Trevira looks back on an eventful year 2019

Trevira GmbH & Trevira CS: 2019 business and 2020 business outlook

However, in spite of the difficult situation, 2019 was also a year in which Trevira was able to take important steps to set the course for the future. With the support of Trevira’s parent company Indorama Ventures PCL, important investment projects could be implemented. Measures were taken at both production sites to continue to secure business. As early as April, Trevira was able to put the new twin warping machine in Guben into operation and, in addition, new POY spinning machines were also started up. Funds were also invested in the fibre business in Bobingen, Germany: In November, Trevira’s second own converting line was successfully launched. Moreover, in order to expand the bi-component fibre business, a new spinning plant is now also available.

Social demands for more sustainability concerning the use of plastic have led to rethinking among customers and consumers. Here, Trevira relies on various processes to recover reusable materials. In post-consumer recycling, filaments and fibres are produced from regranulated PET bottles. Using an agglomeration facility, reusable materials can be recovered from production waste and processed further to create new high-quality products. This is a pre-consumer recycling method. Trevira has all products and processes from both methods certified according to the GRS standard (Global Recycled Standard).

Overall, a continuing trend in favour of special fibres and a greater demand for PLA or bio-based fibres can be recorded. The demand for antimony-free raw materials in the fibre sector also develops positively. In 2020, the polycondensation capacities in the Trevira plant in Bobingen will be fully utilized.

The flame retardant fibre and yarn business was also marked by a very challenging year: challenges that included numerous trade conflicts, the unsolved issue regarding BREXIT, as well as uncertainties about the further developments in Turkey and the Middle East. Compared to 2018, there has been an obvious restraint along the value chain on the contract market in respect to new orders and consequently, Trevira was unable to reach its targets set for 2019 in full.

European countries, in particular Germany, Italy, and Scandinavia remain the main markets for our direct business with flame retardant Trevira fibres and yarns. A most positive sign is that the global reach of the Trevira CS brand, which stands for flame retardant textile fabrics, is on course for further growth. This can be seen in the growing number of enquiries from the USA/Canada, Asia, Australia, and Russia.

In 2020, Trevira will continue to take various combinations of measures. Initially, focus will be on the enhancement of synergy effects, which result from the recent purchase of the Italian polyester filament manufacturer Sinterama Spa by Indorama Ventures PCL. Numerous new and further developments, particularly in the area of sustainable products and the Trevira CS product range, represent great potential.

“This year, we will be at the Heimtextil trade fair together with 31 customers. We are confident that this presence as well as the introduction of the new variants of our Trevira CS brand, which stand for more flexibility in design and sustainability, will have a positive impact,” says Trevira CEO Klaus Holz.