Ahlstrom's Protective Materials Business Unit wins Industry Innovation Award for mold resistance product

Ahlstrom's Protective Materials Business Unit has been honored with the CPA (Composite Panel Association) Innovative Product of the Year award for its Spantex® Shield paper based balancing foil for decorative and functional surfaces.

Spantex® Shield with anti-mold and anti-fungi properties

Spantex® Shield is a sustainable paper based balancing foil for decorative and functional panels. The product provides a barrier to moisture and moisture vapor transmission. The new product incorporates anti-mold and anti-fungi properties. These paper foils are ideally suited for protecting and increasing the longevity of panels and worktops used in highly humid or wet environments such as bathrooms, bathroom showers, as well as around sinks, faucets, and dishwashers. The paper foils meet the highest standard of mold inhibition when tested to ASTM G21-15.

Composite panels are used in many areas of residential and commercial buildings, however in areas of high moisture and/or high humidity it is significantly more common for alternative materials to be chosen such as fiber-cement, engineered ceramics, porcelain or ceramic tiles, and fiberglass or plastic based materials. Spantex® Shield supports the broader use of carbon neutral wood fiber-based panels in these applications for a more sustainable planet.

“Among many outstanding submissions we are enormously proud to win the inaugural CPA Industry Innovation award. It has been a true teamwork throughout our organization in North America, France, and Sweden. I would like to thank everyone involved in the excellent work developing this product.” says Eva Thunholm, Vice President Protective Materials Business Unit at Ahlstrom.

About the CPA

The Composite Panel Association (CPA), founded in 1960, represents the North American composite panel and decorative surfaces industries on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues.  The Association has more than 140 members and include the leading manufacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardboard, and engineered wood siding and trim.

The Composite Panel Association (CPA) launched a new awards program in 2023 to recognize significant and creative advances in technology, product development and service solutions in the industry. Submissions should be a significant innovation of a product, service, project, or process that contributes to the development or advancement of the composite panel and/or decorative surfaces industry. Melissa Parsons, Sales Manager Protective Materials Business Unit (right) accepted the award from the CPA Chairperson Marla Chappel, at the CPA Spring meeting luncheon in April in Florida.