Lenzing, the leading manufacturer of man-made fibres, is exhibiting its Tencel lyocell fibre for skin care products at the IDEA16 leading nonwovens trade fair that is taking place in Boston, MA, this week. According to the company, the greater use of special fibres in nonwovens mirrors its strategy.

Lenzing is reinforcing cooperation with customers along the value added chain and plans to increase the share of specialty fibres by 2020. “We aim to secure and further extend the leadership role of Lenzing in the dynamic growth market for the nonwovens sector,” said Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer.

Convenience products, like wet wipes, continue to be a mega trend in industrialized countries and remain an important sales market for Lenzing, the company reports. “As a result of the greater demand for hygiene products in the consumer markets, the sale of fibres for the nonwovens industry will undergo considerable growth,” explained van de Kerkhof.

Product

Tencel is used in wet wipes for cosmetics and care products. “The fibre which comes directly from the botanic world, the raw material is wood, is firmly established in the market and has set a new standard in wet wipes in the nonwovens industry,” said Wolfgang Plasser, Vice President Business Management Nonwovens.

“Tencel's special properties such as its skin friendliness, fibre purity, and high storage capacity in relation to the lotions applied are what make wet wipes of Tencel a premium product.”

The high wet strength of Tencel is said to provide advantages when producing wet wipes, and these benefits are transferred to the end product. The result is a dimensionally stable, solid, and high quality wet wipe, according to the manufacturer.

Purity and hygiene

When manufacturing fibres for the nonwovens industry, hygiene must be given priority at all phases of production, the company reports.

“As a manufacturer of quality, Lenzing is a reliable partner for customers with high demands. We are aware of our responsibility and attach particular importance to cleanliness in production. Purity and hygiene have top priority at Lenzing,” commented Plasser.

Innovation

“We are already testing several special types which demonstrate that Tencel generates a range of solutions for manufacturers and consumers alike,” said Plasser. “The market launch of Tencel as a short-cut type for flushable wet wipes was only the beginning.”

Wet wipes with Tencel short-cut are characterized by great fibre strength and are said to be extremely tear-resistant as a result, when compared to materials conventionally used, such as pulp and Viscose.

“With this special type, Lenzing has its finger on the pulse of the times. The fibre is of a high quality and particularly strong and yet it is still bio-degradable,” Plasser continues. “There is no limit to the innovative potential of Tencel. With our team we continue to work persistently on new solutions for the nonwovens industry.”

www.lenzing-fibers.com