Lydall Partners with XPRIZE, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators in Developing Solutions to the COVID-19 Crisis
September 24 2020 - 10:01AM
Lydall, Inc. (NYSE:LDL), a leading global manufacturer of
value-added engineered materials and specialty filtration
solutions, today announced its partnership with XPRIZE, a nonprofit
organization that uses global competitions to crowdsource solutions
to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Lydall will supply fine
fiber meltblown filtration media, the critical component of N95
respirators and surgical masks that traps harmful particles, to the
25 qualified teams of XPRIZE’s Next-Gen Mask Challenge. Launched in
July 2020, this four-month challenge invites young adults around
the world to develop the next generation of surgical-grade consumer
face masks. In addition to sharing a one-million-dollar prize, the
three winning teams will be connected to rapid manufacturing
opportunities in the U.S. to bring their designs to life.
A global market leader in specialty filtration solutions for 100
years, Lydall is one of only a few companies in the U.S. and the
world capable of manufacturing fine fiber meltblown filtration
media for face masks and high-efficiency air filtration systems.
Doing so requires extensive technical expertise, deeply ingrained
supplier relationships and access to the right equipment. For
decades, Lydall has produced filtration media at its facilities in
Rochester, New Hampshire, and Saint-Rivalain, France.
Although the material has a variety of applications, in response
to COVID-19, Lydall quickly pivoted to meet the explosive demand
for meltblown filtration media for N95 respirators, surgical masks
and other personal protective equipment (PPE). The company also
announced investments in two new production lines in New Hampshire
and one in France. The first new production line will be
operational by the beginning of 2021, with the other two coming on
line in mid-2021, increasing Lydall’s output of meltblown
filtration media many times over.
“Innovation is core to who we are, and that means not only
challenging ourselves to advance filtration science, but also
supporting the next generation of innovators,” said Ashish Diwanji,
President of Lydall Performance Materials, who will also serve on
the judging panel for the challenge. “We’re honored to use our
knowledge and resources to support XPRIZE and the young adults who
are passionate about addressing the greatest global health crisis
in over a century. I speak on behalf of all my colleagues at Lydall
when I say that we can’t wait to see what kinds of solutions the
teams come up with.”
Participants in XPRIZE’s Next-Gen Mask Challenge are tasked with
designing face masks that offer a level of performance comparable
to that of a surgical mask. This means that the mask must block 95
percent of particles while letting in enough air to allow the
wearer to breathe comfortably. Lydall’s meltblown filtration media
enables mask manufacturers to meet rigorous standards for quality
and efficiency set in the U.S. by NIOSH, a division of the CDC, and
ASTM. The material is even imbued with an electric charge that
attracts particles, keeping them away from the wearer’s nose and
mouth.
“We’re thrilled to have found such a strong partner for the
XPRIZE Next-Gen Mask Challenge in Lydall,” said Sarah Saenz, XPRIZE
Next-Gen Mask Lead. “We are challenging young innovators across the
world to shift the perception around mask-wearing behavior by
reimagining face masks entirely, but the most important aspect is
safety. Lydall is providing the critical filtration media that
makes N95 and surgical masks effective, and just as importantly,
its team of engineers and material scientists will provide counsel
and support to young adults around the world who want to build a
better face mask. Their participation will help ensure that real
solutions to a very real crisis are made available to our
communities.”
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.
Media:Danielle OrsinoTelephone
949-365-6609danielle@dynamisadvisors.com
Investors:Brendan MoynihanTelephone
860-646-1233Facsimile 860-646-4917info@lydall.comwww.lydall.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
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A video accompanying this announcement is available
at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8b0ad4b-b6bf-414b-97ab-8a368907fb76
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