Here are some of the
more frequent questions that we have been asked about the manufacture
of diapers and napkins. We have been as accurate as possible with our
responses, but some of the questions depend on so many variables that
we have provided guidelines ranges only.
How much do Diaper and Napkin
machines cost?
How should I source diapers to import to
my Market.
What production efficiency
should I expect from a Baby Diaper machine?
What size of factory is required for Diaper and Sanitary Napkin manufacturing?
Where do I source the raw materials?
How do we decide the most cost effective product for our market?
Where would I find more general information about Disposable Baby Diapers
and their history?
What are the main material
components of diapers and napkins?
How much do Diaper and Sanitary Napkin machines
cost?
There is
a huge range of pricing for both of these types of machines, depending
on the product structure, product features and machine speed.
The common
range of prices for European or US diaper machines would be from
$1,000,000 to $3,000,000. You can pay more. Chinese machines can
cost from $120,000 to $1,200,000.
Second hand
European and US machines are often available, and would range from $300,000
to $1,000,000.
Sanitary
napkin machines range from $100,000 to $1,200,000. The lower priced
being slow and inflexible machines for a simple product. The lowest
priced European machine cost circa $400,000.
There are
also manual machines available at costs below $20,000, but these require
high labour input and produce very few diapers at a low quality level.
Please ensure that you have checked the potential profitability of of
such a machine before purchasing.
How should I source diapers or sanitary
napkins to import to my market
Diapers and napkins are available from manufacturers
all over the world. The specifications and quality of manufacture can
vary greatly. It is important to have a clear view of the product that
you feel will be successful in your market before going out for quotations.
Please contact us if you would like us to assist in market analysis,
product specification and sourcing.
What production efficiency should I expect from
a baby diaper machine?
The industry average would be an efficiency of 70% to
85%, with a waste figure of between 1% and 6%. There is also a percentage
of seconds, which will vary greatly depending on the machine set-up,
the pack size and the skill of the operators. Figures between 4% and
10% are common.
What size of factory is required for a napkin
or diaper machine?
The length
of napkin machines varies greatly, some of the more compact models are
less than 8 metres long. An average length of machine of 15metres would
be a good guideline. The common diaper machine would vary from 25 to
40 metres long.
More critical
to the decision on space is the storage area required for the
finished product and raw materials. These are both bulky, and normally
occupy at least 2/3rds of the final factory area. An overall size of
1000 to 1500sq metres is a good starting area for a single machine production
unit.
Where do I source the raw materials?
This is a truly international industry, with Raw Materials
gathered from all over the world. A good place to meet the suppliers
is at the Nonwoven Exhibitions which are held annually in three different
parts of the world.
The last European exhibition, Index, was held in 2008. The Asian exhibition,
ANEX, was held in Shanghai in April 2009 and the US version, the IDEA
exhibition will be held in Miami, Florida in 2010.
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How do we decide the most cost effective diapers
or napkins for our market?
The best method is for you to send us samples of all
of the diaper brands that are selling on your market. We will carry
out an analysis of each brand so that we can evaluate the production
cost of each diaper. When this information is combined with the selling
prices in your market it will become obvious what quality and cost of
diaper will be the most competitive.
Where would I find more general information about
Disposable Baby Diapers and their history
There are many branded sites available, such as those
for Pampers and Huggies.
Websites and magazines that often report on issues related
to disposable products and their raw materials are :
Nonwovens Industry : www.nonwovens-industry.com
Nonwovens.com: www.nonwovens.com
What are the main material components of diapers
and napkins
| The main components of
the absorbent core are: |
| |
Fluff Pulp - cellulose wood
fibres |
| |
Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP)- acrylic polymer |
| |
Tissue layer or wrap - cellulose |
| The main components of the envelope
are: |
| |
Porous nonwoven cover (hydrophilic) |
| |
Impervious nonwoven leg cuff (hydrophobic) |
| |
Polyethylene or laminated back sheet |
| |
Hot melt adhesives to bond components |
| |
Plastic frontal and side tapes (diaper) |
| |
Synthetic or rubber elastics (diaper) |
| |
Elastic waist band (diaper) |
| Acquisition/distribution layer(surge layer) |
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Disposables Consultancy Service
Copyright © 1999 [DCS]. All rights reserved.
Revised:
March 2010