September 19, 2014 (Austria)
Within 24 months of starting construction, Austria based Lenzing AG has started commercial production at the world’s largest production facility for Lyocell fibers.
The plant which is now running at full capacity was set up at an investment of € 150 million and will produce Tencel fibre.
Lenzing said the setting up of the Tencel production plant in Austria went according to plan, both financially and in terms of time.
This new factory in Lenzing is the first in the industry to feature a single production line with an annual nominal capacity of 67,000 tons.
The new plant design incorporates lessons learnt with experience from three existing Lenzing Group Tencel production plants in Austria, USA and UK.
As a result, the new Tencel plant in Lenzing represents the world’s leading generation of Tencel technology, Lenzing explained.
Lenzing said with Tencel, it offers the industry a fiber material for the future and in terms of ecology and innovative strength, the fiber represents a milestone.
The fiber producer said, “A plethora of textile applications has been derived from the new generation of fibers from activewear to denim and shirting in which Tencel has proven its strength.”
“Until now woven products made from Tencel were promoted. However, new Tencel fibers for knitwear applications lead us to perceive tremendous potential in the fashion knitwear segment”, Robert Kerkhof, CCO at Lenzing said.
“Thanks to its bright colors and more attractive appearance, Tencel will set a new standard in this sector too,” he added.
The search for a cellulose fiber with an ecological and economic production process led researchers to Lyocell.
Lenzing and the former fiber producers, Courtaulds, nurtured Lyocell to market maturity as a result of intensive research work and their strong belief in the new fiber of the future.
The first production facility was started in 1992 and in 2004 Lenzing was able to pool all of its resources as a result of buying the Tencel brand and capitalize on this expertise in fiber production.
As a result of purchasing the Tencel brand name, Lenzing was able to market the entire Lyocell business under this well known fiber name. (AR)
Source: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/
