Freudenberg Nonwovens: a history of healing

Freudenberg Nonwovens, with headquarters and several other locations in Germany, celebrates 40 years of innovation using nonwovens for health and healing. The company began with production of carbon filters used in stoma pouches for hygiene. Freudenberg introduced nonwoven pads to replace knitted pads on adhesive bandages in the 1980s, and added antimicrobial finishes in the 1990s. The most recent development is engineered nonwovens containing chitosan fibers for moist treatment of chronic wounds. Chitosan, a biopolymer from the shells of sea crustaceans, has been shown to stop bleeding and heal wounds faster than other wound-care products. “One goal for us is to stimulate the human body’s capacity to heal itself following an acute injury,” says Oliver Heneric, Ph.D., head of Freudenberg Nonwoven’s Medical Segment.