Lydall Partners with XPRIZE, Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators in Developing Solutions to the COVID-19 Crisis

Company to Provide Meltblown Filtration Media, the Critical Component of N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks, to Participants in XPRIZE’s Next-Gen Mask Challenge

MANCHESTER, Conn., Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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.”