Non Woven Products Manufacturers

The nonwoven industry grew from recycling fibrous waste and second quality fibres left over from weaving or leather processing. Its humble beginnings are responsible for two lingering misconceptions about nonwovens: they are assumed to be (cheap) substitutes and are associated with disposable products.

The nonwoven product manufacturing process transforms raw materials into web-like networks of loosely arranged fibres or plastic. These are bonded mechanically or chemically into batts or mats.

Fitesa

Fitesa is a leader in the non-woven fabrics industry, providing innovative fabrics for hygiene, medical and industrial markets. It has ten manufacturing sites worldwide, including locations in North and South America, Europe and Asia. Its operations run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The company is expanding its Simpsonville facility in Greenville County, with a $50 million investment that will create 32 new jobs. The 190,000-square-foot plant will be making infrastructure improvements and adding equipment to increase production capacity for spunmelt nonwoven fabrics.

Nonwovens are a type of textile that is created by consolidating a variety of fibers into a soft, lofty web through chemical or mechanical processes. They are used in a wide range of products, including baby diapers and adult diapers. Nonwovens are made from polypropylene, polyester and other polymers. They offer a range of physical and aesthetic properties, such as softness, strength, barrier, extensibility, and visual differentiation.

In addition to expanding its Simpsonville plant, Fitesa has added meltblown lines in Trezzano Rosa and Peine, Italy, as well as a third line at a site it acquired from CNC International in Thailand. It has also invested in a multi-beam Reicofil line at its site in Jacarei, Brazil, to serve the healthcare and hygiene markets.

The Washougal plant is the smallest of Fitesa’s facilities, but it is in total compliance with environmental regulations and produces very low air emissions. JD Hisey, Continuous Improvement Manager at the plant, says that CleanWay’s MetalZorb media has been a good solution for the plant, as it quickly and effectively absorbs metals from stormwater.

Suominen Corporation

Suominen Corporation produces nonwovens as roll goods for wipes and hygiene products as well as medical applications. The company’s products include wipes for personal hygiene, baby care, household and workplace, sanitary pads, diapers, surgical drapes swabs, and more. Suominen’s product line also includes a variety non woven products manufacturers of specialty products that address specific market needs, such as wound care and patient hygiene.

Sustainability Innovations

As the leader in sustainable nonwoven innovation, Suominen is positioned to take advantage of broader market trends that drive demand for more eco-friendly and recyclable products. Recent partnerships with companies like Codi Group for natural wipes made of recycled paper highlight the company’s innovative approach to market development. Leveraging these partnerships can help Suominen broaden its customer base and potentially open up new sales opportunities in sustainability-focused sectors.

Strong Leadership

Suominen’s strong leadership team reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and its position as a global market leader. The company’s leadership team is experienced and highly knowledgeable in their respective markets, which can boost brand credibility and facilitate high-level industry engagements that could lead to new sales opportunities.

The board of directors at Suominen is composed of six members. The current chairman is Jonni Friman, and the current president is Nina Kopola. Other members of the board are Markku Koivisto, Markku A. Saarela, Jukka Mäkilä, Ole Andersson, and Lasse Heinonen.

Glatfelter Corporation

In the rolling hills of South Central Pennsylvania, Glatfelter is a maker of paper and fiber-based engineered materials. Its products can be found in tea and single-serve coffee filtration, personal hygiene, and packaging products. Its customers include major consumer product and healthcare companies such as Kimberly-Clark, Reckitt Benckiser, Clorox, Henkel, and Medline. Glatfelter also offers medical-grade wipes and surgical drapes.

The company started in 1864 with an old-fashioned business philosophy emphasizing long-term goals and fiscal conservatism. This approach paid off in 1928, when annual production non woven fabric cloth at the Spring Grove mill was up to 50 million pounds and the company had 300 employees. By 1930, the country was entering a depression and production at Glatfelter’s other mills was falling.

Despite this, William Glatfelter’s firm survived the Depression by focusing on its core strengths and implementing an ambitious modernization program. This included a giant, new fourdrinier machine that was one of the first to have an easily replaceable wire belt. The new equipment made the mill much more efficient and allowed the company to produce a larger variety of products.

In 2021, the company expanded its presence in airlaid nonwovens by acquiring Georgia-Pacific’s North American and European airlaid operations. This acquisition, along with the 2022 purchase of Jacob Holm Industries, gave Glatfelter the scale and capability it needed to compete against established global leaders in this sector.

Ahlstrom-Munksjo

Ahlstrom-Munksjo is one of the world’s leading fibre-based materials companies. Its products are used in many different applications, including wallcoverings, medical and surgical products and filter media. The company also specializes in cellulose-based biocomposites. Its diversified products, advanced technology and innovative solutions help create a more sustainable future. In addition, the company offers an extensive range of services for customers. Its expertise in wood pulp, fibre refining, wet-end chemistry and surface treatments allows it to innovate and advance the capabilities of what fibre-based materials can do.

The merger is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017. It will be implemented through a statutory absorption merger, whereby Munksjo will absorb all of the shares in Ahlstrom. The combined company will have a strong balance sheet, good cash flow generation and annual cost synergies of EUR 35 million. The combined company will aim for a high EBITDA margin and a net gearing below 100%.

The information contained in this release includes forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to uncertainties, risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the merger of Munksjo and Ahlstrom and the effects of the combination on the business operations and financial performance of the combined company. The words “aims,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans” and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements.