Freudenberg Nonwovens has officially started its new production facility for Adsorptive products in Littleborough, UK. With an investment of over 2 million Euros in the latest activated carbon technology, the company plans to expand the adsorptive business into other applications and regions.

"Investing to move downstream the value chain to supply finished and converted performance materials for applications such as adsorptive is a large part of our group strategy", said Bruce Olson, CEO and President of Freudenberg Nonwovens during the Opening Ceremony on March 4 in Littleborough. "Besides producing Nonwoven roll good material, we are focused on adding value through converting as well as finishing and treatment processes such as coating of base materials with activated carbon as we do it in our Adsorptive business".

Freudenberg’s adsorptive products are special performance materials with an active carbon finishing treatment to adsorb detrimental agents and toxins and stop unpleasant odour. Active carbon has a very large surface area available for adsorption; just 3 grammes of high quality activated carbon has approximately the surface area of a football field. Adsorptive Materials are used in critical high-performance applications such as odour absorption in Ostomy medical products field and for odour reduction or control in technical applications like NBC protection. Freudenberg Nonwovens is also  looking to expand the business into new application areas.

Freudenberg Nonwovens currently employs 22 people in Littleborough. All of them have worked for Freudenberg's adsorptive business at a previous production location in Greetland. Freudenberg  started the production of staple fibre Nonwovens material in the UK in 1956 and also operates a production plant for hygiene Nonwovens in Greetland, Yorkshire and a surface treatment facility for battery separators in Swindon, Wiltshire.