Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany
www.sandler-group.com
2024 Nonwovens Sales: $380 million

Key Personnel
Philipp Ebbinghaus, CEO; Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck, board member & chief commercial officer; Kenny Hayes, president, Sandler Nonwoven Corporation

Plants
Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany
Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.

Processes
Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermobond, meltblown, needlepunched, thermofusion, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites materials

Brands
bluefiber, finexus, layerlab

In 2024, high energy costs and a challenging economic environment continued to impact Sandler Group’s business performance. The company reported sales of €326 million ($380 million) amidst negative conditions caused by cautious consumer spending and challenges in hygiene and wipes, construction and mobility, which are among the company’s largest market segments.

“We are not satisfied with our 2024 financial results. Although costs have decreased compared to the extraordinary energy price surge of 2023, they remain significantly high compared to international competition,” says outgoing CEO Dr. Christian Heinrich Sandler. “Market conditions led to cautious customer spending with shorter order cycles, making planning more difficult. Business in the largest segment, hygiene/wipes, as well as the construction and automotive industries, remained subdued throughout the year.”

In August, former CFO Philipp Ebbinghaus replaced Dr. Sandler, who is retiring, in the role of CEO. He represents the fifth generation of the founding family to lead the company. Additionally, Sandler formed a new management board that will consist of two members. In addition to Ebbinghaus, Ulrich Hornfeck, currently board member & CCO, will continue as a member of the management board and Dr. Sandler will transition to the supervisory board as its chairman. The company will remain entirely family-owned, with 100% of its shares retained within family hands.

Looking ahead, Sandler continues to invest in its future. In 2024, the company invested €25 million in a state-of-the-art production line for technical nonwovens.

Additionally, in July 2025, Sandler acquired a 24.9% stake in Phoenix NonWoven, a wetlaid producer based in Lenningen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This strategic investment—which was reported at a low single-digit million-euro figure—provides Sandler access to cutting-edge technologies and forward-looking partnerships. By leveraging Phoenix’s unique expertise in wetlaid processes, Sandler aims to enhance its innovative capabilities and enter new, high-growth markets such as battery technology, fuel cells, construction, mobility and industrial areas.

“This partnership represents a milestone in the evolution of the Sandler Group,” says Ebbinghaus. “It supports the continued strengthening of our headquarters in Schwarzenbach/Saale and brings with it fresh ideas, innovative products and access to new markets.”

Within its core market of hygiene, Sandler continues to benefit from its presence on both sides of the Atlantic. With sites in Germany and Georgia, the company is able to be more efficient and flexible with its customers. Currently, North America continues to be farther along in its recovery than Europe, but on both sides of the Atlantic, major retailers are balancing out their warehouse inventories after overstocking during and after the pandemic.

“The markets are still challenging but we have seen some improvement,” Hornfeck says. “For Sandler, we are always prepared to meet the demands of all of our customers in all of our business areas.”

Having two large plants on two continents has benefitted Sandler weather these challenges, Hornfeck adds. “It has helped us to be present in North America, for sure, because of all of this market turbulence,” he says. “Having two sites allows us to be more flexible in general.”

As means to offer its customers a more tailored choice, Sandler has introduced a modular system, known as layerlab, for hygiene products. This system allows manufacturers to choose exactly the materials that make their products unique. The system encompasses nonwovens for different functional layers in absorbent hygiene products: topsheets for rapid fluid absorption, acquisition and distribution layers (ADL) for efficient fluid distribution and intermediate storage, backsheets for optimum protection and breathability.

For each layer, options from three product classes are available, providing Sandler’s clients with a choice of materials to find the combination best suited to their specific requirements: Standard materials offer proven, tried and tested Sandler quality and reliable processing. Premium nonwovens provide additional functions, such as special fiber properties, increased strength, or an extra soft feel. Sustainable alternatives made from biodegradable or 100% bio-based raw materials are an ideal choice for plastic-free products with a reduced CO2 footprint.

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermobond, meltblown, needlepunched, thermofusion, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites materials
Brands: sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, sawatec, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave, bluefiber

Sales were sharply impacted by the effects of the Ukraine war and exploding European energy costs in 2023 for German nonwovens manufacturer Sandler. The company reported sales decreased from €420 million to €338 million compared to 2022, with the majority of the declines stemming from the company’s German operation, Sandler AG in Schwarzenbach. Sandler’s U.S. operation, Sandler Nonwovens Corporation, located in Perry, GA, has seen its business develop more stably.

“The past business year was not satisfactory,” reports CEO Dr. Christian Heinrich Sandler, in a company statement. However, the company is set for the future. “Sandler AG is on firm footing and is planning investments in innovative machines and other future projects, which we will continue to finance from internal funds,” he adds.

According to chief commercial officer Ulrich Hornfeck, a myriad of factors influenced sales and earnings in 2023 including the lingering effects of overstocking during and at the end of the pandemic, soaring energy and raw material costs and rising inflationary pressure.

“A lot of challenges came together at once,” he says. “We continued to see the last effects of the Covid crisis when people overstocked on hygiene items, disinfectant wipes and masks so demand stayed low for a while.”

So far in 2024, the company has seen some stabilization and is anticipating step-by-step growth, particularly in industrial and consumer markets but recovery will be slow. “We are seeing a constant steady growth, but it won’t be revolutionary,” he adds.

In terms of category growth, automotives has been challenging as the market transforms from combustion to electrical vehicles, which has caused disruption across the entire supply chain. However, Sandler continues to see some promise as it gains new customers in applications for sound absorber materials for automotives.

Another major market for Sandler, hygiene materials and wipes, is starting to see slight growth as major retailers are balancing out their warehouse inventories after overstocking during and after the pandemic. In terms of demand, Europe continues to experience little to no growth while in North America recovery has happened a little more quickly.

“Many companies are still waiting to see what happens,” Hornfeck adds. “There is a very different point of view coming from the U.S. which has not been as challenged by energy costs but the imports market is impacting everyone.”

Having two large plants on two continents has benefitted Sandler weather these challenges, Hornfeck adds. “It helps us to be efficient and we can easily improve those sites and increase our efficiencies with no big investments or new lines. We are focused on improving and optimizing our plants,” he says.

These efforts will help Sandler improve its earnings and sales as its key markets continue their recovery.

“Things are looking up, and we are also positive and optimistic about the future in terms of expected earnings,” Sandler adds. “Sandler Group has been able to further expand its position in the business fields of acoustics and mobility and is working on promising new developments and sustainable product solutions.”

With a clear mindset focused on sustainability, Sandler continues to develop more single-polymer substrates as well as nonwovens made of recycled and bio-based materials. “They have a growing share of our products. This is a good thing. We need customers who will appreciate these products and who will accept them at higher prices,” Hornfeck adds.

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, bluefiber, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave

Continuing to focus on innovation, particularly how it relates to sustainable product offerings, has defined Sandler Nonwovens’ scope during the past few years. With plants in Georgia and Germany, the company has not made a significant line investment announcement recently and has instead focused on improving its operations as well as its product offerings.

“We will continue to invest but the direction of our investments will change,”says board member and CCO Ulrich Hornfeck. “We will invest in more cost efficiency and technologies that allow us to make products that offer better biodegradability and recyclability.”

Sandler’s most recent investment—a proprietary production line in Perry, GA—came onstream in early 2021. Described as a hybrid line, the new investment is meeting growing demand for nonwovens in North America. Additionally, a new meltblown line, announced in 2020 and completed one year later in Germany, has allowed Sandler to target technical applications, not limited to face mask applications, like building materials and filtration media.

As it assesses its operations in Germany and the U.S., Sandler will continue to focus on sustainability, investing in the future in all areas of the company, not just in its product offerings but also in its processes to reduce its ecological footprint.

“It is one thing to use a more sustainable material but you also have to look at how much energy you use or how much water,” Hornfeck says. “There are many things that need to be considered when you are talking about sustainability.”

Currently, 40% of Sandler’s raw materials are either biobased or recyclable, and this number is growing. “We are also moving toward using more single source polymers to ensure easier recyclability,” he says. “Instead of focusing on plastic-free, focusing on product life cycle is the issue.

“We look at the whole value chain and see what is the best solution for our customers and for the planet,” Hornfeck says.

What is challenging is developing these alternatives while still achieving high performance standards at affordable price points. “The big ‘but’ in all of our discussions is will customers buy it, will they pay more for it, will it work okay,” Hornfeck says. “These are always the questions you have to ask.”

Earlier this year, Sandler teamed up with viscose specialty fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres and hygiene manufacturer pelzGroup to develop a plastic-free panty liner. This innovative solution is a step towards reducing the amount of plastic in hygiene products – and thus also a contribution to tackling the global problem of plastic pollution.

Beyond hygiene, Sandler continues to focus heavily on acoustics. Last year, it launched the bluefiber acoustics brand, which combines a wide range of acoustically highly efficient materials – polyester-based high-tech made in Germany.

Owing to their excellent sound absorption properties the lightweight textile materials offer an ideal basis for individual interior design concepts, creating a pleasant living space. Self-supporting panels and pads in different thicknesses, performance types and color versions; flexible roll goods, optimally adaptable to component contours; or custom-made solutions for a specific application: bluefiber products are ready to use, combining function and design.

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, bluefiber, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave

Reporting 11% sales growth in 2021, German nonwovens producer Sandler credited continued success in the hygiene and wipes markets in the U.S. as well as growth in the European technical markets. The company operates sites in Germany and Georgia and serves a diversified group of markets thanks to its wide-ranging technology portfolio. “Our long-term strategy of consistent diversification in terms of technologies and industries, as well as the establishment of an additional company location is paying off,” says chief commercial officer Ulrich Hornfeck. “Our highly motivated teams at both locations worked shoulder to shoulder for the success of the company. Their dedication made a successful year possible, despite the restrictions and market changes caused by the corona pandemic.”

Moving into 2022, however, business conditions have deteriorated across all of Sandler’s markets, says Hornfeck. This has not just meant a slowdown in demand in some core markets, but also high energy prices, exploding gas prices, supply chain disruption and personnel shortage due to Covid-19.

“We are not talking about some windy days,” he says. “We are talking about thunderstorms. We have been blown away. In a lot of cases, we can only react. We have tried to stabilize as much as possible together with our value chain of customers and we try to be as active and trustful as possible.”

Sandler has dealt with these difficult situations by being as transparent as possible with its customers. “We have to pass some of these burdens along. There is not much wiggle room when it comes to pricing.”

A nonwovens producer with several types of technologies across a range of end-use markets, in the past Sandler has weathered tough times with its diversification.

“In former times, we would have a strong time in one business and difficult times in the automotive business or it would flip flop,” Hornfeck says. “Now it is difficult everywhere.”

One area where Sandler continues to see nice opportunities is meltblown. The company added a new line in 2020 to meet heightened demand for meltblown in the face mask market, and it has benefitted from past experience with the technology as market needs have shifted.

“Our biggest advantage is we don’t only have a stand-alone line for face masks. We have different ranges of materials—some for filtration, some for building—and the ability to use different raw materials so we can balance everything out.”

In other investment news, the company’s latest U.S. investment—a proprietary production line in Perry, GA—came onstream in early 2021. Described as a hybrid line, the new investment is meeting growing demand for nonwovens in North America.

As new investments come onstream on both sides of the Atlantic, Sandler will continue to focus on sustainability, investing in the future in all areas of the company. “We continue to pursue our long-term goal of reducing our ecological footprint even further. We continue to invest in the training and development opportunities for our staff, because well-trained specialists and managers are what drives us. And we continue to invest in digitalization and our ‘Fit for Future’ program. Our new standardized ERP software has helped us optimize new processes and enhance organizational structures, also generating benefits for our partners,” says Hornfeck. “Earlier this year, we launched the bluefiber acoustics brand, which combines a wide range of acoustically highly efficient materials – polyester-based high-tech made in Germany.”

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.

Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites

Brands: Sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave

It was a record year for Sandler Nonwovens. The company reported 2020 sales of €328 million ($360 million), up slightly from €322 million the year before, amidst increased demand for products like disinfectant wipes and protective clothing and slowdowns in the automotive and other technical markets in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We did not expect these things when we made our plan for 2020 but like many people last year, we were surprised with how the nonwovens industry responded during crisis,” says management board member Ulrich Hornfeck. “It proved that nonwovens are really needed to take care of people.”

At the start of the pandemic, Sandler responded quickly, shifting its production to meet surging demand in certain areas and reducing volumes in other areas. Additionally, Sandler added 60 new staff members.

“We had to train people from one line to the other, from one warehouse to the others,” Hornfeck says. “We had to have our sales team learn to quickly work with new customers. Everyone had to pitch in to help. It really was amazing.”

Sandler also responded to this crisis with investment. In April, the company announced it would add a new meltblown line to meet demand for face mask material both in Germany and elsewhere. The line was completed in record time in August 2020. It can make filtration media material for about 600 million mouth-nose-protection masks a year and was reportedly the first of its kind in Germany.

Sandler had already been making media for face masks prior to the pandemic and was able to build on this knowledge to quickly ramp up production of the material.

“We were in good shape because we already had a fundamental understanding of meltblown and we had existing customers, products and markets for this technology,” Hornfeck says.

“We managed to handle all of the requests in the first months during the crisis but the new line allowed us to serve this at a larger scale. We are still making a lot of face mask material for different purposes.”

Meanwhile, at Sandler’s U.S. site in Perry, GA, construction on a new line, which started in September 2019, was delayed by travel restrictions due to Covid, but the line was able to come onstream at the beginning of 2021. The new line, which executives describe as a hybrid machine, continues to ramp up production to meet demand for nonwovens in North America.

In addition to adding capacity, the U.S. investment includes a 135,000-square-foot building that houses production and warehouse facilities as well as the new line.

This investment is part of a larger corporate-wide investment announced during the company’s 140th  anniversary in 2019.

Sandler established the Perry site, its first manufacturing operation outside of Germany, in 2017.

“We are where we want to be in the U.S. and we will continue to work hard and focus on where we want to grow in the future,” Hornfeck says. “At both of our sites, we a growing constantly with our customers and we have a lot of ideas and are doing well in all of our markets.”

At Sandler, sustainability has been key to its strategy for many years and the company has always used a lot of recycled or biobased fibers in its nonwovens. Additionally, the company has focused on energy savings, water savings and gas savings to reduce its CO2 footprint overall.

What is new to this strategy is the need to talk to its customers about what the company has done and what it plans to achieve with its partners and its customers globally.

“We have a lot of discussions with our customers about these topics and we want to push this forward pragmatically, taking it step by step,” he says. “We feel responsible for what we are doing and what our supply chain is doing. We want to help our customers meet their certain challenges and goals in CO2 reduction.”

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: Sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave

Investment continues for Sandler Group. The Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany-based company has announced new lines on both sides of the Atlantic as part of its efforts to meet its customers’ demands.

In September 2019, Sandler started construction on a new line at its U.S. site in Perry, GA, which is expected to start production later this year.

Plans included the construction of a 135,000-square-foot building, which houses production and warehouse facilities and was completed earlier this year. The new manufacturing line for nonwovens will target hygiene applications. The investment will create 70 new jobs in different departments at the Perry site.

Expanding its U.S. plant will enable Sandler to continue to grow in the local market. “Sandler nonwovens made in USA allow us to continuously develop and advance our longstanding business relationships to companies in the North American market. This investment is the next step towards establishing a competence center for nonwovens production here in Perry,” says Tobias Baumgaertel, president of Sandler Nonwoven Corporation.

Sandler opened the U.S. site in 2016, creating its first manufacturing site outside of Germany. The investment has allowed Sandler to expand its business relations with customers in North America by optimizing onsite services.

For now, the Perry site’s main focus continues to be hygiene but executives say that could eventually span the whole gamut of Sandler’s technological expertise, creating a smaller replica of the Schwarzenbach site.

This investment is part of a larger corporate-wide investment announced during the company’s 140th anniversary in May 2019, with Sandler planning to invest €90 million at its sites in Germany and the U.S. over the following two years.

In April, the company announced another component of this investment plan—the construction of a high-tech nonwovens line for the production of nonwovens for mouth-nose-protection masks. The new line, which manufactures meltblown nonwovens, will allow Sandler to produce nonwovens for the manufacture of up to 600 million masks. The investment totals a single-digit million Euro amount.

“The demand for our nonwovens for protective masks is unbroken – and has been for months. Despite around-the-clock production, seven days a week,” underlines Christian Heinrich Sandler, CEO. “On the other hand, we are also aware of the still challenging situation in the health sector and therefore we decided to invest in a further production line for nonwovens for mouth-nose-protection masks at the Schwarzenbach site in Bavaria.“

The German Federal Government is also addressing the shortage of materials in Germany and Europe by promoting such investments through a funding program.

In late August, Sandler formally inaugurated the new production line, which had come onstream two weeks before. The company celebrated the capacity expansion with a small event.

“Indeed, Sandler has been very experienced making filtration materials but not so much face mask material,” says chief commercial officer Ulrich Hornfeck. “This is becoming a very important market and it is one that Sandler should be in. We have a lot of knowledge about this.”

Sandler has been producing nonwovens for air filtration for more than 20 years, successfully establishing its position in the global market. Until now, the product category “nonwovens for respiratory protection 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. “

However, Hornfeck says he feels investing too much too quickly could be detrimental, especially as its competitors continue to do the same. This is particularly concerning in the meltblown lines where many companies are investing in new lines. “Time will tell if we will need all of the lines that have been announced to come onstream everywhere in the world,” he says. “No one knows how long this crisis will last.”

As business, like hygiene and masks, continues to be strong, the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy is negatively impacting markets like automotives, construction and furniture, however signs of recovery are already showing.

“We have seen challenges in areas like automotives, construction and furniture but we hope to see them recover by the end of the year,” Hornfeck says. “For sure this year has been unusual but we have worked hard to respond to these challenges. The good thing about Sandler is we are present in so many markets and we have so many technologies. When one is challenging, another is doing well. This has been our strategy from the beginning.”

Looking back at 2019, sales remained steady at €322 million despite raw material challenges. Highlights of the year were the development of new nonwovens solutions, which have steadily expanded the product range and the company’s position as a partner to international customers. These include heat-insulating and sound-absorbing materials for the construction industry and room acoustics; efficient filter media for clean air in buildings and vehicles; soft upholstery materials for furniture and bedding; skin-friendly materials for hygiene products; absorbent wipes substrates for cosmetics and household as well as sound insulating nonwovens for more driving comfort in automobiles, buses and trains.

These efforts have focused on developing more bio-based products featuring natural materials like PLA, viscose and bamboo. While this is mostly in disposable segments like wipes and hygiene products, increasing interest is being seen in transportation applications for 100% recycled polyester. This is in part being driven by the single-use plastic regulations being proposed in the EU and in some U.S. states. Currently about 30% of the raw materials used by Sandler are renewable and/or recyclable. “Working on sustainability is something we have to do for our Earth,” Hornfeck says. “It is the most important thing for us to survive.”

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: Sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave

Thanks to investments on both sides of the Atlantic, German nonwovens specialist Sandler reported sales increased to €322 million ($380 million) in 2018. “It was our best year ever,” says Ulrich Hornfeck, board member and CCO. “There was no big jump in sales, our capacity is booked but we were still glad to see growth.”

In May, during celebrations for its 140th anniversary, Sandler announced it would invest a total of €80 million in new nonwovens capacity at its German headquarters in Schwarzenbach/Saale and at its U.S. site in Perry, GA, during the next two years. While executives would not elaborate on the specifics of the new investments, president and CEO Christian Heinrich Sandler they would expand the company’s manufacturing capacity and create room for innovations.

Sandler added the U.S. site in 2016, creating its first manufacturing site away from its Bavaria, Germany, home base. The investment has allowed Sandler to expand its business relations with customers in North America by optimizing onsite services. The plant serves as a direct point of entry into the North American market and a basis for establishing new contacts.

For now, Perry is primarily serving the hygiene market but future investments should span the whole gamut of Sandler’s technological expertise, step by step developing the site into a mini-Schwarzenbach, Hornfeck says.

The Perry investment was the latest of a number of ambitious investments Sandler has made during the past 10 years which have totaled nearly €140 million and resulted in a near doubling of staff members.

Hornfeck says that future efforts, both in Germany and the U.S., are focusing on improving processes and adding more capabilities to allow Sandler to be a full-service provider of products to its customers.

“We have a commodity, and everyone needs that but the switch to specialty is becoming a more important part of our business,” he says. “We are focusing on doing things that not everyone can do.”

Within the hygiene market, Sandler has been working on products that combine discretion and safety in use, supporting an active lifestyle at every age. A new multi-layer nonwoven offers a structured and perforated alternative for topsheets: The embossing pattern dubbed “canyon” renders the topsheet bulkier, while increasing stability and creating an individual look. The structure forms grooves on the topsheet’s surface, which help quickly transport fluid away from the body. In this way, the nonwovens contribute to preventing skin irritation and support a sense of safety during use.

Meanwhile, in the acoustics segment, Sandler has created materials with open pore structures that decrease soundwaves’ energy and reduce noise levels.

Sandler is applying its own acoustic materials in a renovation of its administrative buildings in Schwarzenbach/Saale. These nonwovens are made from 100% polyester and are applied in wall and ceiling systems, partition walls, furniture and as wall decorations.

Other efforts at Sandler are focusing on the development of more bio-based products featuring natural materials like PLA, viscose and bamboo. Hornfeck says this is mostly important in disposable segments like hygiene and wipes but Sandler is seeing interest in materials for transportation application using 100% recycled polyester and in other areas in advance of single-use plastics regulations being proposed in the EU and in several U.S. states. “Already today, about 30% of the raw materials used at Sandler are based on renewable or recycled resources and 42% of our finished nonwovens contain or are entirely made of raw materials from natural sources or recycled fibers,” he says. “Plastics regulations are making a big impact on the whole industry. We are all together in the same boat, the whole industry, sitting in it together.”

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation, Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, coating, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: Sawabond, sawaloom, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawaform, sawasoft, sawasorb, fibercomfort, bio textile by sandler, enAIRsave
Major Markets: Nonwovens for construction/engineering (technical insulation, office design & interior acoustics, environmental applications, industrial liners), filtration (HVAC, transportation filter media, liquid filter media, home care filter media), hygiene (baby care, feminine hygiene, adult care, medical applications), home textiles (upholstery & outdoor furniture, mattresses & bedding, fashion), technical nonwovens, transportation (interior and exterior applications, acoustics, engine compartment, seat, moulded parts, processing aids) and wipes  (baby care, cosmetics, cleaning & disinfection).

Continued expansion of the product range, the development of new materials and entry into new markets and areas for nonwovens helped Sandler increase its sales 10% to $382 million in 2017. While growth was reported across all of the company’s main market segments, the company’s technical applications segments are probably the most dynamic ones at the moment, according to Ulrich Hornfeck, board member and CCO.

“In filtration, the new ISO standard is changing the market and product development; in the transportation, electromobility brings about new requirements on nonwovens used in automotive applications; and last but not least, the market for interior acoustics is growing in light of open room layouts, particularly in offices,” he says.

In 2017, Sandler hit a major milestone—the completion of its new plant in Perry, GA, the company’s first outpost outside of the Bavaria region of Germany. The investment allows Sandler to expand its business relations with customers in North America by optimizing on-site services. The plant serves as a direct point of entry into the North American market and a basis for establishing new contacts. “New contacts are always pleased to learn that Sandler operates a plant in the U.S. All in all, the U.S. facility is an advantage, bringing us closer to customers and potential new clients,” Hornfeck says.

Meanwhile, at Sandler’s Schwarzenbach headquarters, one of the largest nonwovens operations in Europe, the company continues to renovate two buildings, an effort that incorporates Sandler nonwovens for acoustic applications.

“At their new workplaces, our staff members are already benefitting from the quiet that acoustic wall elements made with our nonwovens bring to everyday working life. Newly constructed meeting areas are frequently used—no matter if it is for a spontaneous meeting or a formal presentation,” Hornfeck says. “Our function room and company cafeteria has also undergone a complete refurbishment. With our nonwovens again functioning as sound absorbers—this time in the ceiling construction—an open, but quiet and welcoming atmosphere was created and our employees enjoy spending their breaks here. “

Sandler’s acoustic nonwovens are marketed under the fibercomfort brand name. These nonwovens, designed to protect against both sound and heat, are made from 100% polyester and are applied in wall and ceiling systems, partition walls, furniture and as wall decorations.

“The sound and heat insulating properties of our nonwovens are also harnessed in a new development for technical insulation,” Hornfeck explains. “A two-layer insulation for hot water tanks helps to make heat storage in solar thermal installations more efficient and helps attain a higher energy efficiency category for the hot water tank.”

Filtration also remains an important market for Sandler driven by new ISO 16890 standards, which are changing the market and product development. Nevertheless, the Sandler product spectrum comprises media for all efficiency ranges according to ISO 16890. This is also true for the enAIRsave product line, which thanks to its special multi-layer structure, contributes to lowering the energy consumption of the filtration unit. In addition, Sandler is developing nonwovens for automotive cabin air filters. The Sandler portfolio now also comprises media for use in activated carbon filters. With these products, the functionality of activated carbon filters and the optimum particle filtration provided by nonwoven media can be combined in a durable product.

Moving to wipes, Sandler continues to innovate its spunlace material made in Schwarzenbach/Saale. In 2018, the company launched a finely aperture structure which not only enlarges a wipes’ surface, thus increasing direct collection, it allows fluids to accumulate better.

In the development of new wipes substrates, sustainability continues to be a focus. To this end, alternative types of fibers and raw materials from natural sources open up new possibilities in developing more eco-friendly product solutions. By constantly developing its nonwovens further and benefitting from the know-how of different manufacturing technologies, Sandler continues to expand and enhance its product range.

“In all of our market segments, it is our knowledge and experience of a wide range of nonwoven technologies, our in-house product development and generally the expertise of our team which allow us to optimize our products and adapt them to our customers’ requirements,” Hornfeck adds. “Through the right combination of fiber blend and bonding technology, softness and function can be combined in just the right way for specific hygiene applications.”

*Editors note: Due to an editing error, Sandler was unintentionally left out of this year’s Top Company report in our September 2017 issue. With $328 million in sales last year, Sandler is the 19th largest producer of nonwovens in the world. Nonwovens Industry regrets any confusion this may have caused.

Plants: Sandler AG, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Sandler Nonwoven Corporation,Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, lamination, coating and flexoprinting, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawafill, sawabond, sawaloom, sawavlies, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawagrow, sandler sports, sawacomp, sawaflock, sawaform, sawalux, sawaflex, sawasoft, sawasorb, sawatec, fibercomfort, sandler fiberskin, Sandler Unico, sawadur, sawadry, sawabond White Lace, sawabond Silver Lace, sawatex mariquita, sawatex orsettino, sea dwellers, bio textile by sandler, sawatex wipinator, enAIRsave, Sandler. The textile Building, sawatex classy silk, sawasoft TriLace, Sandler fascinating nonwoven, lace-O-pague, sawatex FineLace
Major Markets: Nonwovens for construction/engineering (technical insulation, office design & interior acoustics, environmental applications, industrial liners), filtration (HVAC, transportation filter media, liquid filter media, home care filter media), hygiene (babycare, feminine hygiene, adult care, medical applications), home textiles (upholstery & outdoor furniture, mattresses & bedding, fashion), technical nonwovens, transportation (interior and exterior applications, acoustics, engine compartment, seat, moulded parts, processing aids) and wipes  (babycare, cosmetics, cleaning & disinfection).

Less than a year after getting its new U.S. plant up and running, German nonwovens manufacturer Sandler continues to increase production at the new site, located in Perry, GA. “We are completely on schedule—maybe even a little better than on schedule,” says board member and CCO Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck.

While Sandler has remained mum on the specific technology at the site, Hornfeck does admit that the U.S. operation is mainly serving its customers in the global hygiene market but the line has the flexibility to do many things. The U.S. operation should ultimately offer the range of technologies that already exist in Sandler’s German plant.

“Growth is definitely in our plans for the U.S.,” he says. “We want to grow in the U.S. organically and bring our German products to the U.S. and find new customers there.”

Back in Germany, Sandler’s site in Schwarzenbach/Saale, one of Europe’s largest nonwovens operations, continues to be the company’s center of development and new ideas. With five separate manufacturing facilities at the site featuring a range of technologies, the planthas been the focus of significant investment in recent years.

While more recent innovation has focused on the U.S., Hornfeck is confident that Sandler’s German operation will continue to grow. Central to this growth, of course, will be new capacity installations and new product development.

“What is the most interesting story about Sandler? We are always working on new products,” Hornfeck says.

Sandler’s last German investment was in July 2016, when it completed work on that site’s largest investment, its fifth plant, which houses proprietary technology for hygiene applications. The hybrid line, which combines multiple technologies, has reportedly allowed Sandler to successfully tap into interesting new areas of applications and introduce new products to the market.

Prior to this investment, Sandler expanded its fourth production building, which was completed in 2011 with the installation of a new line known as VS32. This line, also featuring Sandler proprietary technology, makes voluminous roll goods and sheet materials through a combination of needlepunching and thermal bonding. The growing number of applications for acoustically efficiency nonwovens was a driver for this investment. It has helped Sandler expand its role in technical nonwoven segments like insulation and acoustics.

The company’s fibercomfort brand of insulation materials is applied in the roof and in walls,of a building,allowing rooms to maintain a pleasant temperature and at the same time helping  conserve energy. In partition walls, ceilings or textile wall coveringssound-insulating nonwovens keep the peace and quite and can also provide for a quieter work environment in office partitions. The product range offers the right acoustic nonwoven for every application: soft and voluminous or self-supporting and compact; with an open-pore surface or especially smooth; white, black or a marble-like shade in color—these textiles can be adapted to customer requirements. They can also be finished with print or embossed motifs or laminated with different fabrics, allowing them tooalso function as a design feature for individual room design.In the hygiene segment, Sandler new product development has meant working on improving the fluid management of its nonwovens, making them more porous, developing different types ofbacksheet and topsheet materials and creating softer products for its customers. For elastic applications Sandler provides an assembly kit of materials. Customers can choose from different degrees of elongation for their individual use.

Another important market for Sandler is wipes which it serves from three spunlace lines located in Schwarzenbach/Saale. In this market, Sandler offers wipes for babycare, cosmetics, cleaning and disinfection. These materials unite high tensile strength with high softness for gentle care and include variants featuring a particularly silky touch, rendering daily skin care into a veritable wellness treatment.

Apart from functionality and feel, visual differentiation is also a focus in wipes manufacturing. New Sandler designs unite appealing appearance with optimized function. The new embossed design square for cleaning applications makes wipes even bulkier and enlarges the surface for even more efficient cleaning. New colored substrates facilitate easy distinction between different applications.

Special fibers blends used in Sandler wipes substrates allow for excellent functionality at reduced basis weights, thus helping to conserve resources.

“We feel that if we give our customers a drawer full of possibilities, they will easily be able to select the right choice for their business,” Hornfeck says. “In the wipes business, we have been finding new ideas that put customers a little bit ahead of the market,” Hornfeck says. “While in filtration we have had big success withour fully syntheticenAIRsavefilter medium which reconciles long-term separation efficiency and reduced energy consumption. It features a special multi-layer structure, in which particles are deposited along the entire width of the medium, allowing air to keep flowing through even if the filter is loaded with dust.

Looking ahead, Sandler will continue to focus on Europe and North America, where it has a strong infrastructure and team of people. Entering new markets like Asia, could pose challenging. “We would have to do something that is a little bit different than everyone else,” Hornfeck explains.

Plants: Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany; Perry, GA, U.S.
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, meltblown, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, lamination, coating and flexoprinting, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawafill, sawabond, sawaloom, sawavlies, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawagrow, sandler sports, sawacomp, sawaflock, sawaform, sawalux, sawaflex, sawasoft, sawasorb, sawatec, fibercomfort, sandler fiberskin, Sandler Unico, sawadur, sawadry, sawabond White Lace, sawabond Silver Lace, sawatex mariquita, sawatex orsettino, sawatex sea dwellers, bio textile by sandler, sawatex wipinator
Major Markets: Nonwovens for hygiene, medical, wipes (baby, cosmetic, technical, cleaning), transportation, filtration, technical nonwovens (civil engineering, technical insulation, office design & interior acoustics, environmental nonwovens) and home textiles (upholstery, mattresses & bedding, fashion)

As it prepares for entry into the North American market, German nonwovens producer Sandler reports a successful 2015 with sales of €288 million, or $319 million. In September 2015, the company announced it would establish a production site in Perry, GA, its first operation outside of Germany. Construction on the new facility is complete and Sandler is currently installing the first production line, which will primarily serve the hygiene and industrial markets when it begins operation in fall 2016, according to Sandler’s board member and chief commercial officer Ulrich Hornfeck.

“We are always working on our lines so they are not only designed for one market application but for many,” he explains. “We have been looking at this expansion for a while. We have been present in the U.S. market but we now have a customer base that is stable across a number of markets.”

Sandler chose the location in Perry because of its proximity to long-term customers in the North American market and because of its advantageous geographic position. Located near a major airport in Atlanta, GA and the Savannah Harbor, Perry is easily accessible by air and sea. The team at the new site will comprise German expats as well as local employees recruited from the area.

Meanwhile, at its site in Schwarzenbach/Salle, Germany—one of Germany’s largest nonwovens operations—in July, Sandler completed work on its fifth plant, which houses proprietary technology for hygiene applications.

Even before this €43 million investment was complete, production began on the new line house there—a hybrid line combining different technologies—all the way back in December, according to executives. Already this line has successfully tapped into new interesting areas of application and is introducing new products to the market, according to the company.

Sandler’s most recent investment, plant number four, was completed in 2011 and its latest expansion occurred in early 2014 when a line known as VS32 started up. This line, also featuring Sandler proprietary technology, makes voluminous roll goods and sheet materials through a combination of needlepunching and thermal bonding. The growing number of applications for acoustically efficient nonwovens was a driver for this investment, according to Sandler. It has helped Sandler expand its role in technical nonwovens segments like insulation and acoustics.

In fact this technology was on display at INDEX 2014, where it was honored with an achievement award. The company’s booth concept used these nonwovens to show visitors how it was able to block out noise. Hornfeck stresses the benefits of these nonwovens go beyond noise reduction. In automotives, they are replacing materials like polyester molds thanks to their breathability, lightweightedness and recyclability.

“These materials not only offer noise reduction but also energy savings,” Hornfek says. “They are breathable, lightweight and easily recycled,” Hornfeck explains.

Meanwhile, Sandler’s spunlace business continues to focus primarily on the wipes market. In this market, the focus has been on diversification. According to Hornfeck, this has made business more interesting as his team works with customers individually to find the right solution.

“Wipes are convenience. Our job is to make a material that can carry and handle a lotion. Our customers depend on our experience in developing more specialized products.”

In fact, specialized products throughout all of its businesses will continue to be a growth strategy for Sandler as it blazes new frontiers both with its Germany-based business and its new U.S. operation.

“We are always investing in all of our segments,” Hornfeck says. “A few years ago, we commissioned new production equipment targeting technical applications, with our recent investment a lot of focus has been on hygiene and wipes. This ongoing advancement of all our diverse markets is why I am so confident in our success.”

Plants: Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, mechanically bonded, meltblown, thermofused, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, hotmelt and thermal lamination, coating and flexoprinting, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawafill, sawabond, sawaloom, sawavlies, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawagrow, sandler sports, sawacomp, sawaflock, sawaform, sawalux, sawaflex, sawasoft, sawasorb, sawatec, sandler fibercomfort, sandler fiberskin, Sandler Unico, sawadur, sawadry, sawabond White Lace, sawabond Silver Lace, sawatex mariquita, sawatex orsettino, sawatex sea dwellers, bio textile by sandler, sawatex wipinator
Major Markets: Nonwovens for hygiene, medical, wipes (baby, cosmetic, technical, cleaning), automotive, filtration, technical nonwovens (civil engineering, technical insulation, environmental nonwovens) and home textiles

Still in expansion mode, Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany-based Sandler Nonwovens announced this summer it would invest about $30 million in a new nonwovens line, which will be housed in a new 22,750-square-meter plant. The investment will help expand Sandler’s role in important hygiene markets where its nonwovens are already valued for their soft touch and gentle feel.

These characteristics have already won these nonwovens in applications such as the topsheet of diapers, feminine hygiene products and adult incontinence items, as stretchable nonwovens in diaper ears and other closure systems and as a fluid handling layer to quickly transport fluid away from the body, distribute it evenly and transport it to the absorbent core.

The plant will be the fifth on the Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany campus.

“For more than 135 years we have been closely connected with our Schwarzenbach location and we will continue to invest in the expansion of our competence center,” says CEO Dr. Christian Heinrich Sandler. “The commissioning of our new production line will create up to 50 new jobs. These investments take us one step further towards the realization of new textile concepts for the versatile market of hygiene products. Our new plant will enable us to render our processes even more efficient and the new administration building will provide our staff with the best possible work environment.”

One recent development, an acoustical nonwoven product for use in construction applications was made possible through its latest line, the VS32, which started up in early 2014. The line, which features proprietary Sandler technology, makes voluminous roll goods and sheet materials through a combination of needlepunching and thermal bonding.

“This production line expands our capabilities within the technical nonwovens segment, primarily manufacturing nonwovens for insulation and acoustics. The materials manufactured on it are largely targeting the construction sector, interior design and other technical applications. In this way, the new line, which features proprietary Sandler technology, is advancing our developments in these markets,” says Hornfeck.

In 2014, Sandler developed a 100% textile solution for energy efficient, durable roof insulation. “The construction sector is a rather conservative market and, developing these nonwovens, we were well aware that they most probably would not generate high revenue straight away. However, we are convinced that this product has a promising future and it is part of Sandler’s overall “textile building” concept: a wide range of different Sandler nonwovens that provide textile alternatives for heat and sound insulation in construction. “

At the 2014 INDEX exhibition, Sandler’s booth design featured a “textile building”—a model home where visitors experienced the functionality of these nonwovens first-hand. “The response we received for these developments and the overall concept was very positive,” Hornfeck says. “A number of potential buyers are showing great interest in the “textile building” as well as the roof insulation concept and are looking to apply it or adapt it to their individual requirements.”

The VS32 line, in addition to the creation of a technical center and a new high efficiency meltlblown line capped off a series of investments designed to up Sandler’s profile in a number of technical markets. One area garnering a lot of attention is filtration, thanks to the high efficiency meltblown line, which was added  in 2012.

“Sandler continues to manufacture meltblown nonwovens for filtration in HVAC, transportation and home care, as well as medical applications,” Hornfeck says. “The market shows a continued trend towards fully synthetic filter media, for which Sandler nonwovens commend themselves.”

New filtration-related products from Sandler include a new pleatable filter medium for HVAC applications which combine the advantages of synthetic media—elastic, non-breakable fibers, mechanical stability and resistance to moisture—with high efficiency, meeting the requirements of the norm EN779:2012 even after discharge.

Outside of technical applications, Sandler has worked hard to grow its spunlace business. The company now operates a total of three lines, which were added between 2003 and 2011. The output on these lines primarily serves the wipes market but new applications are always under considerations.

“Diversivication and product differentiation are key,” Hornfeck says. “Within the wipes market, product differentiation is achieved through designs such as print or embossed motifs, product structure or additional features. Moreover, we are also developing spunlace materials for other markets, for example technical applications.”

Plants: Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, mechanically bonded, meltblown, thermofused, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, hotmelt and thermal lamination, coating and flexoprinting, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawafill, sawabond, sawaloom, sawavlies, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawagrow, sandler sports, sawacomp, sawaflock, sawaform, sawalux, sawaflex, sawasoft, sawasorb, sawatec, sandler fibercomfort, sandler fiberskin, Sandler Unico, sawadur, sawadry, sawabond White Lace, sawabond Silver Lace, sawatex mariquita, sawatex orsettino, sawatex sea dwellers, bio textile by sandler, sawatex wipinator
Major Markets: Nonwovens for hygiene, medical, wipes (baby, cosmetic, technical, cleaning), automotive, filtration, technical nonwovens (civil engineering, technical insulation, environmental nonwovens) and home textiles

Reporting an impressive 10% year-on-year increase was Sandler Nonwovens. The German maker of various nonwovens achieved sales of €274 million ($367 million) due to growth in all of its core markets including hygiene, wipes, automotives, home textiles, technical insulation and engineering.

One of the key highlights of the year was the start-up of its latest production line, dubbed VS 32 by the company, which expanded its capabilities within the technical nonwovens segment. Featuring proprietary Sandler technology, the new line makes voluminous roll gods and sheet materials through a combination of needlepunching and thermal bonding. The line, which represents at €15 million investment, is largely targeting lightweight, easy-to-handle insulation materials as well as filter media and nonwovens for home textiles.

“We have a strategic decision to be a diversified company and the addition of this production line is allowing us to expand in a number of markets,” says Ulrich Hornfeck, member of Sandler’s management board.

The line follows the late 2012 start-up of a new meltblown line targeting highly efficient meltblown media. This new line can process diverse thermoplastic raw materials and is equipped with different nozzle systems, allowing it to create new and unique nonwoven structures for pleatable filter media for air conditioning systems and other applications.

The two new lines, as well as the expansion of its technical center in 2013, concluded a series of investments.

“We managed to put a 10-year investment plan into practice in half that time and, in doing so, invested a total of more than €60 million,” says chairman C. H. Sandler at the ceremony inaugurating the VS 32 line. “And once the current investment is completed, we will have created 115 new jobs during the past five years.”

These investments have not only added to Sandler’s capacity and its sales, they have also enabled the company’s success in a number of new markets. One market of note is insulation, where the company’s fibercomfort material prevents heat loss and noise abatement. This material earned Sandler an INDEX Awards at EDANA’s 2014 trade exposition, where the company’s meeting room space was made of the material.

“If you notice, this material can really block sounds out,” Hornfeck explains. “It can act as a nice buffer in offices or in apartment buildings.”

In addition to the insulating properties, fibercomfort is permanently hydrophobic, able to withstand even harsh weather and is permeable, allowing the building to breathe, preventing an accumulation of moisture. Being tread-proof and flame-resistant, the nonwovens also contribute to safety while the single-polymer recyclable nonwovens also help conserve valuable resources.

Meanwhile, on the disposable side of the business, Sandler continues to grow in wipes applications, a business the company serves from its Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany headquarters. The company entered the spunlace market in 2003 and its latest line came onstream in mid-2011 as part of a €40 million investment. In addition to adding capacity, the new line has allowed Sandler to diversify its spunlace output beyond wipes.

Ulrich Hornfeck, member of Sandler’s management board, says the most recent spunlace investment has allowed it to expand its focus on new product development both within and outside of the wipes market. “The new line allowed us to add a lot of new technologies and to really make our production process more flexible with more processes and more raw materials and more finishing techniques,” he says.

As it diversifies its business to grow outside of wipes, Sandler continues to prove its expertise in wipes. In April 2013, the company was honored at the International IDEA 2013 show for its bio textile by Sandler.

Developed in partnership with a raw material provider, bio textile by Sandler is a nonwoven substrate for baby care, cosmetics and cleaning wipes. Proving Sandler’s commitment to sustainability, the nonwoven is made from 100% viscose fibers and is completely biodegradable. This substrate was launched through Sandler’s Less is Best to Nature motto, first introduced in 2008. This initiative focuses on lower basis weights in wipes applications while maintaining the same level of quality. The bio wipes substrate is equipped with a unique hydro-embossing design with elements illustrating the manufacturer’s commitment to sustainability.

Plants: Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany
Processes: Carded, waddings and drylaid nonwovens, thermally bonded, mechanically bonded, meltblown, thermofused, needlepunched, air-through bonded, spunlaced, hotmelt and thermal lamination, coating and flexoprinting, embossing and aperturing, composites
Brands: sawafill, sawabond, sawaloom, sawavlies, sawaloft, sawaflor, sawatex, sawascreen, sawagrow, sandler sports, sawacomp, sawafl ock, sawaform, sawalux, sawaflex, sawasoft, sawasorb, sawatec, sandler fibercomfort, sandler fiberskin, sandler Unico, sawadur, sawadry, sawabond White Lace, sawabond Silver Lace, sawatex mariquita, sawatex orsettino, sawatex sea dwellers, bio textile by sandler, sawatex wipinator
Major Markets: Nonwovens for hygiene, medical, wipes (baby, cosmetic, technical, cleaning), automotive, filtration, technical nonwovens (civil engineering, technical insulation, environmental nonwovens) and home textiles

Continuing a growth trajectory begun six years ago, Sandler Nonwovens reported growth across all of its market segments in 2012 from hygiene and wipes applications to technical applications in the automobile, filtration, construction and technical insulation to nonwovens for home office and automotive acoustics. All told, sales reached €247 million ($326 million).

A good deal of this growth can be attributed to growth in the spunlace, and by extension, wipes market. Sandler’s third spunlace line came onstream in mid-2011 as part of a €40 million investment that also included building a new plant to house the line. In addition to adding capacity, the new line has allowed Sandler to diversify its spunlace output.

Currently, the majority of Sandler’s spunlace output is going into wipes, a market being described as stable, but new business opportunities are coming from areas like hygiene and technical applications.

Ulrich Hornfeck, member of the management board, says that wipes continue to be an important market for spunlace but new product development, both within and outside of the wipes market, is a strong focus for Sandler. “The new line allowed us to add a lot of new technologies and to really make our production process more flexible with more processes and more raw materials and more finishing techniques,” he says.

As it diversifies its business to grow outside of wipes, Sandler continues to prove is expertise in wipes. In April 2013, the company was honored at the International IDEA 2013 show for its bio textile by Sandler. Developed in partnership with its raw material providers, bio textile by Sandler is a nonwoven substrate for baby care, cosmetics and cleaning wipes. Proving Sandler’s commitment to sustainability, the nonwoven is made from 100% viscose fibers and is completely biodegradable.

This substrate was launched through Sandler’s Less is Best to Nature motto, first introduced in 2008. This initiative focuses on lower basis weights in wipes applications while maintaining the same level of quality. The bio wipes substrate is equipped with a unique hydro-embossing design with elements illustrating the manufacturer’s commitment to sustainability. Naturally, Sandler also offers established qualities for numerous applications including industry, household and all-purpose wipes for the varying demands of the wipes market. Various printing and embossing designs for wipes substrates and hygiene materials open up a range of possibilities for product differentiation.

Beyond spunlace, Sandler offers a broad spectrum of technologies, including carded, drylaid, thermal bonded, meltblown and needlepunch with which it targets a broad range of disposable and technical markets.

“We try to find the right balance between hygiene and technical,” Hornfeck says.

This will in part be achieved through the addition of a new meltblown production line in Schwarzenbach/Saale, Germany. After an assembly time of only four months, Sandler launched the start-up phase of a new production line in November. The new investment was reported at €6.5 million.

Currently, the line known as “VS 61“ is already producing materials for commercial sales and enhances the nonwovens manufacturer’s capacities for the production of meltblown media, which Sandler sells in highly efficient synthetic filter media applications. The new production line can process diverse thermoplastic raw materials and is equipped with different nozzle systems allowing it to create new and unique nonwoven structures for pleatable filter media for air conditioning systems and other applications. The latest Sandler materials set standards, particularly regarding processability and performance, according to the company. These nonwovens combine higher efficiency, accurate pleat geometry and pleatability that previously could not be achieved in synthetic pleatable filter media.