09.09.14
Fibertex Nonwovens
Aalborg, Denmark
www.fibertex.com
2014 Nonwovens sales: $171 million
Key Personnel
Jorgen Bech Madsen, CEO; Henrik Kjeldsen CCO; Lars Bertelsen, COO; Henrik Eigenbrod, CFO; Keld Lauridsen, Group R&D Manager; Bjarne Knudsen, CEO, Czech Republic
Plants
Denmark, Czech Republic, France, South Africa
Processes
Needlepunch, spunlace, impregnation, coating and a range of finishing technologies
Major Markets
Acoustics, automotive, bedding, building industry, composites, construction, filtration, flooring, furniture, geotextiles, home and garden, horticulture, wipes
Reporting a 12% increase in sales as well as a considerable jump in profits is Aalborg, Denmark-based Fibertex Nonwovens. The maker of industrial nonwovens has also expanded its manufacturing scope into the U.S. market through the October 2014 acquisition of Non Wovens Solutions, an Illinois-based needlepunch manufacturer. With about $16 million in annual sales, Non Woven Solutions makes and sells nonwovens in various product areas in the U.S. market, where Fibertex is seeing more opportunities.
“Establishing a presence in the U.S. will give Fibertex Nonwovens unique opportunities to grow its sales of value-added products for the composites and automotive industries in particular, but the acquisition is also expected to have a positive effect on sales in other product areas,” says Jorgen Bech Madsen, CEO.
Fibertex Nonwovens, which separated from sister company Fibertex Personal Care a few years ago, makes nonwovens for automotives, construction, industrial, filtration and wet wipes markets. In recent years, the company has expanded in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and South Africa as part of its strategy of becoming a world leader in technical nonwovens.
In Western Europe, Fibertex Nonwovens has plants in Denmark and France. The French business was purchased from Tharreau Industries in May 2011 and is now known as Fibertex Nonwovens S.A.S. This acquisition generated substantial synergies for both companies and has helped accelerate the company’s strategy of becoming a European market leader. The operation contains a needlepunch and spunlace operation in Chemillé, France.
Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, at a business that has been Fibertex-owned since 2005, the plant will have a new state-of-the-art needlepunch line in place by the end of 2015. This investment will help fuel growth in core markets across Europe and into new areas, according to Madsen.
In 2010, Fibertex Nonwovens established a factory in South Africa in association with local business partners and the IFU. Sales from this factory, which mainly target geotextiles and automotives applications, have grown considerably over the years and in 2015 Fibertex acquired an additional 48.2% of the its shares and now controls a 74.2% stake in the company. Currently, a new fiber line and a new needlepunch line are being added to this site. Both investments will be complete during 2015.
Aalborg, Denmark
www.fibertex.com
2014 Nonwovens sales: $171 million
Key Personnel
Jorgen Bech Madsen, CEO; Henrik Kjeldsen CCO; Lars Bertelsen, COO; Henrik Eigenbrod, CFO; Keld Lauridsen, Group R&D Manager; Bjarne Knudsen, CEO, Czech Republic
Plants
Denmark, Czech Republic, France, South Africa
Processes
Needlepunch, spunlace, impregnation, coating and a range of finishing technologies
Major Markets
Acoustics, automotive, bedding, building industry, composites, construction, filtration, flooring, furniture, geotextiles, home and garden, horticulture, wipes
Reporting a 12% increase in sales as well as a considerable jump in profits is Aalborg, Denmark-based Fibertex Nonwovens. The maker of industrial nonwovens has also expanded its manufacturing scope into the U.S. market through the October 2014 acquisition of Non Wovens Solutions, an Illinois-based needlepunch manufacturer. With about $16 million in annual sales, Non Woven Solutions makes and sells nonwovens in various product areas in the U.S. market, where Fibertex is seeing more opportunities.
“Establishing a presence in the U.S. will give Fibertex Nonwovens unique opportunities to grow its sales of value-added products for the composites and automotive industries in particular, but the acquisition is also expected to have a positive effect on sales in other product areas,” says Jorgen Bech Madsen, CEO.
Fibertex Nonwovens, which separated from sister company Fibertex Personal Care a few years ago, makes nonwovens for automotives, construction, industrial, filtration and wet wipes markets. In recent years, the company has expanded in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and South Africa as part of its strategy of becoming a world leader in technical nonwovens.
In Western Europe, Fibertex Nonwovens has plants in Denmark and France. The French business was purchased from Tharreau Industries in May 2011 and is now known as Fibertex Nonwovens S.A.S. This acquisition generated substantial synergies for both companies and has helped accelerate the company’s strategy of becoming a European market leader. The operation contains a needlepunch and spunlace operation in Chemillé, France.
Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, at a business that has been Fibertex-owned since 2005, the plant will have a new state-of-the-art needlepunch line in place by the end of 2015. This investment will help fuel growth in core markets across Europe and into new areas, according to Madsen.
In 2010, Fibertex Nonwovens established a factory in South Africa in association with local business partners and the IFU. Sales from this factory, which mainly target geotextiles and automotives applications, have grown considerably over the years and in 2015 Fibertex acquired an additional 48.2% of the its shares and now controls a 74.2% stake in the company. Currently, a new fiber line and a new needlepunch line are being added to this site. Both investments will be complete during 2015.
