The Freudenberg group (HQ: D-69465 Weinheim) has signed an agreement with two Italian holding firms, Randa srl and Faber srl, parent company of the Politex group, to form a 50: 50 joint venture for manufacture and marketing of high tenacity polyester nonwovens. The new company, to be called Freudenberg Politex Nonwovens SpA, located at Novedrate, near Milan, will start business at the latest on 1 July, 1997. With a workforce of 650, it expects annual sales of DEM 250m. The portfolio will include the nonwovens produced by Politex SpA in Italy, Poland and the US, as well as the product range of Freudenberg Spunweb SA, of Colmar, France, which is owned by Freudenberg Spinnvliesstoffe KG of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

The jv partners said they expect to benefit from the international experience of nonwovens manufacturer Freudenberg, as well as the highly developed technology of both partners and the cost advantages of the Italian location. They said they see good chances for their products in the market because their portfolio for roofing components is one of the world's broadest.