Epitropic Fibres Ltd, based in Oakworth, West Yorkshire, has been owned by JWH Group Ltd since 2002. The company produces conductive anti static polyester fibre known as “Epitropic Fibre” and is globally recognized as the leading anti static polyester material supplier. This niche product is sold across the world and is used in a variety of applications where the build up of static electricity could cause safety or operational difficulties.

This acquisition further enhances the Maccaferri Group’s diversification strategy, aimed at strengthening its position in key niche markets as well as entering new market sectors that have significant growth potential.

The Maccaferri Group is fully committed to providing the highest quality products and service to our clients and we will extend our efforts and commitment to the existing Epitropic Fibres customers.

We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our Epitropic Fibres colleagues to the Maccaferri family.

The coming months will see a smooth initial transition towards the successful integration of Epitropic Fibres into the Maccaferri Group. We will endeavour to maximize the potential synergies between our companies to ensure steady market development, strong financial results and secure future growth.

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With the appointment of Mr. Brian McAndrew as Commercial Development Manager (Asia) and his assistant Ms. Xiao Ling (both shown in photos below), Epitropic Fibres Ltd are well placed to provide antistatic fibre solutions to this important market.

Epitropic Fibres will be exhibiting at Shanghai International Nonwovens Conference and Exhibition (SINCE 2005), which runs from the 26th-28th of September 2005 at INTEX Shanghai, China. This will be the 11th conference and exhibition, which is Asia’s and China’s premier meeting place for manufacturers, suppliers and buyers of nonwovens raw materials, equipment, machinery and services to reach China and the rest of the world.

Taking place alongside the exhibition will be a high-level conference that will cover the latest developments and global trends in technology, end uses, and supply and demand as well as issues that affect the nonwovens industry. At SINCE 2005, Epitropic Fibres will be among 300 exhibitors from all over the world – an event that they anticipate to be as positive for the company as recent exhibitions that they have attended in Europe.

Following the recent successes of Index05 in Geneva and TechTextil in Frankfurt, Yorkshire-based Epitropic Fibres is following up a number of significant leads with potential customers interested in specifying their epitropic (anti-static) product.

The success at these international exhibitions follows a trend of increasing interest in the company’s products, including repeat business from a non-woven manufacturer in China and South Africa – in part due to Epitropic Fibres’ on-going product development programme. Part of this extensive development programme includes anti-static socks, which are being developed in partnership with Czech Republic-based VUB a.s.

In addition to producing epitropic fibres, for applications to where the dissipation of static electricity is required, the company has developed fibres with anti-microbial properties for applications where hygiene is of the utmost importance. In the pipeline are plans to expand the range of decitex available and to also develop a continuous yarn and a spun yarn using epitropic fibres, also in partnership with VUB a.s.

Several new products for new markets are also in development, which hope to be available to exhibit at the Shanghai exhibition in September, by which time a deal with a major US-based manufacturer will have been completed involving new manufacturing technique.