09.08.22
Aalborg, Denmark
www.fibertexpersonalcare.com
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $330 million
Key Personnel
Mikael Staal Axelsen, group CEO; Peter Andersen, CEO, Malaysia; Claus Svanberg, group CFO; Carsten Pedersen, group print director
Plants
Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, North Carolina, U.S.
Processes
Nonwovens: Spunbond/Spunmelt; Print: Flexographic
Sales were up in terms of dollars but down in terms of volume at Fibertex Personal Care. The Denmark-based nonwovens producer reported sales increased 6% to reach DKK2,249 million ($330 million) thanks to higher raw material pricing which triggered higher sales prices. Volumes, however, decreased due to logistical challenges in Asia, where domestically made products, normally sold to Europe and the U.S., were targeted at local markets.
“The (Asian) market is very soft due to lower growth than expected combined with new investments and challenges exporting due to the freight situation,” says Mikael Staal Axelson, group CEO.
With nonwovens production sites in Denmark and Malaysia, Fibertex Personal Care continues to invest. The company is currently adding its sixth production line in Malaysia, where it has two plants. The line, a state-of-the-art Reicofil line, will not only expand the company’s manufacturing capacity, it also will enable it to offer some specialty products, to its hygiene customers.
“Our focus on offering the customers a broad selection of specialty products and services continues to be a high priority for our business and, as the leading nonwovens manufacturer in Asia, we will continue to invest in increasing capacity at our Malaysian site,” Axelsen says.
Announced in late 2020, this line was expected to be operational in late 2021, but Covid-related delays have pushed the start-up to the second half of 2022.
Following the completion of the latest line, Fibertex Personal Care will have nine spunmelt lines—six in Malaysia and three in Denmark—each producing very thin, high quality nonwovens. Each line has its own specialty, ranging from manufacturing soft products, products with high-performance leakage barriers and 3D effect products to thin and lightweight products.
In other investment news, Fibertex Personal Care has started up a second printing line at its North Carolina operation, its Innowo Print business. The first to offer print directly on lightweight nonwovens for hygiene, the company now has operations in Germany and Malaysia, in addition to the U.S.
“We do see high interest in this specialty area,” Axelsen says. “It will remain a niche that requires high expertise to produce.”
Additionally, sustainability continues to be a focus for Fibertex Personal Care. In June, the company achieved Gold Medal status from EcoVadis – for its CSR performance with a score of 67/100. Additionally, its facilities in Germany, the U.S. and Malaysia have achieved the prestigious EcoVadis Silver Medals.
This is the first time that Fibertex Personal Care has been assessed by EcoVadis, and the score obtained by Fibertex Personal Care A/S puts it in the Top 7% of the best performing companies out of more than 90,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis.
Additionally, the company has ISCC Plus certifications in both Denmark and Malaysia to offer its customers more sustainable choices when it comes to nonwovens. The system makes it possible to track the amount and sustainability characteristics of circular and/or bio-based content in the value chain and attribute it based on verifiable bookkeeping with predefined and transparent rules.
For Fibertex Personal Care's 2020 top company profile, click here.
www.fibertexpersonalcare.com
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $330 million
Key Personnel
Mikael Staal Axelsen, group CEO; Peter Andersen, CEO, Malaysia; Claus Svanberg, group CFO; Carsten Pedersen, group print director
Plants
Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, North Carolina, U.S.
Processes
Nonwovens: Spunbond/Spunmelt; Print: Flexographic
Sales were up in terms of dollars but down in terms of volume at Fibertex Personal Care. The Denmark-based nonwovens producer reported sales increased 6% to reach DKK2,249 million ($330 million) thanks to higher raw material pricing which triggered higher sales prices. Volumes, however, decreased due to logistical challenges in Asia, where domestically made products, normally sold to Europe and the U.S., were targeted at local markets.
“The (Asian) market is very soft due to lower growth than expected combined with new investments and challenges exporting due to the freight situation,” says Mikael Staal Axelson, group CEO.
With nonwovens production sites in Denmark and Malaysia, Fibertex Personal Care continues to invest. The company is currently adding its sixth production line in Malaysia, where it has two plants. The line, a state-of-the-art Reicofil line, will not only expand the company’s manufacturing capacity, it also will enable it to offer some specialty products, to its hygiene customers.
“Our focus on offering the customers a broad selection of specialty products and services continues to be a high priority for our business and, as the leading nonwovens manufacturer in Asia, we will continue to invest in increasing capacity at our Malaysian site,” Axelsen says.
Announced in late 2020, this line was expected to be operational in late 2021, but Covid-related delays have pushed the start-up to the second half of 2022.
Following the completion of the latest line, Fibertex Personal Care will have nine spunmelt lines—six in Malaysia and three in Denmark—each producing very thin, high quality nonwovens. Each line has its own specialty, ranging from manufacturing soft products, products with high-performance leakage barriers and 3D effect products to thin and lightweight products.
In other investment news, Fibertex Personal Care has started up a second printing line at its North Carolina operation, its Innowo Print business. The first to offer print directly on lightweight nonwovens for hygiene, the company now has operations in Germany and Malaysia, in addition to the U.S.
“We do see high interest in this specialty area,” Axelsen says. “It will remain a niche that requires high expertise to produce.”
Additionally, sustainability continues to be a focus for Fibertex Personal Care. In June, the company achieved Gold Medal status from EcoVadis – for its CSR performance with a score of 67/100. Additionally, its facilities in Germany, the U.S. and Malaysia have achieved the prestigious EcoVadis Silver Medals.
This is the first time that Fibertex Personal Care has been assessed by EcoVadis, and the score obtained by Fibertex Personal Care A/S puts it in the Top 7% of the best performing companies out of more than 90,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis.
Additionally, the company has ISCC Plus certifications in both Denmark and Malaysia to offer its customers more sustainable choices when it comes to nonwovens. The system makes it possible to track the amount and sustainability characteristics of circular and/or bio-based content in the value chain and attribute it based on verifiable bookkeeping with predefined and transparent rules.
For Fibertex Personal Care's 2020 top company profile, click here.