Major investment at Wellman

Wellman International – the leading supplier of recycled polyester to the global nonwovens industry – has marked 40 years of successful operation in Mullagh, County Cavan, Ireland with the announcement of a new €5 million manufacturing line.

And this is just the first phase of proposed investments planned over the next 3-4 years by the company, which is now a subsidiary of Indorama Ventures.

Aloke Lohia and S P Lohia, respectively CEO and chairman of Indorama, joined local management in Ireland to make the announcement. Wellman, which employs 260 people at the Mullagh plant, also has the support of the country’s Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through IDA Ireland.

The investment is aimed at transforming the operation from a provider of fibres for commodity nonswovens  to a hygiene and technically focused supply base aligned to the established markets for personal care.

“Following an in-depth strategic review with our parent company, we are very pleased to be making this investment announcement on our 40th anniversary, which will enable us to manufacture a higher value product portfolio and maintain our current level of employment on site,” said managing director Frank Gleeson. “I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of the workforce who continue to deliver focused effort, commitment and flexibility through this transformation process.”

“This is a very significant announcement by Wellman, which has been a major employer in Cavan for forty years,” said the Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.

Wellman International is Europe’s largest PET recycler, processing  in excess of 2.2 billion post-consumer PET bottles annually.  In 2012 it was the recipient of Ireland's Sustainable Exporter of the year Award.