Nilit
Encyclopedia
NILIT Ltd. is a privately owned, international manufacturer of nylon 6.6
(polyamide
) fibers and thermoplastics headquartered in Migdal HaEmek, Israel
. NILIT has two divisions. NILIT Fibers specializes in the polymerization
, spinning
and texturing of nylon 6.6 yarns for textile
applications. NILIT Plastics manufactures nylon 6.6, nylon 6
, and PBT
compounds for injection molding
, monofilaments, profile extrusion
and film blowing and casting
. These plastics are then used to make components of automobiles, consumer goods, medical products and electronics.
. Construction of the plant began in 1971 in Migdal HaEmek, Israel and production began in 1974, making NILIT the first Israeli manufacturer of nylon.
In 1978, NILIT began polymerization.
In 1981, NILIT began salification.
In 1988, NILIT's 5 denier yarn entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's finest nylon yarn.
In 1995, NILIT founded Euronil Thermoplastics Compounds SpA in Rho Milan, Italy – its first manufacturing facility outside of Israel. Euronil began manufacturing two years later, specializing in flame retardant thermoplastics and internally lubricated plastics. It was later renamed NILIT Plastics Europe S.r.l.
In 1996, Sara Lee Hosiery and NILIT signed a joint venture (today named H.N.F. Ltd – Hanesbrands Nilit Fibers) to produce nylon 6.6 POY yarns for the Hanesbrands
apparel line in NILIT's Israeli manufacturing facility. In 2006, Hanesbrands was spun off from Sara Lee to become a standalone, publicly held company.
In 2001, Unifi, Inc., a yarn processor, and NILIT signed a joint venture (named U.N.F. Industries Ltd. – Unifi Nilit Fibers) to produce nylon 6.6 POY yarns for texturing in NILIT's Israeli manufacturing facility.
In 2004, Pompea SpA and NILIT signed a joint venture (named P.N.F Ltd). In 2006, they together initiated a new POY production line located in NILIT's Israeli manufacturing facility.
In 2006, NILIT began a series of acquisitions of manufacturing facilities worldwide. The first was the fibers business of Invista
Apparel Europe in 2006. In 2007, NILIT acquired Frisetta Polymer in Germany. The company was then renamed NILIT Plastics Europe GmbH & Co. KG. Finally, in 2009, NILIT acquired Nylstar in Martinsville, Virginia
, USA and renamed the company NILIT America, Inc.
At the same time, NILIT founded two manufacturing facilities in China. It established NILIT Nylon Technologies (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. which began texturing yarns in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China in 2008. A year later, NILIT (Suzhou) Plastics Engineering Co., Ltd. began compounding thermoplastics.
fibers. End uses of these yarns include hosiery, socks, intimate apparel, bodywear and activewear.
NILIT Plastics produces plastics made from nylon 6.6, nylon 6, and PBT compounds. The plastics are later used to make parts of appliances, electronics, cars and other consumer goods. NILIT also has a line of flame retardant and internally lubricated plastics. NILIT Plastics products are marketed under the trade names: Polynil, Nilamid, Frianyl, Nilitop, Nilamon and Artex.
NILIT is privately owned. It is run by Michael P. Levi who manages the Levi family companies, which include NILIT and MCA Ltd., the sole importer and distributor of Fiat
, Lancia
, Alfa Romeo
and Abarth
in Israel.
Nylon 6-6
Nylon 6-6, also referred to as nylon 6,6, is a type of nylon. Nylon comes in many types, the two most common for textile and plastics industries are: nylon 6 and nylon 6,6.- Composition :...
(polyamide
Polyamide
A polyamide is a polymer containing monomers of amides joined by peptide bonds. They can occur both naturally and artificially, examples being proteins, such as wool and silk, and can be made artificially through step-growth polymerization or solid-phase synthesis, examples being nylons, aramids,...
) fibers and thermoplastics headquartered in Migdal HaEmek, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. NILIT has two divisions. NILIT Fibers specializes in the polymerization
Polymerization
In polymer chemistry, polymerization is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form three-dimensional networks or polymer chains...
, spinning
Spinning (textiles)
Spinning is a major industry. It is part of the textile manufacturing process where three types of fibre are converted into yarn, then fabric, then textiles. The textiles are then fabricated into clothes or other artifacts. There are three industrial processes available to spin yarn, and a...
and texturing of nylon 6.6 yarns for textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
applications. NILIT Plastics manufactures nylon 6.6, nylon 6
Nylon 6
Nylon 6 or polycaprolactam is a polymer developed by Paul Schlack at IG Farben to reproduce the properties of nylon 6,6 without violating the patent on its production. Unlike most other nylons, nylon 6 is not a condensation polymer, but instead is formed by ring-opening polymerization. This makes...
, and PBT
Polybutylene terephthalate
Polybutylene terephthalate is a thermoplastic engineering polymer, that is used as an insulator in the electrical and electronics industries. It is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer, and a type of polyester...
compounds for injection molding
Injection molding
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts from both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials. Material is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and forced into a mold cavity where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity...
, monofilaments, profile extrusion
Plastics extrusion
Plastics extrusion is a high volume manufacturing process in which raw plastic material is melted and formed into a continuous profile. Extrusion produces items such as pipe/tubing, weather stripping, fence, deck railing, window frames, adhesive tape and wire insulation.-Process:In the extrusion of...
and film blowing and casting
Plaster mold casting
Plaster mold casting is a metalworking casting process similar to sand casting except the molding material is plaster of paris instead of sand. Like sand casting, plaster mold casting is an expendable mold processes, however it can only be used with non-ferrous materials. It is used for castings as...
. These plastics are then used to make components of automobiles, consumer goods, medical products and electronics.
History
NILIT Ltd. was founded in 1969 by Ennio Levi, a man who immigrated to Israel with his family from ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Construction of the plant began in 1971 in Migdal HaEmek, Israel and production began in 1974, making NILIT the first Israeli manufacturer of nylon.
In 1978, NILIT began polymerization.
In 1981, NILIT began salification.
In 1988, NILIT's 5 denier yarn entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's finest nylon yarn.
In 1995, NILIT founded Euronil Thermoplastics Compounds SpA in Rho Milan, Italy – its first manufacturing facility outside of Israel. Euronil began manufacturing two years later, specializing in flame retardant thermoplastics and internally lubricated plastics. It was later renamed NILIT Plastics Europe S.r.l.
In 1996, Sara Lee Hosiery and NILIT signed a joint venture (today named H.N.F. Ltd – Hanesbrands Nilit Fibers) to produce nylon 6.6 POY yarns for the Hanesbrands
HanesBrands
HanesBrands Inc. is a clothing company based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It employs 50,000 people internationally. On September 6, 2006 the company was spun off by the Sara Lee Corporation....
apparel line in NILIT's Israeli manufacturing facility. In 2006, Hanesbrands was spun off from Sara Lee to become a standalone, publicly held company.
In 2001, Unifi, Inc., a yarn processor, and NILIT signed a joint venture (named U.N.F. Industries Ltd. – Unifi Nilit Fibers) to produce nylon 6.6 POY yarns for texturing in NILIT's Israeli manufacturing facility.
In 2004, Pompea SpA and NILIT signed a joint venture (named P.N.F Ltd). In 2006, they together initiated a new POY production line located in NILIT's Israeli manufacturing facility.
In 2006, NILIT began a series of acquisitions of manufacturing facilities worldwide. The first was the fibers business of Invista
INVISTA
Invista, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, is the world's largest integrated fiber, resin and intermediates company. DuPont originally formed the company as a subsidiary in 2003 from its textile fibers division and named it DuPont Textiles and Interiors while a permanent identity was established...
Apparel Europe in 2006. In 2007, NILIT acquired Frisetta Polymer in Germany. The company was then renamed NILIT Plastics Europe GmbH & Co. KG. Finally, in 2009, NILIT acquired Nylstar in Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville, Virginia
Martinsville is an independent city which is surrounded by Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,821 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Martinsville with Henry County for statistical purposes...
, USA and renamed the company NILIT America, Inc.
At the same time, NILIT founded two manufacturing facilities in China. It established NILIT Nylon Technologies (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. which began texturing yarns in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China in 2008. A year later, NILIT (Suzhou) Plastics Engineering Co., Ltd. began compounding thermoplastics.
Products
NILIT Fibers produces fine, super fine and mid-denier yarns. These yarns are marketed under many brand names, including NILIT EcoCare, NILIT Britex, NILIT Colorwise, NILIT Duelle, NILIT Pastelle, NILIT Arafelle, NILIT BodyFresh, NILIT Aquarius and NILIT Softex. In addition, NILIT is licensed by Invista to manufacture TACTEL, SUPPLEX and CORDURACordura
Cordura is the brand name for a collection of fabrics used in a wide array of products including luggage, backpacks, pants, military wear and performance apparel. Cordura fabrics are known for their durability and resistance to abrasions, tears and scuffs....
fibers. End uses of these yarns include hosiery, socks, intimate apparel, bodywear and activewear.
NILIT Plastics produces plastics made from nylon 6.6, nylon 6, and PBT compounds. The plastics are later used to make parts of appliances, electronics, cars and other consumer goods. NILIT also has a line of flame retardant and internally lubricated plastics. NILIT Plastics products are marketed under the trade names: Polynil, Nilamid, Frianyl, Nilitop, Nilamon and Artex.
Global operations
NILIT operates in more than 70 countries. It has manufacturing facilities in Israel, Germany, Italy, China and the USA. NILIT employs 1700 people worldwide.NILIT is privately owned. It is run by Michael P. Levi who manages the Levi family companies, which include NILIT and MCA Ltd., the sole importer and distributor of Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
, Lancia
Lancia
Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more...
, Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
and Abarth
Abarth
Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Austrian-Italian Carlo Abarth and Italian Armando Scagliarini in Turin in 1949. Its logo depicts a stylized scorpion on a red and yellow background.- History :...
in Israel.