SCHWARZENBACH - Nonwovens manufacturer Sandler Group has invested in a new high-tech line for the production of fabric for respirator masks. Once up and running, the new line will increase Sandler's annual production capacity of nonwovens for the manufacture of up to 800 million masks.
Start up for the line is scheduled for the middle of the third quarter of 2020.
“The demand for our nonwovens for respirator masks is unbroken — and has been for weeks,” said Dr. Christian Heinrich Sandler, president and CEO, Sandler. “Despite around-the-clock production, seven days a week, we cannot accept new orders from manufacturers of respirator masks until June. On the other hand, we are also aware of the still challenging situation in the health sector and therefore we decided last week to invest in a further production line for nonwovens for respirator masks at the Schwarzenbach site in Upper Franconia.
The investment is part of a support program from the German Federal Government aimed at addressing the shortage of materials in Germany and Europe. “We have been producing nonwovens for air filtration for more than 20 years, successfully establishing our position in the global market,” Sandler added. “Until now, the product category ‘nonwovens for respirator masks’ did not receive much public attention, as previous epidemics fortunately affected the country less.
"Due to the unfortunate development of the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand from Germany and all over Europe has now increased significantly and is likely to remain high in the long term. We therefore greatly welcome the establishment of complete value chains in Germany.”
With the capacity expansion, Sandler said it intends to contribute to rapidly counteracting the severe shortage of filter materials for respirator masks. “We will put all our commitment and dedication towards advancing the installation of the new production line, which is scheduled to commence in June,” explained Sandler, noting that that this schedule would only be met if there were no additional restrictions in the coming weeks, for example pertaining to logistics.
