Toittilantie 5
FI-47400 Kausala
Finland
+358 29 007 4370
www.sharpcell.fi

Finland-based SharpCell Oy is one of the newest airlaid manufacturers in the world, but its founders established their expertise with this nonwovens technology more than two decades ago.

Company executives were first involved with airlaid converting for the hospital sector in 1994. In 2012 they founded SharpCell Oy after purchasing the factory from another firm in 2010.

“We have seen the development and growth of the airlaid market clearly,” says Risto Pollari, Board member, SharpCell Oy. “We also believe that the need of sustainable airlaid nonwovens demand will also increase in the future.”

While SharpCell’s share of the global airlaid market is currently low, its modern and efficient factory located in southeastern Finland is one of the newest in the market. “In past seven years, we have invested a lot for our production and marketing to improve our productivity and quality and to improve our understanding of our customers’ expectations and needs,” Pollari says. “Today we have almost 100 customers around the world.”

Most of the company’s customer base is in Europe, but in the last several years it has attracted customers also from North America. In fact, the company exhibited at its first IDEA trade show this year in Miami, FL. “Our strategy is to be a sustainable and high-end quality producer,” Pollari adds.

SharpCell develops raw materials for several applications for table setting, hygiene and industrial wiping, personal care products, household cleaning applications, baby care and feminine hygiene. Its airlaid technology absorbs moisture very well and retains its strength even when wet. The airlaid nonwoven is a low-lint material and it can be laminated, making it waterproof.

SharpCell’s airlaid also offers a textile look and feel, which is created through different patterning of the nonwoven. It is suitable for applications with printed surface, and provides excellent opacity and smoothness.

“The quality of our airlaid material is very consistent and easy to convert to end products,” Pollari explains. “Our modern and flexible production technology gives us the ability to offer tailored qualities to our customers.”

SharpCell airlaid is produced with very low water consumption and low emissions from the process to water or air. All fiber raw materials in use are sourced from trusted partners and their sustainably managed forests.

The company believes this is the right time to be in the nonwovens business, especially in airlaid. “The need of airlaid nonwovens and nonwovens in general is increasing and new applications markets can be found,” he concludes.