The business, based in southern Germany, beat six other finalists to claim the Best Innovation – Medical Textiles title at the ITMA Future Materials Awards for its washable incontinence pads.
Kelheim makes the products from its viscose speciality fibre Bramante which can absorb more than double its own weight in liquids and retain it inside the fibre.
This is combined with polyester fibres in the form of a needlepunch nonwoven. The result is a re-usable pad that matches the performance of disposable products.
“Naturally, we are convinced of the quality of our own work but when a jury of first-rate experts ascribes to our Bramante fibre an enormous potential in incontinence products, that is a great success for our whole team,” said Walter Roggenstein, head of Kelheim’s research and development.
In their citation, judges praised the product as being “a highly innovative solution with significant market potential.”
