The world nonwovens industry: part 1—the leading ten producers, January 2018
In this report, the first in a series of three in which the world's top 40 nonwovens producers are profiled, Karen Bitz provides the latest information and analysis about the activities of the world's leading ten producers of nonwovens. For many of these players, sales volumes have increased compared with the previous year, but sales values have declined or remained static due to pricing pressures and lower raw material pass-through costs. Despite these challenges, several companies have made significant investments which are expected to benefit sales in the future. Suominen, for example, has completed work on a new line in South Carolina, USA, representing the largest single investment in the company's history, while Fitesa has opened new lines in Brazil, Germany, Mexico and Sweden, and has recently acquired Pantex. Other companies are focusing on transforming their businesses. For example, DuPont has merged with The Dow Chemical Company to form a technological giant which will thereafter be split into three companies while Ahlstrom has merged with Munksjo although it is continuing to invest in filtration.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The leading ten players
1 BERRY GLOBAL (FORMERLY AVINTIV), USA
Products and markets
Medical
Hygiene
Industrial and speciality
Capacity expansion
Latin America
North America
Europe
China
Plant consolidation
2 FREUDENBERG PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, GERMANY
Manufacturing facilities
Spunlaid operations
Industrial nonwovens operations
Interlinings operations
Filtration operations
Novolon
Comfortemp
Acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures
Investments in Asia
International strategy
3 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
4 AHLSTROM-MUNKSJO, FINLAND
Product areas
Filtration & Performance
Specialties
5 DUPONT, USA
Internationalisation strategy
Tyvek
Construction
Personal protective apparel
Envelopes and packaging
6 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
7 FITESA, BRAZIL
8 GLATFELTER (FORMERLY CONCERT INDUSTRIES), USA
Advanced Airlaid Materials
Composite Fibers
9 SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND
Company structure
Convenience
Care business
10 TWE GROUP, GERMANY
Company structure
Products and markets
INTRODUCTION
The leading ten players
1 BERRY GLOBAL (FORMERLY AVINTIV), USA
Products and markets
Medical
Hygiene
Industrial and speciality
Capacity expansion
Latin America
North America
Europe
China
Plant consolidation
2 FREUDENBERG PERFORMANCE MATERIALS, GERMANY
Manufacturing facilities
Spunlaid operations
Industrial nonwovens operations
Interlinings operations
Filtration operations
Novolon
Comfortemp
Acquisitions, divestments and joint ventures
Investments in Asia
International strategy
3 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
4 AHLSTROM-MUNKSJO, FINLAND
Product areas
Filtration & Performance
Specialties
5 DUPONT, USA
Internationalisation strategy
Tyvek
Construction
Personal protective apparel
Envelopes and packaging
6 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
7 FITESA, BRAZIL
8 GLATFELTER (FORMERLY CONCERT INDUSTRIES), USA
Advanced Airlaid Materials
Composite Fibers
9 SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND
Company structure
Convenience
Care business
10 TWE GROUP, GERMANY
Company structure
Products and markets
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2016
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2016
