Fitesa is investing $70 million in a new spunbond line at its joint venture company CNCFitesa, based in Rayong, Thailand. The Brazilian nonwovens manufacturer acquired a 51% stake in CNC International in July, marking its first entry into the fast-growing Southeast Asian market. Prior to the acquisition, CNC operated two spunmelt sites in Rayong as well as a sales office in Tokyo, from which it largely supplies the hygiene market.
Fitesa did not release details on the investment but it is likely the investment will significantly increase capacity in the region. CNC’s last major investment was a 24,000-ton Reicofil 4 production line in 2013 and capacity at the time of the Fitesa purcahse was thought to be about 40,000 tons per year.
In other news, Fitesa has recently completed work on a pilot line in Simpsonville, SC which will allow it to run trials on new air through bonded spunbond technology, which was recently developed by Reicofil to create highloft nonwovens.
