09.08.22
Weifang, Shandong, China
www.jofo.com.cn
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $300 million
Key Personnel
Minzhong Zhao, chairman; Rain Tian, CEO; Sven Krister Erlandsson, global VP of R&D
Plants
Weifang, Zhaoqing, Guanzhou, Wuxi, Hong Kong - China
Al-Ahsa, Rabigh, - KSA, Chonburi - Thailand
Processes
Spunmelt, spunbond, needlepunch, air through bonded, Joform wipes, converted medical products
Major Markets
Medical, hygiene, geotextiles, automotive, furniture, wipes
Sales increased from $230 million to $300 million at Jofo Nonwovens, largely due to the integration of two acquisitions—SAAF, a Saudi Arabian spunmelt manufacturer, and Soshio, a wipes converter based in Hong Kong.
Jofo acquired a 70% stake in SAAF, including two sites in Saudi Arabia, in July 2021, a move that not only gave the company its first operation outside of China but also increased its exposure to the global medical and hygiene markets. Back in Asia, Jofo’s partnership with Soshio Industrial Co., a contract manufacturer for wipes maker Rockline Industries, is allowing the company to expand into finished product manufacturing.
The partnership with Soshio has also allowed the company to expand the scope of its Joform technology, which is in the later stages of commissioning at its Weifang site. This process develops substrate material without water using primarily pulp to create green alternatives for both the manufacturer and the final product of the wipe. Joform materials are made using P&G’s Phantom technology, of which Jofo is a licensed supplier.
These two deals follow an earlier acquisition, in China, of a Wuxi-based manufacturing facility from PFNonwovens in May 2020. This acquisition gave Jofo what it needed to initially enter the medical market and its location provides it with better exposure to East China. Five months after acquiring the site, Jofo began construction on a second spunbond line, a state-of-the-art Reicofil 5 line, in Wuxi.
The latest technology from Reicofil focuses on the high end medical nonwovens market and is combined with Jofo developments in both raw materials and technology,” says Krister Erlandsson, global vice president of research and development. “This combination will provide superior comfort, protection and cost structure for the medical markets.”
The line is already producing material and in the process of qualification for several major medical customers.
“As the first ‘dedicated’ and designed R5 medical line, the focus is to improve and enhance current medical products,” Erlandsson adds. “We are seeing a significant improvement in barrier properties and comfort in products from this line versus current market offerings. Up to 20%+ improvements in barrier properties which can be utilized to improve current products or as a cost savings by reduced basis weights.”
Acquisitions and investments have helped propel Jofo to a position of leadership in the global market supply market, giving it the ability to supply high end medical fabrics from several locations, supplying several regions. It is also investing in downstream “value add” through converting into finished goods.
For Jofo's 2020 top company profile, click here.
www.jofo.com.cn
2021 Nonwovens Sales: $300 million
Key Personnel
Minzhong Zhao, chairman; Rain Tian, CEO; Sven Krister Erlandsson, global VP of R&D
Plants
Weifang, Zhaoqing, Guanzhou, Wuxi, Hong Kong - China
Al-Ahsa, Rabigh, - KSA, Chonburi - Thailand
Processes
Spunmelt, spunbond, needlepunch, air through bonded, Joform wipes, converted medical products
Major Markets
Medical, hygiene, geotextiles, automotive, furniture, wipes
Sales increased from $230 million to $300 million at Jofo Nonwovens, largely due to the integration of two acquisitions—SAAF, a Saudi Arabian spunmelt manufacturer, and Soshio, a wipes converter based in Hong Kong.
Jofo acquired a 70% stake in SAAF, including two sites in Saudi Arabia, in July 2021, a move that not only gave the company its first operation outside of China but also increased its exposure to the global medical and hygiene markets. Back in Asia, Jofo’s partnership with Soshio Industrial Co., a contract manufacturer for wipes maker Rockline Industries, is allowing the company to expand into finished product manufacturing.
The partnership with Soshio has also allowed the company to expand the scope of its Joform technology, which is in the later stages of commissioning at its Weifang site. This process develops substrate material without water using primarily pulp to create green alternatives for both the manufacturer and the final product of the wipe. Joform materials are made using P&G’s Phantom technology, of which Jofo is a licensed supplier.
These two deals follow an earlier acquisition, in China, of a Wuxi-based manufacturing facility from PFNonwovens in May 2020. This acquisition gave Jofo what it needed to initially enter the medical market and its location provides it with better exposure to East China. Five months after acquiring the site, Jofo began construction on a second spunbond line, a state-of-the-art Reicofil 5 line, in Wuxi.
The latest technology from Reicofil focuses on the high end medical nonwovens market and is combined with Jofo developments in both raw materials and technology,” says Krister Erlandsson, global vice president of research and development. “This combination will provide superior comfort, protection and cost structure for the medical markets.”
The line is already producing material and in the process of qualification for several major medical customers.
“As the first ‘dedicated’ and designed R5 medical line, the focus is to improve and enhance current medical products,” Erlandsson adds. “We are seeing a significant improvement in barrier properties and comfort in products from this line versus current market offerings. Up to 20%+ improvements in barrier properties which can be utilized to improve current products or as a cost savings by reduced basis weights.”
Acquisitions and investments have helped propel Jofo to a position of leadership in the global market supply market, giving it the ability to supply high end medical fabrics from several locations, supplying several regions. It is also investing in downstream “value add” through converting into finished goods.
For Jofo's 2020 top company profile, click here.