UK-based Goonvean Fibres has formed a strategic collaboration with Converted Products of the US focused on short-cut technical fibres and pasting papers for the lead-acid battery market.
In a statement, the companies said they would initiate a joint programme to complement their technical, manufacturing and sales resources, with an emphasis on geographic and export expansion. This partnership gives the two companies the opportunity to reduce costs through combined material deliveries.
John Opie, managing director of Goonvean Fibres, said: “It became apparent at a very early stage of preliminary discussions Converted Products is a very similar company to Goonvean Fibres in respect to products. I know that our combined sales and technical teams will work very closely together to ensure that we offer a premium service and comprehensive range of products to our global battery customers.”
Goonvean Fibres was formed in 2004 when two specialists in the fibre processing industry, F.H.Wrigley (Wrigley Fibres) and Lewis Industrial Products, merged to form one of Europe’s largest technical fibre manufacturers. Over the past ten years Goonvean Fibres has become one of the world’s largest suppliers of short cut synthetic fibre to the global battery industry.
Chris Gorenc, Converted Products’ president, said: “After meeting John Opie at a conference in China I was very much impressed with his vision and ideals about business and the ever-changing global marketplace. I am confident our two companies will complement each other as we continue supplying our growing customer base with the products, new technologies and services they need in today’s changing market.”
Converted Products was founded by Gorenc in West Allis, Wisconsin in 1993, providing a slitting and die cutting service to the Milwaukee area. Converted Products has since added sheeting and ultrasonic laminating capabilities.
“Our product and technical knowledge has positioned us to offer many new products, namely CPI PasteLoc a high performance yet economical pasting paper that is being widely used in the lead-acid battery market,” added Gorenc.
