Helmut Lauterbach, Kelheim Fibres, receives the WoW Innovation Award from INDA President Dave Rousse. © INDA

During the World of Wipes in Atlanta, GA, the Bavarian manufacturer of viscose speciality fibres Kelheim Fibres has been presented with the World of Wipes Innovation Award.

The award recognises the newly developed Danufil QR fibre, a positively charged viscose fibre that was specifically designed for use in disinfectant wipes: Danufil QR is the only viscose fibre worldwide that – in contrast to standard viscose fibres – binds less than 10% of “quats” (quarternary ammonium compounds), so that this common disinfectant can release its intended effect in the wipe, the company explains.

Danufil QR fibres are completely made of renewable cellulose and therefore fully biodegradable. They can be easily processed with all nonwovens technologies, it says.

The annually presented WoW Innovation Award honours products that both expand the use of nonwovens and demonstrate creativity, uniqueness, and technical sophistication. “Product innovations have a right to exist only if they work in practice and if they create added value. Therefore, we are particularly pleased about this approval from the industry,” said Matthew North, Commercial Director at Kelheim Fibres.

After a large fire in October 2018, Kelheim Fibres is currently rebuilding their fibre production site. “We seize the historic opportunity to rebuild our plant with state-of-the-art technology and to meet the latest environmental standards. At the same time, we use the resulting slow-down in production to focus our energy even more on new fibre developments and process improvements. Coming back stronger remains our motto,” concluded Mr North.

www.kelheim-fibres.com

Further reading

Focus on sustainable production at Kelheim Fibres