01.01.03
(formerly Colbond)
Location: The Netherlands
Sales: $223 million
Description: Key Personnel
Jan van Boldrik, president; Axel Poscher, manager, geosynthetics
Plants
Emmen and Arnhem, The Netherlands; Obernburg, Germany; Asheville, NC
ISO Status
All plants ISO 9001 certified; U.S. Plant QS 9000 certified; European plants, ISO 9001/2000 certified; European plants QS 9000 in preparation; Obernburg plant, ISO 14001 certified; remaining European plants ISO 14001 in preparation
Processes
Chemical bonded, thermal bonded and specialties
Brand Names
Nonwovens—Colback, Coltron; Geosynthetics: Enkamat, Enkadrain, Colbonddrain, Enkagrid, Armater
Major Markets
Flooring, automotives, construction (including roofing), civil engineering and building and industry
Colbond Inc.
Enka, NC 28728
828-665-5060
Key Personnel
Bart Austin president; Greg Roscoe, director of sales and marketing, nonwovens; Joe Luna, director of sales and marketing, geosynthetics
Plants
Asheville, NC
Processes
Thermal bonded and specialties
Arnhem, The Netherlands-based Colbond’s growth curve, which has hovered in the 10% range in recent years, leveled off in 2002 due to worldwide economic conditions. Despite this negativity, Colbond was able to rely on its global strategy of focusing on value-added customer products and activities to keep its sales flat during the period. “This again proved to be a strong basis to rely on in times of ongoing economic setbacks,” explained company president Jan van Boldrik. “The success of our long-term strategy also depends on flexibility and the balanced application of short-term tactics, allowing for early anticipation and timely adjustments.”
With facilities in Emmen and Arnhem, The Netherlands, Obernburg, Germany and Asheville, NC, Colbond’s key markets include construction, automotives, flooring and geosynthetics.
In 2002, the construction business reported improved results on the success of its Colback product. Still, the segment was somewhat impacted by pricing pressures of Coltron, Colbond’s spunlaid polyester product for roofing applications.
Also able to report slight growth from 2001-2002 was the automotives business, despite excess capacity increases from U.S.-based and Japanese suppliers, which led to competition particularly in the U.S.
The flooring business was characterized by an overall decline in market demand and stagnant building activities. While Colbond was able to hold its position in this market, it did feel the effects of a worldwide setback in flooring markets. In geosynthetics, Colbond was also able to hold its position on the performance of its Enkagrid family of engineered, high performance soil reinforcement products based on strength. Originally announced in 1999, this line is comprised of products made from a unique patented laser-welding technique developed by Colbond. Despite this product line’s success, plans to increase its capacity by 30%, announced in 2001, have been put on hold. The product’s current capacity is between six and 10 million square meters.
One plan not on hold is Colbond’s capital expansion project in Emmen. Including several subprojects that will increase the site’s capacity, the plan is on track to be completed by 2005. Already complete is a new Colback spinning line, featuring updated technology, which is reportedly running smoothly.
In terms of future investments, Colbond has announced plans to increase its Enkamat production 30% through expansion in both the U.S. and Europe. Enkamat is a line of three-dimensional erosion-control mattings for agricultural applications.
While investment is certainly important to Colbond’s business, so is product and process improvement. This is clearly reflected through its development and application center, which was started last year in Arhnem. The center is reportedly playing an important role in developing products in house.
“Our proprietary technology provides an excellent balance between the constant factor of the highest quality and the flexibility in product characteristics,” Mr. van Boldrik explained. “This allows for supplying tailor-made materials with specific enhanced properties for specific technical requirements.”
One significant technological achievement for Colbond has been its Colback thermal bonded polyester product, which is able to serve higher end markets. In addition to its dominance in construction, where it is primarily used as a specialty carrier in waterproof bituminous roofing membranes for demanding roofing systems, Colback is also used in automotives as backing material for molded car carpets and option mats or as support medium for cabin air filters, and flooring where it is widely used as a primary backing in high-grade (print and tuft construction) patterned broadloom carpeting, carpet tiles and walk-off mats.
In fact, Colback is so important to Colbond that much of its research and development efforts center on product and process improvements using the technology. Among these efforts are the use of other polymers, rather than the more common polyester/polyamide, as the key raw material for Colback.
Location: The Netherlands
Sales: $223 million
Description: Key Personnel
Jan van Boldrik, president; Axel Poscher, manager, geosynthetics
Plants
Emmen and Arnhem, The Netherlands; Obernburg, Germany; Asheville, NC
ISO Status
All plants ISO 9001 certified; U.S. Plant QS 9000 certified; European plants, ISO 9001/2000 certified; European plants QS 9000 in preparation; Obernburg plant, ISO 14001 certified; remaining European plants ISO 14001 in preparation
Processes
Chemical bonded, thermal bonded and specialties
Brand Names
Nonwovens—Colback, Coltron; Geosynthetics: Enkamat, Enkadrain, Colbonddrain, Enkagrid, Armater
Major Markets
Flooring, automotives, construction (including roofing), civil engineering and building and industry
Colbond Inc.
Enka, NC 28728
828-665-5060
Key Personnel
Bart Austin president; Greg Roscoe, director of sales and marketing, nonwovens; Joe Luna, director of sales and marketing, geosynthetics
Plants
Asheville, NC
Processes
Thermal bonded and specialties
Arnhem, The Netherlands-based Colbond’s growth curve, which has hovered in the 10% range in recent years, leveled off in 2002 due to worldwide economic conditions. Despite this negativity, Colbond was able to rely on its global strategy of focusing on value-added customer products and activities to keep its sales flat during the period. “This again proved to be a strong basis to rely on in times of ongoing economic setbacks,” explained company president Jan van Boldrik. “The success of our long-term strategy also depends on flexibility and the balanced application of short-term tactics, allowing for early anticipation and timely adjustments.”
With facilities in Emmen and Arnhem, The Netherlands, Obernburg, Germany and Asheville, NC, Colbond’s key markets include construction, automotives, flooring and geosynthetics.
In 2002, the construction business reported improved results on the success of its Colback product. Still, the segment was somewhat impacted by pricing pressures of Coltron, Colbond’s spunlaid polyester product for roofing applications.
Also able to report slight growth from 2001-2002 was the automotives business, despite excess capacity increases from U.S.-based and Japanese suppliers, which led to competition particularly in the U.S.
The flooring business was characterized by an overall decline in market demand and stagnant building activities. While Colbond was able to hold its position in this market, it did feel the effects of a worldwide setback in flooring markets. In geosynthetics, Colbond was also able to hold its position on the performance of its Enkagrid family of engineered, high performance soil reinforcement products based on strength. Originally announced in 1999, this line is comprised of products made from a unique patented laser-welding technique developed by Colbond. Despite this product line’s success, plans to increase its capacity by 30%, announced in 2001, have been put on hold. The product’s current capacity is between six and 10 million square meters.
One plan not on hold is Colbond’s capital expansion project in Emmen. Including several subprojects that will increase the site’s capacity, the plan is on track to be completed by 2005. Already complete is a new Colback spinning line, featuring updated technology, which is reportedly running smoothly.
In terms of future investments, Colbond has announced plans to increase its Enkamat production 30% through expansion in both the U.S. and Europe. Enkamat is a line of three-dimensional erosion-control mattings for agricultural applications.
While investment is certainly important to Colbond’s business, so is product and process improvement. This is clearly reflected through its development and application center, which was started last year in Arhnem. The center is reportedly playing an important role in developing products in house.
“Our proprietary technology provides an excellent balance between the constant factor of the highest quality and the flexibility in product characteristics,” Mr. van Boldrik explained. “This allows for supplying tailor-made materials with specific enhanced properties for specific technical requirements.”
One significant technological achievement for Colbond has been its Colback thermal bonded polyester product, which is able to serve higher end markets. In addition to its dominance in construction, where it is primarily used as a specialty carrier in waterproof bituminous roofing membranes for demanding roofing systems, Colback is also used in automotives as backing material for molded car carpets and option mats or as support medium for cabin air filters, and flooring where it is widely used as a primary backing in high-grade (print and tuft construction) patterned broadloom carpeting, carpet tiles and walk-off mats.
In fact, Colback is so important to Colbond that much of its research and development efforts center on product and process improvements using the technology. Among these efforts are the use of other polymers, rather than the more common polyester/polyamide, as the key raw material for Colback.