Journalists at 1986 Press Conference.

This "official" photo taken on the steps of 101 Lockhurst Lane just re-surfaced. 

The occasion was a Viscose Europe Press Conference in June 86 at which the first public presentations of the Tencel project were given.

Robert Smith and I represented Courtaulds Research and Lydia Cain is next to David Wilkinson.  (Please add a comment if you recognise any others.)

Other photos of the same event are at Tencel debuts as Genesis

Tencel Sales Update (2013)

Another Extract from the 2013 Lenzing Annual Report...

Sales of TENCEL® fibers for textile applications were at a high level in 2013 against the backdrop of an attractive price premium compared to viscose fibers. Lenzing succeeded in opening up new markets and new customer segments, which was also important in the light of the planned coming on stream of the new TENCEL® production facility in Lenzing in the middle of

2014. Despite the production interruption at the TENCEL® factory in Heiligenkreuz, shipment volumes still surpassed the comparable prior-year figures. The products TENCEL® LF and the new, extremely high-quality TENCEL® fibers Micro-LF and TENCEL® Micro were well received by Asian customers. Similarly, the use of TENCEL® fibers in the bed linen segment was further expanded.  From a regional perspective, Asia remained the strongest sales market for the textile applications of both Lenzing Modal® and TENCEL®.

The priority for TENCEL® was on expanding the areas of application of this versatile fiber. In 2013, TENCEL® fibers were used for the first time as upholstery fabrics for sofas. In addition to the aesthetically pleasing advantages of intense colors and a velvety sheen, sofas with a fabric cover of TENCEL® boast a lower electrostatic charging compared to the conventional

polyester covers. Moreover, the removable fabric covers can be laundered at home, and thus are easier to keep hygienically clean. Furthermore, Lenzing intensively worked on opening up new fields of application for TENCEL® in the construction business. In addition to initial market success with TENCEL® powder in pasty plasters, one focal point in 2013 was on developing TENCEL® additives as a stabilizing factor for building materials, particularly concrete.

Initial application tests for the first hydrophobic cellulose fiber TENCEL® Biosoft were carried out together with customers in the 2013 financial year.

In 2013 Lenzing presented “EUROCEL ”, a new fiber blend consisting of 50% high-quality Lenzing viscose fibers manufactured in Europe in an environmentally compatible manner along with 50% TENCEL®. EUROCEL is a new type of high-end nonwovens quality to be selectively used for hygienic applications (e.g. baby care) as well as in the household and industrial

sectors. The underlying concept of supplying fibers verifiably manufactured in Europe for European products appeals to customers aiming to differentiate themselves from competitors on the basis of regional origin and sustainability.

Tencel Expansion Update (2013)

An extract from the Lenzing 2013 Annual Report...

The global challenges facing the business world and the environment are formidable, and solutions are urgently needed. In the world of man-made cellulose fibers, TENCEL® is the predominant product of the 21st century in every respect, the true New Age fiber. Its natural raw material, the modern and environmentally compatible production technology and the enormous performance potential of the fiber itself make it unequalled in modern times. Only Lenzing successfully manages the industrial-scale production of TENCEL®, in which more than 99% of the solvent used is recycled in the closed-loop process. This means the ecological footprint of the fiber is unparalleled.Construction of the first TENCEL® jumbo production facility at the Lenzing site continued on schedule in 2013. The company was able to make up for weather-related delays in the first quarter. Almost all the technical equipment had been installed by the end of 2013. All piping and cabling work were well on track, so that the first tests of individual parts of the plant were already initiated. Lenzing plans to keep to its timetable, with the first TENCEL® fibers likely to leave the production lines of the new plant sometime around the middle of 2014. After the initial start-up phase, the new plant will boast a nominal annual capacity of 67,000 tons of TENCEL ® fibers. Investment costs are expected to total EUR 150 mn due to adjustments made to the original plans in connection with improved plant safety and an increased production volume.

The new TENCEL® facility reflects next generation TENCEL® technologies.

Tencel Short-Cut for Flushable Wipes

The nonwoven wipes market was a target for Tencel product development from the start in the late '80's.  Since then it has grown steadily and now consumes around a million tonnes of fibres, about half of which are man-made cellulosics.

Courtaulds Research installed a Neue Bruderhaus wet-lay system to feed short-cut Tencel into a Honeycomb hydroentangler in the late 1980's and upgraded this to a high-pressure Perfojet (now Andritz) hydroentanglement system in the early '90's.  The flushable nature of lightly fibrillated and entangled wet-laid short-cut Tencel was discovered at that time. Commercialisation commenced C H Dexter (Windsor Locks) in 1991 and continued with Ahlstrom-Lystil (now Suominen) in 1994.  The recent Lenzing press release (below) continues the story.
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TENCEL® fiber with a “flushable” function

Wednesday, 09. April 2014

Pulp

TENCEL® fiber

TENCEL® short-cut

TENCEL® - ideal for wipes and care wipes

With the cellulose fiber TENCEL® as a short-cut type, Lenzing is satisfying the trend of the times in the nonwovens industry. The fiber is biodegradable and strong and yet it is still “flushable”, ideal for high quality wipes and care wipes.

Convenience and sustainability are not a contradiction with TENCEL®The market for wipes will grow by 6.5% per year.1 In an increasing number of households one can find practical wipes for hygiene and care applications and the trend is on the rise. Many wipes are disposed of in the toilet whether they are “flushable” or not which leads to problems with blockages in public sewage systems. This is the very reason why industry is looking into this problem and demanding new production technologies. With TENCEL®, Lenzing supplies a raw material which is of botanic origin, contains no additives, and is biodegradable. When processed in the right way, practical wipes can be produced which comply with the convenience mindset of consumers and are, at the same time, biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

More quality with TENCEL® for a wipe with a “flushable” function
“Flushable” wipes from TENCEL® stand out due to their high quality. Due to the enormous fiber strength, the TENCEL® wipe is particularly tear-resistant in contrast to the materials conventionally used such as pulp and short-cut viscose. The high strength of the TENCEL® fiber also reduces the use of binding agents which are mostly made of acrylic, latex or bi-component fibers. Another advantage of TENCEL® compared to short-cut viscose is that due to the higher strength profile, fewer fibers are required for a comparable quality than in a wipe of short-cut viscose.
“Quality does not, however, only mean enhanced service properties but also refers to the skin-friendly attributes of TENCEL®. The fiber has already demonstrated in tests that it is particularly well suited to sensitive skin,” Dr. Dieter Eichinger, head of the Hytec market segment (hygiene, home and technical textiles) at Lenzing explains.
“The exceptionally smooth surface of TENCEL® makes the fiber ideal for the skin and prevents skin irritations. For this reason, wipes of TENCEL® are particularly smooth and gentle on the skin,” Eichinger argues.

TENCEL® perfect for new technology The merging of paper and spun-laced technology will revolutionize the market for wipes. Short-cut TENCEL® is ideally suited to this application and due to its properties, it will play a key role in the development of “flushable” wipes particularly with this technology. “Here the fiber strength of TENCEL® also plays a vital role,” Eichinger is positive.

Certificates confirm the sustainability of TENCEL®
Environmental certificates such as the EU-Ecolabel, Nordic Swan, OK biodegradable from Viocotte or Ecocert demonstrate the environmentally responsible production of TENCEL®. ”In particular the botanic origin of TENCEL® and the sustainable production of the fiber fit perfectly with the current consumer demands and are vital for the production of disposable wipes,” Elisabeth Stanger, Head of Hygiene at Lenzing, is convinced.

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1 _{The Future of Flushable Nonwovens Market Forecasts to 2018, Philip Mango Source: Smithers Apex}

_{__________________________________________________________________}

_{Click here for a comprehensive review of flushability developments before 2004} 

Tencel marketed as Eurocel™? (2014)

Due to the sustainable and high quality production of fiber material at Lenzing and Sandler’s innovative strength, a wipe has now been created which is extremely skin-friendly.

There's no mention of Tencel in the following release from Lenzing but it looks like another marketing angle being tried in advance of the new 67,000 tonne lyocell plant coming on stream in Austria and the increasing availability of Chinese lyocell, including a version from bamboo pulp. ("combination" is the only suggestion that its a blend of Tencel with viscose.)  A similar idea was tried for textiles when the Lenzing Lyocell process went into production in 1998 - ProViscose and Pro Modal were then the brands.

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Eurocel™ - new fiber combination with a European foot print

Just in time for the fair Index, April 8.-11. 2014, Geneva, Lenzing is presenting a new fiber concept for the nonwovens industry.

European Innovation 
Eurocel™ is a European product through and through. The cellulose fibers used are made in Austria in an environmentally responsible process. Eurocel™ is based on the idea of offering a high quality European product to consumers. Sandler, a German nonwovens manufacturer partner, adopted the idea of Eurocel™ and developed a new product for their customers. “We are well known for quickly putting our ideas into practice and we immediately recognized the potential of Eurocel™ for the European market,” Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck, member of the Sandler management board, explains. Due to the sustainable and high quality production of fiber material at Lenzing and Sandler’s innovative strength, a wipe has now been created which is extremely skin-friendly. The advantages of Eurocel™ go very well with the concept of the German nonwoven manufacturer, Sandler, who have their company headquarters at the center of Europe. “Production in Europe translates into shorter delivery distances which means fewer carbon dioxide emissions during transportation and thus a lower carbon footprint,” Hornfeck comments. Apart from the logistical advantages, Hornfeck also names the improved product properties, such as the improved volume, the higher tear resistance and reduced elongation.

Future Europe
“The goal is to persuade other nonwoven manufacturers of this European idea and offer a convenience care product which complies with today’s consumer demands: sustainable, natural, and high quality,” Elisabeth Stanger, head of the Hygiene Business Segment, explains.
Eurocel™ can be certified with Oeko-Tex Standard 100, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, European Ecolabel, Compostable (DIN CERTCO), Vinçotte OK compost HOME, Vinçotte OK compost, Vinçotte OK bio-degradable SOIL, Medically tested / ITV Denkendorf, US BPI compostable certificate and Food Contact Compliance Certification.

Tencel Skin gets INDEX Marketing Award (2014)

Most Original Marketing Campaign: Industry prize for Lenzing at the INDEX™14 Trade Fair in Geneva

Tuesday, 15. April 2014

from left to right:
Dieter EICHINGER,
Elisabeth STANGER, Peter UNTERSPERGER

Lenzing CEO Peter Untersperger accepted the prize at the INDEX™14, the largest specialized trade fair for nonwovens held in Geneva from April 8-11, 2014

The prize was awarded by EDANA, the international professional association for the nonwovens industry, which honors the most outstanding achievements in the sector each year.

Nonwovens represents the technical term for nonwoven materials used in the production of hygienic, medical and cosmetics products. Consumers are aware of such products, for example baby wipes made of Lenzing fibers. Nonwoven products are also manufactured from oil-based fibers such as polyester. The advantages of Lenzing fibers in the nonwovens business include their production from the natural raw material wood and above all the biodegradability of the material.

TENCEL® Skin is a specialty fiber developed by Lenzing for this segment, and stands out for being so skin-friendly. The EDANA jury justified its award for the TENCEL® Skin marketing campaign “particularly due to the high aesthetic and artistic standards of the campaign video, which clearly and vividly demonstrates the advantages of the fiber to people and simultaneously explains the most important properties of the fiber”.

“TENCEL® Skin was specifically developed for use in facial masks, which are especially popular on the Asian market. The smooth fiber surface creates a silky feeling” states Elisabeth Stanger, Global Director Business Development Hygiene. “The unique structure provides optimal absorbance and ideal conditions for skin nourishing lotion with which the material is enriched. TENCEL® Skin is of botanic origin, and is produced by Lenzing from the sustainable raw material wood.”

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Most Viewed Posts Entry Pageviews Tencel in hydroentanglement at Unicharm (1985) Aug 18, 2012 1977 Wykes, Quigley Patent (1993) Sep 10, 2012 1693 The Original Financial Assumptions - Part 1 (1986)... Jan 27, 2013 806 Innovation: Product Development with Courtaulds Ly... Jul 3, 2013, 1 comment 463 Fibrillated Tencel for Biodegradable Ultra-low Tar... Nov 10, 2012 366

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