Lyocell in Lenzing Annual Reports (1998)

1998 saw the last appearance Courtaulds annual report and is currently the first available year for Lenzing Annual Reports on their website.  Here are the paragraphs relevant to what was then called Lenzing Lyocell, the production of which was started at the Heiligenkreuz site during that year. Industrial scale Tencel production was started by Courtaulds 6 years earlier in Mobile Alabama. (This report is notably devoid of photographs.  Two years later, the 2000 report had photos of Naomi Campbell throughout.)

...Although numerous  intensive marketing efforts  and technical improvements  were made, the sold quantities  of the new fiber fell considerably short of the budgeted  figures. The introduction  of Lyocell to the market  must be expected to require  considerably more time than  was originally assumed and  will require additional funds.  The Board of Management  is, however, convinced that  this fiber of is great potential  for the future, although  Lyocell will continue to generate  a sometimes considerable  burden on the business  result in the years to come.

...The research expenditure of Lenzing AG amounted to ATS 157.4 million (after ATS 200.1 million). The amount represents 2.6 per cent of the Lenzing sales, which is a remarkable figure also by international comparison. As before, research in 1998 focussed on the further development of the Lyocell technology, especially in the transition of a low-fibrillation Lyocell fiber to large-scale technical production and market maturity, as well as on...

Tencel Dinner at Mancetter Manor (1993)

There had been a project review meeting in Courtaulds Research in Coventry during the day and this dinner was arranged, I think by Robin Thomas, at nearby Mancetter Manor.  From left to right, Calvin Woodings, Glenys Thomas, Robin Thomas, ??, Glyn Raven (US) , Clive Knee (US), ??, Pat White, Alan Jones, ??, Bob Feil (US), Omori-san.  

(If anyone can replace the ?? with names or knows who took the photo please comment.)

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.