313230 - Nonwoven Fabric Mills

Understanding the intricacies of NAICS code 313230 is essential for businesses and contractors involved in the production and supply of innovative textile products. Known as Nonwoven Fabric Mills, this industry plays a crucial role in manufacturing fabrics that are foundational to numerous applications including medical products, filters, and hygiene items. In this blog post, we dive deep into what NAICS 313230 covers, the sector it belongs to, typical business operations, size standards, and more.

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What is NAICS Code 313230?

NAICS Code 313230 identifies establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing nonwoven fabrics, which are unique because they are made directly from fibers without weaving or knitting. Unlike conventional textiles, nonwoven fabrics boast versatility and functionality, making them indispensable in a wide variety of industrial and consumer products.

Nonwoven fabrics are engineered from fibers bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat, or solvent treatment. Their applications range from disposable medical gowns to sophisticated filtration media.

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Sector Overview: Textile Mills

NAICS 313230 falls under the Textile Mills sector. This sector is vital to the textile manufacturing industry, focusing on producing fabrics and textiles from raw fibers or yarns.

Typical Business Activities under NAICS 313230

• Manufacturing nonwoven fabrics for medical use (e.g., surgical gowns, masks)
• Production of nonwoven fabrics for filters (air, water, industrial)
• Manufacturing of hygiene product fabrics (baby wipes, sanitary products)
• Creation of specialized nonwoven fabrics like air laid, wet laid, melt blown, and spunbonded fabrics
• Production of ancillary goods such as nonwoven fabric tapes, ribbons, and carpet paddings

This variety ensures nonwoven fabric mills are pivotal to sectors like healthcare, automotive, filtration, and personal care.

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Size Standards for NAICS 313230

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), businesses under NAICS code 313230 are considered small if they have 850.0 employees or fewer. This size standard guides eligibility for certain government contracting opportunities and programs that support small businesses.

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Examples of Businesses Under NAICS 313230

Entered in this industry are companies focused on manufacturing nonwoven materials for specific market needs, such as:

• Producers of nonwoven medical fabrics for use in protective equipment and surgical dressings
• Manufacturers of nonwoven filter fabrics utilized in industrial and residential settings
• Makers of nonwoven hygiene products including wipes and absorbent pads

These establishments provide the building blocks for many consumer and industrial products, often innovating new fiber bonding technologies for better performance.

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NAICS 313230 Code Details Table

Code Detail	Description
Air laid nonwoven fabrics manufacturing	Production of fabrics created by air forming fibers
Blankets, nonwoven fabric, manufacturing	Manufacturing blankets from nonwoven materials
Bonded-fiber fabrics manufacturing	Creating fabrics bonded chemically or mechanically
Carded nonwoven fabrics manufacturing	Producing fabrics from carded fiber webs
Carpet paddings, nonwoven, manufacturing	Manufacturing padding layers for carpets
Fabrics, nonwoven, manufacturing	General manufacturing of nonwoven fabrics
Felts, nonwoven, manufacturing	Creating nonwoven felts used in various applications
Melt blown nonwoven fabrics manufacturing	Manufacturing filter and barrier fabrics via melt-blown process
Nonwoven fabric tapes manufacturing	Producing tapes made from nonwoven fabrics
Nonwoven fabrics manufacturing	Overall production of nonwoven fabric products
Nonwoven felts manufacturing	Specialized nonwoven felts for industrial use
Pads and wadding, nonwoven, manufacturing	Producing absorbent pads and wadding in nonwoven form
Pressed felts manufacturing	Manufacturing felts by pressing nonwoven fibers
Punched felts manufacturing	Creating felts perforated or punched for specific uses
Ribbons made in nonwoven fabric mills	Producing decorative or functional nonwoven ribbons
Spunbonded fabrics manufacturing	Producing nonwoven fabric via spunbond process
Tapes, nonwoven fabric, manufacturing	Manufacturing adhesive or structural tapes made of nonwoven fabric
Wet laid nonwoven fabrics manufacturing	Producing fabrics by wet-laid fiber technology
Wipes, nonwoven fabric, manufacturing	Manufacturing disposable or reusable wipes

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What products are made by nonwoven fabric mills under NAICS 313230?

Products include medical gowns, face masks, filters, wipes, hygiene products, carpet padding, and tape components made from nonwoven fabrics.

How are nonwoven fabrics different from woven or knitted fabrics?

Nonwoven fabrics are made by bonding or felting fibers together directly, rather than weaving or knitting yarns, resulting in unique properties such as absorbency, filtration ability, and lightweight strength.

What size qualifies as a small business under NAICS 313230?

Businesses with 850.0 or fewer employees qualify as small for government contracting and other SBA-related programs.

Which industries rely heavily on nonwoven fabrics?

Healthcare (medical gowns, masks), automotive (filters, insulation), hygiene (wipes, diapers), and industrial sectors (filters, carpet padding) are major consumers of nonwoven fabrics.

Can nonwoven fabric mills participate in government contracts?

Yes, many government agencies procure nonwoven fabric products, especially for medical and safety supplies, making NAICS 313230 businesses eligible for various contracting opportunities.

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Conclusion

NAICS code 313230 - Nonwoven Fabric Mills represents a dynamic and essential segment of the textile mills sector, underpinning innovative applications across healthcare, filtration, and hygiene markets. With increasing demand for specialized, high-performance fabrics, understanding this NAICS classification offers valuable insight for businesses seeking opportunities in manufacturing or government contracting. Whether you're a producer, supplier, or contractor, leveraging knowledge about nonwoven fabric mills can unlock new growth avenues in this evolving industry.

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Keywords: NAICS 313230, Nonwoven Fabric Mills, Nonwoven fabrics, Textile Mills, Nonwoven fabric manufacturing, Medical nonwoven fabrics, Nonwoven filters, Hygiene products fabrics, Small business size standards