Suominen, a leading supplier of nonwovens, has announced new details about its growth investment in Bethune, SC, USA, where the company plans to open a new wetlaid production line. The new line will supply nonwovens for several applications, including household and workplace wiping, medical products, flushable wipes and personal care applications.

“It is not by chance that Suominen is investing in these carefully selected market segments: They are growing markets and we know what are the needs in these applications,” said Saara Söderberg, Vice President, Marketing and Product Management at Suominen.

Wide offering

The wide offering will provide a broad basis weight range and extend from nonwovens made of 100% cellulosic fibres to reinforced composite products and 100% synthetic fibre products, their features being anything from dispersible to durable.

When installed, the production line will utilise latest wetlaid web forming and hydroentanglement technologies. Moreover, Suominen’s selection of finishing treatments will expand. A variety of different chemical substances including colour may be employed, according to the manufacturer.

Wetlaid technology

The company says that its new production line will take wetlaid technology to a totally new level in the industry and will provide Suominen’s customers with unique advantages through adding capabilities for designing nonwovens substrates. This investment is key to Suominen’s growth strategy, for it will help to increase the share of products with higher added value in Suominen’s portfolio.

Suominen’s new production line in Bethune will be tailor-made, based on Suominen’s unique nonwovens technology expertise, which will aim to ensure superior capabilities compared to any turn-key solution. The main supplier and integrator of the project is Andritz.  The total value of the project will be approximately EUR 50 million and the production line will be installed during the second half of 2016.

Suominen

Suominen manufactures nonwovens as roll goods for wipes, as well as for medical and hygiene products. The end products made of Suominen’s nonwovens include wet wipes, feminine care products and swabs.

Suominen is the market leader in nonwovens for wipes and employs over 600 people in Europe and in the Americas. Suominen’s net sales in 2015 amounted to EUR 444.0 million and operating profit excluding non-recurring items to EUR 31.2 million.

www.suominen.fi