The Science Behind MoliCare®’s Materials
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The Development of MoliCare®
MoliCare® is a continence-care brand that has evolved through successive innovations . Every iteration over the years has built on the previous ones leading to improvements in absorption, fit, discretion and skin protection. With over 40 years of development behind the brand, how has MoliCare® changed over time? What does the future of MoliCare® hold?
Here's a closer look at the developments that have shaped the brand and the thinking behind the innovative MoliCare® products today.
Key Takeaways
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MoliCare® has evolved over decades. 2023 marked 40 years of the brand developing incontinence products that improve comfort, protection and skin health.
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Some of the key developments include Skintegrity® in 2017 and SkinGuard® absorbent core technology in 2023.
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The MoliCare® range now features gender-specific pads, slips, pull-up pants, skin care and washable underwear.
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Product innovations over the years have been all about improving absorption, leakage protection, fit, discretion and skin health.
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Sustainability is also shaping MoliCare®’s product development, with reusable alternatives now available amidst ongoing efforts to reduce packaging waste.
The Development of MoliCare®: Brand History & Innovations
Where the MoliCare® Story Began
The MoliCare® brand has been around since 1983 albeit the story begins in Heidenheim, Germany back in 1818. It all began when Ludwig von Hartmann took over a former spinning mill to establish a new company. Under subsequent generations of the Hartmann family, the business evolved with a growing interest in healthcare products.
In the 1870s, they began manufacturing absorbent dressings. This marked an important leap towards becoming a medical products manufacturer.
The company then ventured into the incontinence-care market in 1974 laying foundations for what is the MoliCare® brand today.
The range now features innovative products like MoliCare® Premium Mobile, Lady and Men Pants and Pads, and MoliCare® Premium Elastic, MoliCare® Premium Form and many more as shown in this table:
| Product category | What the range includes |
|---|---|
| Female incontinence | Products tailored to women's incontinence needs. |
| Male incontinence | Products designed around men's incontinence needs. |
| Incontinence pants | Pull-up pants for people who prefer an underwear-style design. |
| Washable and absorbent underwear | Reusable options for managing light bladder leakage. |
| Incontinence pads | Absorbent pads for different needs and levels of protection. |
| Large incontinence pads | Larger-format pads for additional coverage. |
| Net and fixation pants | Supporting garments designed to hold compatible pads in place. |
| Adult nappies | Slip-style products for people who need a different fit or level of support. |
| Bed protection | Incontinence bed sheets to help protect bedding. |
| Day and night | Options to help manage incontinence at different times of the day. |
| Skin care | Products to support skin cleansing, moisturising and protection. |
| Infection prevention | A wider range of products supporting infection prevention needs. |
You can read more about MoliCare® brand journey and the milestones behind the range on our MoliCare® 40th anniversary page
MoliCare®'s Key Product and Technology Milestones
Here is a snapshot of the key MoliCare® product and technology milestones over the years:
| Year | Product or technology | How it advances continence care |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Improved Leakage Protection | MoliCare® products expanded the focus beyond absorbing urine and containing faeces to include preventing leaks. |
| 2017 | Skintegrity® System | This system brought MoliCare® incontinence products and medical skincare together under one brand. The idea was to connect incontinence protection with the care needed to keep skin healthy. |
| 2023 | SkinGuard® Absorbent-Core Technology | This was introduced in newer generations of products, including MoliCare® Premium Elastic and MoliCare® Premium Form. It combines a transfer layer, absorption channels and superabsorbent polymers (SAP). Together, these components help draw urine away from the skin. |
| 2025 | MoliCare® Absorbent Underwear with X-Change Pads | MoliCare® introduced washable underwear with a hidden pocket for a replaceable absorbent pad. This gives a reusable option for people experiencing light bladder weakness. |
Skintegrity®: Looking After the Skin as Well
Over the years MoliCare® understood that incontinence care isn’t just about managing leaks. The skin needs attention too!
This is why the Skintegrity® system launched in mid-2017 brought MoliCare® incontinence products and medical skincare together under one brand. This connected the products people wear with the cleansing, care and protection their skin needs.
It also put the prevention of skin irritation and conditions like incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD firmly within the MoliCare® approach.
SkinGuard®: making every layer count
One of the key milestones in the MoliCare® development journey is improvement in how absorbent products handle fluid. In 2023, SkinGuard® absorbent core technology was added into the newer generations of products such as MoliCare® premium Elastic and premium Form . The goal was to help keep the skin drier while providing reliable incontinence protection.
A Shift Towards Underwear-like Design
The evolution over the years hasn't been about what happened inside the products. The design has been changing for the better too. Products like MoliCare® Premium Mobile were created to combine the SkinGuard® absorbent core technology with a lovely pull-on style that more closely resembles regular underwear.
Its stretchy, breathable construction creates a comfortable, discreet fit. There is also a wetness indicator that helps show when a change is needed. Tear-open side seams also make removal easier, plus its thinner design helps reduce bulk.
These features reflect a broader development in incontinence care. MoliCare® is now combining effective absorption with designs that deliver utmost comfort, discretion and everyday movement.
A new approach with X-Change Pads
In 2025, MoliCare® continued to explore new approaches to incontinence care with Absorbent Underwear with X-Change Pads. Instead of replacing the entire garment after use, wearers can now replace the absorbent pad whilst keeping the washable underwear on. The beauty is there is a discreet internal pocket holding the exchangeable pad in place.
This is a nice alternative to fully disposable products. It also introduces greater flexibility into everyday routines. This is another example of how MoliCare® product design continues to evolve to meet different consumer needs and preferences!
How MoliCare® Technology Has Developed
Earlier MoliCare® designs, including Curly Fibre structures, focused on softness and improving absorption through fibre processing. Over time, the engineering and technology has been shifting to deliver better fluid distribution, fit, ease of application and skin care.
Here’s are some of the key innovations and technologies that now contribute to better absorption, fit and skin protection across the MoliCare® range:
SkinGuard® manages fluid, layer by layer. This technology has got three components working in tandem to handle urine leaks. There is a transfer layer that draws it away from the surface. Then the channels distribute it through an absorbent core. The superabsorbent polymers then lock it away. The result is the absorption is up to 64% faster than previous product generations. This technology features in several MoliCare® products like MoliCare® Premium Elastic slips, Premium Mobile pull-on pants and Premium Lady Pads.
ElasticFIX® gives a better fit, with fewer steps! Absorption is one thing; getting the product on securely is another. This is where technologies like ElasticFIX® used in products like MoliCare® Premium Elastic come in handy. This product design blends elasticated side panels with re-closable tapes to help the product adapt to movement. This design also simplifies application compared with a traditional four-tape slip.
Active Skin Protection cares for skin beyond absorption. MoliCare® has also developed absorbent products with skin protection in mind. Products such as MoliCare® Premium Lady Pads feature a skin-friendly pH balance. The skincare product range also features skin-friendly, pH-balanced formulations including body lotions, barrier creams, protection foams and zinc oxide creams.
You can read our blog on MoliCare® Technology for a deeper dive into how some of these innovations work.
Sustainability and the Latest Developments
MoliCare®'s product development has also explored ways to reduce packaging waste and give alternatives to fully disposable products.
This is well depicted in products like MoliCare® Absorbent Underwear with X-Change Pads designed for people with light incontinence. This particular product combines washable underwear with an exchangeable absorbent pad. So, instead of replacing the entire garment after use, the wearer can change the pad and reuse the underwear. This approach reduces plastic waste by up to 78% compared with a conventional disposable pad!
In fact, this innovation won Sustainability Hero in the UK Health & Wellbeing Awards.
Looking ahead, you can expect lighter materials and more sustainable material choices. You can pretty much look forward to improved packaging in future products.
What Does the Future Hold for MoliCare®?
In a nutshell, MoliCare® has come a long way, from improving absorbency to making products more comfortable, practical and kinder to the skin. The entire range has kept evolving to meet different needs. After all, incontinence care is never a one-size-fits-all affair!
You can expect sustained innovation focused on making incontinence care more comfortable, convenient and easier to manage. You can also look forward to more efforts to improve sustainability through smarter materials and packaging in the coming years.
You can explore the full MoliCare® range to learn more about how the developments over the years have translated into products today.
FAQs
Who makes MoliCare®?
MoliCare® is a brand from HARTMANN, a global healthcare company with decades of experience in incontinence care and personal hygiene.
How long has MoliCare® been around?
MoliCare® celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023. Over the years, the range has developed from absorbent protection into a broader selection of products designed to support comfort, skin health and everyday confidence.
Where is MoliCare® made?
MoliCare® products are manufactured in Europe by HARTMANN, with production sites in Germany and France. Manufacturing locations may vary across the wider product range.
What is MoliCare® SkinGuard® absorbent core technology?
The SkinGuard® is a product innovation tech designed to absorb urine quickly and help keep it away from the skin. It uses a combination of a transfer layer, absorption channels and superabsorbent material to draw in and lock away moisture. It also neutralises urine and helps to maintain healthy skin
How has MoliCare® changed over the years?
Product development has focused well beyond just absorbency. Some of the milestones include Skintegrity® in 2017 and SkinGuard® in 2023, alongside improvements in fit, discretion and skin protection. The range has also expanded to include different product formats and washable underwear with exchangeable pads.
What types of MoliCare® products are available?
There’s more to MoliCare® than incontinence pads. The range includes products for men and women, pull-up pants, adult slips, washable underwear, large pads, net and fixation pants, and options for day and night protection. You will also find bed protection and skin care products. With so many options, you can choose what suits your needs best. Think about factors like your routine and the level of protection you need.
What makes MoliCare® different?
MoliCare® is a brand that has innovated with the end user in mind. This includes things like improving absorption and leakage protection. MoliCare® is also making incontinence products more comfortable, discreet and kinder to the skin thanks to innovations such as SkinGuard® and ElasticFIX®. Our pH Balance neutralises urine and helps to maintain healthy skin
