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HR Director Niranjan Perera, Category Head Shamali Perera, Brand Ambassador Pushpa Ramyani, R&D Director Dimuthu Jayasinghe and Director Supply Chain Chandana Weerabahu
By Ruwandi Gamage
Introducing a new and advanced sanitary napkin with great absorbency and added comfort, Fems, one of the leading brands of sanitary napkins in Sri Lanka, which is manufactured by a local company no less, organised a tour of its facility along with a press conference for the media recently.
Introducing 3D technology for sanitary napkins through the launch of ‘Ultra Dry Drytex wings’ and ‘Ultra Soft cotton-feel wings,’ Fems is contributing towards uplifting hygiene standards for women in Sri Lanka through the provision of innovative products with high quality standards.
Research and development of Fems
According to the new 3D technology that has been introduced, the lab technicians demonstrated how the new and improved sanitary napkin absorbs liquid faster, still leaving the surface of the napkin dry to the touch and also, most importantly, disperses the absorbed liquid throughout the napkin without leaving the napkin heavy and wet in only one spot. Thus, it gives more protection against leaks, leaving the wearer comfortable, dry and relaxed.
The factory’s research and development lab is focused on delivering a product that guarantees more protection, comfort, absorbency and dryness to users of sanitary napkins and is equipped with high quality material, resources, and high-tech machinery to achieve this goal.
According to Fems Manager Product Development Asela Suraweera, the experienced lab staff experiment on foreign sanitary napkins to understand their quality and gather knowledge to develop better versions of the product.
“The sanitary napkin comprises three layers of suction pad. All our research and development focuses on increasing safety and comfort and creating more absorbency, more absorbency speed, and more dryness for our consumers using new and developed technology,” Suraweera explained.
Quality assurance of Fems napkins
Fems has been awarded the highest quality accreditations, such as SLS and ISO 9001 certifications, for its products by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), in accordance with the quality assurance policy of the organisation.
From the purchasing and storing of raw materials and throughout the production and manufacturing process, quality of materials and product is assured, meeting rigorous safety and effectiveness standards. 
Fems takes great care in assuring quality of its products. According to Fems Quality Assurance Head Nadeera Chandrasena, the main raw material used in the production of the napkins, GP cellulose pulp, is imported from the USA, and is checked for quality before production every time. Quality of the product is then checked multiple times during the production process to assure quality of end product before it is packaged and stored for delivery. It is yet again checked for quality during the packaging process and transportation of end products. As a result, the product reaching the customer is of the highest possible standard.
“The criteria for the SLS certification for sanitary napkins includes the use of permitted raw materials, absorbency levels, pH levels, hygienic manufacturing conditions and quality of finished products. Brands that are awarded this certification go through a stringent evaluation process and conform to all these criteria and are absolutely safe to use,” SLSI Product Certification Division Assistant Director Nilupa Kekulandera stated at the media briefing/
State-of-the-art manufacturing facility
The Fems production process is carried out in a controlled cleanroom, with 95% of the production done using a machine.
First the machine shreds the GP cellulose pulp into cotton-like pieces and then constructs the pad with the necessary layers; application of glue is done to the back of the napkin, which is then folded and individually wrapped by the machine, and then sent to the end of the belt.
At this point, the staff packs the pads into the specific packaging and then sends it back into the machine, where the packaging is sealed and marked with bar code, including the packaged date, batch number and price. The machine used in this operation is a 25-metre-long high-tech machine.
Fems Assistant Manager Production Sanjeewa Malathunga stated that this machine is updated manually with the necessary input according to what type of napkin is being produced at each time. The machine also has in-built quality assurance check-ups during the process, to assure the end product meets the standards. If any error is detected, the machine automatically rejects the individual napkin, along with a few of the napkins that were placed before and after the erroneous napkin in the production belt, which further assures consistent standards and quality.
All the staff members who work within the facility wear special clothing to ensure quality and cleanliness, with hair nets and disposable shoe-covers. All persons entering and exiting the facility are guided into an automated air-shower, which is a small cubicle incorporated as an entryway to the cleanroom to reduce particle contamination, which utilises high-pressure filtered air to remove dust, lint and other contaminants from personnel or object surfaces. This process is said to reduce the number of airborne particulates introduced to the controlled-environment in the manufacturing area.
Growth of Fems through the years
Speaking at the briefing, Fems Category Head Shamali Perera commented on the significant progress Fems has made as a local product in the market since 2014. Perera mentioned there was a 140% increase in the use of Fems in comparison to competitors and that 2014 was a revolutionary year for Fems in terms of innovations and sales.
Perera said Fems is available in different convenient pack sizes and at affordable prices in 70,000 outlets, accessible to consumers in all urban and rural areas across the country.
“With Fems, we have been able to significantly uplift the hygiene standards of women in Sri Lanka by introducing innovative world-class products and new technologies that provide superior comfort and protection. We offer superior comfort and quality compared to imported products at more affordable prices.”
The Category Head also conveyed that, apart from its commercial activities, Fems has contributed over Rs. 40 million in the last five years towards educating over 400,000 girls on good practices in feminine hygiene in schools, garment factories and universities around the country.
Fems is environmentally-friendly
Refusing to merely rest on its laurels, Fems is now striving to create a napkin that is 100% environmentally-friendly. According to the company, Fems napkins in the market now are 95% biodegradable; it is only the exterior packaging that is not biodegradable.
As for the rejected napkins going to waste, the factory is currently researching and developing biodegradable flower pots using the materials in the napkins to eliminate waste.
While catering to the varied sanitary napkin needs of Sri Lankan women, the company is focused on doing its bit for the environment and adhering to the highest quality standards at all times, making it a local company to be truly proud of.
Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe
