Freudenberg Group invests in Taiwan

Tayuan / Weinheim. April 12, 2012. Freudenberg Far Eastern Spunweb is making a two-digit million investment in a new production line for PET spunlaid nonwovens in Taiwan. Production is scheduled to commence in approximately two years. The Tayuan facility will then serve customers in the markets for carpet tiles, automotive interiors, filters and construction. "With this new investment, we are confirming our strong commitment to our global spunlaid business and reinforcing our position as market leader on the Asian market," said Bruce Olson, CEO of Freudenberg Nonwovens.

Established in 1987 as a joint venture between the Freudenberg Group, the Far Eastern New Century Group and Japan Vilene Company, Freudenberg Far Eastern Spunweb Co. has been continuously expanding its production facilities after start up of first production in 1990. In 2007 a second production line with state-of-the-art technology was installed to further strengthen capacity to serve the steady growing Asian market demand. "The construction and automotive industries in particular are growth drivers," Olson said. The new production line scheduled for completion in 2013 will increase capacity in Taiwan by more than 10,000 tons per year. Freudenberg Far Eastern Spunweb Company has a headcount of approximately 140, and supplies customers throughout Asia from locations in Taiwan, Japan, China and India. The product brand names of Lutradur® and Vildona® are well known in the Asian nonwovens market.