TT
Technical Theme: Innovation TT
SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THE QUALITY SPECTRUM FOR AFH TISSUE
T
Richard Cho Global marketing director, Solenis.
he Away-from-Home (AfH) tissue sector accounts for approximately one-third of the global market and has grown at a faster rate than the consumer segment over the past five years. Recent coronavirus-driven stay-home policies have created significant disruption to the tissue industry, especially in AfH channels. However, when the pandemic stabilises and economies reopen, this market segment should experience a strong resurgence with increased foot traffic in restaurants, office buildings, hotels and schools. A renewed emphasis on hand hygiene in the wake of the global pandemic will result in more hand washing and hand drying occasions. In addition, we anticipate there will be a move away from jet air dryers in favour of increasing the number of paper towel dispensers in public restrooms. Due to these factors, the global market can expect a rising demand for better hygiene and sanitation products in commercial channels and increased consumption of AfH tissue.
Innovative Solutions: the time is now The time is right for papermakers to both align current solutions with market demand for AfH products and to develop new innovations targeting this segment’s unique needs. Yet many challenges can prevent mills from taking advantage of this opportunity. One challenge is a value chain in which the end user accesses the product free of charge (a restaurant patron is not charged for the use of paper table napkins). At the same time, there is less focus in the AfH segment on the delivery of ultra-premium label claims around softness and absorbency. This
pushes tissue producers to hit certain quality standards and comply with sustainability goals and requirements but in the context of a highly cost-sensitive environment. Solenis has a proven track record delivering innovations that address the evolving needs of tissue makers. For example, as the use of recycled fibres increased, Solenis introduced dry strength and contaminant control additives to help AfH tissue makers address issues related to fines management and stickies control. Now we have found a growing opportunity to deliver a new Yankee coating solution specific for AfH tissue making.
Introducing PRO Series Yankee Coating Additives Solenis launched the Pro Series of Yankee Coating Additives to meet the essential needs of tissue mills making AfH products. With this family of products, even a cost-conscious tissue maker can achieve predictable and uniform creping performance. This improves the operational stability of the Yankee system and allows better control of sheet attributes and influence over key final properties, such as bulk, tensile and stretch. In addition, a PRO Series Yankee coating enhances the ability of tissue makers to protect their most valuable asset — the tissue machine. Solenis’ PRO Series of Yankee Coating Additives leverages complementary adhesive and release technologies to deliver the optimal coating for AfH tissue making. The PRO Series programme includes two technologies that work in concert in the Yankee system: Crepetrol PRO creping adhesives draw
THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR PAPERMAKERS TO BOTH ALIGN CURRENT SOLUTIONS WITH MARKET DEMAND FOR AFH PRODUCTS AND TO DEVELOP NEW INNOVATIONS TARGETING THIS SEGMENT’S UNIQUE NEEDS. YET MANY CHALLENGES CAN PREVENT MILLS FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY. Tissue World Magazine | July/August 2020
23
Technical Theme: Innovation
The hard hit Away-from-Home market is set to rebound, and is expected to be stronger than ever. Richard Cho, global marketing director at Solenis, says now is the time for innovation to targeting the sector’s unique demands.
