09.11.23
Dallas, TX
www.alkegen.com
2022 Nonwovens Sales: $764 million (estimated)
Key Personnel
John Dandolph, president and chief executive officer
Plants
Rochester, NH; Saint Rivalain, France; Green Island, NY; Lancaster, PA; Fulton, NY; Hoosick Falls, NY; Beaver Falls, NY; Marshalltown, IA; Altenkirchen, Germany; Heerlen, The Netherlands; Hamptonville, NC; Yadkinville, NC; North Augusta, SC; Bethune, SC; Rawtenstall, U.K.; Bury U.K.; Stoke-on-Trent, U.K.; Wuxi, China; Yixing, China; Taicang, China; Shanghai, China; Quebec, Canada; Fulda, Germany; Meinerzhagen, Germany; St. Nazaire, France
Brands
AppLY Mat, Biotherm, CRS Wrap, Cryo-Lite, LydAir MG, LydAir MB, LydAir SC, LydAir GP, LyPore Defender, LyPore MB, LyPore SC, LyPore XL, Lytherm, ManniGlas, Select-A-Seal, dBCore, dBLyte, ZeroClearance, Fiberlox, Checkstatic, Microfelt, Pleatlox, Ultratech, Powertech, Powerlox, Microcap, Duotech
Major Markets
Specialty insulation, sealing, high-efficiency air and liquid filtration media and automotive
Earlier this year, Alkegen announced it would divest its Thermal Acoustical Solutions (TAS) business unit, which manufactures high performance acoustical and thermal management insulation components for the automotive and transportation industries. The divestiture aligns with Alkegen’s long-term strategy to advance its growing portfolio of specialty materials dedicated to sustainability and human health.
“This divestiture allows us to focus all of Alkegen’s resources on our primary goal: advancing our unique platform of specialty materials that meaningfully help the world breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before,” says John Dandolph, Alkegen’s president and CEO. “We’re excited for the future and the new opportunities this creates for both Alkegen and the TAS business as it moves forward with Regent.”
Alkegen originally acquired TAS as part of its acquisition of Lydall, Inc. in October 2021. The sale includes locations in Hamptonville, NC; Yadkinville, NC; St. Nazaire, France; Meinerzhagen, Germany; and Taicang, China.
Amidst this divestment, the company continues to focus on its high performance filtration business. In October 2022, Alkegen, announced it would increase its total micro-fine glass fiber (MFGF) manufacturing capacity by 30% by adding eight lines in Bahrain and 22 lines to its facility in Summerville, SC. The company also plans to improve its MFGF capacity operations in China, including doubling its current rotary capacity in the region.
“Our advanced micro-fine glass fibers are critical components in many of the world’s most innovative products, from medical devices to battery packs for electric vehicles,” says Dandolph. “These latest investments reflect Alkegen’s ongoing commitment to our partners in the fiber technology space, increasing supply in anticipation of future demand as we continue to develop compelling new specialty applications for these advanced glass fiber chemistries.”
“Our MFGF expansion in Bahrain, Summerville, SC and Songyuan, China, keeps Alkegen positioned globally as the best option for customers that value quality and security of supply,” says Chris McPhillips, general manager of MFGF, Alkegen. “The addition of over 30 manufacturing lines will not only help alleviate some of the supply chain strains we’ve seen over the first half of the year, they will ensure that Alkegen continues to address growing demand for MFGF in rapidly-growing industry sectors like batteries, high end air and liquid filtration, and medical testing Medim.”
Additionally, the company launched a number of new High Efficiency Filtration (HEF) products its last year. These are the first new filtration products launched under the Alkegen brand name since the merger of Lydall and Unifrax in October 2021.
“This trio of HEF media—one for air, one for liquid, one for molecular applications—represents the first wave of advanced materials developed and released under our new Alkegen filtration product development team. These launches combine Lydall’s well-known filtration and manufacturing expertise with Unifrax’s proven, rapid innovation capabilities,” says Paul Vallis, president of the Filtration & Catalysis Group. “This is the first of many innovations we expect to deliver as our portfolio evolves to meet the continuous demand for ever-higher efficiency and reduced energy consumption.”
TriboStatiX is the brand name for Alkegen’s new air filtration media that is a MERV 13 high performance pleat media manufactured on a new best-in-class asset. The media provides lower initial resistance, reducing the amount of energy required in the HVAC unit and lowering overall operating costs. TriboStatiX improves indoor air quality through consistent filtration performance and high dirt holding capacity, providing longer service life and reduced energy demand.
Meanwhile, LyPore is Alkegen’s new line of meltblown liquid filtration media, which is designed to meet the most critical application requirements, while providing high filtration efficiency, low-pressure drop and excellent dirt holding capacity. Alkegen’s new molecular filtration media, LydAir GP, offer superior performance with expanded capabilities. State-of-the-art manufacturing facilitates exceptional uniformity and layering of a wide range of functional adsorbents including activated carbon and ion exchange resins. Additionally particulate filter media can be laminated in line providing a combination media for both molecular and particle filtration. LydAir GP offers 20%-30% better performance per specific gram of media, which results in higher efficiency and product performance that can be engineered to meet specific application demands.
Alkegen was formed in 2022 following the combination of two high performance specialty materials companies, Unifrax and Lydall, one of the world’s largest producers for nonwovens for high performance filtration and acoustical applications, in late 2021. Prior to the acquisition, Unifrax was already a leading global provider of high-performance specialty materials focused on thermal management, specialty filtration, battery materials, emission control and fire protection applications.
In the months leading up to the acquisition, Lydall invested approximately $40 million in meltblown nonwoven assets in response to increased demand for face mask material as well as long-term demand for filtration applications. The company added two meltblown lines in Rochester, NH, and one in Saint-Rivalain, France.
These lines currently support the wider need for improved air quality beyond Covid-19, the company’s innovation team is focused on developing new carbon-based, high-efficiency media for hospitals, airplanes, restaurants, office buildings and other public spaces.
www.alkegen.com
2022 Nonwovens Sales: $764 million (estimated)
Key Personnel
John Dandolph, president and chief executive officer
Plants
Rochester, NH; Saint Rivalain, France; Green Island, NY; Lancaster, PA; Fulton, NY; Hoosick Falls, NY; Beaver Falls, NY; Marshalltown, IA; Altenkirchen, Germany; Heerlen, The Netherlands; Hamptonville, NC; Yadkinville, NC; North Augusta, SC; Bethune, SC; Rawtenstall, U.K.; Bury U.K.; Stoke-on-Trent, U.K.; Wuxi, China; Yixing, China; Taicang, China; Shanghai, China; Quebec, Canada; Fulda, Germany; Meinerzhagen, Germany; St. Nazaire, France
Brands
AppLY Mat, Biotherm, CRS Wrap, Cryo-Lite, LydAir MG, LydAir MB, LydAir SC, LydAir GP, LyPore Defender, LyPore MB, LyPore SC, LyPore XL, Lytherm, ManniGlas, Select-A-Seal, dBCore, dBLyte, ZeroClearance, Fiberlox, Checkstatic, Microfelt, Pleatlox, Ultratech, Powertech, Powerlox, Microcap, Duotech
Major Markets
Specialty insulation, sealing, high-efficiency air and liquid filtration media and automotive
Earlier this year, Alkegen announced it would divest its Thermal Acoustical Solutions (TAS) business unit, which manufactures high performance acoustical and thermal management insulation components for the automotive and transportation industries. The divestiture aligns with Alkegen’s long-term strategy to advance its growing portfolio of specialty materials dedicated to sustainability and human health.
“This divestiture allows us to focus all of Alkegen’s resources on our primary goal: advancing our unique platform of specialty materials that meaningfully help the world breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before,” says John Dandolph, Alkegen’s president and CEO. “We’re excited for the future and the new opportunities this creates for both Alkegen and the TAS business as it moves forward with Regent.”
Alkegen originally acquired TAS as part of its acquisition of Lydall, Inc. in October 2021. The sale includes locations in Hamptonville, NC; Yadkinville, NC; St. Nazaire, France; Meinerzhagen, Germany; and Taicang, China.
Amidst this divestment, the company continues to focus on its high performance filtration business. In October 2022, Alkegen, announced it would increase its total micro-fine glass fiber (MFGF) manufacturing capacity by 30% by adding eight lines in Bahrain and 22 lines to its facility in Summerville, SC. The company also plans to improve its MFGF capacity operations in China, including doubling its current rotary capacity in the region.
“Our advanced micro-fine glass fibers are critical components in many of the world’s most innovative products, from medical devices to battery packs for electric vehicles,” says Dandolph. “These latest investments reflect Alkegen’s ongoing commitment to our partners in the fiber technology space, increasing supply in anticipation of future demand as we continue to develop compelling new specialty applications for these advanced glass fiber chemistries.”
“Our MFGF expansion in Bahrain, Summerville, SC and Songyuan, China, keeps Alkegen positioned globally as the best option for customers that value quality and security of supply,” says Chris McPhillips, general manager of MFGF, Alkegen. “The addition of over 30 manufacturing lines will not only help alleviate some of the supply chain strains we’ve seen over the first half of the year, they will ensure that Alkegen continues to address growing demand for MFGF in rapidly-growing industry sectors like batteries, high end air and liquid filtration, and medical testing Medim.”
Additionally, the company launched a number of new High Efficiency Filtration (HEF) products its last year. These are the first new filtration products launched under the Alkegen brand name since the merger of Lydall and Unifrax in October 2021.
“This trio of HEF media—one for air, one for liquid, one for molecular applications—represents the first wave of advanced materials developed and released under our new Alkegen filtration product development team. These launches combine Lydall’s well-known filtration and manufacturing expertise with Unifrax’s proven, rapid innovation capabilities,” says Paul Vallis, president of the Filtration & Catalysis Group. “This is the first of many innovations we expect to deliver as our portfolio evolves to meet the continuous demand for ever-higher efficiency and reduced energy consumption.”
TriboStatiX is the brand name for Alkegen’s new air filtration media that is a MERV 13 high performance pleat media manufactured on a new best-in-class asset. The media provides lower initial resistance, reducing the amount of energy required in the HVAC unit and lowering overall operating costs. TriboStatiX improves indoor air quality through consistent filtration performance and high dirt holding capacity, providing longer service life and reduced energy demand.
Meanwhile, LyPore is Alkegen’s new line of meltblown liquid filtration media, which is designed to meet the most critical application requirements, while providing high filtration efficiency, low-pressure drop and excellent dirt holding capacity. Alkegen’s new molecular filtration media, LydAir GP, offer superior performance with expanded capabilities. State-of-the-art manufacturing facilitates exceptional uniformity and layering of a wide range of functional adsorbents including activated carbon and ion exchange resins. Additionally particulate filter media can be laminated in line providing a combination media for both molecular and particle filtration. LydAir GP offers 20%-30% better performance per specific gram of media, which results in higher efficiency and product performance that can be engineered to meet specific application demands.
Alkegen was formed in 2022 following the combination of two high performance specialty materials companies, Unifrax and Lydall, one of the world’s largest producers for nonwovens for high performance filtration and acoustical applications, in late 2021. Prior to the acquisition, Unifrax was already a leading global provider of high-performance specialty materials focused on thermal management, specialty filtration, battery materials, emission control and fire protection applications.
In the months leading up to the acquisition, Lydall invested approximately $40 million in meltblown nonwoven assets in response to increased demand for face mask material as well as long-term demand for filtration applications. The company added two meltblown lines in Rochester, NH, and one in Saint-Rivalain, France.
These lines currently support the wider need for improved air quality beyond Covid-19, the company’s innovation team is focused on developing new carbon-based, high-efficiency media for hospitals, airplanes, restaurants, office buildings and other public spaces.