Press information
Quality in every fibre
The entire fibre production of the Lenzing Group is certified according to OEKO-TEX®
Standard 100
31-Jul-2012 | 2076-EN
Lenzing AG has been producing regenerated fibres from the renewable raw material
wood for more than 70 years. The company unites all stages of fibre production from
raw material and cellulose generation to fibre production at the same site in Lenzing in
Austria which makes it the largest integrated cellulose and viscose plant in the world.
Lenzing is also the only manufacturer worldwide to produce all three generations of
cellulose fibres – from classic viscose and modal to Lyocell fibres – on a large industrial
scale under the same roof. All cellulose fibres of the global market leader meet the
human ecology requirements of OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.
70 years of experience
The origins of the Lenzing Group go back to the year 1892 when the industrialist Emil
Hamburger started operations with a paper plant in Lenzing. The formation of the
‘Zellwolle Lenzing AG’ in 1938 marked the start of production of cellulose and viscose
fibres. After another name change to ‘Chemiefaser Lenzing AG’ modal fibres were
introduced on the market in the 1960s. The formation of an in-house department for
environmental protection reinforced the future significance of environmental protection
and sustainability in the company as early as the mid 1970s. In addition to the central
location in Upper Austria, the Lenzing Group went on to position itself in important
production and sales markets such as the US state of Alabama, Nanjing in China or
southwest Indonesia. The early 1990s saw the successful market launch of Lyocell
fibres which have been marketed under the brand name Tencel® since 2005.
Success through stability
The Lenzing Group currently has around 6,600 employees and focuses 90 percent of
its activities on its core business – fibre production for the global textile and nonwoven
industry. Another historically grown division within the Lenzing Group is Lenzing
Plastics, one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of products made from polyolefins
and fluoropolymers for films, ribbons and threads with very high strength. The field
of work of the Business Unit Pulp particularly includes active marketing of the wood
by-products as well as its actual main task – ensuring long term and cost optimised
cellulose supply for the company. The sector Lenzing Technik as a globally active
Editor:
Hohenstein Laboratories GmbH & Co. KG
Hohenstein Textile Testing Institute GmbH & Co. KG
Hohenstein Institut für Textilinnovation gGmbH
Hohenstein Academy e.V.
Your contact for this text:
Marketing & Communication
Schloss Hohenstein
74357 Bönnigheim
GERMANY
Phone: +49 7143 271-723
Fax: +49 7143 94 271-721
E-Mail: presse@hohenstein.de
Internet: www.hohenstein.de
Helmut Müller
Phone: +49 7143 271-709
Fax: +49 7143 271-94709
E-Mail: h.mueller@oeko-tex.com
You can make use of the news service free of charge please send us file copies.
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partner for the industry uses innovative solutions for plant manufacturing and industrial
services as well as automation and mechatronics.
Safe products and sustainable production
The entire range of products of the Lenzing Group complies with the requirements
of the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 with regard to the produced fibres being harmless
to health. But Elisabeth Stanger, Global Marketing Director of the business unit
Nonwoven Fibers, goes one step further: ‘We also want to take on an exemplary role
with regard to the further processing of our products during subsequent production
stages. As a global market leader for industrially produced cellulose fibres we have
to set standards right at the start of the textile added value chain.’ Lenzing primarily
supplies the textile industry with a total capacity of 770,000 tons of fibres per year, and
also serves as a supplier for manufacturers of baby care cloths and hygiene products
as part of the nonwovens industry.
Lenzing Viscose®, the classic first generation cellulose fibre, has been manufactured
by Lenzing for around 70 years. The starting material is cellulose which the company
produces in two locations: In Lenzing itself as well as in Paskov in the Czech Republic,
whereas cellulose extraction from beech wood is carried out in Upper Austria. For
cellulose bought from other suppliers Lenzing only uses material from sources with
proven sustainable cultivation. In recent years the researchers and process engineers
in the company have succeeded in increasing the use of the wood substance so
far that more than half of the wood can be converted into high-grade cellulose.
The remainder is used as a biogenic energy source in the Lenzing plant. Lenzing
is planning to produce up to two thirds of the cellulose required for the entire fibre
production in-house by 2015. With long standing experience and extensive know-how
in the field of viscose production, Lenzing Viscose® now sets the quality standard for
the entire textile industry. Viscose gives garments a softly flowing appearance and can
also be used in mixed materials.
Searching for ever better fibres, especially fibres with ideal strengths, Lenzing
developed the modal fibre in the mid 1960s. The basic material for the extraction of
modal fibres is exclusively beech wood. A special process gives modal fibres higher
fibre strength and improved fibre properties. Modal fibres also feature a higher moisture
absorbency than viscose and dry quickly. Lenzing is the exclusive supplier of Lenzing
Modal® which is now being used in the collections of brand name manufacturers and
designers all over the world. Modal fibres are popular mainly because of their softness
and their natural wearing comfort, making them ideal for the production of garments
worn close to the skin, such as underwear and terry items.
The increase in production at the Lenzing site is one of the examples of the worldwide
success of Lenzing Modal®. The output of modal fibres has more than tripled in the
past ten years – from 30,000 tons to more than 100,000 tons. According to Andreas
Dorner, Global Marketing Director of the business unit Textile Fibers, the focus is
always on the company philosophy which is centred around sustainability: ‘Lenzing
can look back at a long history in terms of environmental technology. We took the
first steps towards recycling of chemicals as early as 1963. This was followed by
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further milestones like the extraction of acetic acid and furfural from wood content
materials as well as the recycling of chemicals during the actual fibre production. Today
Lenzing has a recycling rate of over 95 % and can be labelled an expert in the field
of wood biorefinery.’ The technologies employed here were independently developed
by Lenzing and are being optimised continuously. The latest achievement in terms of
ecological fibres is called ‘Edelweiss’ – the application of an oxygen-based process
makes the modal fibres produced with this technology even more environmentally
friendly and even CO2 neutral.
Lyocell fibres have become an absolute staple in the textile industry thanks to their
extremely varied possibilities for use, e.g. for manufacturing denim and shirt fabrics
as well as textiles for sports clothing and functional textiles, workwear, underwear and
bedding products. The Lyocell process uses pure wood cellulose which is dissolved
physically and then directly transformed back into fibres. Its good miscibility with
water means the solvent agent can be easily removed from the fibre and it is also
environmentally friendly, biodegradable and recyclable to over 99%.
Lenzing offers a large Lyocell fibre portfolio under the brand name TENCEL®
which has set standards worldwide through comfort, functionality and processing
modifications. TENCEL® features high dry and wet strength; it is soft and creates an
ideal skin climate through its high moisture absorbency. Textiles with TENCEL® are
smooth and cool to the touch, drape nicely, have a low tendency for creasing and can
be washed and dry-cleaned.
Contact:
Lenzing AG
Werkstraße 2
4860 Lenzing
Austria
www.lenzing.com
Brands:
Lenzing Viscose®
Lenzing Modal®
Lenzing FR®
BOTANIC®
TENCEL®
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Lenzing fibres are used in the collections of
brand name manufacturers and designers
all over the world. Picture: Lenzing AG
In the nonwoven industry cellulose fibres
from Lenzing are used for the production
of nonwoven materials for sensitive
areas such as cosmetics (e.g. facial and
cleansing tissues), hygiene (e.g. tampons),
medicine (e.g. plasters, swabs) as well
for technical applications (e.g. filtration).
Picture: Lenzing AG
Lenzing AG has been producing
regenerated fibres from the renewable
raw material wood for more than 70 years.
Picture: Lenzing AG
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Innovative fibres with ideal properties
and functions as well as a wide range of
applications are the trademark of Lenzing
AG. Picture: Lenzing AG
Fibre production with state-of-the-art,
environmentally friendly technology is the
core business of Lenzing AG. Picture:
Lenzing AG
Lenzing AG in Lenzing in Upper Austria
is the largest integrated cellulose and
viscose plant in the world. All stages of
fibre production are located at the same
site, from the raw material wood and the
production of cellulose to the production of
fibres. Picture: Lenzing AG
Lenzing AG is the only manufacturer
worldwide to unite all three generations
of cellulose fibres – from classic viscose
and modal to Lyocell fibres – on a large
industrial scale under the same roof.
Picture: Lenzing AG
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Lenzing's success is based on
uncompromising customer focus
coupled with an edge in innovation,
technology and quality. Of course that
means that the company also takes on
responsibility. Sustainability is actual reality
for Lenzing, for the market leader believes
in environmentally friendly production
processes, reduction of emissions, careful
use of resources and energy sources and
last but not least compliance with social
standards.’ Picture: Lenzing AG
The basic material for viscose fibres is
cellulose which is produced by Lenzing
in two locations: In Lenzing itself and in
Paskov in the Czech Republic. Even when
purchasing additional supplies of cellulose
the company only uses material from
sources with proven sustainable cultivation.
Picture: Lenzing AG