Chairman Lee Young-kwan of Toray Advanced Materials Korea (TAK).

Toray Advanced Materials Korea (TAK) has grown into Asia’s No. 1 spunbond nonwoven maker, but despite its global competitive edge, the company is less known to Koreans. TAK is a subsidiary of the world-class advanced materials company Toray Group.

TAK has conducted spunbond nonwoven businesses for the first time in Korea. The company created a new nonwoven market for the first time, supplying SMS, SMMS, and Bi-component spunbond in Asia, and established a cooperative network for consistent information exchanges with customers. “LIVSEN,” a High-quality spunbond nonwoven, is widely used in various sectors, including hygiene materials, medical, industrial, agricultural materials, etc. It is equipped with the sophisticated product structure for light-weight, soft and eco friendly materials.

TAK expanded its reach abroad together with Toray Group, and established Toray Polytech Nantong in China in 2006. The company now has the largest business plan as a single plant in Asia, and supply products to markets in China and other Asian countries. In 2011, the company launched Toray Polytech Jakarta in Indonesia, and released high quality nonwovens in Indonesia and surrounding countries. 

The company has strong partnerships in developing new products through strategic cooperation with Korea and the world’s major makers based on superior competitiveness and service.

TAK’s product development capability, know-how and Toray Group’s high-tech technological power are contributing to creating synergy effects, and building up capabilities of producing PP nonwovens. 

With the full operation of TAK’s 4th Gumi plant in the Gumi Industrial Complex slated for next spring, the company will have 62,000 tons of nonwoven in Korea annually. If and when its overseas plants in China and Indonesia are counted, the company’s production capacity will rise to a range of 170,000 tons, probably making it the world’s No. 1 nonwoven maker beyond Asia’s top company in the segment. 

TAK’s nonwoven products and technologies were given a good reception when they were displayed in the INDEX 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland, from April 7 through 7, the company said. 

Through this exhibition, Toray Advanced Materials’ products were introduced to buyers and industry-related people. The company said in a statement that its products and technologies were well received. “They were interested in our showings, with Asia’s No. 1 nonwoven technology level,” the company said. INDEX is the largest nonwoven exhibition in the world. Almost 600 companies participated in the INDEX 2017.

TAK’s products, including nonwoven items, are on display at its pavilion in the INDEX 2017 in Geneva last April. (Photos: TAK)

Toray’s 4th Plant in Gumi

Toray Advanced Materials Korea launched a project to build a new carbon fiber material plant, the fourth one in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Under the project, Toray Advanced Materials Korea will invest 425 billion won, including 141.6 billion won in foreign direct investment, by 2021.

The money will be funneled into expanding facilities capable of producing carbon fiber, composite materials, non-woven fabric, and films. A groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Gumi High-tech Valley on Oct. 19, 2016. Construction of the 4th plant in Gumi will initially raise the production capacity of carbon fiber to 4,700 tons annually. Carbon fiber and composite materials are used as materials of automotive parts for car lightening and eco-friendly automobiles. 

A view of TAK’s nonwoven plant.