Freudenberg Nonwovens, a business group within the Freudenberg Group, has announced plans to
reorganize its staple fiber business at its headquarters in Weinheim, Germany. The company will
reduce production capacity, citing reduced demand in the apparel industry, which has been
substituting increasing amounts of lower-priced woven and knitted interlinings for traditional
staple fiber nonwoven products.
As part of the restructuring, Freudenberg Nonwovens will close a production plant, likely
impacting 52 associates. In addition, the company will introduce more flexibility and faster
response within the Weinheim staple fiber business by systematically realigning it with the
apparel, filtration, medical and industrial market segments, including simplifying cooperation
between sales and production and allowing each division to pursue its own strategy.
Going forward, the company’s Interlinings Division will focus on its core business and new
developments, including new products and applications such as elastic nonwovens for outer fabric
applications.
Established in 1936 in Weinheim, Freudenberg Nonwovens today operates 21 manufacturing and
processing facilities in 13 countries and employs more than 3,150 associates. The company’s 2011
sales totaled more than 660 million euros.
September 11, 2012
