The World Nonwovens Industry: Ten Smaller Producers—part 3 of 3, 2009/10
Worldwide sales of nonwoven roll goods continued to increase at a mid-single digit growth rate to reach more than US$18 bn in 2008—the latest year for which comprehensive data are available. About 76% of this total, worth around US$13.6 bn, was generated by just 40 producers.
Sales achieved by the ten smaller producers profiled in this report—which rank from number 31 to number 40 among the world’s leading companies—ranged individually from US$80 mn to US$107 mn and together accounted for about 5% of the global total.
These ten smaller producers include some relatively new players as well as long established ones. Israel’s Spuntech was formed in 1996 while Rexcell became the first European maker of commercial air-laid nonwovens in 1982.
Many of these producers have benefited from new market development. Precision Custom Coatings, based in New Jersey, USA, added three new high-loft lines to meet demand for its flame retardant materials in the bedding market but has been having more success recently in the filtration market. Hof is positioning its spunlaced nonwovens in a number of industrial areas.
Also, many producers have been working to make their products more environmentally friendly. Foss Manufacturing, for example, estimates that 60% of its needlepunched nonwovens are made from regenerated plastic bottles while Suominen Nonwovens is seeing increased success with its Biolace sustainable spunlaced nonwovens.
Other drivers of growth are new technologies and new product markets. As noted, Precision Custom Coatings is continuing to diversify, and industrial markets will represent 70% of its business before long. Meanwhile, Foss Manufacturing is continuing to expand its role in the automotive market.
Sales achieved by the ten smaller producers profiled in this report—which rank from number 31 to number 40 among the world’s leading companies—ranged individually from US$80 mn to US$107 mn and together accounted for about 5% of the global total.
These ten smaller producers include some relatively new players as well as long established ones. Israel’s Spuntech was formed in 1996 while Rexcell became the first European maker of commercial air-laid nonwovens in 1982.
Many of these producers have benefited from new market development. Precision Custom Coatings, based in New Jersey, USA, added three new high-loft lines to meet demand for its flame retardant materials in the bedding market but has been having more success recently in the filtration market. Hof is positioning its spunlaced nonwovens in a number of industrial areas.
Also, many producers have been working to make their products more environmentally friendly. Foss Manufacturing, for example, estimates that 60% of its needlepunched nonwovens are made from regenerated plastic bottles while Suominen Nonwovens is seeing increased success with its Biolace sustainable spunlaced nonwovens.
Other drivers of growth are new technologies and new product markets. As noted, Precision Custom Coatings is continuing to diversify, and industrial markets will represent 70% of its business before long. Meanwhile, Foss Manufacturing is continuing to expand its role in the automotive market.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
The global nonwovens market
Ten smaller producers
Companies which have joined the list of ten smaller players
Companies which have left the list of ten smaller players
Companies which have remained among the ten smaller players
SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND
Company structure
Products and markets
Nonwovens
Polypropylene fibre
Production facilities
32 FITESA, BRAZIL
Production facilities
Markets
TENCATE GEOSYNTHETICS, AUSTRIA
Production facilities, products and markets
European operations
Australasian operations
Asian operations
New products
Future growth
PRECISION CUSTOM COATINGS, USA
Production facilities
Products and markets
Expansion
TEXTILGRUPPE HOF, GERMANY
Products and markets
Interlinings
Industrial end uses
Production facilities
New products
UNITIKA, JAPAN
Products and markets
Spunbonded
Spunlaced
Product development
Expansion
SPUNTECH INDUSTRIES, ISRAEL
REXCELL TISSUE & AIRLAID, SWEDEN
Production facilities
Markets
KURARAY, JAPAN
Production facilities and nonwovens manufacturing technologies
Products and markets
40 FOSS MANUFACTURING, USA
Products and markets
INTRODUCTION
The global nonwovens market
Ten smaller producers
Companies which have joined the list of ten smaller players
Companies which have left the list of ten smaller players
Companies which have remained among the ten smaller players
SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND
Company structure
Products and markets
Nonwovens
Polypropylene fibre
Production facilities
32 FITESA, BRAZIL
Production facilities
Markets
TENCATE GEOSYNTHETICS, AUSTRIA
Production facilities, products and markets
European operations
Australasian operations
Asian operations
New products
Future growth
PRECISION CUSTOM COATINGS, USA
Production facilities
Products and markets
Expansion
TEXTILGRUPPE HOF, GERMANY
Products and markets
Interlinings
Industrial end uses
Production facilities
New products
UNITIKA, JAPAN
Products and markets
Spunbonded
Spunlaced
Product development
Expansion
SPUNTECH INDUSTRIES, ISRAEL
REXCELL TISSUE & AIRLAID, SWEDEN
Production facilities
Markets
KURARAY, JAPAN
Production facilities and nonwovens manufacturing technologies
Products and markets
40 FOSS MANUFACTURING, USA
Products and markets
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
