How to choose and compare the best paper hand towels
Paper hand towels: essential hygiene!
Choosing disposable single-use paper hand towels means choosing hygiene above all other priorities. How important is hygiene and limiting the transmission of winter viruses in your establishment today?
A single-use hand towel is available in several qualities and formats to adapt to the location and the number of people using it. The different types of hand towels are mainly flat-folded in the form of a cartridge to be integrated into a dispenser or in a round roll format to be integrated into an automatic cutting dispenser or a center-feed roll dispenser .
Folded paper hand towels
These are rectangular hand towels that are intertwined with each other. They come in several types of folds, widths, lengths, and qualities. They are the most widely used in communities, particularly in restrooms , airports, train stations, schools, etc., because they are easy to use.
The range of folded paper hand towels is very large and between the folding shapes , the size of the hand towel, its composition in terms of wadding , its weight , etc. it is sometimes difficult to compare.
In addition, there are now certifications such as Ecolabel, FSC, PFC , food contact or not...
Hand towel dimensions and folding
Let's start by clarifying the concepts of formats (dimensions) and folding of the products on the market. Folded paper towels come in different formats and different folding methods. The format of the paper towel, which corresponds to the usable surface area during wiping, is indicated by two dimensions: For example, 23 x 23 cm, 23 x 25 cm, 22 x 34 cm, etc.
This dimension must be specified and provides an important indication which will determine the framework of use and destination of the hand towel but also consequently the consumption.
The "smaller" a hand towel is, the more consumers will tend to pull more abundantly from the sheets and thus increase consumption.
A large hand towel will be preferred by medical and paramedical professions because beyond the hands it will also be necessary to be able to wipe the forearm for example.
Generally, the first dimension of the hand towel corresponds to the width and the second to its length.
The second element concerns the folding of the paper towel.
We must then distinguish:
- interfolded paper hand towels with a fold close to a "W" or "Z"
- zigzag-folded hand towels with a fold close to a "V"
- C-folded hand towels.
Use the appropriate dispenser to avoid waste!
Each type of paper towel needs to be placed in acompatible dispenser , otherwise the user may end up pulling out several hand towels at a time instead of having a "sheet by sheet" dispensing, or the cartridge may not fit in the device. Our advisors are available to help you ensure compatibility.
The main manufacturers of paper hand towels are Kimberly Clark Lotus (now part of the SCA group), Tork , Lucart.
Paper hand towels in rolls
These are mainly roll products intended for automatic but manual cutting dispensers (autocut) or fully automatic devices such as the Lotus Enmotion dispenser which was the pioneer in this field, the Tork H1 dispenser or the Kimberly Clark Roll Control dispensers. We will find these dispensers mainly as an alternative to folded hand towel dispensers and therefore in sanitary areas.
The other standard concerns center-feed or external-feed dispensers with internally or externally fed roll hand towels. These products are mainly found in kitchens or industrial areas, which are high-traffic areas.
Roll paper towel dispensers
Automatic "autocut" manual cutting reel dispenser
"Autocut" type hand towel dispensers that automatically cut the hand towel each time the user pulls the roll.
Lotus Professional had developed the Lotus Nextturn dispenser system, which is now discontinued following the acquisition of the Lotus Professional division by Tork SCA Essity Group. The consumable is still available while stocks last, but if you currently have a dispenser of this type, it is best to replace your device with an equivalent Tork H1 dispenser , which is the reference system.
You can also opt for a Kimberly Clark Slim Roll and Kleenex dispenser which will offer sheet-by-sheet dispensing with a choice of quality Kleenex or Scott hand towels.
The other option is to go to a "standard" autocut dispenser that accepts standardized hand towel rolls from several manufacturers in various lengths, widths, and thicknesses. In this case, you'll need to pay attention to dimensions and compatibility.
Automatic contactless cutting reel dispenser
The no-touch roll-top hand towel dispenser is an evolution because it is a contactless distribution system, thus reducing the risk of contamination.
The user passes their hand in front of a cell that triggers the automatic distribution of a hand towel of adjustable length. This type of system, like the EnMotion Lotus Professional, allows for impeccable hygiene since there is no contact between the user and the dispenser. Lotus has now integrated SCA Tork, the EnMotion system, which is still widely implemented, has evolved into the Tork H1 system.
These distribution systems also allow for greater control over the distribution of hand towels . In fact, very often the folded paper hand towel is not adapted to the dispenser and the width of the distribution window , which results in erratic distribution with several sheets at a time . This is why it is imperative to choose a folded hand towel dispenser that is fully adapted to the consumable.
Central feed reel dispensers
This is the most economical format often used in kitchens, food processing plants, and industries. It's an unattractive dispensing system compared to auto-cut dispensers or folded hand towel dispensers, but it's part of a functional approach.
On the central unwinding paper towel roll , we are clearly in a volume market where consumption is such that there are multiple offers. It is therefore important to check the footage , the number of sheets , the height and weight of the paper on the roll to compare what is comparable .
Hand hygiene starts with single-use hand towels!
Hand hygiene has become essential, even before talking about cleanliness and disinfection of surfaces, objects or floors. It is indeed through hand contact that viruses and bacteria spread. Recent epidemics such as influenza A H1N1, Coronavirus, STRAS, MERS, or simply classic flu epidemics demonstrate this.
Is the electric hand dryer an alternative to the towel but for single use?
There are several alternatives for wiping and drying hands.
-> The classic electric hot air hand dryer
-> The "Dyson" type electric pulsed air hand dryer
-> The single-use disposable paper hand towel
Paper hand towels remain a benchmark in terms of limiting and spreading germs because we're talking about single-use. While the technology of electric hand dryers with pulsed air has certainly made great strides with the integration of UV rays, the hygiene advantage remains with single-use.
Now the challenge is to know what level of hygiene is sought!
If you operate in a hospital environment or if you pass through a train station or airport, the hygiene issue is not comparable.
The conclusion is that it is necessary to choose the solution best suited to the level of hygiene desired and expected by users.
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