Dr. Karl Wetekam & Co. KG, a Germany-based producer of monofilaments and grass yarns, has
opened Wetekam Monofilaments US Inc. in Spartanburg to serve the North American technical
monofilament and artificial grass markets. Wetekam Monofilaments has begun importing products from
Germany, but also will begin production on 10 monofilament lines it purchased from
Spartanburg-based Teijin Monofilament US Inc. after Tokyo-based Teijin Group liquidated its U.S.
monofilament subsidiary as part of its restructuring measures
(See ”
Teijin
Restructures Polyester Fibers Business, Consolidates US Film Production,” Aug. 18, 2009).
Production likely will be established in the Spartanburg area, although an exact location is yet to
be determined.
The company will produce technical monofilaments for polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene
and varieties of nylon, as well as artificial grass yarns based on various polymers and polymer
blends. Those yarns can be produced in a range of colors and shapes and may be texturized or
twisted to meet customer specifications.
Michelle Diaz and Bruce Stroupe, former employees of Teijin Monofilaments US Inc., will lead
Wetekam Monofilaments US.
March 2, 2010
