AHLSTROM-MUNKSJÖ OYJ, PRESS RELEASE, August 25, 2020
For decades Ahlstrom-Munksjö has been making high performance medical fabrics that are used in surgical gowns and apparel, drapes, facemasks and coveralls. Our product folio consists of single-use medical fabrics that keep health care professionals safe and comfortable.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö announces the launch of TrustShield™ Biological, a personal protective apparel medical fabric designed to shield against hazardous pathogens.
The TrustShield™ product portfolio offers a range of medical fabrics designed to provide superior protection in the operating room, clinical and laboratory environments. TrustShield™ fabrics are laser resistant, protect against chemical permeation, and are highly absorbent. They can be easily converted into medical grade gowns or drapes.
TrustShield™ Biological is designed for personal protective apparel applications requiring biological protection to prevent penetration of blood and other hazardous fluids that can spread and cause infections. TrustShield™ Biological is a bi-laminate (two layer) fabric that consists of a polypropylene based nonwoven layer designed for comfort, and polyethylene film layer for protection against biohazards.
“It is important to focus on how we can advance product functionality in our smart fiber-based solutions. This holds true especially for our medical business and the protective fabrics we produce to keep front line workers safe. TrustShield™ Biological further underscores our mission to deliver high performing medical fabrics that fully protect health care workers and patients globally,” commented Lionel Bonte, Vice President, Medical, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.
For decades the medical business has been making fabrics used to construct surgical gowns, drapes, pleated face masks, protective apparel and sterile barrier systems. These high performing medical fabrics are used around the world to protect health care workers and patients against viruses, bacteria and fluids. TrustShield™ Biological joins Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s high protection portfolio, which includes ViroSēl™ and PureArmor®, Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s next generation breathable viral barrier (BVB) fabrics. These innovative fabrics offer both protection and comfort, something that is difficult to achieve together.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s manufacturing plants serving the Medical business are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of demand across the entire medical product portfolio. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is doing their very best to manage this critical situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several steps have been taken to respond to the tremendous demand especially for the inner and outer coverstock fabrics used to make face masks. “We have increased production significantly and have been working with our suppliers to maintain future raw material flow to help avoid disruptions. We are constantly monitoring the risks related to the supply chain to ensure our manufacturing needs can be met.” “The medical business unit’s average coverstock fabric production contributes to an estimated 50-60 million finished face masks per month. As a result of the increased demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, that number has nearly tripled. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is now producing the coverstock fabric being used to make over 150 million face masks per month,” commented Bonte.
Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Our mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Our offering include filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials and solutions for diagnostics as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Our annual net sales is about EUR 3 billion and we employ some 8,000 people. The Ahlstrom-Munksjö share is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and Stockholm. Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com
The TrustShield™ product portfolio offers a range of medical fabrics designed to provide superior protection in the operating room, clinical and laboratory environments. TrustShield™ fabrics are laser resistant, protect against chemical permeation, and are highly absorbent. They can be easily converted into medical grade gowns or drapes.
“It is important to focus on how we can advance product functionality in our smart fiber-based solutions. This holds true especially for our medical business and the protective fabrics we produce to keep front line workers safe. TrustShield™ Biological further underscores our mission to deliver high performing medical fabrics that fully protect health care workers and patients globally,” commented Lionel Bonte, Vice President, Medical, Ahlstrom-Munksjö.Ahlstrom-Munksjö’s manufacturing plants serving the Medical business are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of demand across the entire medical product portfolio. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is doing their very best to manage this critical situation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several steps have been taken to respond to the tremendous demand especially for the inner and outer coverstock fabrics used to make face masks. “We have increased production significantly and have been working with our suppliers to maintain future raw material flow to help avoid disruptions. We are constantly monitoring the risks related to the supply chain to ensure our manufacturing needs can be met.” “The medical business unit’s average coverstock fabric production contributes to an estimated 50-60 million finished face masks per month. As a result of the increased demand from the COVID-19 pandemic, that number has nearly tripled. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is now producing the coverstock fabric being used to make over 150 million face masks per month,” commented Bonte.
