The recent joint venture of Fitesa and Fiberweb will establish its headquarters based in Simpsonville, SC, where Fiberweb already operates a facility, adding at least 67 new jobs to the area. The venture will make a capital investment in excess of $100 million during the next five years, includingtwo state-of-the-art manufacturing lines that will produce lightweight nonwovens for hygiene products. The manufacturing plant will also serve as the corporate headquarters for FitesaFiberweb. The venture also includes manufacturing facilities in Washington State, Mexico and Brazil and is the second largest hygiene nonwovens manufacturer in the Americas.

“We are delighted that Fitesa and Fiberweb have been able to create this imaginative venture swiftly and smoothly,” said FitesaFiberweb CFO Hal Singley, Jr. “We share a common interest in implementing a model that focuses scarce capital on cost-effective investment to meet customers’ needs for leading-edge products on a regional and global basis, and that allows economies of scale to be achieved.”

“This partnership with an existing South Carolina company brings opportunity for both an existing business and a new investor in our state. While Fitesa’s investment will be made in a new location, this joint venture still affords new employment opportunities for the entire Upstate region. Thanks to the team efforts of state and local leaders, a South Carolina company will grow and new job opportunities will be available for our residents,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

“FitesaFiberweb’s decision to launch their joint venture here in Greenville County is great news,” added H.G. “Butch” Kirven, chairman of Greenville County Council. “This is an outstanding organization and this venture brings with it more good jobs for our citizens. This new investment affirms that specialty textile manufacturing businesses can be successful and thrive here.”

“We’re pleased that the leadership of FitesaFiberweb recognized the great opportunity for long-term success that Greenville County offers their new company,” said Mike Buiter, chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “As globally respected manufacturers with innovative processes, an international customer base and corporate track records of positive growth, this announcement by FitesaFiberweb is a positive statement for Greenville County’s growing business community.”

Before partnering with Fiberweb, Fitesa has planned on adding a two-line operation in North America in Laurens County, SC. The Brazilian nonwovens producer once operated a U.S. site in Mooresville, NC, which it sold to PGI in the 1990s. Fiberweb has operated the Simpsonville site for two decades and has North American operations in Washington and Mexico. In recent years, the company had shied away from investing in spunmelt assets in recent years until reaching the agreement with Fitesa.