Freudenberg Nonwovens plans to restructure its staple fiber business at the Weinheim, Germany location. The move is motivated by undiminished market pressure from the apparel industry to use larger quantities of lower-priced woven and knitted interlinings rather than staple fiber products. The reorganization also entails capacity adjustments.

Capacity adjustments also include the closure of a production plant. Based on the information currently available, 52 associates will likely be affected. Negotiations with the Works Council to find socially compatible solutions are being initiated, according to Freudenberg.

Furthermore, the staple fiber business at the Weinheim site is to be systematically oriented to the market segments of apparel, filtration, medical and industrial applications, in order to respond more flexibly to market needs. Integrating production lines into these segments will allow a swifter response to customers’ wishes, the company says. Cooperation between Sales and Production will become simpler and each division will be able to focus on its own strategy.

With this new organization, the Interlinings division will be able to concentrate all activities on its core business and focus more intensively on new developments. Innovative products and applications such as elastic nonwovens that adapt to outer fabrics and provide optimum wearing comfort help strengthen competitiveness and generate growth.

Freudenberg Nonwovens is the world’s largest producer of nonwovens, with 21 manufacturing and processing sites in 13 countries. The company manufactures interlinings for the apparel industry and nonwovens for the following markets: Energy, Automotive Interiors, Hygiene, Medical, Building Interiors, Geotextiles and Specialties.