Fibre2Fashion November Issue'17 | Page 108

TEXTILES Beat NONWOVENS Ontex to set up new production plant in Poland drainage channels. In the polarised structure, the machine direction yarns on both the paper side and the roll side are shifted to form an off-stacked structure. This special structure removes the direct drainage channels traditionally used in forming fabrics. The polarised structure can be utilised in all SSB forming fabric types, which makes it suitable for all paper machines. Edana publishes new guidelines for femcare products Pic courtesy: Ontex Group Ontex Group is expanding its personal hygiene business around the world through a new production plant in Radomsko, Poland. The new site, expected to start up by the end of 2018 and employ 170 people by 2020, will support the Central European business of its Mature Markets Retail Division. It marks another step in Ontex’s growth strategy and its ongoing transformation into a leading consumer goods company. Adding production capacity in Central Europe also fits in the company’s global ambition to widen its international presence. With an investment that is estimated to amount to €40 million over the next few years, Ontex aims to open a total site area of around 110 thousand square metres and a total industrial area of 24 thousand square metres. This would allow Ontex to optimise production processes and service its Polish and international customers and consumers better. NatureWorks develops durable hydrophilic formulation NatureWorks has developed a durable hydrophilic formulation that promotes skin health through improved fluid management and increased breathability for absorbent hygiene applications such as diapers, adult incontinence, and feminine hygiene products. With this durable hydrophilic technology, Ingeo nonwovens surpass polypropylene in key measures of fluid management.  In diapers, the combination of custom surface treatments with Ingeo- based nonwoven fabric for the topsheet 108  | FIBRE 2 FASHION NOVEMBER 2017 can reduce the use of super absorbent polymer (SAP) or pulp by up to 30 per cent for thinner, more comfortable, and cost-effective products. The new durable hydrophilic system for Ingeo nonwovens also leads to reduced aging which maintains fluid management performance and increases shelf life of hygiene products. There is improved breathability due to Ingeo’s higher water vapour transmission rate. Valmet unveils new generation polarised forming fabrics Valmet has introduced the new generation polarised forming fabrics, revolutionising water drainage in the wire section of a paper machine. Polarised structure of the forming fabrics improves machine runnability and performance, taking customer satisfaction to an excellent level. Traditionally, all sheet support binding (SSB) fabrics have had direct Edana, the leading global association and voice of the nonwovens and related industries, has shared the new testing guidelines for femcare products. The guidance document aims to meet the demand for relevant, accurate, reliable and comparable tests, covering performance standards as well as substance testing across a range of feminine hygiene products. “The guidelines are designed as a best practice tool for third-parties to ensure the scientifically sound testing of femcare products and meaningful results. They were developed by a group of experts from hygiene product manufacturers, their suppliers, and leading test institutes with expertise in testing femcare products. The guidelines are comprehensive, covering a range of femcare products (pantyliners, tampons and sanitary pads), all forms of testing and each step involved in a test, from design and methodology to the interpretation and communication of results,” said Edana’s scientific and technical affairs director Marines Lagemaat. He mentioned that statistical methodology and technical parameters impacting test results were taken into consideration for the development of the guidelines. The guidelines were unveiled at Outlook 2017, the world’s premier nonwoven personal care products and hygiene conference. Edana’s scientific and technical affairs director Marines Lagemaat unveiling the guidelines for femcare products at Outlook 2017. Pic courtesy: Edana