Global production of spunlace nonwovens grew at an average of 9.5% for the past five years to a total of 819,000 tons in 2011, according to a recently released report – Global Spunlaced Technology Markets and Trends-2011-2016 from INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.

The report projects that the largest spunlace market, NAFTA (Canada, Mexico and the United States), Europe and China, will continue to grow at an average rate of 8.2% per year through 2016.

The Global Spunlaced Technology Markets and Trends report provides an in-depth look at the history and future of spunlace technology, key end-uses and an overview of the global spunlace market, including a breakout of capacity by world regions. Also included are charts and figures detailing global production capacities and end-uses in major world markets.

Report findings

The three major producing regions for spunlace technology – NAFTA, Europe and China – are forecast to grow at a rate of 7.7% per year over the five-year period.

The largest end-uses for spunlace nonwoven substrate materials are wipes. Other end uses include surgical gowns and surgical patient drapes, and substrates for coating and laminating, industrial apparel and filtration media.

According to the report, there are approximately 150 spunlace producers operating more than 260 production lines worldwide.

INDA projects that the number of spunlace lines will continue to increase globally. The key markets of NAFTA, Europe and China will expand, but significant growth is also forecast in the developing markets of the Middle East and South America.

Table of Contents

Spunlaced Technology

·         Process Sequence

·         Web Formation

·         Dry Laid Systems

·         Wetlaid Systems

·         Spunlaid Systems

·         Spunlaced Process Elements

·         History of Technology

Overview of Global Spunlaced Nonwovens

·         What Has Driven This Growth?

·         Spunlaced Technology Increases Its Share

·         Key End- Uses Worldwide for Spunlaced Nonwovens

Spunlaced Nonwoven Outlook by World Regions

NAFTA Region

·         Wipes

·         Medical

·         Other NAFTA Product Markets

·         NAFTA’s Spunlaced Producers

European Region

·         European Spunlaced Producers

·         Europe’s Cotton Spunlaced Producers

Asia-Pacific Region

·         China

o   Wipes

o   Wipes Producers and Production Capacities

o   Premoistened Wipes’ Sales by Segment

o   Disposable Gowns and Drapes

o   China’s Spunlaced Producer

·         Japan

o   Japanese Spunlaced Producers

·         Taiwan

o   Taiwanese Spunlaced Producers

·         Other Asia-Pacific

o   Other Asia-Pacific’s Spunlaced Producers

·         South American Market

o   South American Spunlaced Producers

·         Middle East

o   Middle Eastern Spunlaced Producers

·         Rest of World

o   Rest of World’s Spunlaced Producer

Final Thoughts

Global Spunlaced Technology Markets and Trends — 2011–2016 costs $1,995 for INDA members and $2,795 for non-members.  For more information or to purchase the report, contact Helena Lee, [email protected] , Phone: (919) 233-1210 ext. 120.