01.01.09
Location: GRAVATAI, BRAZIL
Sales: $103 Million
Description: Plants
Gravatai, Brazil; North America
Process
Spunmelt, meltblown
Major Markets
Hygiene, medical, industrial, filtration, sorbents
This is the last year Brazilian nonwovens producer Fitesa will appear in the top company report. The company merged its assets with Fiberweb’s North American business in a joint venture earlier this summer. From now on, the group’s results will be included in Fiberweb’s profile.
“Because combining Fiberweb’s spunbond plants in Washougal, WA, Queretaro, Mexico and Simpsonville, as well as Fitesa’s site in Gravatai, Brazil, the joint venture will create a leading producer of spunbond in the Americas with the potential to serve regional and global customers more effectively from its leading asset and technology base,” said Cleber dos Santos, sales manager and vice president,“the investment is targeted to meet the growing demand for sophisticated and ultra lightweight fabrics in North America. By combining the asset base and technology know-how, the joint venture will be able to achieve its value proposition in the short-term.”
The new joint venture company is the second largest maker of spunmelt nonwovens in the Americas with an estimated $200 million combined sales. Included in the deal is a previously announced Fitesa North American operation. This $120 million investment represents a two-line spunmelt operation in Laurens County, SC. When Fitesa announced these two lines in 2008, it said the first line would be complete in October 2009; however, more recent estimates put the startup in late 2010.
In Brazil, Fitesa operates several spunmelt lines targeting hygiene applications as well as two meltblown lines targeting the filtration and sorbents markets. Currently, about 55-60% of its sales are targeted domestically; export regions include North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa. While the North American operation— combined with the Fiberweb partnership will help the company gain exposure to U.S. customers, the company continues to see potential in its home region.
“Latin America keeps demand for nonwovens at an ascending rate, but not at the same rate observed in 2008,” Mr. dos Santos said. “There is a large opportunity in the hygiene and medical business in the region, once the penetration is low. For example, the baby diaper penetration in Brazil is around 35%."
Sales: $103 Million
Description: Plants
Gravatai, Brazil; North America
Process
Spunmelt, meltblown
Major Markets
Hygiene, medical, industrial, filtration, sorbents
This is the last year Brazilian nonwovens producer Fitesa will appear in the top company report. The company merged its assets with Fiberweb’s North American business in a joint venture earlier this summer. From now on, the group’s results will be included in Fiberweb’s profile.
“Because combining Fiberweb’s spunbond plants in Washougal, WA, Queretaro, Mexico and Simpsonville, as well as Fitesa’s site in Gravatai, Brazil, the joint venture will create a leading producer of spunbond in the Americas with the potential to serve regional and global customers more effectively from its leading asset and technology base,” said Cleber dos Santos, sales manager and vice president,“the investment is targeted to meet the growing demand for sophisticated and ultra lightweight fabrics in North America. By combining the asset base and technology know-how, the joint venture will be able to achieve its value proposition in the short-term.”
The new joint venture company is the second largest maker of spunmelt nonwovens in the Americas with an estimated $200 million combined sales. Included in the deal is a previously announced Fitesa North American operation. This $120 million investment represents a two-line spunmelt operation in Laurens County, SC. When Fitesa announced these two lines in 2008, it said the first line would be complete in October 2009; however, more recent estimates put the startup in late 2010.
In Brazil, Fitesa operates several spunmelt lines targeting hygiene applications as well as two meltblown lines targeting the filtration and sorbents markets. Currently, about 55-60% of its sales are targeted domestically; export regions include North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa. While the North American operation— combined with the Fiberweb partnership will help the company gain exposure to U.S. customers, the company continues to see potential in its home region.
“Latin America keeps demand for nonwovens at an ascending rate, but not at the same rate observed in 2008,” Mr. dos Santos said. “There is a large opportunity in the hygiene and medical business in the region, once the penetration is low. For example, the baby diaper penetration in Brazil is around 35%."