Asahi Kasei Fibers Corp. (Osaka, Japan; www.asahi-kasei.co.jp/fibers/en/) will construct a new production facility for Bemliese cellulose nonwoven fabric in Nobeoka, Miyazaki, Japan at the site of the company’s former polyester plant. The new plant’s production capacity is approximately 1,500 metric tons per year (m.t./yr). Groundbreaking will occur in late 2015, with startup scheduled for March 2017.
Bemliese is said to be the world’s only continuous-filament cellulose nonwoven fabric. It is composed of regenerated cellulose fiber made from cotton linter, the short fibers on cotton seeds. These natural origins impart a high level of environmental compatibility, which makes Bemliese a suitable material for a wide range of applications—in the skincare and medical fields, as wipers for industrial and commercial use, in landscaping, and in beverage filtration.
Sold in markets around the world, Bemliese is enjoying particularly strong growth in skincare applications, and such demand growth is forecasted to continue. The new production facility will enable Asahi Kasei Fibers to better meet the needs of customers as markets for Bemliese expand worldwide.