SIC 2297 Nonwoven Fabrics

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT.
• ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE.
• BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT.
• CURRENT CONDITIONS.
• INDUSTRY LEADERS.
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 2297

Included in this category are establishments that are primarily engaged in manufacturing nonwoven fabrics by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means, or by combinations thereof. Establishments that are primarily engaged in producing woven felts are classified in SIC 2231: Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Wool (Including Dyeing and Finishing). Those producing other felts are classified in SIC 2299: Textile Goods, Not Elsewhere Classified.

NAICS CODE(S)

313230

Nonwoven Fabric Mills

INDUSTRY SNAPSHOT

The nonwoven fabrics industry was one of the fastest growing sectors of the textile business, but global recession affected many end-user markets and led to declining demand. Nonetheless, new end uses, replacing those in the woven and knitted sector, are being developed every day. Additionally, new entrants to the market, along with expansions by East Asian producers, have expanded industry capacity. All this has led to lower operating costs for producers and a more competitive market.

The production of nonwoven fabrics requires a substantial capital investment and a relatively small workforce. Therefore, it is not an attractive industry for developing countries where finding employment for numerous people is a prime objective.

This category requires sophisticated, electronically controlled machinery and highly trained fabric engineers. In almost all cases where nonwoven fabrics can be substituted for woven and knitted fabrics, the result is a less expensive product.

A wide variety of products are made using the nonwoven process. They are generated by textile-, paper-, and/or extrusion-type processes. Nonwovens produced from textile-type processes include filtration fabrics, shoe furnishings, insulation padding, apparel components, wipes, medical dressings, medical apparel, coverstock, foodservice wipes, and automotive headliner. Nonwovens from paper-type processes include tea bags, surgical drape, apparel components, air filters, premoistened towelettes, and wet wipes. Those nonwovens produced from extrusion-type processes include geotextiles (fabrics used as road beds and erosion prevention systems), protective clothing, reinforcement fabrics, coverstock, filtration fabrics, roofing, automobile carpet backing, laundry aids, home furnishings, and regular carpet backing. Some nonwoven products are made from a combination or hybrid of processes; these include surgical drape, wound dressing, sorbent media, medical apparel, and disposable components.

ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 246 establishments operated in this category for part or all of 2004. Industry-wide employment totaled approximately 20,217 workers receiving a payroll of more than $876 million. Companies in this industry tended to be smaller in size with nearly 37 percent employing less than 20 workers while only 26 percent have greater than 500 employees. The Annual Survey of Manufactures reported that the nonwoven fabrics manufacturing industry was valued at nearly...