The opening of the plant in Perry, Houston County, GA, is scheduled to take place in 2016 and is the consequence of years of successful work with the North American markets from Sandler’s headquarters in Bavaria, the company reports.

Sandler’s first plant abroad is founded with the intention to also develop the manufacturer’s North American plant into a nonwovens powerhouse. “Establishing a new nonwovens manufacturing plant in the US is an important decision from a strategic point of view and one of the most important steps in our company history,” explained CEO Dr Christian Heinrich Sandler.

Increasing importance

“Establishing a presence in Perry will allow us to answer to the increasing importance of the North American markets and to account for the growing demand from outside Europe. Many of our clients are themselves global players, working on either side of the Atlantic. In this context, nonwovens for hygiene products are as important as our strongly growing involvement in acoustics, automotive and filtration,” said Dr Sandler.

Family-owned and operated Sandler AG is active in both durable applications, such as automotive and filtration, and disposable uses including personal hygiene and wipes.

Founded in 1879, today Sandler runs one of the largest production sites for nonwovens in Europe, employing 650 staff and reporting a sales volume of US 346 million (EUR 286 million) for 2014.

Long-term plans

“We deliberately took our time in choosing a location,” explained Tobias Baumgaertel, designated President of Sandler Nonwoven Corporation. “Perry offers ideal conditions for our expansion into the American market: Here, we are close to our American customers, enabling us to react quicker and to further enhance our service. In Perry, we find qualified, motivated personnel and our new property fulfils all the requirements for further expansion in the long-term.

“There is a great network between local businesses, into which I am sure we will integrate optimally. You might say we are on the same wavelength with the people in Perry. We are excited about the support from both the municipality and the State of Georgia. Together, we are planning a programme geared towards training new US employees to become nonwovens experts.”

At the same time, Sandler continues to set the course for the future in Schwarzenbach. “This year alone, EUR 48 million are put towards new buildings and a new production line,” said Dr Sandler. “The years to come will hold various challenges in store for us. But owing to our committed, motivated staff, long-term planning and our excellent partnerships in the industry we are very well-equipped to handle them.”

www.sandler.de