10.08.20
Compiled by Tara Olivo, Associate Editor
Contract Manufacturing and converting companies are an integral part of the nonwovens supply chain. For all of the advantages the industry’s products provide, a lot has to happen prior to their end use. Nonwovens need to be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes, scaled down to become a single-use product, as well as printed, packaged and more. Sometimes the process is simple, and sometimes more complex, with converting companies using the latest technology to add value to products and make them easier to use.
And, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced tremendous expansions of production in very short timeframes. Contract manufacturers who have capability in PPE have seen staggering increases, and those without have experienced spill-over from this.
The following is a compilation of capabilities and services of some the nonwovens industry’s leading contract manufacturers converters, as well as what some are doing in response to the pandemic.
Americo
Since its beginning over 50 years ago, Americo Manufacturing Company has grown to become a global leader in the high-loft, airlaid nonwovens manufacturing space. Americo is a U.S. based company with highly flexible, state-of-the-art manufacturing lines. It produces a wide range of nonwoven material designed for geotextiles, specialty filtration, commercial and consumer cleaning, ventilation and a variety of other applications.
Not only is Americo a reputable leader as a contract manufacturer, but it is also a pioneer in environmental sustainability. Americo was one of the first high-loft nonwovens manufacturers to use 100% post-consumer recycled fibers as a primary raw material component in its nonwoven products. It is also the first and only manufacturer to introduce biodegradable nonwoven technology to the commercial cleaning products market. This revolutionary new technology received the cleaning industry’s highest global recognition for innovation and environmental sustainability. Americo also produces the world’s only Green Seal certified floor pads due to their recycled materials content and biodegradable characteristics.
Americo has a robust and experienced R&D/manufacturing support team to help develop a product to a customer’s specifications while achieving a good balance between product use/life and cost. Americo specializes in producing highly customized, airlaid, spray-bonded nonwoven substrates that can vary in density, porosity, thickness, abrasivity and color. Americo has the capability to produce material from 7-50 mm in thickness and 200-2500 gms/sqm, while utilizing a wide range of coarse denier fibers to achieve ideal physical properties for its customers. Material widths can range from 1.0 to 2.3 meters. In addition to producing finished roll goods, it has a full complement of sheeting equipment, die presses, automated band saws and various CNC machinery with capabilities to convert materials into custom shapes and sizes for a wide variety of OEM applications.
Americo has a proven record of accomplishment on contract manufacturing for some of the largest companies worldwide. Currently servicing customers in over 70 countries around the world, Americo has a robust quality control system in place to ensure all products shipped are well within accepted product specification tolerances. Its customer service levels are unparalleled in the industry with prompt responsiveness and short lead times on custom manufactured products.
www.americomfg.com
Beckmann Converting
Beckmann Converting delivers important value to original product manufacturers and textile suppliers through volume production contracts and new product development services in the toll laminating space for multiple layer textile composites. The company specializes in ultrasonic laminating processes, utilizing proprietary equipment and technologies that provide unique competitive advantages in meeting demanding customer requirements. Additional investments and upgrades have expanded the company’s capabilities to develop novel bonding solutions.
Ultrasonic laminating lines can process raw materials up to 126 inches wide with finished product incorporating from two layers up to seven layers combining nonwovens, films, knits, wovens and meshes. By eliminating the use of adhesive materials, ultrasonic bonding is truly a “green” process. It allows the individual layers to retain their unique properties including strength, loft, breathability, filtration and chemical resistance while optimizing composite performance. Beckmann Converting exited the hot melt adhesive (gravure) bonding space in early 2020.
Developments implemented recently position Beckmann Converting with the capacity to handle growing production volume requirements in multiple industries including filtration, environmental, protective apparel, protective covers, healthcare products, cleanroom wipes, among others. Through continuous improvement programs, the company has shortened the lead time to production startup when taking over manufacturing of existing products. When it comes to working with customers on new product development projects, Beckmann Converting employs expert hand sample, roll trial and pre-production verification programs focusing on achieving manufacturability while retaining end use performance of the finished product. These critical processes are formalized in its ISO9001:2015 standard Quality Management System, recently recertified through September 2022.
www.beckmannconverting.com
Converted Products
In 1993, Converted Products, Incorporated (CPI) opened for business with the simple idea of providing quality contract converting services in slitting and die cutting. Twenty-six years later, CPI has kept that same simple premise but has expanded its contract services to include wider width, high speed slitting, hot melt laminating, traverse (spool) winding, rotary and flatbed die cutting, warehousing/logistics and product/process development. Certified in ISO 9001:2015, Converted Products’ 160,000 square foot facility is located on the northwest side of Milwaukee, WI.
CPI’s slitting capabilities include score, shear, razor, single knife and rotary, in widths ranging from 1⁄8 to 136 inches along with experience in a wide variety of flexible materials. CPI also offers a full-service Quality department performing on-site analysis, certifications and reports to meet a wide array of industry needs.
In 2017, CPI upgraded its high speed, wide-width equipment by installing a new winder with a drive assist unwind. President and founder of CPI Chris Gorenc says, “We had the opportunity to keep our equipment on the leading edge by installing a high speed, wide-width surface winder with a drive assist unwind. There aren’t many contract converters who have the drive assist technology. It gives us an opportunity to work with low tensile materials that need a driven unwind to ensure a quality wound roll.”
But CPI’s work on efficiency didn’t end with just a machine. It went to work on eliminating as much waste in its process as well by implementing and adopting its own version of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). “We started by using whiteboard’s and worked into a more sophisticated database. Regardless of the method, we had to reduce our downtime as much as possible. It is a never-ending process to drive out wasted time and make sure our customers get the best price we can offer,” Gorenc adds.
Continuous improvement is a staple of CPI’s ever-evolving capabilities.
The new surface winder features the following capabilities: total width: 130"; slit widths: 3" to 130"; unwind OD max: 100"; rewind OD max: 72"; drive assist technology; unwind ID’s: 3", 6", 63/4", 8", 10", 105⁄8", 12" (others available upon request); rewind ID’s: 3", 6", 63/4", 10" (others available upon request); and speeds in excess of 4000 ft. per min.
www.convertedproducts.com
Corman
The emergency situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic led Corman to play an active role, developing a new line of medical face masks, entirely made in Italy, latex-free and CE certified.
Corman did not opt for converting its production cycle. Corman decided to invest and purchase a special machinery to start a new production line. This has allowed it to generate new jobs which led to the hiring of many new specialized operators, in a period in which the unemployment rate in Italy is increasing.
Corman’s medical face mask features:
www.corman.it
Fabric Sources International
Dalton, GA-based Fabric Sources International (FSI), offers tailored solutions to set customers apart from the competition by producing cutting edge product designs. FSI provides its partners with experience and industry expertise while maintaining total confidentiality.
FSI makes the job easier for customers who want to increase product offerings but are not sure what is available, seek improved material performance in a timely manner, or are just burned out from attempting to convert in-house.
Capabilities that are available include:
IHSAN Sons (Pvt) Ltd
Following the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ihsan Sons (Pvt) Ltd has developed and introduced a new range of wet wipes under its wipes category. The product line is the culmination of IHSAN’s unwavering commitment to play its part against the pandemic.
With the introduction of these wipes, IHSAN has added turnkey manufacturing capabilities in private labeling and contract manufacturing of wet wipes. The wipes are available in both 100% cotton and polyester/viscose spunlace, and multiple alcohol-based and alcohol-free formulations for applications such as disinfectant/antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, cosmetic wipes and surface wipes. Therefore, making Ihsan a one-stop source for all wiping essentials. The range is currently available in flow and sachet packing, with a monthly capacity of 130,000 packs and 3 million sachets.
This promising addition is an extension to Ihsan’s existing product line of pure cotton dry wipes, also available for private labeling and contract manufacturing.
www.ihsansons.com
Micrex Corporation
Micrex Corporation is the developer and manufacturer of the Micrex/Microcreper family of compressive treatment machinery for nonwovens, paper, films, composites and textiles. Companies worldwide use Micrex technology to add softness, bulk, drape, absorbency, extensibility and stretch to a wide range of products.
During the Covid-19 crisis Micrex has seen a 100% increase in trial activity as smart companies look for new ways to compete in a rapidly changing marketplace. By strict adherence to rigorous protocols Micrex has remained open and fully staffed throughout the pandemic.
Micrex performs product development through the Micrex Innovation Lab. This integrates with contract Microcreping services for those firms whose current needs do not yet require the purchase of a dedicated Micrex/Microcreper system. Micrex is prepared to support projects from initial development through large scale production. All nine configurations of the Micrex/Microcreper are available for contract production. No-cost lab scale screening trials are still available to qualified customers. For information about this program please see: http://micrex.com/screening-trials/.
www.micrex.com
National Wiper Alliance
National Wiper Alliance, recognized as the largest private-label contract converting operator in the U.S., has seamlessly adapted to increased market demands amidst the Covid-19 crisis. NWA’s expansive 500,000 square foot production facility safely houses over 40 converting lines, including six new lines. Amongst these new lines, four are specific to perforated rolls used with canisters or buckets. Thus, providing solutions to recent customer obstacles and ensuring substrates utilized in finished products are compatible Covid-19 approved chemistries. Since the pandemic started, NWA has hired 100 new employees allowing for a 24/7 production schedule. National Wiper Alliance remains an EPA registered facility, and has added a FDA certification. NWA is registered to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
www.nationalwiper.com
Nonwovens of America
Operating a 5.4-meter airlay needlepunch line Nonwovens of America provides custom converting services utilizing a 99” wide rotary screen print line with 10-color digital print capabilities. Blanket lines, an inline calendar, slitting and re-rolling equipment operate alongside the impressive needlepunch line to accommodate polyester, polypropylene, rayon and tinsel materials.
Nonwovens of America’s key focus lies in automotive, retail, geotextile, and the industrial industry. Emergency blankets are produced on site as well, with a substrate derived from recycled plastics. NOA provides customer service, product development, warehousing, logistics and distribution support in-house, yielding an excellent customer experience and a high-quality product.
sales@nonwovensofamerica.com
Superior Felt & Filtration
Superior Felt & Filtration is a global leader in technical nonwovens including lifesaving filtration technology. Stocking over $9 million in technical nonwovens, Superior Felt & Filtration provides solutions for the automotive, appliance, aerospace, filtration, and medical industries. As the global need for medical PPE intensifies, Superior Felt & Filtration continues to expand its state of the art converting operations to meet these critical demands. Featured converting capabilities include adhesive coating and laminating, slitting, die cutting, heat sealing, ultrasonics, spooling, off-line needling, printing, and private label packaging. Part of a new industrious 75,000 sq. ft. expansion expected to be completed this month, Superior Felt & Filtration will be adding new Cameron Duplex Slitters capable of handling material up to 94” wide with a maximum 38” diameter. This new capability will allow Superior to handle larger rolls and increased volume. Coupled with a new white room converting environment, new equipment upgrades include increased heat cutting capacity, additional ink pad printers and expanded auto bagging to increase private labeling capabilities. This exciting expansion will allow Superior Felt & Filtration to continue to meet the global surge in viral and bacterial filtration, ventilator filters, spirometry, CPAP, surgical hood and N95 mask sub-components as well as other lifesaving filtration. These substantial upgrades in converting capabilities will expand capacity and throughput allowing Superior Felt & Filtration to continue to meet the worldwide need for engineered technical nonwovens and filtration solutions.
www.superiorfelt.com
Web Industries
“Without question, the issue of onshoring, or reshoring, is among the U.S. nonwovens industry’s most pressing concerns,” says Dante Ercoli, Web Industries’ director of sales and business development, Industrial & Consumer Division.
Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, Web provides precision converting and contract manufacturing services to the personal & home care, medical, aerospace and industrial sectors.
“The Covid-19 pandemic revealed weaknesses in the industry’s supply chain, especially in the medical sector where masks, gowns and coveralls are in short supply, and our primary product sources are located in Asia. A case in point: In 2019, China and other far East sources provided the U.S. with 90% of our surgical gowns.
“The domestic manufacturing infrastructure cannot presently meet the nonwoven PPE demands of state, federal and local governments, and the private sector. Moreover, we now see PPE as a more than temporary need. To quote Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN.) Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, ‘It is not a question of if the next pandemic hits the United States, it is a question of when.’”
Ercoli continues, “Accordingly, PPE and other pandemic public health related goods and services are now considered a matter of national security. The critical nature of such supplies has prompted bipartisan government support for measures making American production of certain goods mandatory.”
www.webindustries.com
Web-Pro
Earlier this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Web-Pro polylaminate materials, passing the test of EU protective coverall standard EN14126, were designated and requisitioned by the Taiwan government as the only qualified supplier of polylaminate materials in Taiwan for P3 (AAMI level 4 compatible) protective clothing production. Because the Covid-19 situation is now well under control in Taiwan, some of the converted protective clothing/coveralls have become available for export to other regions, including the U.S., to meet the unmet demand.
Web-Pro’s first overseas manufacturing plant in Tinh Dong Nai, Vietnam, which opened in Q3-2019, mainly serves its customers in the local and global hygiene and wipes markets. Expected to become a FDA certified manufacturing facility, “Web-Pro’s Vietnam operation should ultimately include SMMS nonwoven, air-through nonwoven production capability, as well as under pad converting capability to offer value-added supply chain integration service and contract manufacturing service to its customers, and to enhance the company’s business continuity strategy,” according to Web-Pro.
Looking ahead, Web-Pro says it will continue to focus on Asia with local operations and a global outlook, continuously elevating its expertise in the field of professional nonwoven roll goods manufacturing for medical and hygiene industries, expediting the development and commercialization of high-end polylaminates for high-level medical protective clothing, and offering contract manufacturing service for protective clothing and under pad converted products.
www.web-pro.com.tw
Contract Manufacturing and converting companies are an integral part of the nonwovens supply chain. For all of the advantages the industry’s products provide, a lot has to happen prior to their end use. Nonwovens need to be cut into a variety of shapes and sizes, scaled down to become a single-use product, as well as printed, packaged and more. Sometimes the process is simple, and sometimes more complex, with converting companies using the latest technology to add value to products and make them easier to use.
And, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced tremendous expansions of production in very short timeframes. Contract manufacturers who have capability in PPE have seen staggering increases, and those without have experienced spill-over from this.
The following is a compilation of capabilities and services of some the nonwovens industry’s leading contract manufacturers converters, as well as what some are doing in response to the pandemic.
Americo
Since its beginning over 50 years ago, Americo Manufacturing Company has grown to become a global leader in the high-loft, airlaid nonwovens manufacturing space. Americo is a U.S. based company with highly flexible, state-of-the-art manufacturing lines. It produces a wide range of nonwoven material designed for geotextiles, specialty filtration, commercial and consumer cleaning, ventilation and a variety of other applications.
Not only is Americo a reputable leader as a contract manufacturer, but it is also a pioneer in environmental sustainability. Americo was one of the first high-loft nonwovens manufacturers to use 100% post-consumer recycled fibers as a primary raw material component in its nonwoven products. It is also the first and only manufacturer to introduce biodegradable nonwoven technology to the commercial cleaning products market. This revolutionary new technology received the cleaning industry’s highest global recognition for innovation and environmental sustainability. Americo also produces the world’s only Green Seal certified floor pads due to their recycled materials content and biodegradable characteristics.
Americo has a robust and experienced R&D/manufacturing support team to help develop a product to a customer’s specifications while achieving a good balance between product use/life and cost. Americo specializes in producing highly customized, airlaid, spray-bonded nonwoven substrates that can vary in density, porosity, thickness, abrasivity and color. Americo has the capability to produce material from 7-50 mm in thickness and 200-2500 gms/sqm, while utilizing a wide range of coarse denier fibers to achieve ideal physical properties for its customers. Material widths can range from 1.0 to 2.3 meters. In addition to producing finished roll goods, it has a full complement of sheeting equipment, die presses, automated band saws and various CNC machinery with capabilities to convert materials into custom shapes and sizes for a wide variety of OEM applications.
Americo has a proven record of accomplishment on contract manufacturing for some of the largest companies worldwide. Currently servicing customers in over 70 countries around the world, Americo has a robust quality control system in place to ensure all products shipped are well within accepted product specification tolerances. Its customer service levels are unparalleled in the industry with prompt responsiveness and short lead times on custom manufactured products.
www.americomfg.com
Beckmann Converting
Beckmann Converting delivers important value to original product manufacturers and textile suppliers through volume production contracts and new product development services in the toll laminating space for multiple layer textile composites. The company specializes in ultrasonic laminating processes, utilizing proprietary equipment and technologies that provide unique competitive advantages in meeting demanding customer requirements. Additional investments and upgrades have expanded the company’s capabilities to develop novel bonding solutions.
Ultrasonic laminating lines can process raw materials up to 126 inches wide with finished product incorporating from two layers up to seven layers combining nonwovens, films, knits, wovens and meshes. By eliminating the use of adhesive materials, ultrasonic bonding is truly a “green” process. It allows the individual layers to retain their unique properties including strength, loft, breathability, filtration and chemical resistance while optimizing composite performance. Beckmann Converting exited the hot melt adhesive (gravure) bonding space in early 2020.
Developments implemented recently position Beckmann Converting with the capacity to handle growing production volume requirements in multiple industries including filtration, environmental, protective apparel, protective covers, healthcare products, cleanroom wipes, among others. Through continuous improvement programs, the company has shortened the lead time to production startup when taking over manufacturing of existing products. When it comes to working with customers on new product development projects, Beckmann Converting employs expert hand sample, roll trial and pre-production verification programs focusing on achieving manufacturability while retaining end use performance of the finished product. These critical processes are formalized in its ISO9001:2015 standard Quality Management System, recently recertified through September 2022.
www.beckmannconverting.com
Converted Products
In 1993, Converted Products, Incorporated (CPI) opened for business with the simple idea of providing quality contract converting services in slitting and die cutting. Twenty-six years later, CPI has kept that same simple premise but has expanded its contract services to include wider width, high speed slitting, hot melt laminating, traverse (spool) winding, rotary and flatbed die cutting, warehousing/logistics and product/process development. Certified in ISO 9001:2015, Converted Products’ 160,000 square foot facility is located on the northwest side of Milwaukee, WI.
CPI’s slitting capabilities include score, shear, razor, single knife and rotary, in widths ranging from 1⁄8 to 136 inches along with experience in a wide variety of flexible materials. CPI also offers a full-service Quality department performing on-site analysis, certifications and reports to meet a wide array of industry needs.
In 2017, CPI upgraded its high speed, wide-width equipment by installing a new winder with a drive assist unwind. President and founder of CPI Chris Gorenc says, “We had the opportunity to keep our equipment on the leading edge by installing a high speed, wide-width surface winder with a drive assist unwind. There aren’t many contract converters who have the drive assist technology. It gives us an opportunity to work with low tensile materials that need a driven unwind to ensure a quality wound roll.”
But CPI’s work on efficiency didn’t end with just a machine. It went to work on eliminating as much waste in its process as well by implementing and adopting its own version of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). “We started by using whiteboard’s and worked into a more sophisticated database. Regardless of the method, we had to reduce our downtime as much as possible. It is a never-ending process to drive out wasted time and make sure our customers get the best price we can offer,” Gorenc adds.
Continuous improvement is a staple of CPI’s ever-evolving capabilities.
The new surface winder features the following capabilities: total width: 130"; slit widths: 3" to 130"; unwind OD max: 100"; rewind OD max: 72"; drive assist technology; unwind ID’s: 3", 6", 63/4", 8", 10", 105⁄8", 12" (others available upon request); rewind ID’s: 3", 6", 63/4", 10" (others available upon request); and speeds in excess of 4000 ft. per min.
www.convertedproducts.com
Corman
The emergency situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic led Corman to play an active role, developing a new line of medical face masks, entirely made in Italy, latex-free and CE certified.
Corman did not opt for converting its production cycle. Corman decided to invest and purchase a special machinery to start a new production line. This has allowed it to generate new jobs which led to the hiring of many new specialized operators, in a period in which the unemployment rate in Italy is increasing.
Corman’s medical face mask features:
- Made in Italy
- Good breathability, comfort and ergonomics, dimensions in favor of protection
- Textile elastic bands around the head
- Type II medical face mask (UNI EN 14683:2019)
- BFE > 98%
- CE marked Medical device (Class I)
- Three layer technology: PP spunbond and meltblown
- Latex free
www.corman.it
Fabric Sources International
Dalton, GA-based Fabric Sources International (FSI), offers tailored solutions to set customers apart from the competition by producing cutting edge product designs. FSI provides its partners with experience and industry expertise while maintaining total confidentiality.
FSI makes the job easier for customers who want to increase product offerings but are not sure what is available, seek improved material performance in a timely manner, or are just burned out from attempting to convert in-house.
Capabilities that are available include:
- Slit & Rewind up to 205" with five lines which allows for quick turn-around time
- New: Robotic cutting—handling fabrics up to 68" wide x 85" long
- Hot melt lamination—up to 157"
- Latex coating up to 78" wide
- Needlepunch—40" wide
- New: Sewing/fabrication facilities—high throughput for large volume requirements
IHSAN Sons (Pvt) Ltd
Following the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ihsan Sons (Pvt) Ltd has developed and introduced a new range of wet wipes under its wipes category. The product line is the culmination of IHSAN’s unwavering commitment to play its part against the pandemic.
With the introduction of these wipes, IHSAN has added turnkey manufacturing capabilities in private labeling and contract manufacturing of wet wipes. The wipes are available in both 100% cotton and polyester/viscose spunlace, and multiple alcohol-based and alcohol-free formulations for applications such as disinfectant/antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, cosmetic wipes and surface wipes. Therefore, making Ihsan a one-stop source for all wiping essentials. The range is currently available in flow and sachet packing, with a monthly capacity of 130,000 packs and 3 million sachets.
This promising addition is an extension to Ihsan’s existing product line of pure cotton dry wipes, also available for private labeling and contract manufacturing.
www.ihsansons.com
Micrex Corporation
Micrex Corporation is the developer and manufacturer of the Micrex/Microcreper family of compressive treatment machinery for nonwovens, paper, films, composites and textiles. Companies worldwide use Micrex technology to add softness, bulk, drape, absorbency, extensibility and stretch to a wide range of products.
During the Covid-19 crisis Micrex has seen a 100% increase in trial activity as smart companies look for new ways to compete in a rapidly changing marketplace. By strict adherence to rigorous protocols Micrex has remained open and fully staffed throughout the pandemic.
Micrex performs product development through the Micrex Innovation Lab. This integrates with contract Microcreping services for those firms whose current needs do not yet require the purchase of a dedicated Micrex/Microcreper system. Micrex is prepared to support projects from initial development through large scale production. All nine configurations of the Micrex/Microcreper are available for contract production. No-cost lab scale screening trials are still available to qualified customers. For information about this program please see: http://micrex.com/screening-trials/.
www.micrex.com
National Wiper Alliance
National Wiper Alliance, recognized as the largest private-label contract converting operator in the U.S., has seamlessly adapted to increased market demands amidst the Covid-19 crisis. NWA’s expansive 500,000 square foot production facility safely houses over 40 converting lines, including six new lines. Amongst these new lines, four are specific to perforated rolls used with canisters or buckets. Thus, providing solutions to recent customer obstacles and ensuring substrates utilized in finished products are compatible Covid-19 approved chemistries. Since the pandemic started, NWA has hired 100 new employees allowing for a 24/7 production schedule. National Wiper Alliance remains an EPA registered facility, and has added a FDA certification. NWA is registered to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
www.nationalwiper.com
Nonwovens of America
Operating a 5.4-meter airlay needlepunch line Nonwovens of America provides custom converting services utilizing a 99” wide rotary screen print line with 10-color digital print capabilities. Blanket lines, an inline calendar, slitting and re-rolling equipment operate alongside the impressive needlepunch line to accommodate polyester, polypropylene, rayon and tinsel materials.
Nonwovens of America’s key focus lies in automotive, retail, geotextile, and the industrial industry. Emergency blankets are produced on site as well, with a substrate derived from recycled plastics. NOA provides customer service, product development, warehousing, logistics and distribution support in-house, yielding an excellent customer experience and a high-quality product.
sales@nonwovensofamerica.com
Superior Felt & Filtration
Superior Felt & Filtration is a global leader in technical nonwovens including lifesaving filtration technology. Stocking over $9 million in technical nonwovens, Superior Felt & Filtration provides solutions for the automotive, appliance, aerospace, filtration, and medical industries. As the global need for medical PPE intensifies, Superior Felt & Filtration continues to expand its state of the art converting operations to meet these critical demands. Featured converting capabilities include adhesive coating and laminating, slitting, die cutting, heat sealing, ultrasonics, spooling, off-line needling, printing, and private label packaging. Part of a new industrious 75,000 sq. ft. expansion expected to be completed this month, Superior Felt & Filtration will be adding new Cameron Duplex Slitters capable of handling material up to 94” wide with a maximum 38” diameter. This new capability will allow Superior to handle larger rolls and increased volume. Coupled with a new white room converting environment, new equipment upgrades include increased heat cutting capacity, additional ink pad printers and expanded auto bagging to increase private labeling capabilities. This exciting expansion will allow Superior Felt & Filtration to continue to meet the global surge in viral and bacterial filtration, ventilator filters, spirometry, CPAP, surgical hood and N95 mask sub-components as well as other lifesaving filtration. These substantial upgrades in converting capabilities will expand capacity and throughput allowing Superior Felt & Filtration to continue to meet the worldwide need for engineered technical nonwovens and filtration solutions.
www.superiorfelt.com
Web Industries
“Without question, the issue of onshoring, or reshoring, is among the U.S. nonwovens industry’s most pressing concerns,” says Dante Ercoli, Web Industries’ director of sales and business development, Industrial & Consumer Division.
Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, Web provides precision converting and contract manufacturing services to the personal & home care, medical, aerospace and industrial sectors.
“The Covid-19 pandemic revealed weaknesses in the industry’s supply chain, especially in the medical sector where masks, gowns and coveralls are in short supply, and our primary product sources are located in Asia. A case in point: In 2019, China and other far East sources provided the U.S. with 90% of our surgical gowns.
“The domestic manufacturing infrastructure cannot presently meet the nonwoven PPE demands of state, federal and local governments, and the private sector. Moreover, we now see PPE as a more than temporary need. To quote Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN.) Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, ‘It is not a question of if the next pandemic hits the United States, it is a question of when.’”
Ercoli continues, “Accordingly, PPE and other pandemic public health related goods and services are now considered a matter of national security. The critical nature of such supplies has prompted bipartisan government support for measures making American production of certain goods mandatory.”
www.webindustries.com
Web-Pro
Earlier this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Web-Pro polylaminate materials, passing the test of EU protective coverall standard EN14126, were designated and requisitioned by the Taiwan government as the only qualified supplier of polylaminate materials in Taiwan for P3 (AAMI level 4 compatible) protective clothing production. Because the Covid-19 situation is now well under control in Taiwan, some of the converted protective clothing/coveralls have become available for export to other regions, including the U.S., to meet the unmet demand.
Web-Pro’s first overseas manufacturing plant in Tinh Dong Nai, Vietnam, which opened in Q3-2019, mainly serves its customers in the local and global hygiene and wipes markets. Expected to become a FDA certified manufacturing facility, “Web-Pro’s Vietnam operation should ultimately include SMMS nonwoven, air-through nonwoven production capability, as well as under pad converting capability to offer value-added supply chain integration service and contract manufacturing service to its customers, and to enhance the company’s business continuity strategy,” according to Web-Pro.
Looking ahead, Web-Pro says it will continue to focus on Asia with local operations and a global outlook, continuously elevating its expertise in the field of professional nonwoven roll goods manufacturing for medical and hygiene industries, expediting the development and commercialization of high-end polylaminates for high-level medical protective clothing, and offering contract manufacturing service for protective clothing and under pad converted products.
www.web-pro.com.tw
