Product Profile: Non woven fabric is a fabric like material made from long fibres, bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. The term is used in the textile manufacturing industry to denote fabrics, such as felt, which are neither woven nor knitted. Non woven materials typically lack strength unless densified or reinforced by a backing. In recent years, non wovens have become an alternative to polyurethane foam. Non woven fabrics are engineered fabrics that may be a limited life, single use fabric or a very durable fabric. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibers to yarn. Non woven polypropylene (P.P.) fabric is made of spun bond polypropylene which can be recycled, naturally decompose and completely incinerates without any production of poisonous pollutant. Even though the bags look like a textile, they are in fact made from spun bonded polypropylene, commonly known as PP, which is a by-product of crude oil. No water is used in the production process and thereby not polluted. The material is recyclable thus environmentally friendly & assists with Environment protection. Properties of non woven fabric: Non woven fabrics provide specific functions such as absorbency, liquid repellency, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, filtering, bacterial barrier and sterility. These properties are often combined to create fabrics suited for specific jobs, while achieving a good balance between product use-life and cost. They can mimic the appearance, texture and strength of a woven fabric and can be as bulky as the thickest paddings. In combination with other materials they provide a spectrum of products with diverse properties, and are used alone or as components of apparel, home furnishings, health care, engineering, industrial and consumer goods. Applications of Non woven Fabrics • Wipes and dusters, tea and coffee bags, fabric softeners, food wraps, filters, bed and table linen, etc. • Hygienic care as in baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence items, dry and wet pads, but also nursing pads. • Healthcare, like operation drapes, gowns and packs, face masks, dressings and swabs, etc. • Interlinings, insulation and protection clothing, industrial work wears, chemical defence suits, shoe components, etc. • Application in automotive: boot liners, shelf trim, oil and cabin air filters, moulded bonnet liners, heat shields, airbags, tapes, decorative fabrics, etc. • Roofing and tile underlay, thermal and noise insulation, house wrap, drainage, etc. • Geotextiles: asphalt overlay, soil stabilization, drainage, sedimentation and erosion control, etc. • Filtration of air and gas, Hevac, Hepa, Ulpa filters • Industrial: cable insulation, abrasives, reinforced plastics, battery separators, satellite dishes, artificial leather, air conditioning, coating. • Home furnishing, Agriculture, leisure and travel, school and office etc. Non woven bags Non woven bags have been emerging as the most popular alternative with local stores and big retailers because bags made of this material offer the texture and durability of a cloth bag at a much lower cost. These bags are the cheapest alternative to plastic. The non woven bags have generated the highest order from the market since the plastic bag ban. Polypropylene is not harmful. It is recyclable, hence good for environment. There are various kinds of non woven bags such as non woven rice bag, carry bag, catering bag, banyan cut bag, fruit and vegetables bag, grocery/shopping bag, PP bag, gift bag, printed bag and many more. For example non woven rice bags are extensively used to store rice in place of conventional plastic and paper bags. Non woven rice bags have high tensile strength and are highly durable. Non woven fabric bags are widely used as packing material due to so many advantages over conventional sacks. These bags are excellent for covering products and goods thereby protecting them from moisture and dust. Market Scenario Global sales of non woven fabrics are forecast to increase 6.9 percent annually through 2015 to 9.2 million metric tons. This rate is acceleration from the 2005 o 2010 periods, reflecting a low base as global recessionary conditions restrained non wovens fabric demand in 2008 and 2009 before improving somewhat in 2010. Continued growth in global manufacturing and construction activity, as well as gains in personal income will promote demand. Product sales will grow faster in area terms, rising 7.3 percent per year to 198 billion square meters, reflecting a modest decrease in average non wovens weight. This will be due primarily to increased demand in developing areas for a variety of lighter weight disposable non woven products, supported by manufacturer efforts to make them more affordable and technological advances that are making new generations of non woven fabrics lighter. The sales of non woven fabrics in India will increase 12.7% per year in constant dollars from $214 million in 2007 to $390 million by the end of 2012. These dollar sales represent non woven materials that are produced within India and non wovens that are imported in roll good forms or in a converted state, such as baby diapers or modified bitumen roofing materials. The personal hygiene market- which includes adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene products, and infant diapers and training pants will continue to account for the single largest share of non wovens demand in 2012.