Growing Investments And Development In The Field Of Healthcare Industry Is Influencing The HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) For PPE Suits/coverall Medical Market Growth

HDPE nonwovens are strong and multipurpose fabrics that are majorly used in the medical industry owing to various advantages offered by HDPE nonwovens. Nonwovens are cheaper and easier to produce as compared to other fabrics. The use of HDPE nonwovens in the medical industry for various purposes and constant developments and introduction of new products in the HDPE nonwovens market is one of the major factors driving the demand for HDPE nonwovens in the medical industry. HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE Suits/Coverall Medical Market size is expected to be valued at US$1,042.95 million by the end of the year 2026 and is set to grow at a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period from 2021-2026

Although other types of materials provide good performance, HDPE nonwovens have become an important material in the processing of PPE suits and medical coveralls in the recent days, as they provide various advantages such as high tensile strength, high resistance to chemicals and toxins and other properties. And during the recent times, the demand for a durable and a better performing type of material for PPE suits/coveralls from the medical industry is driving the demand for HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE suits/coverall medical market. HDPE nonwovens can provide enhanced quality of PPE suits which can last longer than the PPE suits made with other types of materials such as wool and cut. Furthermore, growth opportunities exist for the HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE suits/coverall medical market as there have been growing investments in the field of medical industry driven by the continuing global shift towards the surging demand for the medical services.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, several industries such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals across various regions increased their production and services since there was an exponential surge in the demand for PPE suits and medical garments which further increased the demand for HDPE nonwovens in production of PPE suits and other medical garments. This is majorly driving the demand for HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE suits/coverall medical market.

Research and development are the core strategic focus of HDPE nonwoven manufacturers, which is contributing to the growth of the HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE suits/coverall medical market. The manufactures are constantly investing in research and development to improve existing product performance and optimizing manufacturing efficiencies. Exploring new technology platforms and production techniques and incorporating them into the product development process allows HDPE Nonwovens players to offer better product solutions that help clients stay ahead of the competition. In 2020, DuPont launched the #TyvekTogether program and Ansell launched the #NetworkofHeroes program, to meet the growing need for critical protection and supplies for PPE, also, to maximize their own production in order to meet the demand increment. In addition, DuPont also announced a $400 million investment in its Luxembourg facility to increase capacity for the production of Tyvek nonwoven materials. The production expansion, which will include a new building and a third operating line at the site, is set to begin this year in 2021. The R&D department of the companies are also constantly working to improve existing product performance, increase manufacturing efficiencies, and develop the next generation of HDPE nonwoven solutions for new applications. This is further expected to create various opportunities for the HDPE nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE suits/coverall medical market. 

Asia-Pacific holds a major share in the HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE suits/coverall medical market in the year 2020. In developing countries such as China, Japan, India and South Korea with the booming pharmaceutical and healthcare industry the demand for HDPE nonwovens is rising at a fast pace. For instance, in April 2021, the Dhanvantri Covid Hospital in Ahmedabad, India was inaugurated to deal with the rising number of coronavirus infections by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Additionally, in June 2021 Boeing India inaugurated a new hospital at KPCL's Yelahanka campus in Bengaluru, in collaboration with Doctors for You (DFY), Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL), and SELCO Foundation. By the end of 2022, the South Korean biopharmaceutical company estimated to have increased its production capacity by 70%. Furthermore, the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea resulted in a positive impact on the market growth. With the rising Covid-19 palindrome the need for protective clothing in the pharmaceutical sector increased. In April 2020, the Indonesian textile and garment sector guaranteed the government to produce 17 million pieces per month, to provide adequate PPE for medical professionals in the country. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in the past few years Taiwan’s production of hospitals and clinics has increased gradually. In 2015, a total of 43 institutions were affiliated with medical care corporation which further increased to 56 institutions in 2019. According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), as of March 2021, MIDA has approved 46 projects to manufacture PPE (excluding gloves) with investments of RM3.65 billion that provides 9,205 employment opportunities. Domestic investors contributed 70% of the overall investment US$ 0.59 billion (RM 2.55 billion), while foreign investors provided the rest. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the growth of HDPE nonwovens in the Asia-Pacific country inclined. Various manufacturing companies started the production of protective clothing products in the year 2020, which became the major factor behind the inclining demand for HDPE nonwovens.

Disposable PPE apparel for the medical sector made of non-woven HDPE material are intended for a single use, whereas reusable PPE apparel made of woven fabrics are intended to last through multiple uses. Reusable textile apparel, on the other hand, are widely accessible at low prices, with quality ranging from homemade or artisanal to industrial outputs that have been certified. However, given the vast variety in protective efficacy, the growth in viral types with increasing transmissibility has prompted concerns about public use of reusable apparels. In the United States, over 80% of hospitals use disposable gowns and suits, with the remaining 20% using reusables. In addition, in Portugal, barely 20% of over 3000 certified reusable clothes had filtering efficiency more than 90%. Many countries including France, Austria, and Germany are enforcing the use of disposable clothes in numerous public venues in response to these new stresses while aiming to minimise economic disruption caused by lockdowns and the overloading of public health systems. Reusable hair covers, barrier gloves, shoe covers, and other similar items have been restricted in public settings despite their diversity and varying protection. Therefore, increased consumer awareness of the drawbacks of reused medical coveralls is driving demand for HDPE nonwoven medial apparels. As a result, market expansion is aided.

Research and Development departments are continually investing in enhancing the existing range of products, performance of HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE Suits/Coverall, optimizing manufacturing efficiencies, and developing the next generation of HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE Suits/Coverall Medical with newer applications. For instance, In August 2020, Silguard a new brand of personal protective equipment (PPE) was introduced by the Thailand-based VT Garment. It took only three months for VT's product development team to receive CE PPE Category 3 certifications for its coveralls and isolation gowns.

The major companies in the HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE Suits/Coverall medical market include DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Medtecs Group, Xiantao City Songqing Plastic Products Co., Ltd, Wuhan Woohoo Co., Ltd, HWTAI, Lakeland Industries Inc., Thrace Group, Xi'an Personal Protective Equipment Co., Ltd, Shandong Inso Industry Co., Ltd and Qingdao Trusty Industry & Trade Co., Ltd. 

The key focus of the companies has shifted towards expansions and investments. For instance, in April 2021, PT Trisula Textile Industries TBK (BELL) has started to produce hazmat suits, as well as other personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 measures. In 10 April 2020 Thrace Group invested US$3.53 million in the production of Type I, Type II and Type IIR surgical masks in the group’s facilities in Xanthi, Greece, in Forfar, Scotland and in Clara, Ireland. In 11 August 2020 in response of COVID-19 crisis, Kaiser Permanente, reached out to Home Depot for the availability of Tyvek HomeWrap, for the purpose of isolation gown material. Home Depot contacted DuPont and collaborated to donate rolls of Tyvek 1222A to Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser Permanente, called Lefty Production Co., for the purpose of production of isolation gowns from the Tyvek. In 1 July 2020 DuPont and Lowe’s donated rolls of Tyvek 1222A to businesses across the United States, including Merrow Manufacturing, Thermaxx and Studio Displays, as part of the #TyvekTogether program, so as to support businesses that are transforming their operations, in order to help the supply of PPE. From this collaboration of DuPont and Lowe’s, Merrow Manufacturing, became one of the largest producers of US-sourced PPE, to be donated. 

In April 2020, the Indonesian textile and garment sector guaranteed the government to produce 17 million pieces per month, to provide adequate PPE for medical professionals in the country. The increase in the introduction of new products in the medical industry which is made of HDPE nonwovens is one of the major contributing to the growth in the HDPE Nonwovens (TYVEK) for PPE Suits/Coverall medical market.