Global technical textiles business update, 2nd quarter 2007

The second quarter of 2007 was a busy period in global markets for technical textiles. Hexion Specialty Chemicals signed an agreement to buy Huntsman Corporation, following a bid from Basell. Smith & Nephew has entered the market for negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) by acquiring BlueSky Medical Group for an initial payment of US$15 mn. Ahlstrom has completed the acquisition of Fabriano Filter Media. Meanwhile, two US manufacturers of carbon nanotubes?Carbon Nanotechnologies and Unidym?have merged, giving the company ?critical mass?.

In business news, Polymer Group Inc has announced the closure of its site in Neunkirchen, and the transfer of part of the business to the Netherlands. It has also appointed a new chief executive officer. Meanwhile, the Industrial Fabrics Association International is inviting firms to participate in a special fact-finding mission to China. The mission will include high level meetings with government and textiles association executives, as well as exclusive market intelligence meetings.

In investment news, GE plastics has invested in a high temperature melt spinning fibre line which it has acquired from Hills?a machinery manufacturer based in Florida, USA. Johns Manville plans to expand its capacity for producing Micro-Aire filtration media at its Wertheim facility by 20%. Saint-Gobain Vetrotex has increased its capacity for making Twintex composite reinforcement at its facility in Chambery, France, by 25%. Coatema Coating Machinery has opened a new head office, expanded its production capacity and enhanced its research and development capabilities. UK-based defence technology and security specialist QinetiQ has invested in a 3D stitching robot for making composite dry fibre preforms. Taiwan-based Nan Liu Enterprise has invested in a Rieter JETlace 3000 to produce state-of-the-art spunlace fabrics for the wipes and surgical markets. The new line?to be installed in Pinghu, China?will be the widest ever line installed in Asia. India-based Ginni Filaments has entered the field of nonwovens by installing the first integrated spunlace line in India. In a joint venture, Modi and Lenzing plan to build a viscose fibre plant in India with an initial capacity of 80,000 tons. Hyosung is investing in the construction of a facility in Turkey to produce elastane fibre. Meanwhile, SCA and Godrej Consumer Products have formed a joint venture, Godrej SCA Hygiene, to make and market absorbent hygiene products.

Global Technical Textiles Business Update

• Summary
  

• Acquisitions
  Hexion has agreed to acquire Huntsman
  Smith & Nephew is set to acquire Bluesky Medical Group
  Ahlstrom has completed the acquisition of Fabriano Filter Media
  The merger of Carbon Nanotechnologies Inc (CNI) and Unidym has brought "Critical Mass" for carbon nanotubes in the USA
  

• Business News
  Polymer Group Inc (PGI) will close a german plant and consolidate operations in the Netherlands
  Polymer Group has appointed a new chief executive officer
  The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) Is organising a factfinding mission to China
  

• Investments
  GE Plastics is investing in a new line to develop resins for making flame retardant high temperature fibres
  Johns Manville will increase its capacity for producing filtration media
  Saint-Gobain Vetrotex has increased its capacity for producing Twintex composite reinforcement
  Coatema has opened a new head office with expanded facilities
  Qinetiq has invested in a 3D stitching robot for producing composite dry fibre preforms
  Taiwanese nonwovens producer Nan Liu Enterprise will invest in hydroentangled nonwovens manufacture in China
  Ginni Filaments and Rieter have celebrated the inauguration of the first integrated spunlace line in India
  Lenzing and Modi will build a viscose plant in India
  Hyosung will raise its global elastane capacity by investing in Turkey
  

• Joint Ventures
  SCA and Godrej have formed a joint venture to manufacture and market hygiene products in India, Nepal and Bhutan
  

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Four times a year, Technical Textile Markets provides an overview of the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries. It provides market data and analysis of new and established markets for technical textiles, and is essential reading for senior executives in (or supplying) the man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile sectors ? as well as for those who are not involved in the industry on a day-to-day basis, but who need an authoritative source which helps them to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues facing the companies which are actively involved in this fast-growing sector.
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