The World Nonwovens Industry: Profiles of Ten Leading Producers, 1 of 3, 2010/11
Sales generated by the global nonwovens industry were worth US$16 bn in 2009. Of this figure, sales by the leading 40 producers were valued at US$12.4 bn, representing over 75% of the total. However, this figure was down from US$13.6 bn in the previous year. Among the top ten players, sales ranged individually from US$247 mn to US$1.25 bn and total sales amounted to US$7.9 bn. Many of the key players—including Ahlstrom, DuPont, Fiberweb, Freudenberg, Kimberly-Clark and Polymer Group Inc (PGI)—reported lower sales in 2009 due to the global economic recession and falling raw material prices.
Freudenberg remained the number one player despite a drop in sales caused by poor economic conditions.
In response the company has exited from some underperforming businesses, such as commodity hygiene, and shut down a number of lines. However, its post-consumer recycled business (PCR) is doing well and many key businesses have seen a turnaround. Sales by DuPont Nonwovens dropped due to negative conditions in some core businesses—notably construction. DuPont Nonwovens has been combined with DuPont’s Advanced Fiber Systems and Personal Protection units to form DuPont Protection Technologies. Also, the company is building a new facility to make Energain nanofibre-based polymeric battery separators. Kimberly-Clark’s Partnership Products business benefited in 2009 from market recovery and geographical expansion, and should gain from an improvement plan and fast growth in emerging markets in BRICIT countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia and Turkey). Ahlstrom’s nonwovens business also faces challenges but it purchased Shandong Puri Filter & Paper Products, a Chinese specialist in transportation filtration media, and opened a medical fabrics facility in India. Polymer Group Inc (PGI) was acquired in September 2010 by Blackstone Capital Partners after suffering falling sales in 2009. At Fiberweb a turnaround programme is driving up profits. The company has joined with Brazil’s Fitesa to re-enter the North American spunmelt market with a new investment in the USA and has agreed to form a joint venture with Japan’s Chisso Corporation to establish a spunmelt operation in China. Johns Manville has benefited from new products and international expansion, notably in China and in Central and Eastern Europe. Glatfelter has entered the top ten after buying Concert Industries’ wet-laid nonwovens business and combining it with its own air-laid operation. The company’s personal care division has continued to thrive but the industrial side of the business is still awaiting recovery. TWE Group is expanding its operations in China and Germany while sales of airlaid nonwovens by Buckeye Technologies increased slightly in 2009.
Freudenberg remained the number one player despite a drop in sales caused by poor economic conditions.
In response the company has exited from some underperforming businesses, such as commodity hygiene, and shut down a number of lines. However, its post-consumer recycled business (PCR) is doing well and many key businesses have seen a turnaround. Sales by DuPont Nonwovens dropped due to negative conditions in some core businesses—notably construction. DuPont Nonwovens has been combined with DuPont’s Advanced Fiber Systems and Personal Protection units to form DuPont Protection Technologies. Also, the company is building a new facility to make Energain nanofibre-based polymeric battery separators. Kimberly-Clark’s Partnership Products business benefited in 2009 from market recovery and geographical expansion, and should gain from an improvement plan and fast growth in emerging markets in BRICIT countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, Indonesia and Turkey). Ahlstrom’s nonwovens business also faces challenges but it purchased Shandong Puri Filter & Paper Products, a Chinese specialist in transportation filtration media, and opened a medical fabrics facility in India. Polymer Group Inc (PGI) was acquired in September 2010 by Blackstone Capital Partners after suffering falling sales in 2009. At Fiberweb a turnaround programme is driving up profits. The company has joined with Brazil’s Fitesa to re-enter the North American spunmelt market with a new investment in the USA and has agreed to form a joint venture with Japan’s Chisso Corporation to establish a spunmelt operation in China. Johns Manville has benefited from new products and international expansion, notably in China and in Central and Eastern Europe. Glatfelter has entered the top ten after buying Concert Industries’ wet-laid nonwovens business and combining it with its own air-laid operation. The company’s personal care division has continued to thrive but the industrial side of the business is still awaiting recovery. TWE Group is expanding its operations in China and Germany while sales of airlaid nonwovens by Buckeye Technologies increased slightly in 2009.
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
Food and Medical (formerly Advanced Nonwovens)
Filtration
Building & Energy (formerly Glass & Industrial Nonwovens)
Regional breakdown of sales
Acquisitions
5 POLYMER GROUP INC (PGI), USA
Ownership
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
Manufacturing facilities
Products and markets
Hygiene
Industrial
Demerger from BBA to form Fiberweb plc
Acquisitions and joint ventures
Investments
Divestments and closures
7 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
Expansion
8 GLATFELTER (FORMERLY CONCERT INDUSTRIES), USA
Advanced Airlaid Materials
Growth strategy
Reorganisation and restructuring
9 TWE GROUP, GERMANY
Company structure
Products and markets
10 BUCKEYE TECHNOLOGIES, USA
Products and markets
Market development
Manufacturing facilities
Investments
Packaging technology
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
Food and Medical (formerly Advanced Nonwovens)
Filtration
Building & Energy (formerly Glass & Industrial Nonwovens)
Regional breakdown of sales
Acquisitions
5 POLYMER GROUP INC (PGI), USA
Ownership
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
Manufacturing facilities
Products and markets
Hygiene
Industrial
Demerger from BBA to form Fiberweb plc
Acquisitions and joint ventures
Investments
Divestments and closures
7 JOHNS MANVILLE, USA
Corporate structure
Products and markets
High Performance Nonwovens
Roofing Materials
Manufacturing facilities
USA
Germany
Slovakia
China
Expansion
8 GLATFELTER (FORMERLY CONCERT INDUSTRIES), USA
Advanced Airlaid Materials
Growth strategy
Reorganisation and restructuring
9 TWE GROUP, GERMANY
Company structure
Products and markets
10 BUCKEYE TECHNOLOGIES, USA
Products and markets
Market development
Manufacturing facilities
Investments
Packaging technology
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2009
Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2009
