09.08.22
Emsdetten, Germany
www.twe-group.com
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $450 million
Key Personnel
Jörg Ortmeier, CEO; Ralf Berens, CCO
Plants
Germany, France, Belgium, U.S., China
Processes
Air through bonded, chemical bonded, needlepunched, hydroentangled, airlaid
Major Markets
Hygiene, automotives, building, living, filtration, healthcare, cleaning
TWE reported a strong year in 2021, with sales clocking in at $450 million thanks to growth in several business units as well as new investments in the U.S. and Belgium. The company’s main markets are hygiene and automotive but its activity in construction, filtration and healthcare is improving.
“Both hygiene and building performed very well,” says CCO Ralf Berens. “Hygiene grew in air though bonded materials and in particular in baby and incontinence applications. The construction industry also did well in Europe in 2021, and we could gain presence especially in the area of temporary protection as well in as in acoustical and thermal insulation materials. For automotive, the picture was rather mixed. Whereas the U.S. market performed very well—due to our investment in additional capacity—the European market suffered from the supply chain and semiconductor crises.”
Even as other markets fuel growth, hygiene continues to be TWE’s number one market, representing about half of the company’s sales. Here the company has primarily made air through bonded nonwovens for acquisition and distribution layers in hygiene markets but topsheet and backsheet materials are driving most of the growth in the unit.
“Softness is key for the ATB top and backsheet products and this has been enhanced with natural plant-based materials,” Berens says. “A new area of growth is the development of core concepts as the market is more and more moving away from the classical fluff-based solutions.”
To meet increased demand for these materials, TWE is currently building a new air though bonding line at its site in Belgium, which was formerly owned by Libeltex, it also continues to invest in upgrading the capabilities of existing production lines. Most recently, the company upgraded an ATB line, constructed in 2019, to handle lower material weights at super high speeds.
“We realized in the last months that there is a high demand for ultra-soft materials which we can offer to our customers,” Berens says. “As well as we see the need for sustainable solutions and bio material. This is also a focus in our products – especially in view of our new product line rePEaT.”
RePEat is TWE’s circular product range, made either completely or partially from recycled materials. The three main products in this range include rePEaT circular, which are made from an increased amount of recycled fibers or 100% polyester-based waste from its customers; rePEaT social which are made from plastic that has been collected by people in developing countries who can earn a living in this way and rePEaT bio, which comprises products made from natural fibers and biodegradable fibers, e.g. jute, hemp, bamboo, PLA or PBS.
TWE is working with partners on the development of fully biodegradable fibers and on solutions which are not plastic based. New types of biochemistries are used here as well as molecules coming from nature.“The hygiene customers are also looking to overcome the plastic EU directive and they are looking for innovative solutions coming from nature,” Berens says. “We develop bio based materials and bio compostable materials for the need to reduce the plastic waste.”
In automotives, TWE’s second largest business, developments of next generation products with features like EMI Shielding, acoustic improvements and new eco-friendly FR Solutions based on natural fibers are increasing the volume of nonwovens per car. Other developments include new acoustical nonwoven solutions for electric cars and products using natural fibers.
Market demand for lightweight and sustainable products is in part being met through TWE’s new ATB line in Belgium, which, in addition to hygiene applications, can make acoustical and high performance automotive and filtration products. TWE has also invested in new lab equipment for acoustics and installed two filtration labs in Dierdorf, Germany, and Meulebeke, Belgium.
For TWE Group's 2020 top company profile, click here.
www.twe-group.com
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $450 million
Key Personnel
Jörg Ortmeier, CEO; Ralf Berens, CCO
Plants
Germany, France, Belgium, U.S., China
Processes
Air through bonded, chemical bonded, needlepunched, hydroentangled, airlaid
Major Markets
Hygiene, automotives, building, living, filtration, healthcare, cleaning
TWE reported a strong year in 2021, with sales clocking in at $450 million thanks to growth in several business units as well as new investments in the U.S. and Belgium. The company’s main markets are hygiene and automotive but its activity in construction, filtration and healthcare is improving.
“Both hygiene and building performed very well,” says CCO Ralf Berens. “Hygiene grew in air though bonded materials and in particular in baby and incontinence applications. The construction industry also did well in Europe in 2021, and we could gain presence especially in the area of temporary protection as well in as in acoustical and thermal insulation materials. For automotive, the picture was rather mixed. Whereas the U.S. market performed very well—due to our investment in additional capacity—the European market suffered from the supply chain and semiconductor crises.”
Even as other markets fuel growth, hygiene continues to be TWE’s number one market, representing about half of the company’s sales. Here the company has primarily made air through bonded nonwovens for acquisition and distribution layers in hygiene markets but topsheet and backsheet materials are driving most of the growth in the unit.
“Softness is key for the ATB top and backsheet products and this has been enhanced with natural plant-based materials,” Berens says. “A new area of growth is the development of core concepts as the market is more and more moving away from the classical fluff-based solutions.”
To meet increased demand for these materials, TWE is currently building a new air though bonding line at its site in Belgium, which was formerly owned by Libeltex, it also continues to invest in upgrading the capabilities of existing production lines. Most recently, the company upgraded an ATB line, constructed in 2019, to handle lower material weights at super high speeds.
“We realized in the last months that there is a high demand for ultra-soft materials which we can offer to our customers,” Berens says. “As well as we see the need for sustainable solutions and bio material. This is also a focus in our products – especially in view of our new product line rePEaT.”
RePEat is TWE’s circular product range, made either completely or partially from recycled materials. The three main products in this range include rePEaT circular, which are made from an increased amount of recycled fibers or 100% polyester-based waste from its customers; rePEaT social which are made from plastic that has been collected by people in developing countries who can earn a living in this way and rePEaT bio, which comprises products made from natural fibers and biodegradable fibers, e.g. jute, hemp, bamboo, PLA or PBS.
TWE is working with partners on the development of fully biodegradable fibers and on solutions which are not plastic based. New types of biochemistries are used here as well as molecules coming from nature.“The hygiene customers are also looking to overcome the plastic EU directive and they are looking for innovative solutions coming from nature,” Berens says. “We develop bio based materials and bio compostable materials for the need to reduce the plastic waste.”
In automotives, TWE’s second largest business, developments of next generation products with features like EMI Shielding, acoustic improvements and new eco-friendly FR Solutions based on natural fibers are increasing the volume of nonwovens per car. Other developments include new acoustical nonwoven solutions for electric cars and products using natural fibers.
Market demand for lightweight and sustainable products is in part being met through TWE’s new ATB line in Belgium, which, in addition to hygiene applications, can make acoustical and high performance automotive and filtration products. TWE has also invested in new lab equipment for acoustics and installed two filtration labs in Dierdorf, Germany, and Meulebeke, Belgium.
For TWE Group's 2020 top company profile, click here.
