Other Release
ES FiberVisions Expands Globally
The ES FiberVisions joint venture is the world’s largest producer of polyolefin bicomponent fibers and has production facilities in China, Denmark, Japan, Thailand and the United States.
Over 100 government representatives, customers, suppliers and contractors attended the opening ceremony. It was hosted by Mr. Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures, Dr. Yasuyuki Gotoh, CEO and President of JNC, Mr. Yozo Shimomura, Chairman of ESFV and Managing Executive Officer of JNC and Mr. Tom Zaiser, CEO of FiberVisions.
Mr. Lohia noted that this plant reflects the partners’ strong commitment to growth worldwide and “will allow ES FiberVisions to continue delivering the differentiated bicomponent fibers that our customers need in order to be successful in their businesses.”
Mr. Gotoh commented, “At this Thai factory, a key center for supply to the Southeast Asian region, we have introduced global cutting-edge technology. We believe that the state-of-the-art ES fiber produced here will not only contribute to the development of the Thai economy but also help all the citizens of countries in the ASEAN region lead more comfortable lives.”
Mr. Zaiser added, “It is only with the success of our customers that we achieve the ultimate goal of this project.”
The partners also announced that they would be expanding bicomponent manufacturing at the FiberVisions facility in Covington, Georgia, USA. The expanded capacity is expected to be on-line at the end of 2017. This initiative will support the growing need for bicomponent fibers in the hygiene and industrial sectors in the Americas.
Growth in Asia is being further supported with a previously announced expansion of the ES FiberVisions Suzhou Co., Ltd. plant in Jiangsu Province, China. This facility started production in 2014. The expansion will double its capacity to over 28,000 tons per year and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2018. A ground-breaking ceremony for a new warehouse and ancillary facilities was held in mid-December.
Mr. Shimomura stated, “With this investment in Suzhou, we will accelerate our growth in China and Asia and will secure the capacity that meets the strong demand for our high quality bicomponent fibers. As a pioneer of bicomponent fiber, ES FiberVisions continues to be the leading supplier in the world.”
Photo from Left to right:
Yozo Shimomura Chairman ES Fibervisions ; Dr Y Gotoh President JNC ; Aloke Lohia GCEO IVL ; Uday Gill CEO IVL ; Tom Zaiser, CEO , Fibervisions
ES FiberVisions Plant in Rayong, Thailand
About ES FiberVisions: ES FiberVisions is the joint sales company set up by FiberVisions Corporation and JNC Corporation in 2000. In 2011, JNC and FiberVisions formed ES FiberVisions Suzhou to manufacture bicomponent fibers to expand the business in the growing Chinese market. This was followed by the establishment of ES FiberVisions Thailand in 2014 to meet customers’ growing demands in Asia for innovative, high-quality bicomponent fibers. ES FiberVisions is the world’s largest producer of polyolefin bicomponent fibers. ES FiberVisions manufactures and markets bicomponent fibers made of two thermo-plastic polymers with different melting points and was the first bicomponent fiber produced successfully on a commercial scale. ES
FiberVisions’ bicomponent fibers can be converted into nonwoven fabrics by heating the fibers without adhesives, creating nonwoven fabrics that are softer and bulkier than those produced by competing technologies. Nonwoven fabrics made of ES FiberVisions’ bicomponent fibers are widely used in hygiene products such as baby diapers, wet wipes and feminine care products.
About FiberVisions Corporation: FiberVisions Corporation is the world’s largest producer of polypropylene staple fiber and, through its ES FiberVisions joint venture with JNC Corporation, the world’s largest producer of polyolefin bicomponent fibers. FiberVisions has facilities in the United States, Denmark and China and is a subsidiary of Indorama Ventures.
About JNC Corporation: JNC Corporation is a leading chemical company based in Japan that aims to contribute to society’s progress through superior technology. It has created progressive products and technologies ever since its founding in 1906, and its mission is to contribute to comfortable living and sustainable industry as well as creating products and technologies in harmony with Earth’s environment. The Company has three main product areas: Consumer Oriented Goods (including Fibers and Nonwoven Fabric, Precise Fabricated Products, and Plastic Products and Filters), Performance Products (including Liquid Crystals & Peripheral Materials, Electronic Components, and Electronics & IT Materials), and Energy and the Environment (including Power Generation, Battery, Fertilizers, and Environmental Protection).