01.01.10
Location: Osaka, Japan
Sales: $104 million
Description: Key Personnel
Hiroshi Yoshihara, general manager, nonwoven fabrics division; Tetsuya Yohimura, general manager, spunbond fabrics sales
Plants
Okazaki and Tarui, Japan
Processes
Spunbond, spunlace
Brand Names
Marix, Eleves, Appeal, Wiwi, Alcima, Terrramac, Cottoace
The nonwovens production capacity of Unitika includes 22,000 tons of polyester-based spunbond nonwovens and 5000 tons of spunlaced nonwovens. Additionally, Thai Tusco, Unitika’s Thai subsidiary, makes 4000 tons of spunbonded nonwovens.
As for sales of the company last year, increased spunlaced sales were not enough to offset decreased spunbond volumes, so sales of the company decreased as a whole.
Spunlace growth was driven by increased usage in the surface materials of sanitary napkins for the feminine hygiene market. To adapt its spunlace materials for this market, Unitika combined polyester and cotton fibers to make them dryer and more absorbent.
Within spunbond, many of the markets Unitika serves were impacted by the economic crisis. Therefore, Unitika made some changes to help boost its business. For one, it has increased the amount of nonwovens made in Thailand, where labor is cheaper, that are sent to Japan. Namely, polylactic-based nonwovens are currently being transferred to the Tusco, as are a number of spunbond composites. Meanwhile, the Japanese equipment will focus on the production of Eleves, a core sheath type composite spunbonded material that has been increasing in demand. This product, which consists of a polyester core and polyethylene sheath, provides a better value incentive for Unitika.
Sales: $104 million
Description: Key Personnel
Hiroshi Yoshihara, general manager, nonwoven fabrics division; Tetsuya Yohimura, general manager, spunbond fabrics sales
Plants
Okazaki and Tarui, Japan
Processes
Spunbond, spunlace
Brand Names
Marix, Eleves, Appeal, Wiwi, Alcima, Terrramac, Cottoace
The nonwovens production capacity of Unitika includes 22,000 tons of polyester-based spunbond nonwovens and 5000 tons of spunlaced nonwovens. Additionally, Thai Tusco, Unitika’s Thai subsidiary, makes 4000 tons of spunbonded nonwovens.
As for sales of the company last year, increased spunlaced sales were not enough to offset decreased spunbond volumes, so sales of the company decreased as a whole.
Spunlace growth was driven by increased usage in the surface materials of sanitary napkins for the feminine hygiene market. To adapt its spunlace materials for this market, Unitika combined polyester and cotton fibers to make them dryer and more absorbent.
Within spunbond, many of the markets Unitika serves were impacted by the economic crisis. Therefore, Unitika made some changes to help boost its business. For one, it has increased the amount of nonwovens made in Thailand, where labor is cheaper, that are sent to Japan. Namely, polylactic-based nonwovens are currently being transferred to the Tusco, as are a number of spunbond composites. Meanwhile, the Japanese equipment will focus on the production of Eleves, a core sheath type composite spunbonded material that has been increasing in demand. This product, which consists of a polyester core and polyethylene sheath, provides a better value incentive for Unitika.