Paper Hand Towels

Which ply do I choose?

Ply refers to the number of layers of cellulose tissue used to make up the paper hand towel. The greater the number of plies, the more absorbent a paper hand towel will be and the softer it will feel, due to the greater surface area. Take this into consideration when choosing the right hand towel for your washroom.

1 Ply Hand Towel

Made from a single ply of tissue, typically 36gsm to 40gsm in weight. Most coloured (typically blue or green) paper hand towels are made from 1 ply of recycled tissue and have a relatively rough and abrasive feel. 1 ply tissues offer a basic low cost, economy option suitable for high traffic areas.

2 Ply

Made from 2 plies of tissue, typically each ply is 17.5gsm - 20gsm in weight to make a total thickness of around 35gsm - 40gsm when bonded together. The resulting towel is softer and more absorbent due to the extra surface area. Most 2 ply paper hand towels are white and made from pure cellulose pulp, although high whiteness recycled options are available. Suitable for use in all washrooms where a better end-user experience is desirable.

3 Ply

Extra thick and extra absorbent, made from 3 plies of pure cellulose tissue, these luxury paper hand towels are 50% thicker than a 2 ply towel. Suited to high-end hotel, office and restaurant washrooms where a premium end user experience is desired offering optimum softness.

Airlaid

Although made from a single ply of pure cellulose (typically 50gsm), Airlaid paper towel technology uses short fibres and air to 'plump' the towel, making this towel even thicker that a 3 ply luxury hand towel. Excellent softness and superior absorbency.

Which Hand Towel do I choose?

C-Fold

The most common format in the UK, each towel is folded once in half, then gate-folded and stacked on top of one another. If loaded in the dispenser upside down they are virtually impossible to pull out of the dispenser plus users are more likely to pull out more than one hand towel at a time which can we wasteful.

V-Fold

V-fold or Interfold paper towels (as they are sometimes referred to) are folded once and interleaved. This is of great benefit when dispensing as the next towel is presented each time a towel is pulled from the dispenser resulting in no contact with dispenser itself and therefore greatly reduced cross-contamination. Also, as it is impossible to grab a clump of towels there is far less wastage compared to C-fold towels. Probably the most effective and economical option, offering great value and easy dispensing from the majority of UK dispensers, highly recommended.

Z-Fold

An interleaved hand towel in a 2 fold (bi-fold), 3 panel format. As with all interfolded hand towels, each time a towel is dispensed, a new towel is pulled through and presented to the user. Avoids wastage, as only the towels used are dispensed. No contact with the dispenser means reduced cross-contamination. Available in a variety of formats including narrow 20cm width to suit specialist dispensers.

M-Fold

Similar to Z-fold but with 3 folds and an extra 4th panel giving the end user a premium hand drying experience from a large towel. All the benefits of easy and effective self-presenting dispensing, no contact with the dispenser means reduced cross-contamination. 3 ply M-fold is our recommendation for the most luxurious hand drying experience from a conventional washroom dispenser.

Airlaid

Typically quarter folded in variety of ways, into a square shape and stacked. When opened out these towels are larger and thicker than standard paper hand towels. Airlaid technology uses short fibres and air to 'plump' the towel, making it very absorbent. A disposable alternative to cotton hand towels for premium washrooms in hotels and restaurants, often stacked in a basket by the side of the wash basin.

Autocut Roll Towel

Rolls of unperforated hand towel paper which are dispensed through an Autocut dispenser. Dispensers are either manual, where the end user pulls the sheet in both hands and the cutter mechanism chops off a sheet, or 'sensor' where a sheet is automatically dispensed. Typically the sheet size is approximately 20cm x 25cm. The high capacity roll makes this an ideal format for high traffic areas and results in less frequent refilling of the dispenser.

If you are still unsure as to which is the ideal hand towel to purchase, please contact us and we can recommend the ideal option for your dispenser or location.

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