Nonwovens Industry: What are the needs and challenges that customers in the nonwoven markets are facing?

Customers in the nonwovens markets are navigating a dynamic landscape where cost-efficiency, performance, customization, affordable innovation and supply chain reliability stand out as paramount concerns. In the pursuit of cost-efficiency, they seek materials that offer a balance between affordability and quality to remain competitive. Performance remains a top priority, with demands for nonwoven materials tailored to specific applications, such as absorbency in hygiene products or filtration efficiency in masks. Customization is gaining prominence as customers require personalized nonwoven solutions to meet unique specifications and branding preferences. Moreover, affordable innovation is key, as customers look for new and cost-effective ways to enhance their products and processes while maintaining affordability. Lastly, supply chain reliability is a constant challenge, as the uninterrupted flow is essential for seamless production processes, and to ensure market demands are met.

NWI: How do Americhem solutions/offerings address those needs and challenges?
Americhem is uniquely positioned to address the diverse challenges faced by customers in the nonwovens industry, thanks to our unwavering commitment to optimized cost in use, high-quality products, custom-tailored solutions, and a robust global manufacturing footprint.

Our focus on optimized cost in use aligns perfectly with the industry’s need for cost-efficiency. We understand that cost considerations are crucial for our customers, and we work diligently to provide cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality.

In terms of quality and performance, our commitment to quality begins with our rigorous product design process. The company seeks to incorporate end use requirements early in the product ideation phase thus helping to ensure fitness for final use.

In terms of customization, we recognize that every customer’s needs are unique. Our experts collaborate closely with clients to develop custom-tailored solutions that precisely align with their specifications and branding requirements. This flexibility sets us apart, allowing us to cater to a wide range of applications with tailored color and additive solutions.

Lastly, our global manufacturing footprint ensures supply chain reliability. With production facilities strategically located around the world, we can provide our customers with a steady and uninterrupted supply of materials.

NWI: How does Americhem address sustainability in the nonwovens industry?
Americhem’s approach to sustainability is multifaceted, encompassing not only product solutions but a holistic sustainability framework. On the product front, Americhem offers a range of innovative solutions that address environmental concerns. These include products designed to reduce the use of virgin materials, increase the incorporation of recycled materials and extend the lifespan of nonwoven articles.

Beyond product innovation, Americhem has adopted a comprehensive sustainability approach organized around three pillars—Process, Products and People. This framework aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and reflects Americhem’s dedication to sustainability across all aspects of its operations. For Process, we aim to reduce its environmental impact through efficient and responsible manufacturing and sourcing practices. In the Product pillar, Americhem continues to develop sustainable materials that meet the evolving needs of its customers and the industry. Finally, in the People pillar, Americhem emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of sustainability within the organization, ensuring that its workforce is aligned with the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility. We are also fully committed to team building, personal growth, and social well-being through our newly formed DEI council.

NWI: How does Americhem offer “one-stop” solutions?
We have pilot capabilities for Spunbond as well as other textile processes. Additionally, we have full scale piloting capabilities for our compounding operations. This allows our team to develop, test and vet our new products for effectiveness and producibility. Our customers can evaluate our in-house technical solutions as well as assess the viability of their own technologies in one place designed to accelerate timelines. Most of our product solutions are readily combinable with other technologies in our portfolio that enables us to provide multi-attribute products in one masterbatch solution. This simplifies our customers’ logistics and production processes.

NWI: Can you explain the role of customization and tailored solutions to meet customers’ unique needs?
In the realm of nonwoven additive masterbatches, customization and tailored solutions are paramount as each customer brings forth unique specifications based on their distinct applications and final products. Recognizing this diversity, Americhem excels in formulating solutions that intricately align with these distinct requirements. For instance, customers often emphasize diverse attributes like softness, antimicrobial properties, or specific color preferences. At Americhem, we leverage our Global R&D technical teams to identify and optimize new product opportunities. This collaborative approach results in additive masterbatches that transcend standardized solutions. Our customized additives contribute to cost-effectiveness, addressing the customer’s needs while efficiently managing raw material and production costs. Americhem adopts a customer-centric business strategy, accentuating the importance of untapped customer segments. This approach empowers us to identify unmet needs and engineer tailored solutions that directly target these market gaps.

NWI: What do Americhem’s global capabilities look like? And how do they benefit regional and global customers?
Americhem has production and technical capabilities in multiple regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa  and the Asia Pacific. By having both production and technical capabilities in the market area, we can service customers directly without the extension of timelines that can occur when operations occur inter-regionally. Also, multi-regional and global customers can easily transfer our product solutions from one region to another if they have needs for the same product technology. All our regions support our Fibers Products, so this is a great advantage to our Textile and Fibers customers.

NWI: Does Americhem have any new technologies/products to be introduced to the marketplace?
As we mentioned earlier, our multi-regional presence in the markets provides us with the opportunity to interact directly with those unique areas. This gives us insight into the specific market and technical needs across the world. We have ideation sessions with many of our global partners on a routine basis, and we have relationships with multiple academic researchers which serves as inspiration for new technology developments. Our suppliers view us as a very capable solutions provider and offer us first looks at many new technologies that they introduce.

Our latest technologies are products of these “systems.” We have a full portfolio of in-melt solutions for softness modification in our mBrace™ product line for nonwovens. We have products for surface friction reduction, increased drapability and natural “cotton-like” feel. Several of these products are combinable with hydrophilic modification for a unique multi-attribute solution.

Additionally, the “nShield®” product family has a broad range of antimicrobial in-melt additives. Inorganic and organic systems with great durability and efficacy against multiple microbial organisms are available. Our newest innovation in anti-microbial space is an essential oil-based technology with excellent thermal properties. These offer a natural solution to microbial growth which can affect the textile’s color, odor, and longevity.

Please visit www.americhem.com/pages/nonwoven-fibers or email [email protected] with any questions!