TWE Group was founded in Emsdetten, Germany, in 1912 and has focused on nonwovens since the 1970s. The company has continued to expand since 1997, with acquisitions in Dierdorf, Germany, in 2001; Bocholt, Germany, in 2006; Hangzhou, China in 2007; and the 2012 purchase of the Libeltex plants in Meulebeke, Belgium, Mâcon, France, Crépy, France and Sporda, Sweden. In total, TWE Group operates nine international locations in five countries with more than 1100 employees, with approximately 250 of those workers located at the company’s headquarters in Emsdetten.
TWE Group specializes in nonwovens technologies including needlepunch, spunlace, chemical bonded, air through bonded, spraybonded and thermal bonded.
According to Jörg Ortmeier, COO TWE Group, the company develops, manufactures and sells high-quality nonwovens for almost any application, including in the fields of medical, hygiene, automotive, filtration, building and construction, comfort and wipes. Ortmeier says that all of the company’s key markets around the globe are performing well, and TWE differentiates itself by investing in “global markets while also serving local needs.”
When describing the nonwovens industry, Hugo Christiaen, member of TWE executive team, says, “If we try to assess the megatrends likely to affect the global society, and use this to identify the trends relevant to our nonwovens industry, a study performed by the Copenhagen Institute, we can identify three key areas: globalization, sustainability and innovation.”
Christiaen adds that these subjects, from raw materials to finished products, will influence changes throughout the whole value chain. “Across these areas, one thing is clear: nonwovens are more valuable than ever; they help improve and protect not only people’s lives, but also the environment, and they hold the potential to provide innovative solutions to globalization and sustainability challenges,” he continues.
Regarding globalization, Christiaen notes that the future looks bright in Asia, as bigger areas of the continent are just starting to explore nonwoven products. As far as sustainability, he explains that nonwovens are currently being developed to provide the globe with more sustainable solutions. “Closed loop programs are being set up for many nonwoven applications, new, more sustainable polymers like PLA are being developed, etc.”
Finally, in terms of innovation, Christiaen says a number of actions are being taken to make products lighter simply by using more performing nonwoven solutions. This is supported by the fact that, he says, there are quickly becoming an increasing number of nonwovens used in cars just to make them lighter, more sound insulating, etc. “Another good example is the reduction of weight with same or better performance for absorbent hygiene products.”
Last year, TWE Group was recognized by one of its key partners among 200 industry suppliers. The group earned a nod from a major global hygiene account, which awarded the company for its “excellence in customer service.” Criteria for this award were based upon delivery accuracy, customer service and quality performance.
