Glatfelter, a manufacture of fiber-based engineered materials and specialty papers globally, has planned to extend the capacity of its Composite Fibers business unit.
An amount of US$50 million will be invested by the company for its Germany facility, Gernsbach, in order to increase its slanting wire capacity by around 10,500 short tons, or almost 20%. This will be made possible by upgrading its conventional flat wire paper machine to a modern inclined wire paper machine that is utilized to make filter papers for single-serve coffee and tea bag applications as well as technical specialties and some composite laminate products.
The CEO and Chairman of Glatfelter, has commented that the composite fibers business delivery has been improved by around 20% in the previous two years, mainly driven by the strong requirement for beverage filter papers globally. Since the company’s continuous initiatives have created considerable incremental capacity, the expansion of this business has been higher than its organic capacity gains. This business expansion will allow the company to meet the increasing demand of the main clients of the market with advanced and novel products and it will establish the company’s position in this fast-growing international category.
The company will commence this project during the year, 2012. It is anticipating that the latest machine will start the production in the first quarter of the year 2013. Glatfelter is expecting to attain a 15% to 20% return by this asset in three years and has abundant liquidity to support the project.