will lead to the use of Nonwovens in traditional textile products. These are:
The latest development of printing technology. This may result in multicolor woven fabrics made of multicolor yarns being replaced by simple woven fabrics that can be printed to simulate finer structures. These products can bring significant savings because they can run for a short time and provide unprecedented mass customization. Suitable nonwoven structure will be an ideal choice for this kind of printing material.