Finnish producer of nonwovens for wipes, Suominen has harnessed the trend of using disposable wipes at workplaces to maintain safety and hygiene, with this trend now accounting for nearly 11 per cent of its business currently, in the workplace segment. The business for wipes comes mainly from causal restaurant chains, industrial plants and new US regulations.

Suominen made wipes are now used in a wide variety of workplace applications, including sanitising tables in fast food restaurants, disinfecting in hospitals and in factory workshops where aircraft parts are made.

To meet the growing demand, the company has invested €50 million in a new wetlaid production line in the US, which adds both capacity and capabilities to supplying nonwovens for workplace wipes, with deliveries to commence in early 2017.

“The upward trend in demand for industrial wipes is no surprise for us at Suominen,” Eileen Calder, product manager at Suominen said. “We have seen the signs for some time and we know what the needs in the market are.” (AR)