In 1970, Rodman Zilenziger, the president of a small publishing company in Northern New Jersey, saw an opportunity in the disposables market and launched a trade magazine dedicated to a growing technology that was, at the time, targeting a number of small but growing consumer markets—like baby diapers. That magazine, Disposable Soft Goods, went through a few name changes before settling on its current moniker, Nonwovens Industry, which better reflected the scope of this industry.

Early issues of this magazine offer some predictions for future market growth that now seem pretty comical. In June 1970, in a survey of readers, just 8% predicted that diapers—which has been the largest market for nonwovens for decades— would become the largest market for nonwovens. Meanwhile,  30% said that medical linens and pads would be the top nonwovens market someday.

Editorial coverage also offered predictions for the nonwovens industry’s future. Probably the one most unfounded was the technology’s influx into the clothing market. Early prototypes of so-called paper dresses never caught on in the fashion world, despite the potential of that market.

Of course, these predictions came before many technologies for nonwovens had even been developed.

One thing most respondents agreed upon was that growth was ahead for nonwovens and they could not be more right. During the past 50 years, nonwovens have touched nearly every aspect of consumers’ daily lives. Baby diapers, feminine hygiene products and disposable wipes have become necessities, not luxuries, and nonwovens continue to penetrate more areas of the home, automobile and workplace. Today, many experts put the value of the nonwovens industry at about $50 billion and growth continues to be strong across all markets and geographies.

Thumbing through literally hundreds of back issues of Nonwovens Industry for this month’s Nonwovens Industry timeline, I was reminded once again by the amazing level of innovation that has propelled this industry during the last half century. From changes in diaper design to the massive proliferation of wipes to developments of materials that make cars lighter and more fuel efficient to everyone’s current focus, face masks, the nonwovens industry continues to rise to the occasion when a consumer need emerges.

In this timeline, we tried to pinpoint some of the more significant events of the past five decades including new product launches, investments, regulatory issues and mergers and acquisitions. We know we missed many events and we want to hear from you. I imagine some of you have been our loyal readers for many of these 50 years and we would love nothing more than to hear about some of the top events you experienced during your tenure in nonwovens.


Karen McIntyre
Editor
[email protected]