09.07.23
Charlotte, NC
www.glatfelter.com
2022 Nonwovens Sales: $1.5 billion
Key Personnel
Thomas Fahnemann, chief executive officer; Ramesh Shettigar, senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer; Boris Illetschko, chief operating officer
Locations:
American Facilities: Charlotte, NC; Asheville, NC; Mount Holly, NC; Fort Smith, AR; Gainesville, GA; York, PA; Memphis, TN; Old Hickory, TN; Gatineau, QC; Buenos Aires, Argentina; San José, Costa Rica; Mexico City, Mexico
European Facilities: Scaër, France; Soultz, France; Dresden, Germany; Falkenhagen, Germany; Gernsbach, Germany; Steinfurt, Germany; Milan, Italy; Moscow, Russia; Asturias, Spain; Basel, Switzerland; Zug, Switzerland; Caerphilly, U.K.; Lydney, U.K.
Asia Pacific Facilities: Suzhou, China; Shanghai, China; Lanao del Norte, Philippines; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Airlaid sales grew an impressive 27.9% in 2022 to reach $601.5 million at Glatfelter, one of the world leaders in the technology. With manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada and Germany, Glatfelter’s airlaid business has grown in recent years thanks to acquisitions, including Georgia-Pacific’s operations in North America and Germany, as well as a major line investment in Fort Smith, AR.
“Airlaid Materials continues to be a technology and product innovation leader in technically demanding segments of the markets it serves,” says COO Boris Illetschko. “Our airlaid material production employs multi-bonded, thermal-bonded and hydrogen-bonded airlaid technologies. We believe our facilities are among the most modem and flexible airlaid facilities in the world, allowing them to produce at industry-leading operating rates. Our proprietary single-lane festooning technology provides converting and product packaging capabilities that support efficiency in the customers’ converting processes.”
The feminine hygiene category accounted for 39.6% and 44% of airlaid material’s net sales in 2022 and 2021. Other markets include specialty wipes, adult incontinence items, home care and food pads. The company’s approach to innovation is to develop new products with enhanced sustainability profiles, through a greater reliance on plant-based materials that provide improved biodegradability and compostability, particularly in areas where the company can improve the sustainability profile of its customers’ products without compromising performance.
Recent developments in this area include GlatPure, a range of biobased and absorbent hygiene components derived from renewable materials like 100% plant-based renewable cellulose fibers and a range of organic binders.
Meanwhile, in new application areas, Glatfelter has partnered with Blue Ocean Closures to develop a cellulose-based airlaid bottle cap. Blue Ocean Closures is reportedly the first company to develop a concept for fiber-based screw cap solutions. This is achieved through excellence in material know-how and a cost-effective production concept using advanced, proprietary press forming.
Glatfelter aims to achieve a 95% fully plant-based offering of food and beverage and hygiene products by late 2023, achieved through customer collaboration.
Within Glatfelter’s spunlace business, a division established in late 2021 through the acquisition of Jacob Holm Industries, the company has developed Sontara EC Green, a 100% plant-based wipe made with Glatfelter’s proprietary Sontara technology. Sontara only requires water, not binders, adhesives or other chemicals, to form a strong and absorbent web.
Sontara EC Green offers an excellent alternative to non-biodegradable wipe materials, with exceptional strength and extremely low-lint cleaning properties while being environmentally responsible.
In the next few years, Glatfelter will make the most of its strengths to grow and expand its capabilities. The company’s strong business model will help improve cash flow, fine-tune pricing strategies, deal with rising energy costs and increase EBITDA growth in the spunlace segment. Glatfelter’s proven track record showcases its proficiency to upscale and facilitate organizational growth, both organically and inorganically.
www.glatfelter.com
2022 Nonwovens Sales: $1.5 billion
Key Personnel
Thomas Fahnemann, chief executive officer; Ramesh Shettigar, senior vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer; Boris Illetschko, chief operating officer
Locations:
American Facilities: Charlotte, NC; Asheville, NC; Mount Holly, NC; Fort Smith, AR; Gainesville, GA; York, PA; Memphis, TN; Old Hickory, TN; Gatineau, QC; Buenos Aires, Argentina; San José, Costa Rica; Mexico City, Mexico
European Facilities: Scaër, France; Soultz, France; Dresden, Germany; Falkenhagen, Germany; Gernsbach, Germany; Steinfurt, Germany; Milan, Italy; Moscow, Russia; Asturias, Spain; Basel, Switzerland; Zug, Switzerland; Caerphilly, U.K.; Lydney, U.K.
Asia Pacific Facilities: Suzhou, China; Shanghai, China; Lanao del Norte, Philippines; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Airlaid sales grew an impressive 27.9% in 2022 to reach $601.5 million at Glatfelter, one of the world leaders in the technology. With manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada and Germany, Glatfelter’s airlaid business has grown in recent years thanks to acquisitions, including Georgia-Pacific’s operations in North America and Germany, as well as a major line investment in Fort Smith, AR.
“Airlaid Materials continues to be a technology and product innovation leader in technically demanding segments of the markets it serves,” says COO Boris Illetschko. “Our airlaid material production employs multi-bonded, thermal-bonded and hydrogen-bonded airlaid technologies. We believe our facilities are among the most modem and flexible airlaid facilities in the world, allowing them to produce at industry-leading operating rates. Our proprietary single-lane festooning technology provides converting and product packaging capabilities that support efficiency in the customers’ converting processes.”
The feminine hygiene category accounted for 39.6% and 44% of airlaid material’s net sales in 2022 and 2021. Other markets include specialty wipes, adult incontinence items, home care and food pads. The company’s approach to innovation is to develop new products with enhanced sustainability profiles, through a greater reliance on plant-based materials that provide improved biodegradability and compostability, particularly in areas where the company can improve the sustainability profile of its customers’ products without compromising performance.
Recent developments in this area include GlatPure, a range of biobased and absorbent hygiene components derived from renewable materials like 100% plant-based renewable cellulose fibers and a range of organic binders.
Meanwhile, in new application areas, Glatfelter has partnered with Blue Ocean Closures to develop a cellulose-based airlaid bottle cap. Blue Ocean Closures is reportedly the first company to develop a concept for fiber-based screw cap solutions. This is achieved through excellence in material know-how and a cost-effective production concept using advanced, proprietary press forming.
Glatfelter aims to achieve a 95% fully plant-based offering of food and beverage and hygiene products by late 2023, achieved through customer collaboration.
Within Glatfelter’s spunlace business, a division established in late 2021 through the acquisition of Jacob Holm Industries, the company has developed Sontara EC Green, a 100% plant-based wipe made with Glatfelter’s proprietary Sontara technology. Sontara only requires water, not binders, adhesives or other chemicals, to form a strong and absorbent web.
Sontara EC Green offers an excellent alternative to non-biodegradable wipe materials, with exceptional strength and extremely low-lint cleaning properties while being environmentally responsible.
In the next few years, Glatfelter will make the most of its strengths to grow and expand its capabilities. The company’s strong business model will help improve cash flow, fine-tune pricing strategies, deal with rising energy costs and increase EBITDA growth in the spunlace segment. Glatfelter’s proven track record showcases its proficiency to upscale and facilitate organizational growth, both organically and inorganically.
