GDM, a Coesia company and global provider of machinery, upgrade kits, and services for the disposable hygiene industry, has accelerated its transformation into a full-solution partner, with a strong focus on digitalization, sustainability, and customer-centric innovation. Nonwovens Industry spoke with CEO Guido Bisi about the challenges and opportunities shaping the disposable hygiene market.

Nonwovens Industry: What are the key trends reshaping the disposable hygiene industry in 2025?
Guido Bisi: In recent years, the industry has undergone a profound transformation. On the product side, there is a growing demand for customized, high-performance, and more comfortable solutions—partially driven by the integration of smart technologies. At the same time, sustainability has become a central concern: our clients increasingly seek solutions compatible with biodegradable materials, compostable packaging, and low-impact production processes.

Demographic shifts, such as population aging and the expansion of emerging markets, are also redefining production requirements.

From a manufacturing perspective, two major trends are emerging. The first concerns production efficiency, with the goal of maintaining a consistently high OEE—not only on newly installed machines but also across previously-installed lines. The second involves restoring higher product margins, either by reducing production costs or by integrating premium features that justify a top-tier positioning for the end consumer.

NWI: What are the main production challenges your clients face?
GB: Our clients frequently report four critical challenges:

1. Minimizing machine downtime and maximizing OEE, both of which directly impact productivity.
2. A shortage of specialized personnel, which underscores the need for intuitive, user-friendly, and easy-to-maintain equipment.
3. Managing production complexity, particularly when working with diverse materials requiring different processing parameters.
4. The need for product innovation to differentiate from competitors and/or to enhance profitability.

To address these challenges, GDM has invested significantly in recent years to:

• Develop solutions that simplify operations, integrate remote support, and provide continuous training.
• Build a portfolio of upgrade kits aimed at either enhancing product features or reducing production costs — for example, our Core Plus technology for core formation or our in-line waistband application system.
• Offer value-added digital services designed to accelerate operator’s learning curves and improve overall efficiency.

NWI: How is technology influencing the design of your machinery?
GB: Advanced automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence are deeply transforming our sector. Our production lines are becoming increasingly intelligent: they monitor performance in real time, predict maintenance needs, and automatically adapt to format changes. This enables our clients to enhance productivity and reduce downtime.

In this context, GDM has developed services that combine in-house expertise with artificial intelligence, resulting in initiatives such as the Business Protection Program and the Control Room.

NWI: How important is it to offer flexible and customizablesolutions?
GB: It is essential. Manufacturers must respond to increasingly segmented and dynamic markets. Our modular solutions allow for the activation or deactivation of in-line features and enable rapid size changes, adapting to various materials and formats. Scalability is becoming a key competitive advantage.

Moreover, we are working to further integrate in-line processes, which reduce the need for offline operations and allows for greater customization of the final product. Examples include digital printing and waistband applications.

NWI: Which markets hold the greatest potential for GDM in the coming years?
GB: We are witnessing strong growth in Asia and Latin America, where urbanization and rising income levels are driving demand for high-quality hygiene products. At the same time, we continue to strengthen our presence in Europe and North America, where the focus is increasingly on premium products and services.


NWI: What is GDM’s vision for the future of the industry?
GB: Our ambition is to serve as a strategic partner to our clients, supporting them in innovating sustainably, efficiently, and flexibly. Our objective is to anticipate market needs by offering solutions that create value added thanks to the combination of advanced technology, reliability, and environmental responsibility.

The future of disposable hygiene will be increasingly personalized, connected, and sustainable—and GDM is fully prepared to lead this transformation.

About GDM

Founded in 1986, GDM originated from the merger of two Italian companies—Tekma and Nuova Red Italiana—and officially became part of the Coesia Group in 1995. Since its establishment, GDM has specialized in the design and manufacturing of converting and packaging machinery for disposable hygiene products, including baby and adult diapers, underpads, and menstrual care items.

Over the decades, GDM has evolved from a machinery supplier into a 360-degree partner, offering turnkey solutions that include pre-sales consultancy, advanced machinery, upgrade kits, and after-sales services. With a global presence and technical support hubs in the USA, Brazil, Turkey, and Vietnam, GDM continues to lead the industry by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and digital platforms into its offering.

Today, GDM is recognized worldwide for its “Business Made Easy” approach, which simplifies complexity for customers and supports them in achieving operational excellence, sustainability goals, and market differentiation.

www.gdm-spa.com/en/contacts