Posted May 27, 2014

 

By Seshadri Ramkumar

 

LUBBOCK, TEXAS – The single-use medical nonwovens market has rebounded from saturation levels and is expected to grow at about 5 percent, according to Dave Rousse, president of INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.

 

Rousse, speaking recently during a webinar organized by the Rodman Media Corp., said that due to the Affordable Care Act, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention advisories as well as payment qualification criteria imposed by private insurers, the disposable nonwoven market is expected to grow at a rate of 5 percent. This growth figure is more than the earlier expected growth rate of 2 percent, he said.

 

According to Rousse, medical nonwovens in the United States has a share of 9 percent in the total nonwovens market. Allied products such as absorbent hygiene has a 21 percent share, wipes has a 17 percent share and filtration has an 11 percent share. The Affordable Care Act emphasizes the shift from quantity to quality, which will aid the growth of disposable nonwovens, he said.
 

Nonwoven products such as underpads, adult incontinent products, face masks, sterile wraps and packages and health care-related wipes will be in demand, which will push the sector towards a growth trajectory, he added.

 

In ending his presentation, Rousse said that the nonwoven industry should innovate, enhance the value of the overall package of nonwoven products and better communicate with stakeholders.

 

This webinar was sponsored by ANDRITZ Nonwoven and RKW-Group.

 

Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar is professor of Countermeasures to Chemical and Biological Threats, Nonwovens & Advanced Materials at Texas Tech.