History.

The company was founded in 1925 in Zele under the name of Phormium NV.   The activity of the company was then jute weaving.  The jute cloth was used for packaging applications, such as sacks of potatoes, onions, coal, fertilizers and postal sacks.  A later application for this jute cloth was carpet backing.

The company was successful and expanded his activities until the late sixties.   But gradually the jute weaving activity was moving east to India and Pakistan, being also the countries of origin of the raw materials.  

In 1969 a sister company Fibrilo NV was founded: a JV with Low & Bonar, current parent company, for the production of PP yarn.
1972 was another milestone in the company’s history: Phormium abandons the  jute weaving and moves on to the production of pp  tapes for the weaving of technical textiles, the basis of our current activity was laid.

In 1987 an important breakthrough is reached in the ownership structure of the company: Low & Bonar, until then 50% owner of Fibrilo, acquires the full ownership of both Fibrilo and  the sister company Phormium.
Next milestone in the growth path is the acquisition by Low & Bonar of UCO Technical Fabrics in 1996. This former competitor produced in their production facilities in Lokeren both woven and nonwoven technical fabrics. 

In 2000 both Bonar Phormium Fabrics and UCO Technical Fabrics merge into one company under the name:  BONAR TECHNICAL FABRICS.  
A major investment program during the following years lays the foundation for the structure of today:  a nonwoven plant in Zele and a woven plant in Lokeren.

Further acquisitions By Low & Bonar within the Technical Fabrics Group complete the picture.
Adfil Construction Fibres, producer of synthetic concrete fibres, was acquired  in 2004 and the production was transferred to  Zele in 2006. 

Our history in a Nutshell - Important Dates

1925:     Foundation of Phormium – Jute weaver

1969:     Start of JV with Low & Bonar: Fibrilo – PP yarn

1972:     Start of production pp tapes and woven technical fabrics

1987:     Full acquisition by Low & Bonar of NV Fibrilo and NV Phormium

1996:     Acquisition of Uco Technical Fabrics in Lokeren

2000:     Merge into Bonar Technical Fabrics

2004:     Acquisition of Adfil  Construction Fibres