Within one year we built up a new production site in Mills River, with a new state-of-the-art Spunlace line and modern Lab and Offices. By the end of 2018 we will have created about 35 new positions.
With our first American production site we continue the growth of the company. In the 1980s Norafin developed its first spunlace line in Europe and started commercial production there. In the following years we had constant growth of the German production site in Mildenau and improved our knowledge with our needlepunch and spunlace production line. In 2013 Norafin expanded its production site with a second spunlace line. This was so we could meet increasing demands for specialized nonwovens and to broaden its assortment of high-quality technical textiles. Currently the company employs 180 people in Mildenau.
With the change of shareholders and the decision to expand Norafin’s production capacity in the US, our next important milestone for our future was made. On June 7th, 2017, we hosted the ground-breaking ceremony at 111 School House Road in Mills River, North Carolina. With help from the German investor’s VR Equitypartner, Maxburg Capital and some members of the Company Management, Norafin has invested within the last 12 months around € 20 million in the new production facility.
Exactly one year later, on June 7th, 2018, the inauguration of the new spunlace line in Mills River took place. Norafin invited guests, which include representatives from the economic, political and industrial sectors, as well as the company’s employees. The new line can produce technical nonwovens with a width of up to 2.8 m/ 110 inches, and with a weight between 20-500 g/m2/ / 0.6- 14.75 oz/sq.yd. Both chemically produced high-performance fibers (Polyester, P84, meta/ para aramid) and natural fibers (Viscose, Tencel) can be processed on this unit.
Partners of the customized unit are the Dilo Group with Temafa and Spinnbau for Opening & Carding, Trützschler Nonwovens with the AquaJet for spunlacing, Brückner with the Power Frame for drying & stretching, and Menzel with Winder and Slitter.
With a good team and a high-quality standard, the new spunlace line enables Norafin to be even more responsive to US market demands. It expands the selection of specialized nonwovens even further, and with that strengthens our longtime presence on the American market. Norafins third spunlace line will make products made in the USA.