• Login
    • Join
  • Subscribe Free
    • Magazine
    • eNewsletter
    Checkout
    • Magazine
    • News
    • Exclusives
    • Applications
    • Technology
    • Market
    • Other
    • Top 40
    • Buyers Guide
    • Hygiene Directory
    • More
  • Magazine
  • News
  • Exclusives
  • Applications
  • Technology
  • Market
  • Other
  • Top 40
  • Buyers Guide
  • Hygiene Directory
  • Current / Back Issues
    Features
    Editorial
    Columns
    Digital Edition
    Southeast Asia Edition
    eNewsletter Archive
    Editorial Guidelines
    Subscribe Now
    Advertise Now
    Top Features
    Fiber Manufacturers Respond to Change

    Household Wipes Market: Sustainability in Focus

    Natural Hygiene Products Market Continues to Grow

    2022 Company Capabilities

    Fluff Pulp Market Faces Year of Transition
    Company Cameo
    Financial News
    Machinery Equipment
    New Products
    Nonwovens News
    Patent Review
    People in the News
    Supplier News
    Top News
    Live From Shows
    Top News
    Weekly Recap: Lifetime Technical Achievement Award Presented to Richard Knowlson, Alkegen Completes Luyang Acquisition & More

    What You’re Reading on Nonwovens-Industry.com

    Andritz Sets Up Wetlace CP Pilot Line in Montbonnot

    Weekly Recap: SWM and Neenah Introduce Mativ Inc., Avgol honored for Biotransformation Technology & More

    Ontex Climate Action Targets Approved by Science-Based Targets Initiative
    Nonwovens Insights
    Online Exclusives
    Adult Incontinence
    Absorbent Core
    Antimicrobials
    Apparel
    Automotive and Transportation
    Face Masks
    Chemicals / Adhesives
    Construction
    Contract Services
    Diaper, Baby
    Electronics
    Feminine Hygiene
    Fibers
    Filtration
    Flame Retardance
    Geotextile / Agrotextile
    Home Products
    Hygiene Film/Components
    Industrial / Institutional
    Inspection / Quality Control
    Machinery and Equipment
    Medical
    Wipes

    Hygiene Product Startups Gain Investors

    Kansan Offers Wetlaid Nonwovens Lines

    Andritz Sets Up Wetlace CP Pilot Line in Montbonnot

    Weekly Recap: SWM and Neenah Introduce Mativ Inc., Avgol honored for Biotransformation Technology & More

    Suominen Introduces Biolace Silva for Baby Wipes
    Air Through Bonding
    Airlaid
    Carded/Carding
    Chemical Bonded
    Composite
    Meltblown
    Needlepunch
    Nanotechnology
    Spunbond
    Spunbond/Spunmelt
    Spunlace
    Thermal Bonded
    Wetlaid

    Kansan Offers Wetlaid Nonwovens Lines

    Suominen Introduces Biolace Silva for Baby Wipes

    Trützschler, Texnology Partner to Make Needlepunch Nonwovens Lines

    Smithers Releases Report on the Global Nonwoven Wipes Market

    Matregenix
    China
    Eastern Europe/Russia
    India
    Middle East/North Africa
    North America
    Pacific Rim
    South/Central America
    Turkey
    Western Europe

    Right Hygiene Conference Held in New Delhi

    Sub-Saharan Africa’s Specialist Nonwovens and Fibers Capability is Growing Steadily

    Southeast Asian 5 Nonwoven Capacity and Demand Development

    Chinese Baby Diaper Brands

    Retail Disposable Hygiene in Southeast Asia and China: Growth Outlook, Challenges, Opportunities
    Associations
    Contracts / Awards
    Education
    Facilities / Capacity
    Green / Sustainability
    Legal / Regulatory
    Market Data
    Flushability
    Mergers and Acquisitions
    Product Improvement / Innovation
    R&D/Basic Research
    Shows / Events

    Ontex Climate Action Targets Approved by Science-Based Targets Initiative

    Suominen Introduces Biolace Silva for Baby Wipes

    Smithers Releases Report on the Global Nonwoven Wipes Market

    Right Hygiene Conference Held in New Delhi

    First Quality to Move Manufacturing Away from King of Prussia Site
    Chart
    Companies
    All Companies
    Categories
    Company Profiles
    Add New Company
    International Buyers Guide Companies
    Texol

    Investkonsult Sweden AB

    Dukane

    Schott & Meissner Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH

    WEIMA America, Inc.
    Brands
    Brand Owners
    • Magazine
      • Current / Back Issues
      • Features
      • Editorial
      • Columns
      • Digital Edition
      • Southeast Asia Edition
      • eNewsletter Archive
      • Editorial Guidelines
      • Subscribe Now
      • Advertise Now
    • Breaking News
    • Buyers Guide
      • All Companies
      • Categories
      • Company Profiles
      • Add Your Company
    • Applications
      • Absorbent Core
      • Adult Incontinence
      • Antimicrobials
      • Apparel
      • Automotive and Transportation
      • Chemicals / Adhesives
      • Construction
      • Contract Services
      • Diaper, Baby
      • Electronics
      • Feminine Hygiene
      • Fibers
      • Filtration
      • Flame Retardance
      • Geotextile / Agrotextile
      • Home Products
      • Hygiene Film/Components
      • Industrial / Institutional
      • Inspection / Quality Control
      • Machinery and Equipment
      • Medical
      • Wipes
      • Face Masks
    • Technology
      • Air Through Bonding
      • Airlaid
      • Carded/Carding
      • Chemical Bonded
      • Composite
      • Meltblown
      • Needlepunch
      • Nanotechnology
      • Spunbond
      • Spunlace
      • Thermal Bonded
      • Wetlaid
      • Spunbond/Spunmelt
    • Market
      • China
      • Eastern Europe/Russia
      • India
      • Middle East/North Africa
      • North America
      • Pacific Rim
      • South/Central America
      • Turkey
      • Western Europe
    • Other
      • Associations
      • Contracts / Awards
      • Education
      • Facilities / Capacity
      • Green / Sustainability
      • Legal / Regulatory
      • Market Data
      • Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Product Improvement / Innovation
      • R&D/Basic Research
      • Shows / Events
      • Flushability
    • Top 40 Companies
      • Chart
      • Companies
    • Online Exclusives
    • Slideshows
    • Hygiene Directory
      • Brands
      • Brand Owners
    • Experts Opinions
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Infographics
    • Whitepapers
    • Events
      • Industry Events
      • Live From Show Events
      • Webinars
      • Live From Asian Connections
    • Jobs
    • Resources
      • Suppliers Gallery
      • Literature Showcase
      • Web Showcase
      • Home Page Showcase
    • About Us
      • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of Use
    Features

    Airlaid Market Report

    Feminine hygiene and adult incontinence segments expected to drive airlaid into the future.

    Related CONTENT
    • GLATFELTER
    • Glatfelter
    • Fitesa
    • Kimberly-Clark
    • Wipes Makers Ditch Plastics
    Tara Olivo, associate editor10.13.15
    Due to the lack of investment in airlaid during the last few years, as well as lines shuttering, the global airlaid market has been described as tight by industry observers. But with the growth of the feminine hygiene market in developing countries and the rapid rise in the aging population in developed countries—leading to more users of adult inco products—airlaid could see greater demand in the future, which could encourage expansion among airlaid producers.

    According to a recent study from Smithers Apex, the current $1.64 billion airlaid market is expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 4% to reach $2 billion by the year 2020. Airlaid’s key markets—feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, wipes and food pads—are all growing and demand in these markets is strong, the report says. It also states that North America’s supply is the tightest globally, at nearly 95% utilization, with the continent even importing some airlaid from Europe, which has some leeway at 87.5% consumption. Utilization in Asia—“the fastest growing major region” for airlaid—currently stands at 90%.

    Industry consultant Phil Mango sees global capacity as the airlaid industry’s biggest challenge. “There’s a little bit of a shortage and it comes and goes,” he says. “A year or two ago, the shortage was so tight that there was no airlaid to be had. Now, because Europe is sort of in a ‘mini recession’ and their demand for airlaid has weakened somewhat, there’s a little bit of a capacity around in certain regions of the world.”

    The airlaid market has always gone through boom and bust cycles, he adds. “Occasionally there’s no airlaid capacity around, the prices go way up and nobody wants to do any product development work with airlaid because there is not any airlaid to be had, so they go to other substrates. Then, the airlaid companies react, and they overreact, and everybody builds airlaid lines.”



    Fitesa operates a two-line airlaid plant in Tianjin, China.
    This brings him back to 2001, when just about every airlaid company, as well as others that had never made airlaid, expanded. At this time, the industry added about 100,000 tons of capacity to a total of 300,000 tons, which resulted in a bust. “Prices dropped to nothing, big airlaid companies went bankrupt, like Concert at the time, and Buckeye was really close for a while and had a huge debt load,” he recalls. “So I’d say the biggest challenge for the airlaid industry is managing capacity globally.”

    The newest airlaid lines that have come onstream are Selcuk Group’s Karweb line in Gaziantep, Turkey, in 2013, and McAirlaids line in Virginia in 2011, which was a transplanted and modified older line, Mango says. Both are small lines, producing just 7000-7500 metric tons annually.

    Regarding the top two airlaid producers, Glatfelter and Georgia-Pacific (G-P), the biggest headlines in recent years were Glatfelter’s 2010 acquisition of Concert Industries—Glatfelter added a third line in Europe soon after the purchase—and G-P’s acquisition of Buckeye Technologies in 2013.

    “Georgia-Pacific has about 17% of the market and Glatfelter has 16.4%, but (the difference) goes up and down a little bit depending on capacity,” Mango comments. “Glatfelter sort of has been debottlenecking, meaning they’ve added small quantities of capacity, not new lines necessarily, so whether they have caught up to G-P or not...it’s very close between those two.”

    Meanwhile, EAM Corporation, a producer of airlaid absorbent core materials for the femcare, adult incontinence, baby care, food pad, puppy pad and healthcare markets under the patented NovaThin brand, has been expanding its competencies since its acquisition by Domtar in May 2012. Prior to the buy-out, EAM was funded by a private equity, Kinderhook Industries, and was also previously owned by Rayonier.

    According to Lori Venn, EAM’s vice president of sales and marketing, “EAM has become a key part of Domtar’s R&D program for its personal care growth strategy. The upgrades to our facility, and investment in people, assures not only our growth, but our continued success in the airlaid industry.”

    While EAM hasn’t revealed any plans to add airlaid capacity, Venn doesn’t hesitate to say the company will if the right opportunity presents itself. And not just in the airlaid absorbent core market. “We are always looking for ways to expand, including into other technologies, as we enhance our product base for both our internal and external customers,” she says.

    Meanwhile, Swedish producer Duni has narrowed the focus of its airlaid business. In February 2013, the company announced it would exit the hygiene business but remain involved in tabletop. After failing to find a buyer for its equipment related to this market, Duni announced in September 2014 that it would concentrate its entire Rexcell airlaid business in Skåpafors, Sweden. This past July, the company announced that all of its remaining production in Dals Långed was transferred to Skåpafors and conversion of these assets to tabletop lines was complete. When announcing its second quarter results, Duni said that this project would be fully implemented in the fourth quarter of 2015.

    Over in China, nonwovens producer Fitesa, which runs two airlaid lines in Tianjin, doesn’t have any current plans to add more airlaid capacity, but the company continues to develop new products in this segment.

    According to Marc Newman, Airlaid PPD and engineering manager for Fitesa, some of its latest airlaid products include composite structures that combine airlaid with other nonwovens; a water dispersible dry wipe made of 100% environmentally sustainable and biodegradable raw materials; and a family of very lightweight airlaid materials designed to improve fluid handling of disposable hygiene articles that provide fast intake and distribution of fluids. “Upstream developments are in the works that target improved functionality of traditional airlaid applications including absorption capacity and retention, advanced odor control concepts, and unique additives that enhance the fluid management of specifically targeted fluids,” he says.

    Femcare’s Future with Airlaid
    Industry insiders and airlaid producers agree that the growth of feminine care in emerging markets, where penetration is low, is among the factors that will drive the airlaid market forward.

    “What’s happening is not only is the demand for feminine hygiene products in emerging markets growing, but the performance of those products in the emerging markets is also growing,” Mango explains. “For example, there are a lot of pseudo-airlaid lines in China, they are sort of small, limited versions of a typical airlaid process. Nowhere near the quality or performance of a traditional airlaid line, but they make a sort of a pseudo-airlaid product and they’ve been going into these really low performance, but still better than previously had femcare products. But now the feminine hygiene consumer in China is becoming more sophisticated. They want Western performance—thin, comfortable, high absorbency products. They no longer want those poor, bulky, leaky type products.”

    Because of this, Mango suggests the emerging markets, especially in Asia, will be a big driving force for airlaid.

    EAM already supplies femcare markets in Asia. Venn believes these markets, like others, will continue to expand from the sheer population growth taking place as well as availability of higher performing products. When asked about economic factors affecting these markets, Venn responded, “Often in these expanding markets you’re converting customers away from older style products. Economic changes can sometimes lead to considerations to default back to these older styles. But once consumers have thinner and higher performing products, they have a hard time going back.”

    Ray Dunleavy, head of Global Marketing, Strategy and Business Development for Fitesa, also sees the potential for growth in emerging markets where penetration is low for femcare products, as well as other hygiene products and food pads. “As economic conditions improve, cultural habits evolve, and personal incomes grow, disposable hygiene product usage will follow creating additional demand for absorbent airlaid fabrics,” he says.

    Airlaid for the Aging Population
    In addition to femcare, the adult incontinence market is also growing globally, according to Mango. “Adult incontinence used to be sort of a marginal market for airlaid because the people who used adult incontinence products 15-20 years ago, or even 10 years ago, were in institutions of some type or they were very inactive, they were at home or were at adult care centers or hospitals, and they didn’t care that they were wearing a big old fluffy product, but nowadays, people are active to much older ages.”

    Just like in femcare, where products went from big fluff pulp-based cores to airlaid, Mango predicts the same will happen in adult incontinence as consumers seek thinner, discreet and comfortable products. “I think adult incontinence in general is starting to make a move towards more airlaid and I think that’s going to be a big market that’s going to help support airlaid over the next several years into the future,” he says.



    Campen has recently entered the airlaid market.
    Dunleavy agrees that the adult incontinence market will grow as populations age. “In developed countries where personal incomes are high, strong growth in incontinence products will occur as we are seeing in Western Europe and North America. The light incontinence products segment may create additional demand for airlaid fabrics,” he explains.

    Within adult incontinence, EAM’s Venn says the company has been working on upgrading traditional cores to include airlaid. In fact, they have been making airlaid that are selling into pad-like products in the U.S. and Europe for several years. “We have been developing products to address an anticipated trend (now a reality) of utilizing airlaid in medium/heavier adult inco products.”

    Will We See More Airlaid Soon?
    Despite the likely demand for airlaid in the future, Mango indicates that it could be some time before a new line emerges in the global marketplace.  “There are only a few companies that could build big new lines and have an effect on the market—Georgia-Pacific and Glatfelter are the most capable, though EAM (Domtar) and McAirlaid’s are possible for hydrogen bonded airlaid,” he says. “Georgia-Pacific probably won’t build a line for a while. Glatfelter is the most likely to expand sooner rather than later. But, first you announce you’re going to build it, then it takes a year to build, and then it takes at least six months to get it up to any kind of capacity. So we’re talking a year and a half before anybody [adds capacity], but no one is starting yet.” 
    Related Searches
    • raw materials
    • Wipes
    • fluff pulp
    • feminine hygiene
    Related Knowledge Center
    • Diaper, Baby
    • Composite
    • Wipes
    Suggested For You
    GLATFELTER GLATFELTER
    Glatfelter Glatfelter
    Fitesa Fitesa
    Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark
    Wipes Makers Ditch Plastics Wipes Makers Ditch Plastics
    Berry Global Berry Global
    Sales Increase at Glatfelter Sales Increase at Glatfelter
    Smithers Introduces Spunlace Report Smithers Introduces Spunlace Report
    Nonwovens in Food Packaging Nonwovens in Food Packaging
    2021 Machinery & Equipment Review 2021 Machinery & Equipment Review
    What You’re Reading on Nonwovens-Industry.com What You’re Reading on Nonwovens-Industry.com
    Glatfelter to Buy Jacob Holm Glatfelter to Buy Jacob Holm
    Shark VacMop Features Multilayer Nonwoven Pad Shark VacMop Features Multilayer Nonwoven Pad
    Magic Srl Installs Airlaid Line in Italy Magic Srl Installs Airlaid Line in Italy
    Smithers Releases Report on Nonwovens Supply Chain Disruptions Smithers Releases Report on Nonwovens Supply Chain Disruptions

    Related Buyers Guide Companies

    • Composite | Fibers
      GLATFELTER

      GLATFELTER

      ...
      Elliot Abee , Marketing Communication Specialist 04.19.22

    • Glatfelter

      Glatfelter

      ...
      09.02.21

    • Fitesa

      Fitesa

      ...
      09.02.21


    • Kimberly-Clark

      Kimberly-Clark

      ...
      09.02.21

    • Wipes
      Wipes Makers Ditch Plastics

      Wipes Makers Ditch Plastics

      Legislative demands and changing consumer preferences have created a need for alternative raw materials in many wipes markets
      Karen McIntyre, Editor 09.01.21

    Loading, Please Wait..
    Trending
    • Consumer Confusion: A Key Issue In The Incontinence Category
    • Glatfelter, Blue Ocean Closures Partner With Absolut
    • What Are The Types Of Nonwovens?
    • Daio, Livedo Partner To Recycle Diapers
    • Freudenberg Acquires Filter Manufacturer
    Breaking News
    • Weekly Recap: Lifetime Technical Achievement Award Presented to Richard Knowlson, Alkegen Completes Luyang Acquisition & More
    • Glatfelter, Blue Ocean Closures Partner with Absolut
    • What You’re Reading on Nonwovens-Industry.com
    • Daio, Livedo Partner to Recycle Diapers
    • Suominen Launches Hydraspun Reserve
    View Breaking News >
    CURRENT ISSUE

    June 2022

    • Fiber Manufacturers Respond to Change
    • Household Wipes Market Sustainability in Focus
    • Natural Hygiene Products Market Continues to Grow
    • View More >



    Cookies help us to provide you with an excellent service. By using our website, you declare yourself in agreement with our use of cookies.
    You can obtain detailed information about the use of cookies on our website by clicking on "More information”.

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Contact Us

    follow us

    Subscribe
    Nutraceuticals World

    Latest Breaking News From Nutraceuticals World

    Pharmavite Expands in Ohio with $200 Million Investment
    Nestlé Health Science Expands in New Zealand with Deal to Buy The Better Health Company
    Younger Consumers Drive Growing Demand for Ingestible Beauty and Skin Care Products
    Coatings World

    Latest Breaking News From Coatings World

    Azelis Acquires Chemical Partners, Strengthens Leadership in Africa and Middle East
    Emmanuelle Bromet Named Arkema Sustainable Development VP
    ROSS Planetary Dual Dispersers Have Unique Processing Flexibility
    Medical Product Outsourcing

    Latest Breaking News From Medical Product Outsourcing

    MPO's Most-Read Stories This Week—July 2
    OmniGuide Awarded FDA Clearance for RevoLix Hybrid Thulium Laser
    Pancryos Forges License Agreement for Microencapsulation Device
    Contract Pharma

    Latest Breaking News From Contract Pharma

    Bayer Opens New Research and Innovation Center at Kendall Square
    Lonza Names Maria Soler Nunez as Head, Group Operations
    Eurofins DiscoverX Opens Shanghai Office
    Beauty Packaging

    Latest Breaking News From Beauty Packaging

    Dexlevo Introduces Beauty Treatment technique, ‘GOURI’
    Revision Skincare Exec Wins Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year
    Latest Updates About Cosmoprof North America
    Happi

    Latest Breaking News From Happi

    L’Oréal’s Solution for Gray Hair, Scotch Porter's New President & Boots No. 7 Beauty Is Not for Sale
    SCOTUS EPA Ruling Won’t Impact General Regulatory Authority
    Toning Collection For Zero-Brass Blondes is New at Colorproof
    Ink World

    Latest Breaking News From Ink World

    Weekly Recap: Flint OPS, Xerox and MNYPIA Top This Week’s News
    Azelis Acquires Chemical Partners, Adds to Leadership in Africa and Middle East
    International Paper Publishes 2021 Sustainability Report
    Label & Narrow Web

    Latest Breaking News From Label & Narrow Web

    UPM Raflatac boosts operations in US, All4Labels returns to HP and more
    Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives to exhibit at Labelexpo Americas for first time
    CELAB Europe wins Paper Recycling award
    Nonwovens Industry

    Latest Breaking News From Nonwovens Industry

    Weekly Recap: Lifetime Technical Achievement Award Presented to Richard Knowlson, Alkegen Completes Luyang Acquisition & More
    Glatfelter, Blue Ocean Closures Partner with Absolut
    What You’re Reading on Nonwovens-Industry.com
    Orthopedic Design & Technology

    Latest Breaking News From Orthopedic Design & Technology

    ODT's Most-Read Stories This Week—July 2
    NuVasive Inc. Opens Singapore Experience Center
    Pedicle Screw Systems Market to Top $3B in 2027
    Printed Electronics Now

    Latest Breaking News From Printed Electronics Now

    Weekly Recap: eMagin, Identiv, and Japan Display Top This Week’s Stories
    Epishine is Building a New Solar Cell Factory in Linköping, Sweden
    Toppan Establishes CVC Fund and Investment Management Company in the US

    Copyright © 2022 Rodman Media. All rights reserved. Use of this constitutes acceptance of our privacy policy The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Rodman Media.

    AD BLOCKER DETECTED

    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
    Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker.


    FREE SUBSCRIPTION Already a subscriber? Login