In April, two major trade associations dedicated to nonwovens released statistic reports and both showed good things for the industry.

First, INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, published the second edition of the annual North American nonwovens supply report, which found that nonwovens capacity has increased 5.5% per year from 1990-2014, easily outpacing U.S. GDP growth, which grew at 2.5%, and quadrupled in capacity.

Meanwhile, in releasing stats for the European nonwovens industry, EDANA, the international association serving the nonwovens and related industries, reports that overall production in Europe grew by around 4.7% in 2014 to reach 2.165 million tons. This growth was all-encompassing when it comes to process types with spunlace and needlepunch leading the charge with better than 9% growth from each technology. In end use market terms, the hygiene market continues to be the largest area for nonwovens, growing 6.1% in 2014, largely due to gains in incontinence sales.

All of these statistics just prove, once again, what we already know. The nonwovens industry continues to be an extremely vital manufacturing-based market that continues to grow in both developing and developed markets, alike. Unlike many manufacturing sects that have all but dissolved in the U.S. and Europe, nonwovens has as strong of a tomorrow as its today.

This is no easy feat. Despite low birth rates, slow population growth and high penetration levels in many established markets, nonwovens have been able to grow through new market development, innovation and expansion in existing markets. Thanks to the science behind the fabric, nonwovens manufacturers continue focus resources in the developed world as they branch out to developing regions and try to conquer new territories—where growth is even higher!

All of this could not be achieved without the solutions offered by the many suppliers throughout the nonwovens industry supply chain.

This month, Nonwovens Industry presents its annual company profile edition, where our advertisers, your suppliers, have the chance to play writer and editor, giving our readers an intimate look into their products, services and business plans. We hope that these profiles give you the information you need about your current and future suppliers.

As always, we appreciate your comments.

Karen McIntyre
editor
[email protected]