01.01.04
Location: Osaka, Japan
Sales: $80 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Yoshihiko Mineda, general manager, spunbond division; Noriyuki Kimura, general manager, spunlaced fabric sales
Plants
Okasaki and Tarui, Japan
Processes
Spunbond, spunlaced
Brand Names
Matrix, Eleves, Nyace, Wiwi, Alcima, Terramac, Cottoace
Major Markets
Agriculture materials, carpet backings, geotextiles, cable wraps, wipes, storage bags, coverstock, roofing sheets
Based in Osaka, Japan, Unitika can produce 22,000 tons of spunbond nonwovens and 5000 tons of spunlaced materials per year as well as another 4000 tons of polyester-based spunbond nonwovens through its joint venture with Teijin Films, called TUSCO, in Thailand.
Japan’s largest producer of polyester-based spunbonded nonwovens, Unitika reportedly commands 40% of this market, which has dropped off slightly. In response to these conditions, Unitika has begun looking toward exporting these materials into China and developing new applications for the Japanese market in such areas as carpet backings, automotive carpets and tile carpets. TUSCO, in Thailand, is also trying to strengthen its presence in the Chinese market through a close cooperation with Unitika.
In terms of new product development, Unitika is trying to develop exclusive products for its core areas such as Eleves, a spunbond nonwovens containing a PET core, and a polyethylene sheath with excellent heat sealing thanks to the low melting point of PE. It is suitable for bag packaging and fit for sticking to PTEF membranes.
Alcima is a spunbond nonwoven with PET/PE bicomponent fibers. In this product, the PET is a 0.25 denier microfiber that shows an excellent clean-up quality when used in a wiper. Terramac is a spunbond nonwoven containing polylactic acid, which gives the materials a decompositional function. Nonwovens of these types are suitable for use with soil and can be laid underground soil in civil engineering and agricultural markets.
While spunbond demand has remained sluggish, spunlaced nonwovens, sold under the brand name Cottoace, have been picking up steam. Increased demand has been driven by cosmetics markets where 100% cotton Cottoace’s softness is greatly preferred, despite its high cost.
Sales: $80 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Yoshihiko Mineda, general manager, spunbond division; Noriyuki Kimura, general manager, spunlaced fabric sales
Plants
Okasaki and Tarui, Japan
Processes
Spunbond, spunlaced
Brand Names
Matrix, Eleves, Nyace, Wiwi, Alcima, Terramac, Cottoace
Major Markets
Agriculture materials, carpet backings, geotextiles, cable wraps, wipes, storage bags, coverstock, roofing sheets
Based in Osaka, Japan, Unitika can produce 22,000 tons of spunbond nonwovens and 5000 tons of spunlaced materials per year as well as another 4000 tons of polyester-based spunbond nonwovens through its joint venture with Teijin Films, called TUSCO, in Thailand.
Japan’s largest producer of polyester-based spunbonded nonwovens, Unitika reportedly commands 40% of this market, which has dropped off slightly. In response to these conditions, Unitika has begun looking toward exporting these materials into China and developing new applications for the Japanese market in such areas as carpet backings, automotive carpets and tile carpets. TUSCO, in Thailand, is also trying to strengthen its presence in the Chinese market through a close cooperation with Unitika.
In terms of new product development, Unitika is trying to develop exclusive products for its core areas such as Eleves, a spunbond nonwovens containing a PET core, and a polyethylene sheath with excellent heat sealing thanks to the low melting point of PE. It is suitable for bag packaging and fit for sticking to PTEF membranes.
Alcima is a spunbond nonwoven with PET/PE bicomponent fibers. In this product, the PET is a 0.25 denier microfiber that shows an excellent clean-up quality when used in a wiper. Terramac is a spunbond nonwoven containing polylactic acid, which gives the materials a decompositional function. Nonwovens of these types are suitable for use with soil and can be laid underground soil in civil engineering and agricultural markets.
While spunbond demand has remained sluggish, spunlaced nonwovens, sold under the brand name Cottoace, have been picking up steam. Increased demand has been driven by cosmetics markets where 100% cotton Cottoace’s softness is greatly preferred, despite its high cost.