In this issue we include a special focus on China, which has become of the largest and fastest growing producers of nonwovens. With rising wages, a rapidly expanding middle class, and a new focus on domestic consumption driving increased sales of nonwoven products, China’s influence and importance will only continue to expand in the years ahead.

China coverage starts on page 46 with senior editor Karen McIntyre covering the spate of investment occurring in the Chinese nonwovens hygiene market where new lines have come onstream from major multinationals including First Quality Nonwovens, Avgol and Toray Advanced Materials Korea. New lines have also been announced by PGI and Toray as well.

End producers like P&G, the maker of Pampers and Luvs diapers, has started stage one of a three-stage investment in Guangzhou that the company says will be one of the largest manufacturing sites in Asia. P&G also says it is investing as much as $1 billion in China by 2015.

Kimberly-Clark is also currently building a new diaper manufacturing base in the Jiangning Development Zone and investing more than $100 million in the new project.

Beginning on page 48 is this month’s Focus on China 2013 special section, which is devoted to machinery manufacturers serving the Chinese market. In this section you will find profiles of both Western suppliers capitalizing on the growth opportunities China offers and Chinese-based equipment suppliers who continue to emerge on the scene, expanding the size and scope of the nonwovens industry.

Later this month from October 23-25 in Shanghai many companies will take part in the Shanghai International Nonwovens Conference & Exhibition (SINCE) and present their product portfolios. SINCE is one of the major exhibitions for nonwovens worldwide and serves more than 400 exhibitors from 30 countries as a platform for the communication about the nonwovens industry in Asia. Nonwovens Industry staff will be on hand so please stop by the booth. We hope to see you there!