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Nonwovens producer Suominen celebrates 120th anniversary

30 Apr '18

2 min read

Courtesy: Suominen

Suominen, a globally leading nonwovens company that manufactures roll goods for wipes, and medical and hygiene products, is celebrating its 120-year history. Juho Wiktor Suominen had established a tannery workshop in Nakkila, Finland on April 16, 1898. One of Suominen Corporation’s eight production plants continues to be located at the same site.

Juho Suominen’s company started out handcrafting leather for local shoemakers, but by 1908, thanks to increasing demand from the shoe industry in Finland, the company was already operating a factory-like tannery powered by a steam engine. Later, the weakening position of the shoe industry and new alternatives to leather entering the market forced the company to change its course.

In 1965 Suominen started manufacturing nonwoven products like carpeting, wadding and single-use wipes, in addition to leather. Since then, Suominen Corporation has produced faux fur and plastic bags, among other things, but from 2014 onwards Suominen has been a purely nonwovens company. Suominen’s nonwovens are currently used as raw material for wipes, sanitary napkins, swabs and many other products.

The Suominen family sold its stake in the company in 1984 and, since then, Suominen has been involved in many acquisitions and divestments of businesses. Suominen, as it is today, was born in 2011, when it acquired Ahlstrom Corporation's home and personal wipes fabrics business area, becoming overnight a market-leading company with operations on three continents.

“Suominen has shed its skin many times in its history. The entrepreneurial mindset that Juho W Suominen rooted in the company during his time has been vital throughout the years, and we continue to cherish it. That is why we call Suominen a community of changemakers,” says Nina Kopola, president & CEO, Suominen Corporation.

Suominen is the global market leader in nonwovens for wipes and employs more than 650 people in Europe and in the Americas. Suominen’s net sales in 2017 amounted to €426 million and operating profit to €15 million. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India