Where core density does the work and every other component is secondary. A heavy flow pad is judged on gram-for-gram SAP loading and on whether the acquisition layer can move fluid away from the topsheet before it spreads sideways. Buyers who get this wrong see returns, not complaints.
Heavy flow is not a marketing tier — it is a specific engineering problem. The pad has to move a large volume of fluid away from the topsheet faster than it arrives, hold it in a core that does not collapse under load, and stop it from reaching the leg openings when the wearer sits, stands or lies down.
Three things do that work, and only three: SAP loading, core integrity under compression, and the leg cuff. Everything else on a heavy flow pad is appearance.
| SAP loading | 6–9 g per pad | The primary variable. Below 5 g the pad will hold the first hours and then fail as the core saturates |
|---|---|---|
| Core structure | Two-zone or profiled core | Denser centre with a wider low-density surround; a single flat core channels fluid sideways too early |
| Acquisition layer | Dedicated ADL, 40–60 gsm | Without it the topsheet stays wet and the core absorbs at one point instead of across its area |
| Leg cuff | Raised barrier or wide embossed channel | This is where a heavy flow pad leaks first, not at the rear |
| Length | 290 mm and above | Coverage for a wearer who is seated or moving, not supine |
Note what is not on that list: thickness. A heavy flow pad does not have to be bulky. A compressed composite core can carry 7 g of SAP in under 3 mm. Bulk is what a supplier adds when the core cannot hold its own structure.
| Length band | Position | References in range |
|---|---|---|
| Panty liner 155 mm |
Daily wear, end of cycle, backup to internal protection | 5 |
| Regular 180–245 mm |
Standard daytime wear | 15 |
| Super 280 mm |
Heavy daytime flow, long shifts | 2 |
| Night 290–320 mm |
Sleep and travel, 6–8 hour wear | 7 |
| Overnight 330–420 mm |
Supine wear, maximum rear coverage | 12 |
The distinction between a heavy flow pad and an overnight pad is directional. A heavy flow pad is engineered for volume through the centre; an overnight pad is engineered for volume migrating to the rear. Many buyers stock both and the packaging rarely explains the difference — which is why the specification sheet should.
| Minimum order | 10,000 – 200,000 pcs |
|---|---|
| Reference price | US$0.013 – 0.05 / pc, FOB |
| Sample | Free of charge, freight collect. Specification sheet travels with the sample. |
| Lead time | 15–25 days after artwork and specification approval; 7–15 days on stock builds. |
| Payment | 30% deposit on order, balance against copy of B/L. L/C at sight accepted on programs above 500,000 pcs. |
| Port | Xiamen or Shenzhen, buyer's choice. |
Heavy flow is where SAP price volatility hits hardest, because the core is the product. If the SAP index moves 15%, a 7 g pad absorbs most of that movement while a 3 g pad barely notices.
Two practical consequences for a buyer:
6–9 g per pad. Below 5 g the pad holds the first hours and then fails as the core saturates. The number matters more than the length, and it should be stated in grams on the specification sheet rather than described as super absorbent.
No. A compressed composite core can carry 7 g of SAP in under 3 mm. Bulk is usually what a supplier adds when the core cannot hold its own structure, not a sign of capacity.
At the leg openings, not the rear. That is why the leg cuff and the core's lateral structure matter more here than length. Overnight pads are the reverse: they fail at the back.
Yes, and it usually earns more than a single premium SKU. A 5 g heavy-day pad and an 8 g heavy-night pad cover the same customer at two price points instead of one compromised one.
More than any other build. A 15% move in the SAP index shows up almost entirely in a 7 g pad and barely at all in a 3 g one. Ask for the SAP reference month on any quotation longer than a quarter.
We do not ask buyers to order from a table. Send the build you are considering and we courier a physical sample with its specification sheet, so absorbency and hand feel are checked before a purchase order exists.