The European Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Markets

SUMMARY

Disposable vs. Reusable - A Vital Debate for Market Growth

Dynamics between the disposable and reusable segments is a key factoraffecting the growth in the disposable drapes and gowns market. The penetrationof single-use surgical drapes and gowns varies significantly throughout Europe,and is much less than that in the United States where disposables account forover 80 per cent of the drapes/gowns utilised. Ingrained hospital practicessupport the continuing use of traditional textile reusable products in manyEuropean countries despite their inferiority to most single-use drapes and gownsavailable. Furthermore, there have been some innovations to create ehigh-techfreusable products with more effective barrier properties. While these productsmay have some limitations, they are a significant source of competition for themanufacturers of disposable products.

This Frost & Sullivan study explores the European market for disposablesurgical drapes and gowns in terms of revenues by geographic regions and marketsegments. The research reviews the principal market drivers and restraints andincludes a detailed discussion on the technology for manufacturing non-wovenmaterial providing the total costs for drapes and gowns.

New European Standard and Infection Control Regulations to Affect Market

Increasing awareness on the need for better infection control, particularlywith respect to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)and hepatitis B, has increased the preference for drapes and gowns providingimproved bacterial barriers. "Due to their patient protecting properties,drapes and gowns are now considered to be medical devices that have to complywith the European Union Medical Device Directive (MDD) of 1993," notes theanalyst of the research. "This has led to the current development of aEuropean standard for drapes and gowns, which is expected to have a major impacton the market for reusable and disposable surgical apparel."

Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Gaining Increased Acceptance in theEuropean Surgical Industry

Nonwoven fabrics with their excellent liquid resistance, tensile strength andhydrophobic/hydrophilic properties are gaining market attention. Meanwhile, theuse of traditional cotton and cotton-polyester mixed textiles is rapidlydecreasing as these fabrics fail to meet the requirements of the new standard.The choice, then, is likely to be between single-use products and 'high-tech'reusable products. However, studies show that the microbial penetrationresistance of single-use drapes and gowns is much superior to that of reusabledrapes and gowns, both traditional and ehigh-techf.

When total costs are considered, disposables tend to prove as less expensivethan reusables that involve overheads, and logistics costs of sterilisation andlaundering. In addition, the lower penetration levels make Europe an attractiveinvestment destination for major multinationals in the surgical drapes and gownsmarkets.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary

1. Executive Summary

1. Executive Summary for the European Disposable Surgical Drapes and GownsMarket

2. Glossary of Terms

1. Glossary of Terms

1. List of Definitions

2. Exchange Rates

3. Industry Challenges

1. Identification of Challenges Facing the European Disposable SurgicalDrapes andGowns Market

1. Challenges

4. Market Engineering Research for the Total European Disposable SurgicalDrapes and GownsMarket

1. Forecasts for the Total European Market

1. Market Overview and Definitions

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Drivers and Restraints

4. Market Forecasts

5. Trends by Geographic Region

6. Trends by Product Type

7. Competitive Structure

8. Product Analysis

2. Technology Trends

1. Nonwoven Technology

2. Quality Testing

3. Disposable versus Reusable Drapes and Gowns

1. Total Cost Analysis

2. Product Attributes

3. Disposable versus Reusable Penetration

4. Forecasts for the Disposable Surgical Drapes Market

1. Market Overview and Definitions

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Geographic Region

5. Competitive Analysis

5. Forecasts of the Disposable Surgical Gowns Market

1. Market Overview and Definitions

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Geographic Region

5. Competitive Analysis

5. The European Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market--GeographicalTrends

1. German Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

2. French Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

3. UK Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

4. Italian Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

5. Iberian Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

6. Benelux Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

7. Scandinavian Disposable Surgical Drapes and Gowns Market

1. Market Overview

2. Market Engineering Research System

3. Market Forecasts

4. Trends by Product Type

6. Market Engineering Strategy

1. Market Engineering Strategic Recommendations

1. Strategic Recommendations

a. End-user Education

b. Relationship and Partnering

c. Mergers and Acquisitions

d. Customer Monopoly

e. Innovation and Core Competency

f. Supply Chain Management

g. Product Differentiation and Branding

h. Manufacturing and Supply Chain Cost

i. Targeted Geographic Expansion

7. Frost & Sullivan Awards for the European Disposable Surgical Drapesand Gowns market

1. Frost & Sullivan Awards for the European Disposable Drapes and GownsMarket

1. Frost & Sullivan Awards

2. Market Leadership Award

3. Product Innovation Award

4. Product Quality Leadership Award

5. Competitive Strategy Leadership Award

6. Entrepreneurial Company Award

8. Database of Key Industry Participants

1. Database of Key Industry Participants

1. DKIP

9. Decision Support Databases

1. Databases on Demographics

1. Total Population

2. AIDS Mortality Rate

2. Databases on Healthcare Infrastructure

1. Number of Hospitals

3. Databases on Healthcare Expenditure

1. Per cent of Healthcare Expenditure

2. Per Capita Healthcare Expenditure