Hollingsworth & Vose Co. (H&V) — an East Walpole, Mass.-based provider of filter media,
battery separator materials and industrial nonwovens — and India-based Nath Group have formed a
joint venture (JV) to produce water- and solvent-based engine filter media; heating, ventilating
and air conditioning (HVAC) filtration products; and battery separator products. H&V will be
the majority owner and managing partner of the JV, which both companies will finance. The companies
plan to construct a mill near Maharashtra, India, and establish warehousing facilities to serve
H&V’s customers in India.
“The demand in India for high quality engine and industrial filtration products is
significant and growing,” said David von Loesecke, vice president and general manger, H&V’s
engine and industrial filtration business. “We have already created a successful base business of
imported products with customers in India. We are pleased to be able to soon offer locally produced
products incorporating our latest technology for customers.”
In other company news, H&V has announced it will expand capacity at its mill in Suzhou,
China, in order to serve the China and Asia Pacific market. The company will add a new paper
machine that will produce water- and solvent-based filter media for engine and industrial
applications. The machine, which is expected to begin operation in the first half of 2012, will be
H&V’s largest worldwide.
“We have been pleased with the progress of our team in the Asia Pacific region and see this
investment as the logical next step in our long term growth plan,” said Van Hollingsworth, CEO,
H&V. “Since beginning commercial production at our Suzhou mill in 2008, we had good market
acceptance of our products which are produced at the highest global standards of quality and
performance. H&V is committed to further increasing our scope of products and services to meet
the needs of this region.”
February 16, 2011