#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2020-04-06

Suominen and Ahlstrom-Munksjö strengthen their co-operation

Suominen and Ahlstrom-Munksjö have signed a multi-year commercial agreement that renews and strengthens the existing co-operation at the Ställdalen plant in Sweden. The agreement secures supplies from Ställdalen to Suominen's customers for several years and will also considerably improve the companies' joint service to the customers.

Ställdalen manufactures Suominen’s HYDRASPUN® product family mainly for the European market. HYDRASPUN® products are 100% biodegradable and produced from renewable materials. The products are considered category leader in the Moist Toilet Tissue segment (MTT). Suominen produces the same products at its Windsor Locks and Bethune plants in the US and the signed commercial agreement further improves Suominen's ability to serve its customers around the world. The agreement gives the customers a possibility to cross-qualify production sites on different continents and hence increase their security of supply.

“This agreement is a very important milestone for Suominen and secures our ability to serve our customers for the coming years. The products manufactured by Ställdalen are an important part of our sustainable offering and thus an integral part of our strategy. The closer co-operation with Ahlstrom-Munksjö will also improve our ability to launch new sustainable innovations such as HYDRASPUN® Royal with the Fine-to-Flush certificate or new products with dispersibility like toilet paper,” says Petri Helsky, President & CEO of Suominen.

“Thanks to continuous product development, Ställdalen is on the forefront of manufacturing of wipes substrates. This long term agreement further reinforces the long lasting partnership that Ahlstrom-Munksjö and Suominen have in this segment. Our cooperation will allow us to better serve the market place and improve customer satisfaction thanks to greater agility,” says Hans Sohlström, President and CEO of Ahlstrom-Munksjö.

Francois Guetat joins Suominen as COO

Francois Guetat brings over two decades of global experience in operations, supply chain, and manufacturing excellence. Most recently, he served as SVP of Integrated Supply Chain at Kalmar, where he led business across sourcing, manufacturing, logistics and strategy. His leadership has been shaped by 22 years at Volvo, where he held key roles in Sweden, USA, and Poland.

Suominen reports decline in sales and earnings – Cost savings program and leadership change to drive recovery

Finnish nonwovens manufacturer Suominen Corporation has reported a noticeable drop in both revenue and profitability for the first half of 2025, reflecting a challenging global trade environment, particularly the impact of recent U.S. tariffs, as well as persistently high energy and raw material costs.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

ISKO’s denim language at Bluezone

ISKO returns to Bluezone to showcase its latest advancements in denim innovation, presenting a comprehensive overview of its SS27 collection alongside key creative and technological collaborations. At booth C02, ISKO offers visitors an immersive look into how performance, design, and circular thinking are shaping the future of denim.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Exchange data between textile companies openly, securely and cost-effectively without a central platform – ITA makes it possible

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University has launched a new demonstrator for an open and secure data space in the textile industry at the Digital Innovation Centre Europe (DICE). For the first time, the demonstrator shows directly and clearly how companies can share their data securely with each other without the need for a central platform. Data exchange is based on shared, freely usable technical foundations.

Kelheim Fibres GmbH informs about the closure of operations

The management of Kelheim Fibres GmbH informs that business operations will be terminated as of 31 March 2026. A continuation of the company beyond this date is not possible. The investor and sales process conducted within the framework of the self-administration did not lead to a positive outcome. The potential strategic investor who most recently entered the process has withdrawn from a potential investment at short notice.