Eagle Nonwovens, Inc.

Eagle Nonwovens Inc., a new venture formed by former needlepunch operating executives, began producing technical needlepunch nonwovens in July of 2000. Their 82,000 square foot facility, located in St. Louis, Missouri, houses state of the art Dilo System Group production equipment with inline calendaring, heat setting, singing, and glazing.

They produce materials ranging from 3.0 to 50.0 ounces per square yard, from 0.020" to 0.500" thick, and up to 200" wide. "Depending on the product mix, we can process up to 10 million pounds of synthetic fiber per year with our current equipment," said president and founder Gregg Badami.

While the company is new, each individual involved has spent years honing their skills and knowledge in the nonwovens industry. The management staff alone has over 50 years of combined experience. "The name, Eagle, was chosen because it conveys honor, integrity, and strength. We formed a team that epitomizes these characteristics," said Badami.

Realizing that there is a shortage of experienced technical personnel, the company focused on staffing manufacturing talent that matched the high level of technology to be employed. "To be the best it takes the finest equipment and people. We believe we have both. Eagle is truly a team effort and it is evident when you speak to or observe anyone in our organization," said chief operations officer Bob Seidler.

The new venture concentrates on providing innovative design solutions to technical needlepunch end uses in the aerospace, automotive, health care, filtration, and home furnishings industries. While there is excess capacity among North American needlepunchers, company officials still expect rapid sales growth for their enterprise.

"We have identified a significant need for creative problem solving even in price sensitive or commodity segments. Being entrepreneurial enables us to react more rapidly to market shifts than larger, more hierarchal, firms. We focus on providing our customers with service and creative technical solutions at a faster pace than other organizations," said Michael Brennan, Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Eagle has created a comfortable working environment where a motivated individual's ability to achieve is unhindered. As for the future, officials plan to add a new production line in space available at their current location within the next year. This first addition should enable the company to process between 15 and 20 million pounds annually.

Over the next 3 to 5 years, Eagle's strategic plan for rapid expansion anticipates adding another new production line and approximately 100,000 square feet to their existing facility. The company owns a nine-acre site in a new industrial park located on the South side of St. Louis that will easily accommodate anticipated expansions.