The world nonwovens industry: part 1-the leading ten producers, March 2017

March 2017 | 75 pages | ID: WA1B5BC95B5EN
Textiles Intelligence Ltd

Abstracts

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 have declined or remained static due to factors such as pricing pressures. Despite these challenges, however, several companies have made significant investments which are expected to benefit sales in the future. TWE Group, for example, has made a series of acquisitions while Berry Plastics (formerly Avintiv) has invested in a new carding line and a new spunmelt line. Fitesa has installed four new lines and is expected to complete the installation of a fifth line by 2019, and Glatfelter expects to complete a new line later in 2017. Also, Suominen has almost finished installing a huge wet-laid nonwovens line which represents the largest single investment in the company's history. Other companies are focusing on advancing in specific product sectors. For example, Freudenberg Performance Materials is concentrating on filtration and on building and construction while Kimberly-Clark's Partnership Products business is focusing on filtration, sorbents and wipes. There are also some ongoing transformations as DuPont prepares to merge with The Dow Chemical Company while Ahlstrom is merged into Munksj?.

Contents

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

The leading ten players

1 BERRY PLASTICS (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
Company divisions
Spunlaid operations
Industrial nonwovens operations
Interlinings operations
Freudenberg Filtration Technologies
Novolon
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, FINLAND

Company structure
Filtration & Performance
Specialties

5 DUPONT, USA

Internationalisation strategy
Technology strategy
Tyvek
Construction
Personal protective apparel
Envelopes and packaging

6 FITESA, BRAZIL

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
Composite Fibers

9 SUOMINEN NONWOVENS, FINLAND

Company structure
Convenience
Care

10 TWE GROUP, GERMANY

Company structure
Products and markets

List Of Tables

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Sales by the world’s top 40 roll goods producers, 2015