Through decades of medical developments and advancements, nonwovens have remained the preferred choice for medical product applications. A wide range of medical manufacturers choose nonwovens for items such as bandages, wound dressings, surgical scrubs, medical masks, and other healthcare products.
In this article, we will look at the many reasons why nonwoven fabrics are the preferred choice for medical product applications.
Nonwovens offer unique hygienic benefits.
In the healthcare field, much attention has been given to reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infection and illnesses. Nonwoven medical fabrics and wound dressing have many advantages in this area due to their unique qualities including:
- Nonwovens provide an effective barrier against bacteria
- Nonwoven perform better than linen in reducing airborne contaminants
- Nonwoven dressings can be easily adapted to required specifications
- Nonwovens have a demonstrated ability to mitigate medical environments risks
Nonwovens can be made from a variety of fibers.
Different types of nonwovens can be made using different materials, allowing medical manufacturers to select nonwoven fabrics with attributes to match the product application. The most widely used fibers for medical items include polypropylene, polyester, viscose, and bicomponent fiber. Nonwovens can be made in a variety of colors, textures, and thicknesses, making them perfect for a wide range of medical products.
Nonwovens can be customized with antimicrobial treatments.
Nonwovens can be made with finishing treatments to make them antimicrobial, which is ideal for medical applications. Options vary and are typically based on how the end-product will be used. Everything from medical garments to wound dressings benefit from antimicrobial nonwovens treatments.
Nonwovens combine easily with other materials.
Depending on the desired finished product attributes, nonwoven fabrics can be made strong and lightweight. Nonwovens can be made with characteristics appropriate for the product purpose, including absorbency, fabric resilience, softness, and the ability to stretch. Nonwoven fabrics can be combined with materials such as adhesives to create a barrier product that is easily applied and removed.
Nonwovens are more cost-effective than woven fabrics.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities typically operate on strict budgets. Medical suppliers who serve bulk quantity medical product needs must assess margins and to show customers how their product performance can be advantageous for the facility’s budget. Nonwoven products usually cost less to produce and eliminates the costs associated with laundering.
Nonwovens can be environmentally friendly.
Using naturally occurring fibers, responsible manufacturers are developing innovative, “green” nonwovens, suitable for a wide range of medical products. Often regarded as being too costly, natural fiber nonwovens are not always considered as a plausible alternative to synthetic fiber nonwovens. The WPT development team has worked to develop natural fiber nonwovens that deliver environmental advantages, while remaining very cost-competitive.
Your domestic nonwovens source for medical applications.
WPT Nonwovens is a leading domestic source for U.S. made medical nonwovens and wound dressing fabrics with capabilities to develop nonwovens that are absorbent, anti-bacterial, soft, and liquid repellent in a variety of colors, textures, and weights. We also offer the benefit of inline slitting and winding capabilities, eliminating the need for third party conversion services for medical product manufacturers. We welcome any size order, from wound dressing manufacturers of all volumes. Contact us today to discuss how we can meet your medical product manufacturing needs with affordable, high quality nonwovens.