Oerlikon Manmade Fibres Segment has confirmed a new partnership with Chinese machine and plant manufacturer Shaoyang Textile Machinery at a media conference held at last week’s ITMA Asia exhibition.
Oerlikon is to cooperate with Shaoyang Textile Machinery
Shaoyang Textile Machinery, which specialises in nonwovens solutions in the hygiene market, will work in close collaboration with Oerlikon’s nonwovens segment to boost international sales of spunmelt lines for hygiene applications in the field of disposable nonwovens. It is understood that Oerlikon’s nonwovens division will be responsible for the whole project moving forward. To this end, the Neumünster-based company will contribute its know-how in plant engineering to the partnership.
The deal sees Oerlikon acquire the CE certifications of all exported Shaoyang spunmelt lines. Additionally, the OEM is responsible for product and process guarantees and will also provide worldwide customer services outside China. Shaoyang Textile Machinery, on the other hand, is accountable for supplying the spunmelt plant technologies.
Jianjun Yang, general manager of Shaoyang Textile Machinery, and Georg Stausberg, CEO of Oerlikon Manmade Fibers
“With Shaoyang Textile Machinery, we have found a renowned Chinese plant manufacturer with extensive knowhow in the construction of spunmelt plants for hygiene applications, which achieves international standards with its nonwoven qualities,” says Oerlikon Manmade Fibre Segment CEO, Georg Stausberg.
This announcement signals the importance of the Chinese market to both Oerlikon and its competitors. According to André Wissenberg, Oerlikon’s head of marketing, corporate communications and public affairs, China accounts for 50% of the company’s manmade fibre sales.
Rainer Straub, head of Oerlikon’s nonwoven business unit, adds: “The partnership with Shaoyang Textile Machinery enables us to gain a foothold in the highly-competitive hygiene market. Our many years of engineering experience guarantee our customers’ production lines according to international standards for high-quality nonwovens.”
