Weeks after announcing it was commercializing meltblown materials made on its pilot line to meet demand for facial mask materials, Reifenhauser Reicofil reports it has found customers in Germany and is supplying materials to public or charitable initiatives that manually produce face masks for medical practices, hospitals and care services.

“Within the last two weeks, many initiatives have been founded that sew masks by hand,” says Bernd Kunze, managing director. “Within the last two weeks, many initiatives have been founded that sew masks by hand . Thus, at least small production capacities have been established in Germany in a short time, which now want to be supplied. From the many inquiries we have consciously selected thos initiatives that work efficiently and deliver masks quickly and reliably first to where they are most urgently needed.”

For Reifenhauser, however, the delivery to converters remains only a partial success. As overwhelming as the great commitment is, the quantities produced in this way or not close to meeting demand for medical protective clothing. If the population is to be supplied with masks nationwide, the demand would rise into the billions. To solve the problem, Germany and Europe need their own industrial production sites with closed European supply chains and decisive political action. The aim must be to supply Europe with protective material independently and competitive, both now and in the long term.

“We need a strategic production reserve for medical protective clothing in Europe,” says Bernd Reifenhauser, CEIO,. “We have to quickly build up the machine capacity for the industrial production of masks in high volumes but at the same time the corresponding capacities for the production of the necessary high quality nonwovens in Europe must be crated. Otherwise, our dependence will remain at a crucial point the supply chain. Other nations have recognized this, in some cases, much earlier, and have already ordered equipment.

In order to accelerate the process in Germany, politicians have set up a program to secure industrial investments through purchase and price commitments. This commitment will be value until the end of 2021. Reifenhauser considers the measure to be important ant correct but also sees the need for further fine tuning.

“In our view, the duration of the program should be extended,” Reifenhauser adds. “By the end of 2021, high quality machines that we need to ensure quality and long-term international competitiveness will not have amortized.”