The PP03 model from Jinjiang Xingtai of mainland China is made of PP and weighs between 10 and 260gsm.

Suppliers of nonwoven fabric in Taiwan and mainland China are using new technologies and distinct fiber blends to produce functional models for the health care and agricultural segments.

To improve the breathability and water-resistant features of nonwoven fabric, makers are using vertical folding technology.

This technique results in fiber strands standing on end, allowing air to pass in and out of fabric holes.

Some companies are using metal fiber or synthetic strands from recycled PET bottles to come up with performance fabric for sports shoes lining.

R&D expenditure, addressing technology enhancement, is expected to increase in coming years as the nonwoven industries in the mainland and Taiwan cope with fierce global competition.

Product development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait focuses on soft, anti-static, absorbent, anti-bacterial and flame-retardant nonwoven fabric.

Durable and disposable nonwovens from the mainland and Taiwan are used for soil cover, wet wipes, hospital gowns, surgical masks and patient-draping clothing. These materials are said to provide effective barriers against the spread of infection.

In Taiwan, Shinih Enterprise Co. Ltd is applying vertical folding technology in short fiber processing. The technology is said to help filaments stand up, making the material water-resistant and breathable, as this allows air and moisture to pass through the fabric holes.

Eighty-five percent of Shinih's nonwoven fabric can be used for disposable respirators and surgical wear, while the rest is for wet tissue.

The company invests $1 million annually in R&D.

Tai Lin Enterprise Co. Ltd combines nonwoven fabric and gauze, which are bonded mechanically, for an improved version of conventional medical swabs.

PP, polyester and nylon are employed. Products can be used as grinding materials for furniture polish.

Moving toward green manufacturing, Jhih Cheng Nonwoven Co. Ltd is using fiber from metals and recycled PET bottles for its nonwoven fabric. This latter type is less costly than polyester, PP and nylon, and said to result in durable lining for sports shoes.

Nonwoven fabric from Jhih Cheng undergoes stitch bonding, which has the advantage of faster speeds than knitting or weaving. The technique is also less costly because it uses a lesser amount of fiber than traditional processes and does not require additional power supply or chemicals. The resulting fabric is colorfast and allows dyes and prints to adhere well.

The company has recently come up with stitch-bond nonwoven fabric that repels electromagnetic waves from microwave ovens, mobile phones and X-ray machines.

Hsia Cheng Woven Textile Fty Co. Ltd uses dry-laid PP fiber for its nonwoven fabric. This particular method forms a web from dry fiber using carding equipment. Geotextiles account for10 percent of nonwoven fabric output.

The nonwovens industry in Taiwan has some 20 active players altogether exporting $206 million worth.

More than 60 percent of shipments go to Hong Kong, the mainland, Vietnam and South Korea.

Despite stiff competition from their mainland counterparts, Taiwan suppliers are forecasting strong

export growth in the next 12 months.

Shinih, in particular, is negotiating a deal with a major outdoor and camping equipment company that is expected to boost exports by 50 percent.
Increasing R&D investment

	This PP model from Dongying Newway of mainland China weighs 160gsm. The anti-corrosive, nontoxic material can be used for surgical gowns, masks, diapers, carpets and shopping bags.

In the mainland, the Texwell Group will be jacking up R&D investment by 50 percent. Nonwoven fabric accounts for half of the company's total output.

Product development at Texwell focuses on improving the wicking, touchfast and flame-retardant properties of nonwoven polyester. Models comply with the EN 471 standard on high-visibility clothing.

The company's 36 R&D technicians release 20 new models monthly. Aside from sending the team to trade shows, the company collaborates with adidas, Alster, Velcro and Sankei on product development.

Jinjiang Xingtai Non-woven Products Co. Ltd will also increase R&D expenditure to improve its facilities and add more machines. The company's 15-member R&D team focuses on nonwoven fabric with medical applications.

Jiangjiang Xingtai's spunbond PP fabric for hospital gowns and surgical masks weighs between 10 and 260gsm, with a width of 1.6 to 3.2m. Its spunlaced nonwoven fabric from viscose or polyester weighs 40 to 200gsm and is 2m wide.

R&D investment at Zhangjiagang Junma Polyester Fibre Products Co. Ltd will be seeing a 30 percent increase in the next 12 months. The company's 80-member R&D team releases 30 to 50 new models monthly.

Zhangjiagang Junma's SMS protective fabric and melt-blown material for surgical masks are made of viscose, which is sourced from Sichuan, Jilin, Henan and Hubei provinces.

Models are priced between $2,300 and $2,600 a ton.

R&D at Dongying Newway Group Co. focuses on nonwoven fabric with anti-corrosive, anti-static, antibacterial, flame-retardant, hygienic, UV-stabilizing and absorbent properties.

Weighing between 10 and 160gsm, models from Dongying Newway are produced through melt blowing, spunbonding and a combination of both techniques. Prices vary from $1,600 to $1,800 per ton.

Fifty new designs are released monthly by Ningbo Veken Elite Group Co. Ltd. Up to 3 percent of sales is set aside for product development annually.

Shenzhen State-owned Textile Import & Export Co. Ltd manufactures nonwoven PP fabric and interlining through needle punching, and chemical and thermal bonding. The company's 12-member

R&D team comes up with five to 10 models each month.