Teijin to reorganise polyester & aramid fibre businesses

Teijin Limited announced that it would integrate its industrial-application polyester fibres business and the Products Converting Business Group to form the new Fibres & Products Converting Business Group next April 1, aiming to strengthen and expand these businesses under a new structure. Industrial-application polyester fibres are currently part of the High Performance Fibres Business Unit, which is in the Advanced Fibres & Composites Business Group. The unit will specialise in aramid fibres business after the reorganisation.

The reorganisation will establish a structure for providing maximum customer value with existing polyester and aramid-fiber products and services for industrial applications. It also will facilitate new development activities. The reorganisation accords with Teijin’s strategy to become a company that supports future society by leveraging core strengths for the provision of solutions based on integrated high-performance materials and technologies, and by collaborating with customers to provide new value needed by society.

The Fibres & Products Converting Business Group will strengthen the competitiveness of Teijin’s polyester fibres businesses and develop solutions based on Teijin’s highly competitive materials. For apparel applications, it will strengthen development through the establishment of an extra-reliable supply chain that newly integrates R&D and raw material and fibre productions with existing textile-processing and sewn-products supply functions. For industrial applications, the group will provide trusted high-end solutions for automobiles and other segments by reinforcing supply capabilities through the integration of functions ranging from materials development and processing to final production.

The existing High Performance Fibres Business Unit will continue to manage Teijin’s aramid fibres global business. It also will proactively develop solutions in a broadened range of fields and applications. This will be done in collaboration with Teijin Aramid B.V., utilising respective global business bases and sales networks for the provision of advanced para- and meta-aramid fibres, which offer different properties.

The High Performance Fibers Business Unit integrated Teijin Group’s domestic polyester fibers business and aramid fibers business for industrial applications in October 2012. The reorganisation has enabled the unit to identify and deliver solutions quickly and accelerate development of the materials’ end-product application.

The existing Products Converting Business Group has development, technologies and procurement capabilities for a broad range of materials. It combines textile-processing technologies with converting know-how and networks centered on Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd.

The decision to form the Fibres & Products Converting Business Group is based on Teijin’s recognition of synergies between its development and production functions for polyester fibres and processing technologies and marketing functions for textiles.

The integration of related strengths in technology, functions and marketing has great potential to enhance Teijin Group’s capability to offer new solutions. In terms of aramid fibres, the High Performance Fibres Business Unit will continuously realise accelerated marketing functions needed to serve growing global demand for products that offer properties such as high tensile strength, tensile modulus and impact resistance.

“The High Performance Fibres Business Unit has earned the confidence of customers as a material manufacturer and provider of polyester fibres for a broad range of industrial applications, including automobiles, bedding and infrastructure,” says Masaya Endo, General Manager of Advanced Fibers & Composites Business Group of Teijin Group. “I am convinced that this reorganisation will strengthen our capability to provide advanced solutions for polyester fibres, and it will enable us to strengthen our commitment to meeting diverse global needs for aramid fibres.”

“The Products Converting Business Group has been providing unique solutions through hybrid businesses combining converting and manufacturing, paying close attention to needs for polyester fibres in apparel applications,” says Shinji Nikko, General Manager of Products Converting Business Group of Teijin Group.

“The new Group will develop an integrated system-from production to sales-and leverage the expertise of the existing Products Converting Business Group by complementing business functions in polyester fibres for industrial applications.”