01.01.07
Location: Atlanta, GA
Sales: $150 Million
Description: Personnel
Mitsuo Kanno, president; Minoro Tanaka, managing director; Yoshiaki Mizutani, director; Kazuo Hamada, managing director
Plants
Shiga, Tokyo, Japan
Processes
Resin bonded, needlepunched, thermal bonded, wetlaid, spunlaced, meltblown, tackspun
Major Markets
Apparel interlinings, apparel insulations, air filters, plaster bases, automotive mats, automotive headliners, batter electrode separators
The gross sales of Japanese nonwovens producer Japan Vilene were ¥56.3 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, reflecting an increase of 8.6% compared to the year before. By sector, apparel material sales decreased 8.9% to ¥4.7 billion; automotive materials increased 25.3% to ¥23.9 billion; automotive materials increased 25.3% to ¥23.9 billion; air filtration media gained 2.1% to reach ¥8.7 billion; medical and consumer materials decreased slightly (0.2%) to ¥7 billion and industrial material sales—which now include conventional electrical materials—decreased 3% to ¥1.6 billion.
Of the company’s gross sales of ¥56.3 billion in 2006, ¥36.8 billion were domestic sales and ¥19.5 were international. Domestic sales decreased 1.8% to ¥38.6 billion wile international sales increased 35.8% to ¥19.5 billion. Leading international growth was North America, where Japan Vilene was able to grow its business 58% to ¥13.4 billion, led largely by supply to the North American automotives market. Additionally, Asian sales increased 2.6% to ¥5.7 billion.
In terms of new technology, Japan Vilene has developed a component of proton-exchange membrane cell (PEFC) and it is currently applying this technology to a number of application areas. One area is electrode battery separators where the technology is applied to mulled carbon particle and resin. The carbon fibers typically used for the electrodes have a number of drawbacks including higher costs and fragility but the technology being offered by Japan Vilene is flexible and lower cost.
Another component being developed by Japan Vilene was an intake filter for the PEFC that fully uses the technology of Japan Vilene. In terms of PEFC as a next generation energy source, may enterprises are concerned and involved with the worldwide development competition. Japane Vilene expects nonwovens with PEC to be among its key products of the future.
Plants
Green Bay, WI (two facilities); Glen, France; Avigliano, Italy
Processes
Airlaid, carded
Brand Names
Airtex, Dritex
Major Markets
Baby wipes, industrial and food service wipes, feminine hygiene, absorbent core, tabletop, medical, moist toilet tissue, meat packaging
Under new ownership is Georgia-Pacific. In November 2005, the company was purchased by Koch Industries, a multinational conglomerate that had already owned G-P’s cellulose business as well as fiber producer Invista, among other things. Meanwhile, G-P’s nonwovens business, which centers on airlaid technology, has continued to perform well by focusing on improving its production and reducing costs despite challenging raw material prices.
Benefiting G-P were existing contracts, put in place before raw material prices escalated, which kept their impact to G-P under check. Additionally, G-P has been successful in unearthing new market segments for its airlaid technology that had been using other materials. These markets were typically using technology that was more expensive than airlaid but G-P was able to show how pulp can perform just as well at a lower cost, according to executives.
Sales: $150 Million
Description: Personnel
Mitsuo Kanno, president; Minoro Tanaka, managing director; Yoshiaki Mizutani, director; Kazuo Hamada, managing director
Plants
Shiga, Tokyo, Japan
Processes
Resin bonded, needlepunched, thermal bonded, wetlaid, spunlaced, meltblown, tackspun
Major Markets
Apparel interlinings, apparel insulations, air filters, plaster bases, automotive mats, automotive headliners, batter electrode separators
The gross sales of Japanese nonwovens producer Japan Vilene were ¥56.3 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, reflecting an increase of 8.6% compared to the year before. By sector, apparel material sales decreased 8.9% to ¥4.7 billion; automotive materials increased 25.3% to ¥23.9 billion; automotive materials increased 25.3% to ¥23.9 billion; air filtration media gained 2.1% to reach ¥8.7 billion; medical and consumer materials decreased slightly (0.2%) to ¥7 billion and industrial material sales—which now include conventional electrical materials—decreased 3% to ¥1.6 billion.
Of the company’s gross sales of ¥56.3 billion in 2006, ¥36.8 billion were domestic sales and ¥19.5 were international. Domestic sales decreased 1.8% to ¥38.6 billion wile international sales increased 35.8% to ¥19.5 billion. Leading international growth was North America, where Japan Vilene was able to grow its business 58% to ¥13.4 billion, led largely by supply to the North American automotives market. Additionally, Asian sales increased 2.6% to ¥5.7 billion.
In terms of new technology, Japan Vilene has developed a component of proton-exchange membrane cell (PEFC) and it is currently applying this technology to a number of application areas. One area is electrode battery separators where the technology is applied to mulled carbon particle and resin. The carbon fibers typically used for the electrodes have a number of drawbacks including higher costs and fragility but the technology being offered by Japan Vilene is flexible and lower cost.
Another component being developed by Japan Vilene was an intake filter for the PEFC that fully uses the technology of Japan Vilene. In terms of PEFC as a next generation energy source, may enterprises are concerned and involved with the worldwide development competition. Japane Vilene expects nonwovens with PEC to be among its key products of the future.
Plants
Green Bay, WI (two facilities); Glen, France; Avigliano, Italy
Processes
Airlaid, carded
Brand Names
Airtex, Dritex
Major Markets
Baby wipes, industrial and food service wipes, feminine hygiene, absorbent core, tabletop, medical, moist toilet tissue, meat packaging
Under new ownership is Georgia-Pacific. In November 2005, the company was purchased by Koch Industries, a multinational conglomerate that had already owned G-P’s cellulose business as well as fiber producer Invista, among other things. Meanwhile, G-P’s nonwovens business, which centers on airlaid technology, has continued to perform well by focusing on improving its production and reducing costs despite challenging raw material prices.
Benefiting G-P were existing contracts, put in place before raw material prices escalated, which kept their impact to G-P under check. Additionally, G-P has been successful in unearthing new market segments for its airlaid technology that had been using other materials. These markets were typically using technology that was more expensive than airlaid but G-P was able to show how pulp can perform just as well at a lower cost, according to executives.