The World Nonwovens Industry: Profiles of Ten Leading Producers 1 of 3, 2009/10
Worldwide sales of nonwoven roll goods grew by only 3% in 2008 to reach US$17.3 bn. Sales of the world’s leading ten companies ranged from US$250 mn to US$1.45 bn and totalled almost US$8.9 bn. All companies except Fiberweb and DuPont increased their sales.
Freudenberg remained the number one player, although poor economic conditions have forced the company to close operations serving the automotive market and improve efficiencies at others. In 2008 it launched a new product range in the USA made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymer obtained from polyester (PET) bottles, and has plans to develop its Evolon microfilament spunlaced fabric. DuPontNonwovens’ sales rose slightly in 2008 thanks to a focus on brands, technology and added value, as well as investment in Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. The company has combined its nonwovens business with its Advanced Fiber Systems and Personal Protection units. Kimberly-Clark’s Partnership Products business achieved success in 2008 thanks to market recovery and geographical expansion. The company stands to benefit from an improvement plan and fast growth in emerging markets in BRICIT (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia and Turkey) countries. Ahlstrom’s nonwovens business also achieved growth in 2008 but the company has faced significant challenges throughout many of its businesses. These have led to some staff reductions and the consolidation of some of its operations, particularly in the wipes sector. Sales at Polymer Group Inc (PGI) have been boosted by new spunmelt capacity in Argentina, Mexico and China, and by success with the company’s new generation Spinlace nonwovens. In November 2009 the company purchased the Tesalca-Texnovo nonwovens businesses in Spain from Grupo Corinpa. At Fiberweb, the benefits obtained from a turnaround programme continue to drive up profits. This company has joined with Brazil’s Fitesa to re-enter the North American spunmelt market with a new investment in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Johns Manville has benefited from new products and international expansion, notably in Central and Eastern Europe and China. At Fibertex, the personal care division continues to thrive but the industrial side of the business is awaiting recovery.
Avgol is on track to complete its second Chinese line in mid-2010 as its facility in Mocksville, North Carolina, undergoes improvements. First Quality Nonwovens, a maker of spunmelt nonwovens for hygiene and medical, continues to expand in diapers and has diversified into spunlaced nonwovens.
Freudenberg remained the number one player, although poor economic conditions have forced the company to close operations serving the automotive market and improve efficiencies at others. In 2008 it launched a new product range in the USA made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) polymer obtained from polyester (PET) bottles, and has plans to develop its Evolon microfilament spunlaced fabric. DuPontNonwovens’ sales rose slightly in 2008 thanks to a focus on brands, technology and added value, as well as investment in Eastern Europe, South America and Asia. The company has combined its nonwovens business with its Advanced Fiber Systems and Personal Protection units. Kimberly-Clark’s Partnership Products business achieved success in 2008 thanks to market recovery and geographical expansion. The company stands to benefit from an improvement plan and fast growth in emerging markets in BRICIT (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia and Turkey) countries. Ahlstrom’s nonwovens business also achieved growth in 2008 but the company has faced significant challenges throughout many of its businesses. These have led to some staff reductions and the consolidation of some of its operations, particularly in the wipes sector. Sales at Polymer Group Inc (PGI) have been boosted by new spunmelt capacity in Argentina, Mexico and China, and by success with the company’s new generation Spinlace nonwovens. In November 2009 the company purchased the Tesalca-Texnovo nonwovens businesses in Spain from Grupo Corinpa. At Fiberweb, the benefits obtained from a turnaround programme continue to drive up profits. This company has joined with Brazil’s Fitesa to re-enter the North American spunmelt market with a new investment in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Johns Manville has benefited from new products and international expansion, notably in Central and Eastern Europe and China. At Fibertex, the personal care division continues to thrive but the industrial side of the business is awaiting recovery.
Avgol is on track to complete its second Chinese line in mid-2010 as its facility in Mocksville, North Carolina, undergoes improvements. First Quality Nonwovens, a maker of spunmelt nonwovens for hygiene and medical, continues to expand in diapers and has diversified into spunlaced nonwovens.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The global nonwovens market
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
Management changes
Company restructuring
Company divisions and other business units
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
Suprel
Softesse and Acturel
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
Personal care
Acoustics
Other developments
4 AHLSTROM, FINLAND
Company structure
Nonwoven products and markets
Home & Personal Nonwovens
Advanced Nonwovens
Filtration
Glass & Industrial Nonwovens
Regional breakdown of sales
Acquisitions
5 POLYMER GROUP INC (PGI), USA
Recent investments and acquisitions
Products and markets
Medical
Hygiene
Industrial and speciality
Plant consolidation
Capacity expansion
Latin America
North America
China
Rebranding strategy
6 FIBERWEB, UK
Demerger from BBA to form Fiberweb plc
Acquisitions and joint ventures
Investments
Divestments and closures
Manufacturing facilities
Products and markets
Hygiene
Industrial
7 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
Expansion
9 FIBERTEX, DENMARK
Ownership
Company structure
Products and markets
Personal Care Division
Technical Division
Production facilities
Malaysia
Czech Republic
Denmark
9 AVGOL, ISRAEL
Manufacturing facilities
Products and markets
Development of manufacturing capacity
10 FIRST QUALITY NONWOVEN, USA
INTRODUCTION
The global nonwovens market
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
Management changes
Company restructuring
Company divisions and other business units
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
Suprel
Softesse and Acturel
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
Personal care
Acoustics
Other developments
4 AHLSTROM, FINLAND
Company structure
Nonwoven products and markets
Home & Personal Nonwovens
Advanced Nonwovens
Filtration
Glass & Industrial Nonwovens
Regional breakdown of sales
Acquisitions
5 POLYMER GROUP INC (PGI), USA
Recent investments and acquisitions
Products and markets
Medical
Hygiene
Industrial and speciality
Plant consolidation
Capacity expansion
Latin America
North America
China
Rebranding strategy
6 FIBERWEB, UK
Demerger from BBA to form Fiberweb plc
Acquisitions and joint ventures
Investments
Divestments and closures
Manufacturing facilities
Products and markets
Hygiene
Industrial
7 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
Expansion
9 FIBERTEX, DENMARK
Ownership
Company structure
Products and markets
Personal Care Division
Technical Division
Production facilities
Malaysia
Czech Republic
Denmark
9 AVGOL, ISRAEL
Manufacturing facilities
Products and markets
Development of manufacturing capacity
10 FIRST QUALITY NONWOVEN, USA
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2008
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2008
