09.01.11
Basel, Switzerland
www.jacob-holm.com
2011 Nonwovens Sales: $192 million
Key Personnel: Poul Mikkelsen, chairman; Stephen Landon, president and COO; Finn Schoning, group controller; Richard Knowlson, global product development director; Alexis Porcher, global commercial manager; Ginny Casstevens, vice president, sales and new business development—Americas; Chip Holton, vice president, Operations—USA; Gilles Hourlier, vice president, Operations—France
Plants: Candler, NC; Soultz, France
Processes: Hydroentangling
Brands: Lidro, Rough N Soft, TAU
Major Markets: Personal care, home care, hygiene, packaging, specialty and technical industrial applications
Sales continued to climb at Jacob Holm Industries in 2011. The Swiss nonwovens producer with manufacturing sites in Candler, NC, and Soultz, France, reported sales increased 16% to $192 million due largely to a changing product mix, favorable exchange rates and raw material pricing.
“Our ability to produce lightweight substrates with high functionality continues to drive our success in the hygiene market specifically within diaper component and feminine hygiene applications,” says Stephen Landon, president and COO. “In addition, our lightweight capabilities have proven successful in the wipes category by allowing our customers to offer premium, lighter weight wipes to the market at a lower cost without compromising quality. These combined successes have allowed us to capitalize on many opportunities within the global market.”
Some other factors influencing success include the ability to offer alternative, more cost-efficient fibers such as regenerated cotton, as well as the ability to supply premium, lighter weight products matching or exceeding product specifications, he adds.
Currently, about 65-70% of Holm’s overall capacity is sold into the global wipes market while the balance is primarily sold into the hygiene market for diaper components and feminine hygiene applications. While efforts to diversify beyond wipes have been strong in recent years, Holm continues to develop new products in its core wipes business. These include 100% synthetic wipes with an apertured or smooth surface for disinfecting applications, a variety of premium lightweight wipes that range from 30-40 gsm using specialty fibers and a new range of 100% cellulosic/sustainable products.
This has helped Holm in wipes, which Landon still describes as a global growth market, albeit one with very pressurized margins, particularly in developed markets. “Converters are constantly looking for cost savings and this provides a need for constant product reinvention,” he explains. “The market also seems to have segmented into specific tiers of premium and low cost wipes with innovation and differentiation being valued in the premium tier.”
Meanwhile, Holm has expanded its processing capabilities beyond lightweight hygiene applications to deliver mid- to heavyweight products for industrial applications like automotives, apparel and furniture, areas that have traditionally used needlepunch fabrics. In the lightweight hygiene category, Holm continues to push the lowest basis weight limits that spunlace can supply, now targeting 20 gsm and lower, in order to compete with alternate nonwoven technologies while providing spunlace performance.
Efforts like these have helped Holm continue to grow during the past several years without adding new capacity. The company’s most recent investment, a large line in North Carolina, was added in 2006, and has been running at sold-out status for several years, but to date the company has announced no final plans for a second line at the site.
According to Landon, in 2011, the company reviewed a few specific acquisition opportunities, which did not close. Instead, the key for Jacob Holm has been, and will remain, maintaining a benchmark capability in target market segments of premium wipes and hygiene. “Specifically, this has involved upgrading existing lines to process many alternate fibers and lightweight spunlace for hygiene plus the reduction of waste and energy consumption,” he adds.
This strategy also encompasses Europe, where a focus has been on both innovation and operational efficiency. “In an overcapacity marketplace, it has been critical to differentiate and at the same time we have invested to ensure our lines remain competitive with the very latest technology,” Landon adds.
While Jacob Holm provides a breakdown of sales from its manufacturing bases—the U.S. accounts for $91 million while Europe $101 million—it will not provide information on its global scope. However, the company says it has seen promise in Latin America as well as in certain Southeast Asian markets.
Meanwhile, the company has restructured its North American sales team to focus and grow its presence in both North and South America as it supports the rollout of next generation premium wipe products. Additionally, the company has increased its North American sales team to focus on new market opportunities for industrial applications where it sees its ability to process 100% synthetic fiber products at high efficiencies as a strength.
“Jacob Holm continues to invest heavily in product development activities and to differentiate itself it in its core wipes business, its growing hygiene segment, as well as supporting new industrial opportunities,” Landon continues. “Additional resources were added to the product development group in both North America and Europe and higher levels of machine trial times were made available.”
www.jacob-holm.com
2011 Nonwovens Sales: $192 million
Key Personnel: Poul Mikkelsen, chairman; Stephen Landon, president and COO; Finn Schoning, group controller; Richard Knowlson, global product development director; Alexis Porcher, global commercial manager; Ginny Casstevens, vice president, sales and new business development—Americas; Chip Holton, vice president, Operations—USA; Gilles Hourlier, vice president, Operations—France
Plants: Candler, NC; Soultz, France
Processes: Hydroentangling
Brands: Lidro, Rough N Soft, TAU
Major Markets: Personal care, home care, hygiene, packaging, specialty and technical industrial applications
Sales continued to climb at Jacob Holm Industries in 2011. The Swiss nonwovens producer with manufacturing sites in Candler, NC, and Soultz, France, reported sales increased 16% to $192 million due largely to a changing product mix, favorable exchange rates and raw material pricing.
“Our ability to produce lightweight substrates with high functionality continues to drive our success in the hygiene market specifically within diaper component and feminine hygiene applications,” says Stephen Landon, president and COO. “In addition, our lightweight capabilities have proven successful in the wipes category by allowing our customers to offer premium, lighter weight wipes to the market at a lower cost without compromising quality. These combined successes have allowed us to capitalize on many opportunities within the global market.”
Some other factors influencing success include the ability to offer alternative, more cost-efficient fibers such as regenerated cotton, as well as the ability to supply premium, lighter weight products matching or exceeding product specifications, he adds.
Currently, about 65-70% of Holm’s overall capacity is sold into the global wipes market while the balance is primarily sold into the hygiene market for diaper components and feminine hygiene applications. While efforts to diversify beyond wipes have been strong in recent years, Holm continues to develop new products in its core wipes business. These include 100% synthetic wipes with an apertured or smooth surface for disinfecting applications, a variety of premium lightweight wipes that range from 30-40 gsm using specialty fibers and a new range of 100% cellulosic/sustainable products.
This has helped Holm in wipes, which Landon still describes as a global growth market, albeit one with very pressurized margins, particularly in developed markets. “Converters are constantly looking for cost savings and this provides a need for constant product reinvention,” he explains. “The market also seems to have segmented into specific tiers of premium and low cost wipes with innovation and differentiation being valued in the premium tier.”
Meanwhile, Holm has expanded its processing capabilities beyond lightweight hygiene applications to deliver mid- to heavyweight products for industrial applications like automotives, apparel and furniture, areas that have traditionally used needlepunch fabrics. In the lightweight hygiene category, Holm continues to push the lowest basis weight limits that spunlace can supply, now targeting 20 gsm and lower, in order to compete with alternate nonwoven technologies while providing spunlace performance.
Efforts like these have helped Holm continue to grow during the past several years without adding new capacity. The company’s most recent investment, a large line in North Carolina, was added in 2006, and has been running at sold-out status for several years, but to date the company has announced no final plans for a second line at the site.
According to Landon, in 2011, the company reviewed a few specific acquisition opportunities, which did not close. Instead, the key for Jacob Holm has been, and will remain, maintaining a benchmark capability in target market segments of premium wipes and hygiene. “Specifically, this has involved upgrading existing lines to process many alternate fibers and lightweight spunlace for hygiene plus the reduction of waste and energy consumption,” he adds.
This strategy also encompasses Europe, where a focus has been on both innovation and operational efficiency. “In an overcapacity marketplace, it has been critical to differentiate and at the same time we have invested to ensure our lines remain competitive with the very latest technology,” Landon adds.
While Jacob Holm provides a breakdown of sales from its manufacturing bases—the U.S. accounts for $91 million while Europe $101 million—it will not provide information on its global scope. However, the company says it has seen promise in Latin America as well as in certain Southeast Asian markets.
Meanwhile, the company has restructured its North American sales team to focus and grow its presence in both North and South America as it supports the rollout of next generation premium wipe products. Additionally, the company has increased its North American sales team to focus on new market opportunities for industrial applications where it sees its ability to process 100% synthetic fiber products at high efficiencies as a strength.
“Jacob Holm continues to invest heavily in product development activities and to differentiate itself it in its core wipes business, its growing hygiene segment, as well as supporting new industrial opportunities,” Landon continues. “Additional resources were added to the product development group in both North America and Europe and higher levels of machine trial times were made available.”