Lydall Inc is investing in an additional fine fiber meltblown production line at its facility in Rochester, New Hampshire, USA to meet the huge increase in domestic and global demand for specialty filtration media for face masks.
The new asset will complement Lydall’s existing global meltblown capacity and enable the company to supply the filtration media for an estimated one billion face masks per year.
Lydall expects commercial production to begin in Rochester during the fourth quarter of 2020. The company plans to hire up to 15 additional employees to support the increase in production.
In addition to manufacturing the critical filtration efficiency layers for N95 respirator masks, ASTM 1, 2, 3 medical masks, and general-purpose masks, Lydall also supplies other support materials for face masks, including comfort layers, protective layers and ties straps.
Lydall has also ramped up production of other filtration products like needlepunch felt for hospital gowns, medical wipes and absorbent bed pads. In preparation for the reopening of the US economy, Lydall’s innovation team is advancing its filtration science to develop new, high-efficiency, HEPA-rated filtration media to improve the air quality of public spaces, including office buildings, shopping centres, hospitals and airports.