Manufacturer of nonwovens, films and composite materials for the hygiene, medical and industrial markets
Fitesa Nonwovens
Porto Alegre (BR) · Peine (DE) · Trezzano Rosa (IT) · Sulmona (IT) · Norrköping/Åby (SE) · Simpsonville (US) · among others 23 sites in 13 countriesNew on Amplifa
About Fitesa
Fitesa Nonwovens is a globally active manufacturer of nonwovens, films and composite materials headquartered in Porto Alegre (Brazil). The company produces using the Spunbond, Spunmelt, Meltblown, Carded, Airlaid and Spunlace technologies as well as films and elastic bands at 23 production sites in 13 countries. Its main fields of application are the hygiene and healthcare sector (diapers, feminine hygiene, adult incontinence, wipes, surgical and medical products) as well as industrial applications. Production is primarily based on polypropylene, and additionally on bio-based and circular polymers such as bioPE and PLA using the mass balance approach (ISCC Plus certified at the Sweden site). Fitesa operates five innovation centers, four of them with pilot lines, and supplies customers worldwide. European production sites are located in Peine (Germany), Trezzano Rosa and Sulmona (Italy), and Norrköping/Åby (Sweden).
- Site
- Porto Alegre (BR)
- Processes
- Spunbond, Spunmelt, Meltblown, Carded nonwovens, Airlaid, Spunlace (hydroentanglement), Films, Elastics (elastic bands)
- Materials
- Polypropylene (PP), bioPE, PLA, Bio-based and circular polymers, Bio-based and circular polymers (Mass Balance), Spunbond, Spunmelt, Meltblown
- Certificates
- ISCC Plus
- Founded
- 1973
- Employees
- more than 2,600
- Industries
- Hygiene, Medical/Healthcare, Industrial, Wipes, Baby Wipes
- 01
Polymer goods receipt
- 02
Nonwoven formation (Spunbond/Spunmelt/Meltblown/Carded/Airlaid/Spunlace)
- 03
Film and elastic extrusion
- 04
Composite/lamination
- 05
Testing and converting
- 06
Logistics and worldwide distribution
Materials and Processes
Polypropylene (PP)
Main material for Spunbond, Spunmelt, Meltblown and film products.
bioPE
Bio-based polyethylene for sustainable Spunmelt nonwovens.
PLA
Bio-based plastic for Full High Loft and standard Spunmelt products.
Bio-based and circular polymers (Mass Balance)
Conversion of bio-based and circular polymers into high-quality Spunbond nonwovens, ISCC Plus certified at the Sweden site.
Spunbond
Continuous filament nonwovens for hygiene and medical products.
Spunmelt
Multilayer spunbond combinations, among others on Reicofil 5 lines.
Meltblown
Fine-fiber nonwovens, among others for masks and respiratory protection.
Carded nonwovens
Nonwovens made from bio-based, recycled and circular fibers.
Airlaid
Air-laid nonwovens for absorbent applications.
Spunlace (hydroentanglement)
Hydroentangled nonwovens, primarily for baby wipes, using ANDRITZ Jetlace/neXdry technology.
Films
Polypropylene films for the hygiene industry.
Elastic bands
Elastic bands for hygiene and medical products.
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpunbondPlastics | – | – | – | – | Polypropylene (PP), Bio-based and circular polymers, bioPE, PLA |
| SpunmeltPlastics | – | – | – | – | Polypropylene (PP), bioPE, PLA |
| MeltblownPlastics | – | – | – | – | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Carded nonwovensPlastics | – | – | – | – | bio-based, recycled and circular fibers |
| AirlaidPlastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Spunlace (hydroentanglement)Plastics | – | – | – | – | bio-based, recycled and circular fibers |
| FilmsPlastics | – | – | – | – | Polypropylene (PP) |
| Elastics (elastic bands)Plastics | – | – | – | – | – |
| Full High Loft spunmeltPlastics | – | – | – | – | bioPE, PLA |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spunmelt line (multibeam Reicofil 5) | Reifenhäuser Reicofil 5 | 1 | – | Start-up | Simpsonville, SC, USA |
| Spunmelt line (multibeam Reicofil 5) | Reifenhäuser Reicofil 5 | 1 | – | Start-up | Europe (site not specified) |
| Meltblown line | – | 1 | – | – | Simpsonville, SC, USA |
| Spunlace line (Jetlace hydroentanglement + neXdry through-air dryer) | ANDRITZ Jetlace / neXdry | 1 | – | Start-up | Jacareí, SP, Brazil |
| Multilayer nonwovens production line | – | 1 | – | 2006 | Gravataí, RS, Brazil |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
Fitesa works according to company-wide quality guidelines with the aim of delivering the right product in the right quantity and on time, free from contamination and with the required physical properties. Fitesa Sweden is ISCC Plus certified for the marketing of bio-based and circular materials under the mass balance concept.
| Evidence | Norrköping (Åby) |
|---|---|
| ISCC Plus |
History
- 1973
Founded by the Chinese immigrant Sheun Ming Ling for the production of PP packaging, carpet backing and staple fibers
- 1989
Start of Spunbond nonwovens production in Gravataí, RS (Brazil)
- 2006
First multilayer nonwovens production line in Gravataí
- 2009
Establishment of the FitesaFiberweb joint venture in the Americas
- 2011
100% acquisition of the FitesaFiberweb JV and Fiberweb's global hygiene business; second-largest Spunmelt manufacturer for the hygiene market
- 2013
40th anniversary
- 2017
Acquisition of Pantex International including a site in the UAE
- 2018
Majority stake in CNC International (FitesaCNC); expansion into Southeast Asia
- 2020
Acquisitions of Tredegar Personal Care, Freudenberg Hygiene Brazil and Fiber Dynamics
- 2021
Investments: Reicofil 5 in Simpsonville (USA), Spunlace line in Jacareí (Brazil), Multibeam Reicofil 5 line in Europe
- 2022
For the fourth consecutive year, ranked No. 1 among Brazilian companies with the largest international presence (Fundação Dom Cabral)
- 2023
50th anniversary