The Genesis of Sustainable Fibres

In 1987 Courtaulds UK started up the world’s first solvent-spun cellulose process to supply  25 tonnes/week  of  a new rayon fibre  with impeccable environmental credentials .  Process development had started in Courtaulds Coventry Research laboratories in 1979 under the direction of Patrick White[i]  and had remained secret under the “Genesis” codename until 1986.  In June that year the Courtaulds Fibres Viscose Division and Courtaulds Research joined forces to reveal, without spelling it out as such,  a long-range strategy to replace the chemically complex viscose route with a simple, pollution-free, physical cellulose dissolution route.  Here  cellulose in the form of wood-pulp would simply be dissolved without change and reprecipitated as a “lyocell” fibre.  Stratford-on-Avon was the chosen venue for the press conference and because nonwovens were then looking to be the best launch market, several nonwoven reporters[ii]  were present who duly wrote articles on the new fibre[iii].

Lenzing take action against ex employees (2012)

Lenzing AG, the global market leader for man-made cellulose fibers and the world’s only large-scale industrial provider of Lyocell/TENCEL® fibers, is taking legal action against the violation of its Lyocell patents.

A preliminary but not yet legally binding injunction has been imposed on the Austrian engineering firm One-A Engineering Austria GmbH. Accordingly, One-A is prohibited from using the Lyocell spinning technology which has been patented by Lenzing and is thus protected by law. One-A is owned by four previous Lenzing-Lyocell employees, and received an engineering contract from the Chinese company Baoding Swan Ltd. The corresponding evidence to back this claim was obtained within the context of a search warrant ordered by the Vienna Commercial Court and executed at the offices of One-A Engineering Austria GmbH.

Lenzing is the owner of process patents, in which, after the forming procedure in the spinning device, the Lyocell spinning solution is released into an air gap of a special gas or air stream. This is what enables the constant and high quality of Lyocell fibers. As a consequence of the patents, the protected production processes may not be used without Lenzing’s express approval. Similarly, the fibers manufactured in accordance with this process may not be used, offered for sale or sold without the consent of Lenzing.

In line with the preliminary injunction, One-A Engineering Austria GmbH is not permitted any longer to teach other individuals or parties, in particular the company Baoding Swan Ltd., how to use the patent-protected processes or support them in using this process. This injunction particularly relates to the supply of know-how, project concepts, process descriptions and plant design. This supply ban also applies to drafts and plans (such as technical drawings), process instructions and instruction manuals for plants, equipment and components, as well as the provision of engineering services and technical service.

Lenzing also intends to take uncompromising action against any and every violation of its patent rights in the future as well.

Source: http://www.lenzing.com/en/fibers/news/press-releases/detail/datum/2012/01/17/lenzing-ag-takes-legal-action-against-the-violation-of-its-lyocell-patents.html