Avgol, is set to open a new $60m manufacturing site in Dimona, Israel, as part of the its ambition to grow its customer base in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America. The site will run a state-of-the-art Reicofil 4 line with SSMMS and twin calendar configuration, enabling Avgol to offer customers in the region the most advanced innovations in baby diapers, adult incontinence products and feminine hygiene items. It will also bring its Israeli business in line with the capabilities of other Avgol sites around the world.

The line is scheduled to be complete this month and is expected to be commercialized by July 2017.

Gilad Frenkel, vice president of sales and marketing at Avgol, says: “Avgol is focused on growing its multinational presence and strengthening its position within the EMEA and LA regions. To do this, we need to have world-class operations that will allow us to deliver the very best new product developments that are demanded by our customers in what is a very diverse market.”

He adds, “The new line means Avgol will be able to offer a wider choice of materials and solutions that demonstrate our expertise and which respond to changing consumer and brand requirements.”

Commenting on the current market situation, Gilad said innovation was being driven by customer ‘desires’ becoming clear needs and requirements.

“There has been a shift towards innovation that addresses customer preferences in terms of softness, dryness, leak prevention, cost/value and light weight,” he says. “Striking the balance between softness and weight is a key challenge for manufacturers and consumers place a high premium on comfort. Once they find it, they are very brand loyal and Avgol’s cutting-edge soft technologies enable us to deliver high performing, soft-touch products around the world meeting this need.”

Such technologies involve bicomponent, special soft patterns and soft chemistry.

Avgol supplies manufacturers and brands in 32 countries from existing production sites in Israel, the U.S., China and Russia.
The opening of the new Israeli site, located in the Negev desert, forms part of a huge multi-million dollar investment and expansion program by the company. Additional investments include a second production line in Russia last year and a fifth line is currently being complete at a site in Mocksville, NC.