UK-based based Technical Absorbents, part of the Bluestar Fibres Company Limited, reports that it enjoyed a record number of enquiries for its Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) at the recent China Hygiene Exhibition (CIHPEC 2011).

CIHPEC 2011 hosts a wide range of nonwoven producers, disposable nonwoven products makers and professionals engaged in tissue paper/disposable hygiene products business in China as well as other countries in the world. Key decision makers attending from the nonwoven industry as a whole are looking for new innovation.

Range of markets and applications

Visitors to the Technical Absorbents stand were reportedly eager to discuss opportunities on how to utilise Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) technology within a wide range of markets and applications, but particular focus was for hygiene products (diaper, panty liners, and adult incontinence), dental, medical applications, coolant technology and cable yarns. 

SAF is produced in a range of fibre absorbency grades, lengths and counts (dtex), and also in filament and polymer solution form.  According to Technical Absorbents, as a fibrous superabsorbent, it can be converted via the traditional nonwoven, textile and yarn manufacturing routes, offering ease of handling and delivers superior final fabric distribution profiles and integrity, making it the super absorbent of choice for many customers.

New development activity

 "It was interesting to see the great deal of new development activity within the Chinese hygiene industry, driven by the increasing awareness of untapped market opportunity arising from advanced product innovation.  Use of SAF is being recognised as a truly viable way to achieve such innovation, based on absorbent cores with softer, lighter and improved absorbent uniformity," said David Hill, Business Development Manager for Technical Absorbents.

"With SAP pricing for the specialist hygiene sector becoming even more competitive, then the use of SAF to gain superior product design and performance over SAP based products is increasingly seen as more and more favourable," added Mr Hill.

The 18th China International Tissue/Disposable Hygiene Products Exhibition and Conference, CIHPEC, was organised by the China National Household Paper Industry Association (CNHPIA) and authorised by the Ministry of Science & Technology of People's Republic of China.  It was held at the Qingdao International Convention Center, Shangdong from 11 to 13 May 2011.