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Date:06/09/2005 URL:
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/06/stories/2005090600920300.htm
Back Lenzing eyes woven segment
G. Gurumurthy
Coimbatore , Sept. 5
THE Austria-based global man-made fibre major Lenzing is keen on promoting its branded
specialty cellulosic fibre in India.
The company markets `Modal,' `Viscose' and `Tencel' specialty fibres and it is planning to
make deeper strides in India's woven sector this year.
The European fibre group will target the premium woven fabric segment (supplies for dress
material, home textiles and silk). "Already India's knitwear sector is the major consumer of
Lenzing's range of fibres. We are now concentrating on developing a market for these fibres
in the weaving sector, especially for home textiles and dress material applications," said
Lenzing's marketing officials for the Asia Pacific region.
Lenzing is eyeing textile producers in Karur, Erode and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu for
modal, viscose and tencel fibres, according to Mr Pradeep Roongta, Managing Director of
Stuti Exports Pvt Ltd, Lenzing's sole selling agent in India.
The Austrian fibre maker is currently interacting with spinners, weavers and garmenters in
India. It is keen to get into the woven shirting segment for selling its versatile/premium fibre
`Tencel,' which will be blended with cotton to produce high-end shirting material.
"Right now, Lenzing is working with Coimbatore-based Lakshmi Mills Company in the
production of finer count `Tencel' fibre-cotton blended yarn (at 30:70 blend) in the 60s/80s/
100s count range. We have done some trials on the yarn and fabric," said Mr Johann Leitner,
Lenzing's Senior Technical Manager (Business Development) from Austria. The price of the
shirting fabric made of these products would be close to the cotton fabric price, he said.
Lenzing is associated with Lakshmi Mills for more than two years. Similarly, Lenzing is
also involved in promoting silk and the `Tencel' fibre blend to produce yarns in the 20s to
60s count range in India by tying up with Bhabuji Institute of Technology.
The testing of the fabric (containing these blends) had been made and this would be
transferred to the industry for commercial application anytime now, said Mr Leitner.
The Lenzing group's marketing team including Mr Thomas Gaidoschik, Sales Director for
Asia Pacific region, and Mr Roongta, were here to participate in a roadshow organised on
Sunday by Lenzing for an exposure of textile fabrics made of `Modal'/Tencel' range fibres.
Besides Lakshmi Mills in the South (which will be producing exclusively the Modal/Tencel
fibre/cotton blended yarns and pure yarns), Lenzing has also tied up with Rajasthan Textile
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Mills, Rajasthan Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd for producing other varieties of yarns
using its cellulosic fibres. The latest entry to Lezing's product users group is Vardhman
Spinning Mills.
The volume of Lenzing's fibres sold in India in the last two years has risen from some 400
tonnes to 1,000 tonnes, according to Mr Roongta.
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