Meltblown line: What comes after the mask boom?

Manufacturers of nonwovens for medical protection are currently experiencing how quickly peak demand can turn into overcapacity. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the supply chain for protective face masks and medical protective clothing from Asia came to a standstill. As a consequence, it was impossible to deliver assured nonwoven qualities and therefore protective functions. Face masks for protection against infection were suddenly in short supply in Europe. Masks were sold at record prices and governments subsidized the setting up of local production facilities.

Only two years later, the situation has changed drastically. Demand has collapsed and Asian manufacturers are flooding the market with goods at dumping prices and questionable quality. As a result, there is overcapacity on the market and prices have nosedived. In some cases, manufacturers have been left sitting on their masks. "It is very unfortunate that governments are not continuing to support these producers. However, producers of meltblown nonwovens that find themselves stuck in this situation do not have to shut down their lines," says Lars Leu, acting as advisor to Reicofil customers in such situations. "Instead, they should think about alternative applications."

Meltblown producers have three options