01.01.09
Location: MEMPHIS, TN
Sales: $240 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Marko Rajamaa, senior vice president, Nonwovens; Mike Brown, Nonwovens sales manager—Americas and Far East; Norbert Busch, Nonwovens sales manager—Europe and Middle East
Plants
British Columbia, North Carolina, Steinfurt, Germany
Processes
Airlaid
Despite a slight decline in its nonwovens sales, Buckeye Technologies has a lot to be proud of. The Memphis, TN-based manufacturer of airlaid nonwovens and specialty fibers exceeded its goals when it came to paying down debt and has generally held its own despite the economic crisis, said sales manager Michael Brown.
“A lot of our customers have not been as affected by the economic crisis as others. Some have actually seen some business growth,” he said. “It’s really kept our business strong.”
The market in general has started favoring airlaid because prices are more stable in its chief raw material, wood, he said.
“Pulp also plays into the whole sustainable raw material issue,” Mr. Brown said. “Our products main component is a renewable resource and this is something that is attractive to our customers as a selling point.”
Approximately 50% of Buckeye’s airlaid output targets the wipes market with the remaining serving feminine hygiene and tabletop applications. While the airlaid supply-to-demand ratio has significantly improved in the past several years, there is still excess. “There are only so many customers for airlaid,” Mr. Brown said adding that Buckeye spends a lot of time and effort looking at new markets for its airlaid business.
This business includes a large, 30,000-ton-per-year line, which was added earlier this decade, as well as a smaller, recently upgraded line in Gaston, NC, two lines in Vancouver, BC, and two lines in Steinfurt, Germany. While the company has not invested in new lines since it added the 30,000-ton line in 2001, it recently spent quite a bit of money to upgrade the smaller line in Gaston to allow it to make different types of specialty products. “We want to do more things on that line,” Mr. Brown explained.
Buckeye also recently opened a sales office in Beijing to better serve its customers in Asia and also explore possibilities for future growth.
Sales: $240 Million
Description: Key Personnel
Marko Rajamaa, senior vice president, Nonwovens; Mike Brown, Nonwovens sales manager—Americas and Far East; Norbert Busch, Nonwovens sales manager—Europe and Middle East
Plants
British Columbia, North Carolina, Steinfurt, Germany
Processes
Airlaid
Despite a slight decline in its nonwovens sales, Buckeye Technologies has a lot to be proud of. The Memphis, TN-based manufacturer of airlaid nonwovens and specialty fibers exceeded its goals when it came to paying down debt and has generally held its own despite the economic crisis, said sales manager Michael Brown.
“A lot of our customers have not been as affected by the economic crisis as others. Some have actually seen some business growth,” he said. “It’s really kept our business strong.”
The market in general has started favoring airlaid because prices are more stable in its chief raw material, wood, he said.
“Pulp also plays into the whole sustainable raw material issue,” Mr. Brown said. “Our products main component is a renewable resource and this is something that is attractive to our customers as a selling point.”
Approximately 50% of Buckeye’s airlaid output targets the wipes market with the remaining serving feminine hygiene and tabletop applications. While the airlaid supply-to-demand ratio has significantly improved in the past several years, there is still excess. “There are only so many customers for airlaid,” Mr. Brown said adding that Buckeye spends a lot of time and effort looking at new markets for its airlaid business.
This business includes a large, 30,000-ton-per-year line, which was added earlier this decade, as well as a smaller, recently upgraded line in Gaston, NC, two lines in Vancouver, BC, and two lines in Steinfurt, Germany. While the company has not invested in new lines since it added the 30,000-ton line in 2001, it recently spent quite a bit of money to upgrade the smaller line in Gaston to allow it to make different types of specialty products. “We want to do more things on that line,” Mr. Brown explained.
Buckeye also recently opened a sales office in Beijing to better serve its customers in Asia and also explore possibilities for future growth.