COURTAULDS REFOCUSING 'GENESIS' ON NONWOVENS (1988)

The Courtaulds, UK, Genesis solvent spun cellulose process was not developed primarily for nonwovens production, but the company is emphasing how the process fits well with thermal bonding, hydroentanglement and latex bonding nonwovens technology. Courtaulds states that more possibilities of developing special fibres for nonwovens do exist.


Anon, Nonwovens Ind., vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 1988, p. 15


This must have been at the time the problems with fibrillation in textile processing were slowing down development of the yarn/fabric route.  Maybe this also accounted for the relative PR silence in 1987.  Comments from those involved on the textile side would be valuable.

Plant a Tree for Chemistry (1987)

This is the only published reference to Genesis (or Tencel or lyocell) I could find for 1987.  I guess this was the year of the construction of S25 at Grimsby and maybe we were keeping a low profile until sure that we could follow up on the interest generated by the Coventry-produced fibre.  Nevertheless the story of how we came to justify S25, its construction and start up would be well worth airing.

From "Plant a Tree for Chemistry", John Emsley New Scientist 8/10/1987 p 41

WHY INVESTORS UNDERESTIMATE COURTAULDS (1988)

Courtaulds shares are falling although November interim results were up to expectations. The company's development is traced from its initial breakthrough with viscose rayon to its present diversified range of products. In the 1960's a policy of acquiring textile and clothing companies to absorb its fibres production made it vulnerable to economic downturn. A management controlled business system now operates in the six main product sectors monitoring 'profit centres' for profitability. A modest acquisition policy is now being pursued in paints to bolster the declining marine market, and in brand name clothes. Genesis, a new fibre superior to viscose, forms a new range of clothes, and rapid growth in oriented polypropylene is bolstering the packaging group. Carbon fibres and acrylics are problem areas, as are dollar related textile imports. Analysts are optimistic that its strong balance sheet means a continuation of acquisitive growth. 

Bennett N, Investors Chron. vol. 83, no. 1040, 15-21 Jan. 1988, pp 18-19


There are no releases containing "Genesis" on the computer database for 1987 although I recall some coverage in New Scientist at that time, which I'll try to locate.  Does anyone have anything from 1987?

COURTAULDS SOLVENT SPINNING SYSTEM FOR CELLULOSIC FIBRE (1986)

Courtaulds'  Genesis Project, under development for 6 years, has led to a pilot line capable of making 100kg batches, by a non-continuous process, of solvent spun cellulose fibre. Much of the fibre produced has been evaluated on nonwovens equipment at the company's R and D workshops at Coventry, UK. In 1987 larger quantities of the fibre will be available for customer evaluation. The system, based on use of an amino oxide, offers both production and fibre performance advantages, and nonwoven fabrics made from the fibres show promising wet strength and absorbency properties.


Abstract: Anon, Nonwovens Rep. Int. no. 183, July 1986, pp 3-4


This is the first public reference to Genesis I could find.  If I recall correctly we were talking about it under confidentiality agreements with potential users from late 1985, and later in '86 shipped the first 500kgs from the pilot plant to Holland for a trial at the Chicopee plant in Cuijk.  The chosen technology was card/hydroentanglement (HEF1?) and while the fibre could be processed only at about half normal speed, the resulting fabrics had potential in wipes and medical fabrics (gauze replacements).  John Elves and Derek Rochford were the key personnel in Chicopee at that time.  John Brothers was the Genesis Commercial manager.

Tencel News: Tencel expands in Austria (2/7/2012)

Investments of EUR 130 mn in Upper Austria
Expected completion in about 24 months

110 new jobs

Following the successful completion of the environmental impact assessment process for the new TENCEL® production plant in Lenzing/Upper Austria nine months after the formal filing of the project, Lenzing AG was formally granted a legally binding building permit by the Office of the Provincial Government of Upper Austria. Construction work has now commenced on the new production facility which will manufacture 67,000 tons p.a. of the specialty fiber TENCEL® in Upper Austria in the future. Construction time has been calculated at 24 months.

Lenzing AG will invest approximately EUR 130 mn in the new factory, making it one of the largest individual industrial investments in Austria at the present time. This project will be accompanied by considerable infrastructure investments. Moreover, once it is put into operation the TENCEL® production plant will generate 110 additional highly qualified jobs in Lenzing in the long term, as well as a large number of other jobs in the region. The planning and construction of the facility also leads to a corresponding value creation.

Specialty fiber site in Lenzing

“With the TENCEL® plant the fiber technology of the future and the latest generation of man-made cellulose fibers is returning to our corporate headquarters in Lenzing. The Lenzing pilot plant was the place where 20 years ago the first marketable lyocell fibers in the history of the Lenzing Group were produced. They are now marketed around the world under the TENCEL® brand name”, says a pleased Friedrich Weninger, Member of the Management Board of the Lenzing Group and Chief Operating Officer responsible for the fiber business.