01.01.04
Location: Austell, GA
Sales: $80 million
Description: Key Personnel
Brad Mortimer, president business unit leader; Edmund Merchlinsky, general manager-industrial fabrics; Rush Clark, vice president & general manager-supply chain; Mike Jeziorski, business manager—geotextiles; John Dowdell, general manager—floor coverings; Ralph Clements, vice president and general manager, manufacturing, research and engineering
Plants
Hazlehurst, GA; Nashville, GA; Seneca, SC
ISO Status
All nonwoven fabric plants are ISO 9002 certified; R&D is ISO 9001 certified
Processes
Needlepunched, RFX fabric process
Brand Names
AdBac, Aptra, Duon, Petromat, RFX
Major Markets
Geotextiles, furniture fabrics, packaging, automotive, carpet backing, industrial applications
Up on the selling block again is BP Amoco’s Fabrics and Fibers Unit. The Austell, GA-based producer of wovens and nonwovens for a number of markets was originally put on the market in 2000. The sale was put on hold in November 2001 because the sellers felt that adverse economic conditions would devalue the business.
Now that the economic tide has shifted, executives have regained their confidence in the unit’s ability to fetch a fair premium and put it back on the block in early 2004. While executives would not comment on how soon a deal could be struck, they would say that the business is being courted by several possible suitors, many of which were interested during the first sale.
Even as it has openly expressed interest in selling its Fabrics and Fibers Unit, BP has continued to hold interest in the unit, considering it an important part of its overall business. The unit currently produces approximately 300 million square yards of nonwovens annually, all of which is consumed by the North American market.
By end use, the largest market for BP’s nonwovens is geotextiles, which has been characterized in recent years by declining demands. BP has been offsetting these declines by exploring ripe growth areas. For instance, BP has developed software to help landscape designers learn how BP products can benefit their projects. This software can be accessed directly through BP’s website, www.geotextile.com. The company also sponsors seminars to educate decision makers on the merits of using geotextiles. Currently, only about 50% of geotextile projects use nonwovens.
In the home furnishings market, where BP provides interior construction fabrics, economic conditions have also negatively impacted sales. But, an upturn in this market is expected as economic upturns have historically provided market surges.
The one steady growth market for BP’s nonwovens business is automotives where it produces interior fabrics for seating applications. Business in this area has been boosted both by increasing car production rates in North America and the increased use of needlepunched nonwovens in this area. While there are many other areas in automotives where needlepunched materials could penetrate, BP entered the market through this subsegment because it mirrors its business in home furnishings, according to executives.
Sales: $80 million
Description: Key Personnel
Brad Mortimer, president business unit leader; Edmund Merchlinsky, general manager-industrial fabrics; Rush Clark, vice president & general manager-supply chain; Mike Jeziorski, business manager—geotextiles; John Dowdell, general manager—floor coverings; Ralph Clements, vice president and general manager, manufacturing, research and engineering
Plants
Hazlehurst, GA; Nashville, GA; Seneca, SC
ISO Status
All nonwoven fabric plants are ISO 9002 certified; R&D is ISO 9001 certified
Processes
Needlepunched, RFX fabric process
Brand Names
AdBac, Aptra, Duon, Petromat, RFX
Major Markets
Geotextiles, furniture fabrics, packaging, automotive, carpet backing, industrial applications
Up on the selling block again is BP Amoco’s Fabrics and Fibers Unit. The Austell, GA-based producer of wovens and nonwovens for a number of markets was originally put on the market in 2000. The sale was put on hold in November 2001 because the sellers felt that adverse economic conditions would devalue the business.
Now that the economic tide has shifted, executives have regained their confidence in the unit’s ability to fetch a fair premium and put it back on the block in early 2004. While executives would not comment on how soon a deal could be struck, they would say that the business is being courted by several possible suitors, many of which were interested during the first sale.
Even as it has openly expressed interest in selling its Fabrics and Fibers Unit, BP has continued to hold interest in the unit, considering it an important part of its overall business. The unit currently produces approximately 300 million square yards of nonwovens annually, all of which is consumed by the North American market.
By end use, the largest market for BP’s nonwovens is geotextiles, which has been characterized in recent years by declining demands. BP has been offsetting these declines by exploring ripe growth areas. For instance, BP has developed software to help landscape designers learn how BP products can benefit their projects. This software can be accessed directly through BP’s website, www.geotextile.com. The company also sponsors seminars to educate decision makers on the merits of using geotextiles. Currently, only about 50% of geotextile projects use nonwovens.
In the home furnishings market, where BP provides interior construction fabrics, economic conditions have also negatively impacted sales. But, an upturn in this market is expected as economic upturns have historically provided market surges.
The one steady growth market for BP’s nonwovens business is automotives where it produces interior fabrics for seating applications. Business in this area has been boosted both by increasing car production rates in North America and the increased use of needlepunched nonwovens in this area. While there are many other areas in automotives where needlepunched materials could penetrate, BP entered the market through this subsegment because it mirrors its business in home furnishings, according to executives.