#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2019-09-05

Toray agrees to acquire Alva Sweden AB

Toray Industries, Inc. announced that it has concluded an agreement with AB Anders Westerlind to decision to purchase all of the shares of Alva Sweden AB (“ASE”), a manufacturer of cushions for automotive airbag systems, and acquire ASE and its two subsidiaries, Alva Confecções S.A. of Portugal and Alva Tunisia SA of Tunisia (these three entities are hereafter collectively referred to as “Alva”). AB Anders Westerlind wholly owns ASE. The transaction would close soon after required official procedures are completed.

1. Market Background

The global airbag market is steadily growing. Demand continues to expand supported by tightening of vehicle safety regulations in leading nations together with increasing employment of this safety equipment in the emerging nations. Another positive factor is that requirement for higher performance airbags is rising with the emergence of next-gen vehicles equipped with self-driving and other new technologies which should cause a commensurate need for greater safety.

Toray’s airbag business encompasses nylon fiber production operations in Japan, Thailand, and Mexico and fabric manufacturing sites in Japan, Thailand, China, the Czech Republic, India, and Mexico. The company is taking advantage of the competitiveness of its integrated fiber and fabric capabilities and the global production and sales structure to supply airbag fabric of the same quality from all production sites in a timely manner.

Alva has manufactured cushions for automotive airbag systems in Europe since 1997. It has earned an outstanding reputation among leading European module manufacturers for its own technologies and manufacturing expertise with state-of-the-art facilities.

2. Acquisition Backdrop and Goals

Toray has built positive ties with Alva over the years by supplying it with fabric. The acquisition agreement was the fruit of discussions between the two companies that started in 2018. This was in light of Toray’s desire to accelerate advances in its integrated operations by entering more downstream business of cushions and extending its supply chain, thereby driving ongoing growth in the airbag business in response to the market changes outlined above.

The acquisition should enable Toray to enhance direct relationship and dealings with module manufacturers and, through them, with automakers, and should enable it to swiftly identify the latest airbag development trends and customer needs. Toray also looks to incorporate Alva’s cushion-manufacturing expertise in fabric design to bolster its product development and proposal capabilities by drawing on more robust fiber, fabric, and sewing integration. The company thereby aims to help materialize high-performance airbags by heightening its presence among module manufacturers and automakers.

Toray seeks to further expand its business to capitalize on vigorous demand and needs in the highly promising airbag market.

Toray Industries and MAS Holdings announce Joint Venture in Odisha, India

Toray Industries (H.K.) Ltd., has officially entered a joint venture with South Asia’s largest apparel manufacturer MAS Holdings, marking a unique opportunity to enhance the two companies’ supply chain capabilities and pursue product manufacturing within and for the fast-growing Indian market. The joint venture, operating under the name Toray MAS Apparel India, will see the establishment of a new manufacturing facility at the MAS Apparel Park Bhuinpur in Odisha, India, which is currently under development.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

Barmag and Hitech Automation enter into partnership for an auto-doff system for texturing machines

Barmag (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Hitech Automation Solutions PVT LTD. of Surat, India, have agreed to an exclusive partnership to jointly market Hitech’s Doffmatic automation solution for Barmag’s proven manual eFK texturing machines. In many texturing facilities, manual doffing processes remain heavily operator-dependent – resulting in issues such as increased scrap, inconsistent quality, and limited productivity.

Uster’s new Recycling Opening Index guides spinners to the perfect blend

Uster AFIS 6 now offers the key data for better decisions when blending recycled fibers. Process control is decisive in determining the quality and economic outcome. The new R Recycling Module of AFIS 6 introduces the Recycling Opening Index (ROI), so spinners can optimize their circularity credentials. It was officially launched at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The heart of the technical textiles and nonwovens world will beat in Istanbul

Only 1 day remains until HIGHTEX 2026 International Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition opens its doors. Bringing together manufacturers, technology developers, investors, and industry professionals from around the world, HIGHTEX 2026 is preparing to showcase the innovations shaping the future of the industry. As the countdown to this major event continues, Istanbul is once again getting ready to become the meeting point of the global technical textiles industry.

Grasim Industries announces fresh investment of ₹3094 Crore to expand Lyocell capacity

Grasim Industries Limited, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group and a global leader in cellulosic fibres, today announced an investment of ₹3,094 crore, for Phase II Lyocell capacity of 110K TPA at Harihar, Karnataka. This expansion will consist of 2 lines of 55K TPA (150 Tons per day) each. The first line is expected to be commissioned by 2028, and the second line is expected to be commissioned by 2030.