01.01.07
Location: Osaka, Japan
Sales: $81 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Masaru Tsugawa, general manager, spunbonded fabrics division; Hiroshi Kawasaki, general manager, spunbonded fabric 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
Unitika’s nonwovens production capacity is 22,000 tons per year of polyester spunbonded nonwovens and 5000 tons per year of spunlaced nonwovens. Additionally, its Tusco joint venture agreement with Teijin Films in Thailand produces 4000 tons of polyester-based spunbonded nonwovens. Unitika is the largest producer of polyester spunbonded nonwovens in Asia with 26,000 tons of capacity. Currently, Tusco is operating at full capacity but Unitika still has some capacity remaining in its spunlace nonwovens business.
In terms of capacity upgrades, Unitika intends to improve its Japanese lines by adding 2000 tons of polyester spunbond capacity by 2008 and will eventually bring on a new line with 5000-ton capabilities either in Japan or Thailand.
Much of Unitika’s current business exists in the carpet backing and roofing sheet business but the company has been making significant strides in targeting new fields of application. Unitika’s spunbonded nonwovens are superior in molding abilities and the company has added stretch properties to further enhance the materials.
Another goal is to expand its export ratio from 10-15% to 20%.
Unitika also produces spunbonded and spunlaced nonwovens using polylactic acid (PLA), a polymer derived from plants and crude materials. While this business is currently a small one because of PLA supply shortages, the company expects these materials to represent the future of nonwovens.
Sales: $81 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Masaru Tsugawa, general manager, spunbonded fabrics division; Hiroshi Kawasaki, general manager, spunbonded fabric 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
Unitika’s nonwovens production capacity is 22,000 tons per year of polyester spunbonded nonwovens and 5000 tons per year of spunlaced nonwovens. Additionally, its Tusco joint venture agreement with Teijin Films in Thailand produces 4000 tons of polyester-based spunbonded nonwovens. Unitika is the largest producer of polyester spunbonded nonwovens in Asia with 26,000 tons of capacity. Currently, Tusco is operating at full capacity but Unitika still has some capacity remaining in its spunlace nonwovens business.
In terms of capacity upgrades, Unitika intends to improve its Japanese lines by adding 2000 tons of polyester spunbond capacity by 2008 and will eventually bring on a new line with 5000-ton capabilities either in Japan or Thailand.
Much of Unitika’s current business exists in the carpet backing and roofing sheet business but the company has been making significant strides in targeting new fields of application. Unitika’s spunbonded nonwovens are superior in molding abilities and the company has added stretch properties to further enhance the materials.
Another goal is to expand its export ratio from 10-15% to 20%.
Unitika also produces spunbonded and spunlaced nonwovens using polylactic acid (PLA), a polymer derived from plants and crude materials. While this business is currently a small one because of PLA supply shortages, the company expects these materials to represent the future of nonwovens.