The global care system is being reshaped by aging populations, with a growing number of bedridden and chronically ill individuals. Support surface materials are shifting from passive protection to active intervention. In this context, PU-coated fabrics are entering the core medical care supply chain due to their performance advantages, becoming a key material option for reducing pressure ulcer risk and improving care efficiency.
Background
Industry public data shows that pressure ulcer incidence is directly related to the performance of support surface fabrics. Traditional PVC materials, due to insufficient conformability and moisture permeability, struggle to meet high-frequency, long-cycle care needs. Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics recently introduced the Dartex by Trelleborg® series, which uses high-performance PU coating instead of PVC, emphasizing high stretch, moisture permeability, and biocompatibility to address skin damage in long-term bedridden elderly populations.
The series is tiered by care intensity: Dartex® Endurance enhances chemical resistance for high-turnover institutions with frequent cleaning and disinfection; Dartex® Care targets community and home care, balancing barrier performance and cost. This product stratification reflects suppliers' efforts to respond to diverse care scenarios with material differentiation.
Industry Impact
For buyers, material selection directly impacts pressure ulcer risk management and operational expenses. Although PU-coated fabrics have a higher unit price than PVC, their moisture permeability reduces skin maceration, antibacterial properties lower infection risk, and chemical resistance extends product life, potentially reducing replacement frequency and maintenance costs. This means purchasing decisions should shift from initial price to whole-lifecycle cost accounting.
For manufacturers, smart fabrics represent the next competitive frontier. Dartex® Smart integrates sensors directly into the coated fabric, monitoring pressure distribution, position changes, and humidity in real time, replacing manual inspection. This technical path improves care response speed and avoids the pressure ulcer risk of separate sensor layers, but technical thresholds and cost control will be key challenges for large-scale adoption.
Furthermore, the rise of community and home care is changing demand structure. Light-to-moderate care scenarios are more price-sensitive, and the Dartex® Care series precisely targets this market. Suppliers that balance durability and cost are likely to gain incremental growth outside institutional settings.