The World Nonwovens Industry: Part 1-the Leading Ten Producers, Part 1 of 3, 2014-15
A significant technical textile industry has emerged in the UK in recent decades. In particular, a number of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) are making a significant contribution to the UK technical textile industry, and a number of companies are thriving in the manufacture of nonwovens, and the production of woven and knitted fabrics for composites and industrial applications. The success of these SMEs has been due largely to their ability to identify niche markets and applications for their products, and their resilience to competition from abroad. This report discusses the operations and markets of the following UK SMEs and other organisations: Amber Composites/TenCate Advanced Composites, Andrew Industries, Anglo Recycling Technology, Baltex, BFF, Composites Evolution, Composites UK, Cosmotec, Cowens, Don & Low, EcoTechnilin, ELG Carbon Fibre, Formax, Fybagrate, GEOfabrics, James Dewhurst, John Cotton, National Composites Centre (NCC), Parkhill Textiles, Playrite, Rawson, Robinson Healthcare, Scott & Fyfe, Sigmatex, Technical Absorbents, the Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI) and the Nonwovens Network.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The leading ten players
Companies which joined the leading ten players
Companies which exited from the leading ten players
Companies which remained among the leading ten players
1 FREUDENBERG, GERMANY
Manufacturing facilities
Company divisions
Spunlaid Division
Industrial Nonwovens Division
Interlinings Division
Freudenberg Filtration Technologies
Novolon
Acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures
Investments in Asia
International strategy
2 DUPONT NONWOVENS, USA
Internationalisation strategy
Market strategy
Technology strategy
Tyvek
Construction
Personal protective apparel
Envelopes and packaging
Sontara
Advantages of Sontara over competing materials
Softesse and Acturel
3 AHLSTROM, FINLAND
Company structure
Nonwoven products and markets
Food and Medical
Transportation Filtration and Advanced Filtration
Building and Energy
4 KIMBERLY-CLARK, USA
Corporate structure
Personal Care
Consumer Tissue
Business-to-Business
External nonwoven fabrics business
Products and markets
Filtration
Delivery systems (including wipes)
Sorbents
Building products
Personal care
Acoustics
Other developments
5 POLYMER GROUP INC (PGI), USA
Investments
Products and markets
Medical
Hygiene
Industrial and speciality
Plant consolidation
Capacity expansion
Latin America
North America
Europe
China
6 GLATFELTER (FORMERLY CONCERT INDUSTRIES), USA
Advanced Airlaid Materials
Composite Fibers
7 FITESA, BRAZIL
8 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
Expansion
9 SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND
Products and markets
Nonwovens
10 BONAR, NETHERLANDS
Company structure
Products and markets
Building products
Flooring
Industrial
Civil engineering
Transportation
Strategy
INTRODUCTION
The leading ten players
Companies which joined the leading ten players
Companies which exited from the leading ten players
Companies which remained among the leading ten players
1 FREUDENBERG, GERMANY
Manufacturing facilities
Company divisions
Spunlaid Division
Industrial Nonwovens Division
Interlinings Division
Freudenberg Filtration Technologies
Novolon
Acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures
Investments in Asia
International strategy
2 DUPONT NONWOVENS, USA
Internationalisation strategy
Market strategy
Technology strategy
Tyvek
Construction
Personal protective apparel
Envelopes and packaging
Sontara
Advantages of Sontara over competing materials
Softesse and Acturel
3 AHLSTROM, FINLAND
Company structure
Nonwoven products and markets
Food and Medical
Transportation Filtration and Advanced Filtration
Building and Energy
4 KIMBERLY-CLARK, USA
Corporate structure
Personal Care
Consumer Tissue
Business-to-Business
External nonwoven fabrics business
Products and markets
Filtration
Delivery systems (including wipes)
Sorbents
Building products
Personal care
Acoustics
Other developments
5 POLYMER GROUP INC (PGI), USA
Investments
Products and markets
Medical
Hygiene
Industrial and speciality
Plant consolidation
Capacity expansion
Latin America
North America
Europe
China
6 GLATFELTER (FORMERLY CONCERT INDUSTRIES), USA
Advanced Airlaid Materials
Composite Fibers
7 FITESA, BRAZIL
8 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
Expansion
9 SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND
Products and markets
Nonwovens
10 BONAR, NETHERLANDS
Company structure
Products and markets
Building products
Flooring
Industrial
Civil engineering
Transportation
Strategy
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2013
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2013
