$50 million Fitesa expansion

Fitesa – which has recently introduced a a bicomponent spunbond consisting of Braskem’s I’m Green 100% biobased polyethylene and NatureWorks’ 100% biobased Ingeo PLA – is to invest a further $50 million at its plant in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

The new investment will create 32 new jobs and significantly increase production capacity for the company’s spunmelt nonwovens for hygiene products.

“Our mission is to be the preferred choice for the supply of nonwoven fabrics to the global hygiene industry and to deliver high quality products with exceptional service and sustainable processes,” said Ray Dunleavy, director of marketing for Fitesa Simpsonville. “Fitesa Simpsonville, which is the global headquarters and one of ten Fitesa plants in eight countries on four continents, competed with other Fitesa locations in Washington and Wisconsin for the investment.”

Fitesa’s products provide a variety of physical and aesthetic properties, including softness, strength, barrier, abrasion resistance, extensibility and sustainability, and are extensively used in such consumer goods as baby diapers and adult continence products.

The expansion at the plant will be completed by November 2014.