#Composites

2019-11-07

Hydrophilic foam from Freudenberg: more effective wound cleansing and optimal patient comfort

Freudenberg Performance Materials will be presenting an innovative hydrophilic foam for wound cleansing for the first time at Compamed in Düsseldorf from November 18 to 21, 2019. The foam enables more effective wound cleansing and increases patient comfort during the cleansing process. Freudenberg will also be showcasing flexible foams for wound dressings with a direct coating of silicone adhesives, which are more effective than conventional foam-silicone constructions.

Active worldwide, Freudenberg Performance Materials specializes in pioneering and manufacturing multi-layer material compositions consisting of hydrophilic PU foams and hydroactive nonwovens. Trade fair visitors will find the company at Booth 8B/H01.

Up to now, wound cleansing (debridement) has been performed using fiber-based products or simply cotton gauze. “Our goal was to develop a more efficient product that cleans wounds more effectively and thus has a positive effect on wound healing. Our continuous, close cooperation with wound experts was decisive in being able to achieve this outstanding development result”, commented Dr. Henk R. Randau, General Manager Business Division Healthcare.

The advantages of the new hydrophilic debridement foam for wound cleansing can be easily summarized:

Ideal for use in wound cavities - Because the foam is soft and flexible throughout, including at the edges, it is ideal for cleansing deep and hard-to-reach wounds.

Better cleansing results and reduced risk - Thanks to its large pores, the foam also easily picks up fibrin coatings and dried exudate. Furthermore, unlike conventional textile constructions, there is no risk of fibers being left behind in the wound.

Less pain, greater patient comfort, - Practical tests have shown that the hydrophilic PU foam achieves a better cleansing result, even when used with reduced pressure.

In collaboration with wound experts and scientists, Freudenberg developed its own test method specifically for this product, which substantiates the performance capability of the new debridement foam. The benchmark for the test was a product that offered the best performance achieved so far in the market (gold standard).

Wound dressings: easier to secure and painless removal

Freudenberg will also be exhibiting foams with a direct coating of silicone adhesives at Compamed. The adhesive properties of silicone make it easier to fix the foam bandage and at the same time allow painless removal achieve a wound de-adhesive effect. Wound dressings with a direct coating of silicone adhesives from Freudenberg are significantly more effective than those with conventional coatings. They are much more flexible, adapt better to the wound bed and enable antibacterial agents to act more effectively. This technology also fulfills Freudenberg’s consistent sustainability strategy. By reducing the number of process steps at the wound dressing manufacturer and thereby reducing production complexity, waste is avoided, energy is saved and the supply chain simplified.

Further innovative solutions on the Freudenberg booth

Components for advanced wound care: superabsorbent nonwovens, nonwoven foam laminates, PU foams

Components for stoma care: activated carbon filters and nonwoven components for stoma flanges and comfort covers

Traditional wound care: components for wound dressings, flexible carrier materials and biodegradable nonwovens for wound pads

Flexible carrier materials for transdermal application systems for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs)

Freudenberg Performance Materials presents Mehlerheytex and Filc at Techtextil 2026

Freudenberg Performance Materials will showcase textile innovations that increase efficiency, performance and sustainability in industry and mobility at Techtextil 2026. For the first time since the merger of Mehler Texnologies and Heytex, the MehlerHeytex brand will make its debut as a leading expert in coated technical textiles. Moreover, Freudenberg Performance Materials Filc (Filc), specialist for advanced needlepunch nonwovens and laminated materials, will present its groundbreaking solutions for automotive applications. Filc customers can benefit from the perfect combination of functionality, comfort and sustainability. The Freudenberg Performance Materials experts are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the trade fair at Stand A11 in Hall 11.0 from April 21 – 24, 2026.

Freudenberg accelerates local production for apparel market by expanding its site in India

Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel (Freudenberg Apparel) celebrates the grand opening of a major expansion at its manufacturing facility in Chennai, India, on October 14, adding 20,000 square feet of production space and introducing new production lines tailored to the Indian apparel market. This strategic investment is aimed at significantly reducing lead times and enhancing the availability of high-quality, locally produced interlinings for the fast-evolving apparel sector in India and South Asia.

Freudenberg Performance Materials publishes first Sustainability Report

With the publication of its first sustainability report, Freudenberg Performance Materials has reached a major milestone on its path toward greater environmental responsibility and corporate transparency. Until now, information about the company’s sustainability performance was only included in the sustainability report of its parent company, the Freudenberg Group. The newly released report, however, focuses specifically on the business of technical textiles.

Freudenberg to exhibit for the first time at CAMX 2025

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) will be exhibiting for the first time at CAMX 2025 in Orlando, Florida, from September 9-11. This presence is a strong signal from the leading global supplier of technical textiles to support the North American composites industry with high-performance surfacing veils, flow media and spacers. Visitors can meet Freudenberg experts at booth D69 on the show floor.

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 highlights Taiwan as a strategic hub for the global composites industry

The third edition of JEC Forum organized in Southeast Asia brought together 350+ participants from 22 countries for three active days of high-level Business Meetings, conferences, and networking, emphasizing Southeast Asia’s growing role in the global composites market. Held for the first time in Taipei from 23 to 24 June 2026, following the successful first editions in Bangkok, JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 confirmed its position as the region’s leading business platform dedicated to the composites industry.

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.