About 385,000 babies are born each day according to the UN. That adds up to more than 140 million a year.
Moreover, there are more than 46 million adults aged 65 and older living in the U.S.; by 2050, that number is expected to grow to almost 90 million.
Therefore, the use of diapers is on the rise and so is the need to develop these products to perform better and feel more comfortable.
There are many companies producing diapers in the world under hundreds of brands. They can be categorized into two main styles: 1) Pull-ups and 2) diapers with mechanical fastener tapes that open up. The main difference between pull-ups and diapers is that pull-ups usually have an elastic band that makes them easier to pull up and down without fully removing them. Pull-ups are popular in the Asian market, while mechanical fastener type diapers are mostly popular in North America and Europe. The preference comes from the different lifestyles in each culture.
The design and function of quality pull-ups and diapers should have the following qualities:
– Multi-layered design for liquid absorption
– Contoured fit to prevent leaks
– A chemical in crystal form called sodium polyacrylate, which does most of the absorption inside the diaper
– Waterproof outer layer
– Good mechanical fastening system to properly fit the diaper
YKK manufactures high-performance hook and loop fasteners for diapers. Although people might not pay attention to the tabs on the diapers, the technology of these fasteners continues to evolve year after year as consumers’ needs change.
Single-use diapers are typically made from a variety of plastic-based ingredients, and plastic is not biodegradable. When something is biodegradable, it can break down naturally and turn back into the soil. New technology for disposables uses sustainably sourced wood pulp and is made without fragrances, lotions, or chlorine bleaching.
In the past, diapers with mechanical fasteners used heavy weight knit landing zones. These eventually changed to lighter non-woven materials. The hook closure had to evolve as well to follow those changes. Non-woven loops have a much shorter fiber available for engagement, which required the hook product to reduce in size and shape to engage.
The evolution has led to our SureFit® hook fastener, which is designed to engage with fibers from all 360 degrees angles. The tip of the hook dome has a claw-like design that holds to these shorter fibers once engaged.
SureFit® mechanical hook fastener
The SureFit® hook fastener from YKK is one of the most versatile mechanical fasteners in the market today, providing superior performance with the latest generation of non-wovens and loop landing zone used in baby diapers and adult incontinence briefs.
Check out this video to learn more about YKK’s product offering for diapers.
Visit our website to view the full line of YKK® products for diapers.
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