FiberMark

In the material world, FiberMark North America makes its mark with flexible fibers. The company manufactures an array of fiber-based textiles and papers. Its capabilities range from papermaking to nonwoven production and converting processes, such as saturating and coating. FiberMark products are used in industrial and consumer markets: office and school (pressboards and edge binding tapes); publishing (CD covers and carton stock); luxury packaging (book and box coverings); technical/industrial (jean labels, wallpaper, vacuum bags); graphic design (book covers); and crafting (textured paper). The company has seven manufacturing sites throughout the northeastern US and the UK.

Operations

Fibermark North America's US manufacturing facilities are located in Massachusetts (West Springfield), New York (Brownville and Lowville), Pennsylvania (Quakertown and Reading), and Vermont (Brattleboro). Internationally, the company has its Red Bridge UK plant and a joint venture company and facility in Shanghai, China, called CYP Specialty Paper, which makes commodity-grade paper and distributes FiberMark products throughout the country.

Strategy

FiberMark North America's strategic goal is fairly simple: it wants to replace all the plastic you use with its own portfolio of paper-based products. To achieve this, the company has launched new nonwoven base of wall coverings, food board for fast-food containers, a media for higher performance auto filters, and lighter-weight and embossed cover stocks. In 2012 it introduced FiberTag (replaces plastic tags hanging off plants in nurseries) and FiberCard (substitute for plastic used in gift cards), two new products developed from researchers in its Massachusetts lab.