Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. will rebrand all of its acquired company corporate brands in 2017 under the SWM umbrella to create a unified, global leader in the industries it serves. With a history that dates back to the Renaissance as expert paper manufacturers, SWM has diversified its product portfolio and customer base in recent years, expanding its fiber-based manufacturing capabilities to include a variety of resin-based technologies and products. This expansion was done through a series of strategic acquisitions to establish and grow the company's Advanced Materials & Structures (AMS) segment, with annual revenues well over $400 million. Key acquisitions have included DelStar Technologies, Argotec and Conwed Plastics, which closed earlier this year.

Frédéric Villoutreix, chairman and CEO, comments, "Our plans to rebrand Argotec, DelStar and Conwed this year as SWM represents the next phase of our transformation and illustrates our One Company strategy to leverage our enterprise capabilities and international presence. By unifying our brands under the SWM banner, we not only build the value of our enterprise but we ultimately position ourselves to more effectively serve our customers as a single-source provider of world-class films, nets and nonwovens  and of course papers."

"We are fortunate that the companies we have acquired have strong relationships with customers. These partnerships have been built over time through the innovative solutions, excellent product quality and personal service our teams have consistently delivered," says Dano Lister, executive vice president, advanced materials & structures. "These trusted partnerships are cornerstones of our business and will continue to be as we expand our enterprise and continue to evolve. While there may be some account realignment as we unify our commercial teams, overall we expect account service to continue with minimal adjustment. Going forward, we intend to continue our strategic investment in innovation initiatives, as well as maximizing our expanded global presence, to enhance the range and quality of solutions and services we bring to our customers."

The rebranding transition will include a go-to-market corporate name change from Argotec, DelStar and Conwed to SWM. The conversion will begin immediately for Argotec and DelStar and is planned for Conwed in the second half of 2017. The product names of the legacy brands, as well as specific product codes and legal entity names, are expected to be retained.