Lydall Invests in New Fine Fiber Meltblown Production Line in France to Support EU Face Mask and Air Filter Production for the Fight Against COVID-19

Rhea-AI Summary

Lydall, a leader in engineered materials, announces the investment in a new production line for fine fiber meltblown filtration media at its Saint-Rivalain, France facility. This initiative, supported by a French government grant, will boost production capacity significantly, enabling the supply of 600 million FFP2/FFP3 respirators or 2.2 billion surgical masks annually. Lydall aims to enhance local supply chains for critical filtration products amid increased global demand due to COVID-19, while also planning to hire additional staff to meet production needs.

Positive

• Investment in a new production line in France to enhance production capacity.
• Grant funding support from the French government, covering up to 30% of the investment.
• Positioned to supply enough filtration media for 600 million FFP2/FFP3 respirators or 2.2 billion surgical masks annually.
• Plans to hire additional staff to support increased production levels.

Negative

• None.

• New Production Line Further Solidifies Company’s Position as One of the World’s Largest Suppliers of Fine Fiber Meltblown Filtration Media for N95 and Equivalent Respirators, Surgical Masks and MERV-, HEPA- and ULPA-Grade Air Filters

• Investment Supported by a Grant Awarded by the French Government to Create a Domestic Supply Chain of Products Essential to National Security and Public Health
   
• Lydall Positioned to Supply Enough Fine Fiber Meltblown Filtration Media to Support EU Production of 600M FFP2/FFP3 (N95 Equivalent) Respirators or 2.2B Surgical Masks Per Year

MANCHESTER, Conn. and SAINT-RIVALAIN, France, Sept. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lydall, Inc. (NYSE:LDL), a leading global manufacturer of value-added engineered materials and specialty filtration solutions, today announced its investment in a new production line to create fine fiber meltblown filtration media for face masks and high-efficiency air filtration systems. This new line will be installed at Lydall’s facility in Saint-Rivalain, France in the second quarter of 2021, substantially increasing the company’s capacity to supply this critically needed material to the European market.

The investment solidifies Lydall’s position as one of the largest global suppliers of fine fiber meltblown filtration media, the crucial component of N95 respirators and the European equivalent, FFP2/FFP3, as well as surgical masks and MERV-, HEPA- and ULPA-grade air filters. Lydall will receive up to 30 percent of funding for the investment through the support of France’s Ministry of the Economy and Finance.

“COVID-19 has created unprecedented global demand for face masks, upgraded air filtration systems and other products that are essential to preventing the spread of the virus. In response, governments around the world are now focused on establishing secure, reliable and sustainable domestic supply chains so they can guarantee they have access to high-quality products that are pivotal to national security and public health,” said Sara A. Greenstein, President & CEO of Lydall. “Our global footprint and 100-year heritage in creating specialty filtration solutions position Lydall to serve as a local manufacturing partner to governments around the world, now more than ever. We take our role in creating products that protect people and places from viruses such as COVID-19 incredibly seriously, and we are grateful for the support of the French government, which will allow us to ramp up production even further.”

For more than 30 years, Lydall’s Saint-Rivalain facility has manufactured medium- and high-efficiency filtration media for a variety of applications that are critical to environments such as operating rooms, gas turbines and nuclear containment buildings. The facility currently has one line dedicated to meltblown filtration media production to make high-efficiency indoor air quality filters and, in response to COVID-19, has maximized its output to support the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Europe. Once this additional line is operational, Lydall expects to produce enough fine fiber meltblown filtration media for 600 million FFP2/FFP3 respirators or 2.2 billion surgical masks per year. The company plans to hire additional staff to support the increase in production.

“The installation of this new, state-of-the-art production line will allow Lydall to advance filtration science and develop filtration media for higher-end air and liquid filters,” said Ashish Diwanji, President of Lydall Performance Materials. “COVID-19 was an unprecedented event that exposed the wider need to examine the indoor air quality of a variety of public spaces. As a global market leader in specialty filtration solutions, Lydall is at the forefront of that innovation and is committed to protecting people and places today, and in the years and decades to come.”

In addition to Saint-Rivalain, France, Lydall also produces meltblown filtration media in Rochester, New Hampshire. In June 2020, the company was awarded a $13.5 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Defense, enabling the installation of two new production lines to support U.S. face mask and air filter production. Lydall is in conversation with government officials around the world about how the company can support the domestic production of COVID-19-related products, as it has done in the U.S. and France.

For more information on Lydall’s role in preventing the spread of COVID-19, visit https://lydall.com/covid-19-relief-effort.

About Lydall, Inc.
Headquartered in Manchester, Connecticut with global manufacturing operations, Lydall delivers value-added engineered materials and specialty filtration solutions that promote a cleaner, safer and quieter world. We partner with our customers to develop bespoke, high-performing and efficient solutions that are adaptable and scalable to meet their needs. Lydall is a New York Stock Exchange-listed company. For more information, visit http://www.lydall.com. Lydall® is a registered trademark of Lydall, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.

			Investors:
	Media:		Brendan Moynihan
	Danielle Orsino		Telephone 860-646-1233
	Telephone 949-365-6609		Facsimile 860-646-4917
	danielle@dynamisadvisors.com		info@lydall.com
			www.lydall.com

FAQ

What is Lydall's recent investment for?

Lydall's recent investment is for a new production line to create fine fiber meltblown filtration media used in face masks and air filtration systems.

How much funding did Lydall receive from the French government?

Lydall received up to 30% funding support from the French government for its new production line investment.

What is the expected annual production capacity of Lydall's new line?

Lydall's new line is expected to produce enough meltblown filtration media for 600 million FFP2/FFP3 respirators or 2.2 billion surgical masks per year.

Where is Lydall's new production line being installed?

The new production line is being installed at Lydall's facility in Saint-Rivalain, France.

What is the significance of Lydall's new production line?

The new production line solidifies Lydall's position as a major global supplier of filtration media essential for public health and national security.