01.01.03
Location: Linz, Austria
Sales: $85 million
Description: Key Personnel
Heinz Bocksrucker, CEO; Andreas Matje, CFO; Wolfgang Aue, group marketing manager; Roland Konrad, group sales manager; Philippe Delmas, group research and development manager, Michel Haudrechy, president, Bidim; John Smith, managing director, Polyfelt Asia.
Plants
Linz, Austria; Bezons, France; Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia; Albury, Australia
ISO Status
ISO 9001:2000
Processes
Spunbond and needlepunch
Brand Names
Polyfelt, Bidim (geotextiles and geocomposites), Polyline, Polymat, Megadrain, Envirofelt, Enviromat, Polyfelt AR, Polyfelt Hydrocomp, Polyfelt Rock PEC, Polyfelt Rock GX
Major Markets
Geotextiles and geosynthetics
Reporting sales of $85 million in 2002 was geotextiles specialist Polyfelt Ges. m.b.H., Linz, Austria. Polyfelt credits much of its success to its sharp focus on one core market with much of its growth occurring in special, high value geotextiles. “Product and service quality are key success factors in the majority of the geotextiles/geosynthetics markets,” explained group marketing manager Wolfgang Aue.
Polyfelt currently produces 35,000 metric tons of spunbonded nonwovens for the geotextiles/geosynthetics market. European sales account for 70% of total business while Australasian sales represent 25%. The remainder of Polyfelt’s sales are conducted throughout the rest of the world where it is the undisputed market leader in geotextiles both in Europe and the Australasia region.
Business in the Australasia region received a boost last year when Polyfelt doubled its capacity in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia—a facility the company opened in 2000—to 8000-10,000 tons. Additionally, Polyfelt’s Australian joint venture company with the Kaymac Group, Geofabrics Australasia, based in Albury, Australia, is increasing its capacity and currently offers a strongly diversified geosynthetic product line.
Turning back toward Europe, Polyfelt is reportedly the leading geosynthetics provider in Austria, France, Germany and Italy. This business, which is receiving a boost from several European Union-sponsored civil engineering projects, is served by Polyfelt’s Linz, Austria and Bezons, France, plants and executive say these facilities will be the next to bear the fruits of capacity expansion efforts, most likely in 2005.
Instead of new geographies, Polyfelt will rely on new product development in its core areas for future growth. Of course, this plan is not without its challenges, considering the many regulations to which geotextiles are subject.
“New product development is important but it takes a fairly long time to introduce these products successfully in the market, primarily due to a lot of existing regulations, standards and approval/certification requirements,” Mr. Aue explained.
For instance, starting in October 2002, all geotextile products sold in the EU countries are required to have the CE mark. Indicating, “Conformité Européenne,” this mark declares a product suitable for an exactly defined application. Polyfelt, which has collaborated with the European Association of Geosynthetics Manufacturers to develop quality guidelines for geosynthetics, has included this marking on its products for some time.
These standards present challenges to Polyfelt, but executives feel they will benefit them in the long run as expertise and market knowledge provide advantages over competitors in the market.
Sales: $85 million
Description: Key Personnel
Heinz Bocksrucker, CEO; Andreas Matje, CFO; Wolfgang Aue, group marketing manager; Roland Konrad, group sales manager; Philippe Delmas, group research and development manager, Michel Haudrechy, president, Bidim; John Smith, managing director, Polyfelt Asia.
Plants
Linz, Austria; Bezons, France; Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia; Albury, Australia
ISO Status
ISO 9001:2000
Processes
Spunbond and needlepunch
Brand Names
Polyfelt, Bidim (geotextiles and geocomposites), Polyline, Polymat, Megadrain, Envirofelt, Enviromat, Polyfelt AR, Polyfelt Hydrocomp, Polyfelt Rock PEC, Polyfelt Rock GX
Major Markets
Geotextiles and geosynthetics
Reporting sales of $85 million in 2002 was geotextiles specialist Polyfelt Ges. m.b.H., Linz, Austria. Polyfelt credits much of its success to its sharp focus on one core market with much of its growth occurring in special, high value geotextiles. “Product and service quality are key success factors in the majority of the geotextiles/geosynthetics markets,” explained group marketing manager Wolfgang Aue.
Polyfelt currently produces 35,000 metric tons of spunbonded nonwovens for the geotextiles/geosynthetics market. European sales account for 70% of total business while Australasian sales represent 25%. The remainder of Polyfelt’s sales are conducted throughout the rest of the world where it is the undisputed market leader in geotextiles both in Europe and the Australasia region.
Business in the Australasia region received a boost last year when Polyfelt doubled its capacity in Kaula Lumpur, Malaysia—a facility the company opened in 2000—to 8000-10,000 tons. Additionally, Polyfelt’s Australian joint venture company with the Kaymac Group, Geofabrics Australasia, based in Albury, Australia, is increasing its capacity and currently offers a strongly diversified geosynthetic product line.
Turning back toward Europe, Polyfelt is reportedly the leading geosynthetics provider in Austria, France, Germany and Italy. This business, which is receiving a boost from several European Union-sponsored civil engineering projects, is served by Polyfelt’s Linz, Austria and Bezons, France, plants and executive say these facilities will be the next to bear the fruits of capacity expansion efforts, most likely in 2005.
Instead of new geographies, Polyfelt will rely on new product development in its core areas for future growth. Of course, this plan is not without its challenges, considering the many regulations to which geotextiles are subject.
“New product development is important but it takes a fairly long time to introduce these products successfully in the market, primarily due to a lot of existing regulations, standards and approval/certification requirements,” Mr. Aue explained.
For instance, starting in October 2002, all geotextile products sold in the EU countries are required to have the CE mark. Indicating, “Conformité Européenne,” this mark declares a product suitable for an exactly defined application. Polyfelt, which has collaborated with the European Association of Geosynthetics Manufacturers to develop quality guidelines for geosynthetics, has included this marking on its products for some time.
These standards present challenges to Polyfelt, but executives feel they will benefit them in the long run as expertise and market knowledge provide advantages over competitors in the market.