Avgol, the global leader in the manufacture of nonwoven solutions for hygiene markets, is set to open a new $60m manufacturing site in Dimona, Israel, as part of the company’s 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 diaper products, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene. It will also bring its Israeli business in line with the capabilities of other Avgol sites around the world.
The line is being commissioned in March and is expected to be commercialised by July 2017.
Gilad Frenkel, vice president of sales and marketing at Avgol, said: “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.
“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.
He said: “There has been a shift towards innovation that addresses customer preferences in terms of softness, dryness, leak prevention, cost/value and light weight. 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 Bi-component, special soft patterns and soft chemistry.
The opening of the new Israeli site, located in the Negev desert, forms part of a huge multi-million dollar investment and expansion programme by the company. A second production line was installed at its Russian site last year and a fifth line is currently being commissioned at a site in Mocksville, North Carolina.