01.01.05
Location: Osaka, Japan
Sales: $85 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Masaru Tsugawa, general manager, spunbond fabrics division; Hiroshi Kawasaki, general manager, spunbond fabrics sales
Plants
Okazaki 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.
Unitika remains Japan’s largest producer of polyester-based spunbonded nonwovens. Although output decreased when some production lines were stalled in 2003, these lines restarted in 2004, increasing capacity. Cotton spunlaced nonwovens grew slightly, 5%, in 2004 following an equipment expansion in this area in 2002. Currently, the company is underway with plans to shift from cotton to other fibers for its spunlaced nonwovens. Unitika also intends to open new overseas markets and improve its export ratio from 15% to 20% in the future.
At its TUSCO operation in Thailand, two machines are in operation. The first has a production capacity of 1600 tons per year while the second line produces 2400 tons annually. Although the second machine is running at full capacity, the first is now operating at 75% capacity.
Due to shifting market conditions, the company’s plan to increase its polyester spunbond nonwovens capacity to 7500 tons per year was postponed. Instead, Unitika is examining other options including the possible addition of large-scale equipment in Japan, construction of a new plant at its Thailand-based joint venture or the establishment of production in another country.
Sales: $85 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Masaru Tsugawa, general manager, spunbond fabrics division; Hiroshi Kawasaki, general manager, spunbond fabrics sales
Plants
Okazaki 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.
Unitika remains Japan’s largest producer of polyester-based spunbonded nonwovens. Although output decreased when some production lines were stalled in 2003, these lines restarted in 2004, increasing capacity. Cotton spunlaced nonwovens grew slightly, 5%, in 2004 following an equipment expansion in this area in 2002. Currently, the company is underway with plans to shift from cotton to other fibers for its spunlaced nonwovens. Unitika also intends to open new overseas markets and improve its export ratio from 15% to 20% in the future.
At its TUSCO operation in Thailand, two machines are in operation. The first has a production capacity of 1600 tons per year while the second line produces 2400 tons annually. Although the second machine is running at full capacity, the first is now operating at 75% capacity.
Due to shifting market conditions, the company’s plan to increase its polyester spunbond nonwovens capacity to 7500 tons per year was postponed. Instead, Unitika is examining other options including the possible addition of large-scale equipment in Japan, construction of a new plant at its Thailand-based joint venture or the establishment of production in another country.