Intense Asian competition has contributed to difficult conditions for viscose supplier German speciality viscose fibre manufacturer Kelheim Fibres has filed for insolvency however production is expected to continue under a protective shield procedure Kelheim Fibres filed for bankruptcy at Germany’s Regensburg District Court on 22 October according to local news publication Mittelbayerische Local news reports claim it has struggled to compete with the prices offered by its competitors in Asia and it has also suffered from high energy and raw material costs This is said to have made it difficult for the company to operate in a financially viable way however it adds that Kelheim Fibres hopes to implement its own restructuring plan Kelheim Fibres was unable to share an official statement with Just Style at the time of going to press On its official website Kelheim Fibres says it produces fibres that leading corporations use to manufacture products in the areas of feminine hygiene and body care specialty papers and tailor made solutions In July Kelheim Fibres announced it had established a solid financing plan for future profitability with the completion of a restructuring agreement Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis At that time CEO Craig Barker expressed optimism He said: “The past few years have been very challenging for us and many other companies Our financiers have shown exceptional commitment and rightly expect us to advance the operational restructuring measures that have been initiated.” The restructuring measures included streamlining the product portfolio towards more specialties — a shift that was initiated several years ago Kelheim Fibres also shared at that time that it has maintained the trust of its suppliers and customers through transparent communication The sale of a non-essential property made a significant financial contribution to its restructuring plan and cooperation with local authorities had been crucial in the process In an interview with Just Style earlier this year Kelheim Fibres’ project manager for new business development explained how the company was ensuring the future of period underwear made from viscose fibres was sustainable. Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Kelheim Fibres developed a restructuring plan with its financiers in June including support from its hometown Kelheim which acquired a key property from the company to help alleviate financial strain the company's economic situation deteriorated as Asian competitors sharply cut prices for viscose fibres intensifying competition and eroding Kelheim’s profitability Kelheim Fibres aims to continue production and hopes to steer its restructuring plan to completion Kelheim Fibres is a manufacturer of viscose speciality fibres Its speciality fibres are used in diverse applications including fashion Search Companies editorial@fibre2fashion.com 2023 — After nearly 30 years with the company commercial director at renowned viscose specialty fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres he has played a significant role in transforming Kelheim Fibres from a supplier of standard fibers to the European textile industry into a supplier of predominantly customized specialty fibers for the hygiene I would like to express our gratitude to Matthew for his outstanding work over the past decades We wish him all the best for his exciting new chapter in life Marina Crnoja-Cosic much success in the new responsibilities they have now assumed.” Mark von der Becke will assume the position of sales director and become part of the management team at Kelheim Fibres The 48-year-old brings extensive experience in sales He has held various leadership positions in renowned companies such as Hoechst He is known for successfully developing and implementing strategy and change programs who has been serving as director of New Business Development and a member of the management team at Kelheim Fibres since 2020 will take on the responsibility for marketing and communications She has already proven herself as a dedicated and competent leader and will now drive the further development of the marketing strategy and communication with customers and partners Welcome to www.automotivelogistics.media. This site uses cookies. Read our policy By 2021-05-18T08:42:00+01:00 BLG Logistics has commissioned the building of a third multistorey car park at its inland auto terminal in Kelheim seven-deck car park will provide capacity for 5,368 vehicles and will be the largest of the three multistorey car parks at the Kelheim terminal Once complete the car park will bring total capacity at Kelheim to 32,000 vehicles That is up from the 27,000-vehicle capacity the terminal currently has “Kelheim is an important link in our international automobile logistics network,” said Andrea Eck “It’s ideally located for consolidation of vehicles and subsequent distribution to dealers in Germany and the Benelux countries we are upgrading this trimodal inland terminal.” Eck added that the facility was being to the latest construction standards (by building firm Goldbeck Group) and a photovoltaic system on the roof were essential features Kelheim sits at the confluence of the Danube and Altmühl rivers The auto terminal has direct rail and barge connections Vehicles arrive in Kelheim mainly by barge from Hungary by truck from the vehicle plants in the south of Germany or by rail from Slovakia and the Czech Republic In 2019 the terminal handled 220,000 units The Kia volumes are coming from the carmaker’s Slovakian plant in Zilina by rail and BLG has been handling vehicles from there since the plant was set up in 2006 On delivery the vehicles undergo technical reconditioning BLG AutoTransport is handling onward distribution to dealers throughout Germany said it was important to optimise the existing site without expanding it We’re also concentrating our transport here at our main location,” said Brockbalz adding that transport to existing external storage sites would soon no longer be necessary thanks to the extra capacity at Kelheim Vehicle volumes at the Greek port of Piraeus were down in CY2024 but the car terminal is preparing for increased trade from China US tariffs on vehicle and parts imports are forecast to dent automotive sales by pushing prices up for consumers already facing tighter disposable income JLR pauses all US-bound shipments after Trump enforces 25% import tariffs on finished vehicles Site powered by Webvision Cloud Based on detailed advice from Josef Lechner here is a homebrew-scale recipe based on the legendary Schneider Aventinus Thanks to the generous insights of Josef Lechner involving an elaborate step mash with decoction and special attention paid to fermentation Those choices interconnect to produce the signature Schneider aroma For much more about brewing strong wheat beers in the Bavarian tradition, see The Perils of Weizenbock Subscribe today to access all of the premium brewing content available (including this article) our subscribers call it "the perfect beer magazine" and "worth every penny." Your subscription is protected by a 100% money back guarantee Recirculate until the runnings are free of particles Sparge and top up as necessary to get about 6 gallons (23 liters) of wort chill to about 61°F (16°C) and pitch the yeast skip the airlock and cover the fermentor with a loose piece of sanitized foil allowing the temperature to free rise as high as 73°F (23°C) time to package: Use priming sugar or fresh speise (unfermented wort) to target about 3.5 volumes of carbonation Condition in keg or bottles for 1 week at 68°F (20°C) Enjoy immediately or cellar for several months Receive our weekly Newsletterand set tailored daily news alerts trilobal Galaxy and Bramante hollow fibre integral to new concepts Medical/Hygiene, Sustainable Kelheim Fibres will provide information about various development projects it is currently working on to design fully biobased absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) that do not compromise on performance The company continues to focus on its wood-based speciality fibres which the tampon industry has trusted for decades as each layer must fulfil a specific function Kelheim Fibres has developed a range of functionalised speciality fibres All of Kelheim’s fibres are manufactured from 100% wood pulp derived from certified and sustainably managed forests They are fully biodegradable – microorganisms in soil and seawater ensure that no residues remain we do not limit ourselves to producing fibres,” says Dr Crnoja-Cosic director of new business development at Kelheim Fibres “Together with our partners we develop holistic concepts that cover the entire value chain Through collaborations based on the open innovation principle products are created that take into account the real needs of customers and are thought through from beginning to end so they can be quickly ramped up to commercial scale.” A current example of such a partner project is the development of a completely bio-based panty liner with the nonwovens manufacturer Sandler and the hygiene products manufacturer pelzGROUP Kelheim will also present its tried and tested fibres for products like tampons or flushable wipes www.kelheim-fibres.com Kelheim appoints Marina Crnoja-Cosic as head of new business development Kelheim Fibres nominated for Sustainbability Heroes Award Kelheim Fibres presents new fibre for disinfectant wipes Kelheim Fibres inks deal to use recycled Circulose pulp for viscose fibres Renewcell’s Circulose is a branded dissolving pulp product made from 100% textile waste Kelheim, Germany – Renewcell and Kelheim Fibres have formed a collaboration to establish a European closed loop for fashion textiles The fiber manufacture will use ‘s recycled pulp for the production of viscose fibers the companies will work on developing commercial scale production of superior quality viscose fibers of up to 10,000 tons of Circulose annually Production begins this year and will ramp up going forward and Levi’s launched a line of jeans made with Circulose and organic cotton While the Kelhim/Renewcell partnership targets the European market the fiber will be available to all textiles manufacturers “We will now work with Kelheim to prevent waste and reduce the need for virgin resources while also enabling a fully regional supply of low-impact circular fibers for textiles,” said Patrik Lundström Signup for your daily digest of industry news and trends Some of the forms and images on this page may not work correctly with this enabled Please disable your ad blocker for this page Find the ad blocker icon installed on your browser This icon is usually located on the upper right side of your screen You may have more than one ad blocker installed Click the icon and disable the ad blocker for this website either by following prompts or clicking your browser’s “refresh” or “reload” button Home Textiles Today provides industry news Sign up to get exclusive industry information delivered to your inbox the innovation partners will present their solution for period underwear made from biobased materials distinguished by outstanding performance metrics The various specialty viscose fibres used in this solution are sourced from Kelheim Otto expertly spins them into the appropriate compositions a woman consumes about 15,000 hygiene products in her lifetime primarily disposable items that generate significant waste Their plastic components take up to 500 years to decompose breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces over time The trend toward making female hygiene products more sustainable has been growing in recent years This category includes not only biodegradable disposables but also washable period panties offered by established lingerie manufacturers and innovative startups Enhancing sustainability and performance of reusable products This is where fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres and yarn spinner Gebr aiming to make period underwear as comfortable considering that period underwear is constructed from multiple layers with different functions the topsheet must quickly absorb and divert liquid away from the body while the subsequent acquisition-distribution layer (ADL) ensures rapid and optimal distribution of the liquid within the absorbent core With the optimal combination of Kelheim’s specialty fibers and Otto’s perfectly matched yarn types the two innovation partners have solved this puzzle The result is a prototype that outperforms conventional solutions in terms of liquid absorption speed “Based on the requirements and test results Kelheim has determined for the various layers we develop our yarn blends,” explains Andreas Merkel “We can promptly supply the desired yarns for short-term requests including special inquiries from lingerie brands.” The collaborative innovation between Kelheim Fibres and Gebr Otto is a significant gain for the sustainability of period underwear Not only do both companies utilize efficient state-of-the-art technology but Kelheim’s biobased viscose fibres also contribute to the eco-friendliness of the product the partnership between these two German traditional companies enables an exceptionally short supply chain director of New Business Development at Kelheim Fibres emphasized: “Short supply chains are not only environmentally friendly but also crucial for compliance with supply chain laws and product responsibility Regional partnerships like the one with Gebr Otto ensure that our supply chain is transparent and efficient ultimately leading to a more sustainable future.” At the 547,000 square-meter BLG AutoTerminal Kelheim a third multi-story car park is under construction for the customer Kia Motors Deutschland the new facility provides covered parking space for 5,368 Kia vehicles Along with this vertical capacity expansion the BLG Group has signed a long-term contract on further cooperation with the automobile manufacturer "The new building demonstrates the dynamic development of Kia as one of the growing brands in the German automobile sector it underlines the significance of the strategic partnership with BLG for our company,“ explains Steffen Cost Managing Director of Kia Motors Deutschland The BLG terminal near Regensburg has been working for the South Korean auto manufacturer since the opening of the Kia factory in Zilina The new vehicles for the German market reach the Kelheim terminal by railroad then undergo technical reconditioning including special modifications before going into storage which operates its own center at the terminal The volume for Kia Motors Deutschland is around 35,000 vehicles per year "Kelheim is an important link in our international automobile logistics network It's ideally located for consolidation of vehicles and subsequent distribution to dealers in Germany and the BENELUX countries we are upgrading this trimodal inland terminal,“ says Andrea Eck Head of the AUTOMOBILE division at the BLG Group the new multi-story car park will be the largest at the Kelheim terminal the inland terminal will offer parking spaces for 32,000 cars Especially new vehicle customers value covered storage "We're delighted to have our longstanding customer Kia as our partner here" says Andrea Eck "The new car park ensures even more efficient use of space and it's being built to the very latest construction standards and a photovoltaic system on the roof were essential features for us.“ adds: "It was important to us that we use the existing site optimally without expanding our footprint We're also concentrating our transports here at our main location." Additional transports to the current external storage facilities would soon no longer be necessary The investment volume for the new multi-story car park is some EUR 24 million Start of operations is scheduled for the end of 2021 The construction company is the Goldbeck Group HU Digital Media Ltd - company registration no - powered by Quickchilli.com - Presentation at Cellulose Fibres Conference to provide insights into the correlation between the geometry of viscose fibers and the liquid absorption of tampons Viscose specialist Kelheim Fibres and yarn spinner Gebr Otto are set to unveil their bio-based material solution for period underwear at the upcoming Techtextil exhibition in Frankfurt at the end of April 2024 to address the pressing need for sustainable feminine hygiene solutions The various viscose fibres used in the period underwear solution – an eco-friendly contribution to the product – will be sourced from Kelheim Fibres and Gebr Otto will take on the role of spinning them into appropriate compositions Otto added: “Based on the requirements and test results Kelheim has determined for the various layers We can promptly supply the desired yarns for short-term requests The complexity of crafting period underwear with its multiple layers serving distinct functions is described as being similar to solving a puzzle From the top sheet’s liquid absorption to the acquisition-distribution layer’s (ADL) role in preventing leakage Kelheim’s speciality fibres and Otto’s matched yarn types are said to have “solved the puzzle” by creating a prototype that “outperforms” conventional solutions in areas such as liquid absorption speed The top sheet is made with Danufil fibre a standard viscose material with a cloud-shaped cross-section under that is the Galaxy fibre on the Acquisition distribution later for liquid transportation and distribution The absorbent core is formed with a hollow fibre called Bramante which is used to store liquid The two German company’s partnership also enables a short supply chain “Short supply chains are not only environmentally friendly but also crucial for compliance with supply chain laws and product responsibility,” explained Dr “Regional partnerships like the one with Gebr Otto ensures that our supply chain is transparent and efficient ultimately leading to a more sustainable future.” With the average woman consuming around 15,000 hygiene products in her lifetime there is an urgent need to tackle the environmental repercussions of disposable items It is understood plastic components of these products can take up to 500 years to decompose the trend towards sustainable feminine hygiene products has been steadily gaining momentum in recent years Otto are championing sustainability by reimagining period underwear as “comfortable They are expected to exhibit their joint concept at the BW-i joint stand and the IVGT joint stand both located in Hall 12.1 at Techtextil exhibition Kelheim Fibres collaborated with MagnoLab, an international network of textile industry companies based in the Biella region back in September 2023 to share the growing importance of cross-company collaboration in driving innovation and sustainability within the textile sector. Sports/​Outdoor a leading manufacturer of viscose specialty fibres have partnered to launch Celliant Viscose at ISPO Munich 2021 Celliant Viscose is a finalist in Best Products by ISPO and will be showcased in the Fibers & Insulations Category for ISPO Textrends where realistic views and 3-D simulations will be available for each material The introduction of nature-based Celliant Viscose will be the first in-fibre infrared sustainable solution on the market and meets a consumer demand for more environmentally friendly textiles An alternative to synthetic fibres and extremely versatile Celliant Viscose is said to blend beautifully with cotton It also has many applications across industries as it is ideal for performance wear Sustainable products for a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing — that’s what both Hologenix and Kelheim Fibres stand for ethically sourced minerals embedded into plant-based fibres to create infrared products that capture and convert body heat into infrared increasing local circulation and improved cellular oxygenation “We are confident the exciting introduction of Celliant Viscose will resonate strongly with brands as well as the end consumer,” said Seth Casden “It is a sustainable infrared solution that can be integrated into everything from cotton to luxury wools and cashmere and offers myriad applications.” Celliant Viscose provides all the benefits of being a viscose fibre — lightweight excellent moisture management — as well as fibre enhancements from Celliant infrared technology Celliant’s proprietary blend of natural minerals allows textiles to capture and convert body heat into full-spectrum infrared energy lasting the useful life of the product it powers “Sustainable products for a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing — that’s what both Hologenix and Kelheim Fibres stand for This shared vision of the future is the sound basis for our seamless cooperation,” said Dr Head of New Business Development and Member of the Board at Kelheim Fibres “Combining our technological expertise and our innovative spirit we have opened the way for an entirely new range of possible applications.” long-lasting solution with diverse applications As opposed to other IR viscose products which are coatings based Celliant Viscose’s in-fibre solution is said to increase wearability and longevity with a soft feel The combination of Kelheim’s distinctive technology and the Celliant additives creates this unique fibre that provides full functionality without the need for any additional processing step — a new standard in the field of sustainable IR viscose fibres This single processing also makes Celliant Viscose more cost-effective and time-efficient than coatings Kelheim’s flexible technology allows targeted interventions in the viscose fibre process By modifying the fibre’s dimensions or cross sections or by incorporating additives into the fibre matrix Kelheim can precisely define the fibre’s properties according to the specific needs of the end product Celliant Viscose is a plant and mineral-based solution for brands seeking an alternative to synthetic fibres It contains natural raw materials that are from the earth and can return safely to the earth Nature-based Celliant Viscose is certified by FSC or PEFC which guarantees the origin in sustainably managed plantations and is part of the CanopyStyle initiative to protect ancient and endangered forests The production of Celliant Viscose takes place exclusively at the Kelheim facilities in Germany complying with the country’s strict environmental laws and guaranteeing an overall eco-friendly product Celliant is rigorously tested by a Science Advisory Board composed of experts in the fields of physics The Science Advisory Board has overseen 10 clinical and seven published studies that demonstrate Celliant’s effectiveness and the benefits of infrared energy Click to learn more about Celliant Viscose Celliant Website Kelheim Fibres      Marina Crnoja-Cosic has been appointed head of New Business Development at the viscose specialty fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres She will also serve as a member of Kelheim’s Management Board The chemist with a doctorate degree brings with her long-time experience in fiber and application development as well as in business development cross-company cooperation along the value chain and constant attention to long-term industry and particularly to textile trends have shaped her career path for the past 20 years Crnoja-Cosic is highly competent,” said Craig Barker “She has an enormous wealth of experience as well as a comprehensive network she has repeatedly proven that she is not afraid to tread new paths — a perfect match with our philosophy Crnoja-Cosic we will intensify our focus on innovation even more We are very pleased to have her on board!” Kelheim Fibres and research and development centre are working together to enable the production of high-quality new products from recycled materials Kelheim Fibres and Recycling Atelier Augsburg will collaborate on products made from sustainable and eco-friendly fibres that can be recycled “In new business development as well as fibre and application development we follow the open innovation concept – the cooperation with the Recycling Atelier offers us an ideal platform for this Here we work with partners to advance sustainability and performance,” explains Maik Thiel Kelheim Fibres points out that recycled cotton fibres are often very short or of uneven length which makes further processing of 100% recycled material a challenge This is where it says its speciality fibres come into play as it should enable the production of high-quality new products The aim for this collaboration is for the fibres provided by Kelheim Fibres to be made from recycled pulp Recycling Atelier Augsburg was founded by the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences in June 2022 together with its affiliate the Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg and 12 partners from the German textile industry the Recycling Atelier Augsburg combines the most important processes of textile recycling and offers holistic and comprehensive research along the value chain,” explains Georg Stegschuster The scientists aim to research all process steps of textile recycling from material analysis to sorting preparation and textile processing to sustainable product design Comprehensive data collection and the use of artificial intelligence as well as innovative materials play a central role Kelheim Fibres is a producer of high-quality viscose fibres the main component of the renewable raw material wood and are used worldwide for products in areas such as hygiene the focus is on the triad of technical and ecological sense as well as economic benefit the partners of the Recycling Atelier are said to be standing up against fast fashion outsourced corporate responsibility and a general decline in raw material quality which it believes often fuel downcycling – the low-quality reuse – of materials Kelheim Fibres partnered with traceability platform TextileGenesis recently, to create more transparency in the textile supply chain through the use of blockchain technology. Partners design sustainable period pants with advanced features Kelheim Fibres GmbH and Santoni Spa have jointly developed a sustainable menstrual underwear garment based on advanced machine technology and high-quality performance viscose fibres The product consists of a soft outer layer and an inlay made from special wood-based fibres from Kelheim The result is a sustainable and high-performance product that combines comfort and functionality The soft outer layer is produced on Santoni SM8-TOP2V or the SM4-TL2 circular knitting machines that can significantly reduce the amount of cutting waste or even allow production with zero-waste originally developed for the footwear market is used for the functional inlay of the period pant The XT allows for different layers to be produced with different yarns and knitting structures This enables all three functions of the inlay – the absorption and distribution layer (ADL) the absorbent core and the back layer – to be knitted in a single tube reducing production time and costs and enabling zero-waste production wood based Kelheim fibres such as trilobal Galaxy or hollow Bramante replace synthetic materials “Our machines have changed the manufacturing process making garments almost seam free and offering solutions for 3D knitting,” said Santoni marketing manager Patrick Silva Szatkowski “Our goal is to provide efficient machines to produce sustainable and comfortable garments while reducing the quantity of operations The collaboration with Kelheim Fibres GmbH has been driven by the same values and we are proud of the excellent result.” “With this joint development and the combination of our different areas of expertise we have expanded our range of femcare products,” added Natalie Wunder project manager for new business development at Kelheim “We look forward to seeing this project commercialised soon and new partners are always welcome.” New guidelines for testing femcare products to highlight circular knitting applications at Techtextil the Bavarian fibre manufacturer is currently rebuilding the heart of its viscose fibre production Medical/Hygiene, Clothing/​Footwear, Sustainable Kelheim Fibres celebrated the 4,000,000th tonne of viscose fibres in April last year the long-established Bavarian fibre manufacturer Kelheim Fibres is currently rebuilding the heart of its viscose fibre production the focus lies on modern state-of-the-art equipment and particularly on resource-saving and environmentally friendly production technology Kelheim Fibres will present its viscose specialty fibres at ITMA a leading international textile machinery trade fair that takes place next month in Barcelona Kelheim’s viscose speciality fibres consist of 100% cellulose and are therefore completely biodegradable These fibres offer an eco-friendly alternative to mineral-oil-based fibres in particular for end products – like many nonwovens or hygiene applications – intended for convenient one-time use Kelheim’s speciality fibres for this area include not only the well-known fibre Galaxy a leading viscose fibre for the tampon production but also short cut fibres that have been specifically designed for processing in modern wet laid plants These fibres are designed to enable the manufacturing of completely plastic-free and even flushable wipes from 100% cellulose consumers value natural materials,” the company reports “Kelheim’s range of speciality fibres for textile applications comprises spun-dyed fibres as well as the renowned brand names Viloft and Viseta: In yarns the flat fibre Viloft creates small air pockets that make the textile highly breathable and comfortable – an ideal fibre for warm Viseta is 50% finer than silk and gives clothes a flowing drape and a soft and naturally luxurious touch.” Kelheim Fibres is a leading producer of viscose speciality fibres and the most important supplier of viscose fibres for the tampon industry Around 90,000 tons of viscose fibres are produced and tested every year at Kelheim in South Germany These are used in most diverse applications – from fashion hygiene and medical products to nonwovens and speciality papers The fire broke out in the morning of 14 October in the main fibre spinning area at Kelheim Fibres It was extinguished by the company’s own fire brigade with the support of local fire services The fire caused significant damage to some parts of the fibre spinning lines and more particularly to electrical cabling and also structural damage to some parts of the spinning area Fire at Kelheim Fibres’ viscose fibre production plant The award recognises the newly developed Danufil QR fibre a positively charged viscose fibre that was designed for use in disinfectant wipes receives the WoW Innovation Award from INDA President Dave Rousse the Bavarian manufacturer of viscose speciality fibres Kelheim Fibres has been presented with the World of Wipes Innovation Award 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 Danufil QR fibres are completely made of renewable cellulose and therefore fully biodegradable They can be easily processed with all nonwovens technologies The annually presented WoW Innovation Award honours products that both expand the use of nonwovens and demonstrate creativity “Product innovations have a right to exist only if they work in practice and if they create added value we are particularly pleased about this approval from the industry,” said Matthew North 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 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 Focus on sustainable production at Kelheim Fibres Kelheim Fibres’ Viloft receives Lighthouse Award the incorporation of mineral IR-reflecting particles has been tested in several spinning trials Protective, Clothing/​Footwear, Medical/Hygiene Different levels of these particles were integrated into the fibre’s core thereby preserving the fibre’s inherent properties rather than being added as a topical finish using additives based on titanium oxide or other metal-based compounds The effects of the new method are permanent and cannot be washed out The trials showed that the new fibre delivers a level of IR-activity that could be proven in measurements of the Total Solar Reflectance Value (TSR) This proves a clear benefit in the reflectance of direct sunlight where the fibre is capable of providing a cooling effect for example by protecting the human body from outside radiation the fibre may also be used in warming applications where the thermal radiation emitted from the body is reflected by these particles back to the body reducing the cooling effect and keeping the person warm In the mid IR-range an increase of reflectance of about 20% of m-IR radiation was achieved in tests compared to normal viscose The fibre can be used for both textile and nonwoven processes where the fabric can either protect against outside influences or reflect the IR-radiation back to the inside source “Comfortable feel-good clothes and functional special clothing are just two obvious applications for our new IR fibre,” said Dr Daniela Bauer of Kelheim Fibres’ R&D team “The level of loading can be adapted according to the requirements of the final product the fibre will be tested for its effectiveness in various end-applications in cooperation with our partners.” Kelheim Fibres is the leading producer of viscose speciality fibres and the most important supplier of viscose fibres for the tampon industry Approximately 90,000 tons of viscose fibres are produced and tested every year at Kelheim in South Germany Kelheim Fibres increases prices for viscose fibres Kelheim Fibres presents transparent viscose fibre Leonardo Kelheim Fibres develops disinfectant wipes with viscose Kelheim Fibres has developed viscose fibre speciality Danufil QR addressing a challenge in the area of disinfection wipes Sustainable, Medical/Hygiene the use of viscose fibres in these antiseptic wipes has posed a significant problem despite their excellent fluid handling properties: the fibres bind certain disinfectant substances which severely interferes with the wipes’ function,” says the company The active substances are quaternary ammonium compounds These so-called quats are positively charged Standard viscose fibres are negatively charged which is why up to 80% of the quats are tightly bound to the fibre – meaning they are no longer available for their actual purpose the Bavarian fibres expert has developed a positively charged viscose fibre that can reduce this undesired effect to less than 10% by far the largest proportion of the quats is available for effective cleaning Danufil QR receives its functionality through the incorporation of a – completely bio-degradable - additive into the fibre’s core the functionality is evenly distributed and cannot migrate from the material While viscose fibres are long established raw materials for other hygiene Danufil QR has been developed to offer all the well-known benefits of viscose fibres such as absorbency softness and skin-friendliness for disinfectant wipes Kelheim’s viscose fibres also score points for eco-friendliness particularly in convenient disposable products: Danufil QR is made of 100% renewable raw materials The cellulose used for these fibres comes exclusively from FSC- or PEFCTM-certified sources Kelheim Fibres is one of the leading producers of viscose speciality fibres The company is focused on developing innovative products flexible technologies and strong customer orientation as well as active environmental protection Around 90,000 tonnes of viscose fibres are produced and tested every year at Kelheim in South Germany www.kelheim-fibres.com Kelheim’s viscose speciality fibres against fraud Weizenbock is so dangerously easy to drink but the brewing process behind a great weizenbock is surprisingly complicated since its potential for easygoing mass appeal remains largely untapped My dad’s been a dedicated Miller Lite drinker for more than three decades; before that he and his high-school buds would drive from southwest Missouri to the Kansas state line to buy Coors “smuggling” it back in the trunk of his ’66 Mustang but they could sell it in Springfield for $6 a six-pack his favorite beer in the world is Schneider Aventinus when we took a Bavarian brewery tour that culminated at Oktoberfest nutty flavor and the light sweetness,” Dad says He also enjoys its sneaky strength at 8.2 percent ABV—“dangerous” is the word we use Marina will also serve as a member of Kelheim’s Management Board Medical/Hygiene The chemist with a doctorate degree brings with her long-time experience in fibre and application development as well as in business development She has an enormous wealth of experience as well as a comprehensive network she has repeatedly proven that she is not afraid to tread new paths – a perfect match with our philosophy We are very pleased to have her on board!,” says Craig Barker Kelheim Fibres GmbH is a leading producer of viscose speciality fibres and an important supplier of viscose fibres for the tampon industry About 90,000 tons of viscose fibres are produced every year at Kelheim in South Germany from the renewable raw material wood flexible technologies and an exceptional focus on sustainability form the foundation of the company’s success Kelheim partners ETP in bio-based and circular economy programs Lenzing and partners awarded for smart packaging Kelheim Fibres and Gebrüder Otto to showcase joint concept aimed at making period underwear more sustainable and high performing at upcoming Techtextil Intimate Apparel Advanced knit the key to washable underwear ranges Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Best paired with an authentic New England lobster roll The bread-dough flavor of the wheat malt falls into the butter-grilled roll like two high school kids on their third date and the beer’s Belgian yeast phenols of vanilla and clove spice up the lobster like a salsa dancer on Friday night.” former head brewer at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn The basis for the innovative design form Kelheim’s functionalised specialty viscose fibres with adapted cross-sections Needle-punched / thermobonded nonwovens with a blend of specialty viscose and PLA bicomponent fibres were chosen to ensure the product’s washability the trilobal cross-section of the galaxy fibre forms capillary channels that enable efficient and optimised liquid distribution and thus optimum use of the capacity of the absorbent core the segmented hollow fibre bramante stores liquid not only between but also inside the fibre The liquid remains there even when pressure is applied to the construction Bramante can absorb up to 260 per cent of its own weight in liquid (cotton only achieves values of around 50 per cent here) The innovative nonwoven construction with the speciality fibres from Kelheim performs better in tests in terms of air permeability and rewetting than commercially available solutions made of synthetic fibres or cotton in knitted structures and has earned Sumo diapers a place among the finalists for the IDEA long-life product achievement award “Kelheim Fibres specialty fibres are a perfect fit for us Like all the fabrics we have developed for Sumo diapers the fibres in the insert developed with Kelheim are based on cellulose and are biodegradable They are as good to baby’s skin as they are to the environment and – thanks to their targeted functionalisation – they outperform other cellulosic fibres as well as synthetic fibres,” Sumo designer Luisa Kahlfeldt “Working with Sumo is inspiring and professional in equal measure We share a passion for driving the transformation to a bio-based society with innovative solutions led by innovation manager Ilka Kaczmarek and project manager Dominik Mayer is very proud that our fibres are now part of the Sumo diaper offering young parents a sustainable product that meets their need for a comfortable reliable and skin-friendly diaper solution for their babies,” Dr director new business development at Kelheim Fibres Highly-engineered core of viscose and PLA delivers host of benefits Berlin-based design studio Sumo worked with Kelheim Fibres to develop a sustainable and high-performance absorbent washable diaper pad that has already received a number of awards a baby uses around 5,000 diapers which generates an enormous amount of plastic waste – in Germany alone 10 million diapers are disposed of every day There are two ways to solve this dilemma – either disposable products are made from bio-based or biodegradable materials or reusable products with a longer life span replace disposable products Sumo founding team Luisa Kahlfeldt and Caspar Böhme have gone further and combined both solutions creating a reusable cloth diaper that is made entirely of sustainable materials while offering high performance and an innovative design The fitted Sumo diaper consists of a waterproof cover and absorbent inserts The cover is sewn to create a pocket in which the absorbent pad is inserted to prevent slipping To further enhance the performance of the absorbent pad the Sumo team turned to viscose speciality fibre manufacturer Kelheim “Kelheim’s speciality fibres are a perfect fit for us,” said Luisa Kahlfeldt “Like all the fabrics we have developed for Sumo diapers They are as good for a baby’s skin as they are to the environment and thanks to their targeted functionality they outperform other cellulosic fibres Kelheim Fibres brings decades of experience from the hygiene sector especially for sensitive applications where high absorbency is required (such as tampons) and has made a name for itself in the industry as an innovation pioneer Sumo and Kelheim Fibres have developed a high-performance absorbent pad that uses no fossil materials The basis for the design form Kelheim’s functionalised specialty viscose fibres Needle-punched and thermobonded nonwovens with a blend of adapted cross-sections viscose and PLA bicomponent fibres were chosen to ensure the product’s washability usually found mainly in the single-use sector Sumo and Kelheim Fibres have chosen a completely new approach fibres from Kelheim procide special properties In the acquisition and distribution layer (ADL) the trilobal cross-section of Galaxy fibre forms capillary channels that enable efficient and optimised liquid distribution and optimum use of the capacity of the absorbent core Bramante segmented hollow fibre stores liquid not only between but also inside the fibre Bramante can absorb up to 260% of its own weight in liquid compared to cotton which only achieves values of around 50% here The nonwoven construction with the speciality fibres from Kelheim performs significantly better in tests in terms of air permeability liquid absorption and rewetting than commercially available solutions made of synthetic fibres or cotton in knitted structures and has earned Sumo diapers a place among the finalists for the IDEA Long-Life Product Achievement Award “Working with Sumo is inspiring and professional in equal measure,” said  Dr director of new business development at Kelheim www.sumodiaper.com Sustainable European innovations at Dornbirn GFC Kelheim Fibres and Santoni develop energy-efficient and zero waste production of menstrual underwear Kelheim achieves highest level in ZDHC MMCF estery wheats celebrate the fine flavors of rich fermentation When brewers ask Josh Weikert what their first “big” beer should be it isn’t barleywine or Old Ale or double IPA: it’s Weizenbock I was recently challenged to a brewing duel I wonder if Ray challenged me to it because he’d overheard me saying that I don’t really drink it much his (potential) loss because even though I’m not a fan of drinking Weizenbocks What other beer style gives you that much room for creativity I’d rather sit down with a German Pilsner or British pale ale or American amber just to drink—but I love being able to offer a big Anyone with a heart condition must leave the room Lots of people compare this beer to Dunkelweizen, but I think that’s a poor comparison: instead, I think of Weizenbock as a cross between a banana protein shake and Belgian Dubbel but it adds a big banana nose and a rich flavor that seems like it should feel heavy but still drinks pretty easily and features the same basic fermentation characteristics as the other German wheat beers while adding in the malt profile of a traditional bock the wheat is almost the least interesting thing in this beer My older recipes included mostly wheat; I wasn’t getting much flavor out of it (that I could tell) so I started swapping in more Vienna malt instead But to keep what I’m sure are my numerous German brewing ancestors happy I still leave the wheat at a bit over 50 percent Features | June 1, 2017 | By: planning and budgeting for innovation relies on creativity communication and collaboration throughout the industry It was a tough night for firefighters called out to three major blazes overnight One exhausted man slogged back to the rig in his soaking-wet turnout gear When another firefighter touched his shoulder It’s a steam burn—moisture in the air layer between the turnout and the firefighter’s skin becomes superheated and condenses into boiling water when he’s touched Such a situation ignited discussions at W.L who maintain constant contact with protective clothing markets discovered that turnout gear loses some of its fire-protective qualities when wet and that sweaty internal environments increase risk of heat stress and steam burn technical leader for Gore Research and Development “We want staff to have a deep understanding of materials product construction and user expectations.” Company staff viewed the turnout issues through these filters and saw potential solutions identified by firefighters A product concept form described what added value a new product could give the firefighter These talking points are discussed and refined My grandma and anyone else should be able to read it,” says Decker “You shouldn’t need technical expertise to understand how the product could provide significant improvements in end-user protection or comfort.” Throughout the research and development process many of whom have a stake in building a better turnout “We license partners to use Gore products,” says Decker “because we’re ensuring the end product’s fitness for use.” Partners design the product; Gore reviews the design to ensure that the company’s technologies work as intended and the only way to assess the product’s value is to demonstrate the prototypes with physical testing on real firefighters The outcome: the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system Conventional turnouts lose 34 percent of their thermal protection when wet; the PARALLON liner system loses only 4 percent The system incorporates a layer with maximum breathability close to the skin allowing firefighters to sweat (which cools the body) without being wet (which is uncomfortable and increases potential for heat stress and steam burn) At the April 2016 Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) International Gore presented the results of a third-party study confirming the PARALLON liner system’s highest breathability in the turnout market Gore’s licensees and partners should see the first turnouts with PARALLON liner systems in firefighters’ lockers this year PARALLON is only one product out of many emerging from Gore’s ongoing innovation journey Emerging issues for fire and public safety officials include household chemicals terrorism threats and human blood-borne pathogens as well as shifting government standards and test methods Chances are good that turnout gear will go through other evolutions Gore’s continuing success: it’s a great place to work Gore has been in Fortune magazine’s annual compendium of “100 Best Companies to Work for®” each of the past 20 years “We’re big on people who are passionate about our company and are always out there looking for unmet demand and opportunity.” manufacturing innovation translates an idea into a product or service that creates value That increased value must be replicable at a reasonable cost satisfy a specific need and be significant to the customer Innovations can be evolutionary (continuous improvements) or revolutionary (new products that create new markets disrupt the status quo and involve significant risk) Manufacturers must decide how to balance resources and assess potential risks; easy to say But innovation is essential to manufacturing growth reports professional service network PwC in its “Global Innovation Survey 2013.” “Most companies are still innovating in incremental ways that are safe profitable and important for their growth,” PwC reports “Things get more interesting when we look at the companies who are taking a more comprehensive approach to innovation The least innovative group of industrial manufacturing companies only generated 7.1 percent of their revenues from new products and services launched in the last year while the top innovators managed a revenue boost of 22.8 percent.” Drivers of innovation include customer feedback; employee observation and inspiration; new scientific or technology research; availability of raw materials; partnerships with academic government or business innovation centers; market trends and demographics; regulations and trade policies We asked leaders in innovative companies producing fibers materials and equipment to describe how they keep new products and services coming for industry manufacturers Research and development teams scan the horizon for what’s new what’s next and what fits with the company’s values and goals And innovative cultures are built by “talking up a storm,” freely swapping ideas inside the company venturing outside the company to collect intel and communicating early and often with customers Forces that spawn innovation can include something as basic as distinctly articulated family values a global textile technology leader based in Spartanburg emphasizes a proud 152-year history of innovation patents and more than 5,000 patents worldwide Deep science,” reflects Milliken’s commitment to finding “creative ways to enhance people’s lives and make the world around us easier more sustainable and more beautiful.” Not coincidentally the company has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as a “World’s Most Ethical Company®” every year since the award was first given in 2007 research manager for Milliken Engineered Performance Products the environment and the world.” Michaels and LeAnne Flack note that market research shows that consumers are more discerning than ever before about performance features and the environmental impacts of materials used in residential furnishings Milliken has a successful line of fabrics for commercial interiors but hasn’t yet moved into the residential market Recent data has elevated concerns about exposure to perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) which provide stain resistance and water repellency to fabrics used in commercial settings where exposures are minimal and insults (stains people use their home furnishings like gypsies—eating Would more discerning consumers prefer residential fabrics without PFCs Breathe by Milliken™ is a great example of who we are and what we do,” says David Smith vice president of Milliken’s Engineered Performance Products “It provides top-notch protection and is the ultimate family-friendly solution “eco-elegant” performance fabrics is designed to reflect today’s relaxed lifestyles and environmental consciousness The industry’s first fluorine-free performance fabrics Breathe includes features that are compatible with natural A proprietary plant-based water-repellent delivers performance features without PFCs water- and stain-repellent and easily cleanable—while attaining GREENGUARD® Gold certification for meeting the most rigorous environmental standards the company’s major innovation driver is the Milliken culture and legacy: vision and values Conversations among the business and R&D staff take place informally at annual “grown-up science fairs” on relevant new research and (of course) in the company coffee shop “We come up with lots of great ideas in the coffee shop,” says Michaels The best customer is “aligned with our values has a partnership mind-set and has the potential to be a market leader,” says Smith Milliken formed a partnership with Pottery Barn an upscale home furnishings and goods retailer to integrate Breathe fabrics into its residential furnishings Both companies emphasize the sustainable and environmentally friendly qualities of their products Smith ticks off the criteria for an innovation opportunity: “Is it the right business strategy And do we have the right resources to implement?” He agrees that balancing resources between ongoing product improvement and breakthrough innovations can be challenging the greatest risk to a business’s success is doing nothing to innovate.” In contrast to Milliken’s long history of innovation (FIT) was founded in 1995 by four professionals with experience at Eastman Chemicals and BASF’s Fiber Products division The cofounders purchased world-leading technology for producing bicomponent fibers and struck out on their own “We were at the bottom of a swoon in textile manufacturing,” says Jeff Dugan “We fit into a hole created by people getting out of research and development to focus on the near term FIT manufactures specialty fibers for textiles commercial-scale manufacturing of specialty fibers we didn’t have many fiber sales,” says Dugan “We had to sell the technologies to customers first.” FIT makes off-the-shelf fibers for customers who know what they need but the company’s goal is to “be a partner with anyone who wanted to work on new fibers or applications.” One strategic decision: to develop a pilot line for testing new products while commercial fiber production continues on the main line “Because we are unique—and set up for innovation—companies come here,” says Dugan “They ask ‘Can you make a fiber that can do this?’” FIT develops a fiber solution and can test it at small scale on the pilot line Partners with great ideas can develop and test cheaper faster and at lower risk; the resulting fiber solution can move into commercial-scale production without missing a step This attracts customers who downsized or eliminated R&D; FIT serves as an outsourced development lab and production partner Among FIT’s stand-out products are polylactic acid (PLA) fibers for NatureWorks LLC Ingeo™ Ingeo PLA pellets are used for applications ranging from yogurt cups to baby wipes “PLA is considered the grandfather of the whole movement to develop biopolymers from biological materials,” says Dugan has an unusual shape that allows for capillary wicking the most effective moisture transport fiber commercially available FIT has been the sole licensee to make the fiber thermal insulation and filtration are under consideration by partners “The perfect customer is well-situated in his own market to exploit the innovation,” says Dugan With more finely focused targets and technical risks FIT’s staff of 60 employees know that “there is something new coming around the corner every day,” says Dugan The entire team is engaged in development projects “Everyone is part of the success,” he says “It keeps things interesting for employees.” Fiber manufacturers are near the top of the supply chain which can be both rewarding and challenging Not only do they research and develop fiber innovations but they must convey the value all down the supply chain is the world’s leading producer of viscose specialty fibers derived from wood from managed plantations because “we are all conscious that the world doesn’t stand still,” says Matthew North “We create an open environment that allows people the freedom to come up with ideas.” with employees participating in idea focus groups and “Inspiration Forums,” where staff informally bounce ideas around and decide which ones should move forward trade shows or workshops go into an “Ideas Store,” after an interested staff member or team prepares a broad-brush description Kelheim organized a competition for new ideas on “100 percent cellulose fibers—rethought” with BioCampus Straubing under the patronage of the Bavarian State Secretary for Economic Affairs “We have seen completely new conceptual approaches and we have gained contacts in industry sectors and application areas formerly unknown to us,” said North during the awards ceremony the winner focused on developing viscose fibers to filter endocrine disrupters from wastewater Because of growing concern about the impacts of endocrine disrupters in water on fish such a breakthrough could have huge implications Kelheim’s perfect customer is not someone who says period,” but instead says “We have this problem; do you have a fiber solution?” Great customers work with Kelheim on solutions see themselves as innovators and can convey the new fiber’s added value down the supply chain to their customers Sustainability is a big advantage; viscose is a natural polymer from a renewable source that can be composted or recycled Kelheim’s products confer other advantages such as flushability in wet wipes (using Viloft® short-cut fibers) or yarns with differential dye uptake (using Danufil® Deep Dye® fibers) While researching the possibilities of conductive fiber and is currently testing potential applications to sensitive electronic components “We have to innovate to keep customers interested,” says North 92 percent of respondents said innovation is important to future growth but only two-thirds reported that their company has a well-defined strategy to achieve it Seaman has offered innovative fabric solutions involving knitting printing and fabrication for more than 65 years was a major driver of innovation at Seaman,” says Crum Richard Seaman [the current chairman of the board] and the rest of the family looked at polyvinylchloride (PVC) upper management’s commitment to innovation has been a major catalyst for product development.” communication skills and a ‘bias for action and velocity,’” says Crum universities and staff keep ideas rolling into Seaman’s Innovation and Business Development group “We recruit creative minds to get the right people on the bus.” Seaman staff meet with market experts and prospective customers to better understand what they want to do with the company’s products “Our staff ask themselves if we can add value,” says Crum “or whether we can solve a unique problem.” According to Crum 80–90 percent of Seaman’s customers sell the premium product in their individual markets so they’re always looking for innovative solutions “This is where collaboration is critical,” says Crum “We have an open office environment designed to keep discussions going A multi-generational staff offers different perspectives scientists and extroverts bring the customer’s ideas back from the field.” technical staff unveil the concept to prospective customers to see if it meets expressed needs and expectations “Approximately 30 percent of technical time is spent in the field,” says Crum “People need to get real-life experience and see the product’s end application.” All hands are on deck when a product is launched with a multi-pronged approach that includes customer interaction Seaman intends to promote the value of products to the end customer a recently developed technology to bond polypropylene fibers directly to a reinforced thermoplastic compound Its durability and reduced maintenance implications for infrastructure sound barriers and structural building products and several potential customers offered to beta test the product The company’s FiberTite Hybrid roofing system meeting stringent demands for facility protection where precious digital information is stored by companies like Google Seaman has adopted Lean Sigma® for organizational efficiency and received the 2012 Perfect Engine Award in recognition of the company’s commitment to continuous improvement Crum agrees that keeping both evolutionary and revolutionary innovation moving can be difficult and Seaman is designed for both types of innovation,” says Crum membrane and material manufacturers work hard to convey the value of their products to distributors and fabricators Another part of the supply chain—equipment tool and service suppliers—fosters the same evolutionary and revolutionary innovations as those that power businesses upstream and downstream as well as a 360-degree vision of the current landscape pioneers industrial fabric welding solutions across the globe to handle PVC laminated and coated fabrics and films As new materials enter the market and customer demands evolve vice president of international sales and packaging “We have field service engineers working with customers all over the world what problems they see and what equipment technologies they need.” Miller Weldmaster is managed for innovation with new product development a priority following the appointment of Jeff Sponseller as chief marketing officer in 2015 “There is a growing demand among manufacturers in many sectors for high-performance welding solutions,” says Sponseller “Miller Weldmaster is committed to being at the forefront of innovation and equipping manufacturers with the production measures they need to markedly increase output.” Scott Miller was given a Global Entrepreneur Award in 2012 by the Ohio chapter of The International Entrepreneur the shop floor and “anywhere else in the company” keeps good ideas flowing Field service engineers clock plenty of face time with customers and come back with insights about problems and potential solutions “Sometimes we can help the customer with prepping a new fabric to work better in the existing machinery,” says Henry “We can tell customers other ways they can use their machinery We can find out what customers in other countries want that may not be available on standard machinery It’s all about opening up and looking outside your walls.” Double-wall fabrics (also called drop stitch) are constructed of dual fabric layers bonded together with thousands of polyester threads to create a single strong textile unit often used to manufacture inflatable products was a growing need among Miller Weldmaster’s customers the company introduced the T300 Extreme Flex Hot Air Welder which features a specialized ultrasonic cutter welding nozzle and fabric roller designed to reduce production time and labor costs on drop-stitch products Miller Weldmaster’s vision statement for 2020 includes employing lean manufacturing—doing more with less by eliminating activities that consume resources without adding value allows certified technicians to remotely connect to most Miller Weldmaster machines via an ethernet connection and router With the company’s integrated programmable logic controller and Quicksync Visual staff can diagnose and troubleshoot remotely reducing company travel costs and customers’ production downtimes The customer provides both the motivation and intelligence to bring great ideas into being Brian Henry describes the perfect customer as “a partner in business who is transparent and open with us about what they want and need Transparency in communication is the way to succeed in innovation.” The Shade and Awnings supplement is here! Continuing the family legacy of Mike's Marine Custom Canvas Extending a helping hand to give back 2025 Specialty Fabrics Showcase Where fit meets function in women’s protective gear Textile professional Donielle Lorelli shares career tips You must be logged in to post a comment Specialty Fabrics Review is a publication of the Advanced Textiles Association Copyright © 2025 Advanced Textiles Association Terms of ServicePrivacy Policy Since the foundation of our plant in the 1930s German textile industry experienced a serious change The most important decisions were probably made during the 1990s: extension of our portfolio in order to serve other industrial sector (Nonwovens) and a strong focus on specialities (Viloft We have customers in more than 40 countries a producer of specialty fibers based in Kelheim (Germany) became a full subsidiary of Lenzing Plastics The acquired company generated sales of about EUR 25 million (2007) and employs a staff of about 100 Dolan produces a range of applications based on acrylic fibers for outdoor products in particular high quality textile home architecture (sunshades cover fabrics for outdoor furniture and tops for convertibles and boats) Fibers by Dolan are highly photostatic and weather-proof as well as highly resistant to wear and decomposition produces fibers for technical applications such as waste gas filtration systems and reinforcements for friction linings and construction materials under the brand name Dolanit The Lenzing Group's plastic specialist Lenzing Plastics acquired Dolan GmbH to continue to grow dynamically: Dolan had previously been a full subsidiary of Kelheim Dolan’s products perfectly complement the product portfolio of Lenzing Plastics especially in outdoor products and filtration technology The recent acquisition increases the staff of Lenzing Plastics to about 930 in 6 locations in Europe and the USA Sales for 2008 are expected to reach about EUR 190.0 million Textiles are basic human needs: People need to dress in spite of turmoil Viscose fibres – like all cellulosic fibres - have an advantage over synthetic fibres: they have a natural origin There are a lot of new textile applications which promise to be interesting for us and all fibre producers Whenever there’s an interesting market there is competition too–that’s nothing new for Kelheim Fibres We are used to it and we stand unique due to our high quality and due to our excellent service we have a fibre of natural origin which is 100% biodegradable Regarding the production process we dispose of state of the art recovery plants and we meet very high environmental standards part of Neela By Sapphire Fibre group from Pakistan has started using some new fibers for its newest denims These two new sustainable developments can be perfectly blended with cotton and other raw materials and provide new soft touch and smooth fabric effects.  Both fibers are produced by Kelheim Fibres a German fiber manufacturer founded in 1936 specialized in producing sustainable viscose fibers Photo: Kelheim Fibres Viscose fibers by Kelheim Fibres The Viseta fiber is lightweight It is crafted from natural cellulose fibers and provides very high comfort levels while maintaining high strength and longevity characteristics.  The Viloft fibers are already recognized in the market for their moisture management breathability and durability characteristics which is produced from extracting cellulose from wood and reshaping it into the final product it is biodegradable and not-harmful for the environment both fibers are extracted from FSC-approved wood therefore they are Oeko-Tex certified and 100% biodegradable.Neela has chosen these new fibers for its denims as they have enhanced breathability properties when compared with cotton They can manage moisture and guarantee excellent hygiene levels due to their moisture regain capabilities that help retarding the growth of bacteria naturally. They also have superior softness properties the flat fiber structure of Viloft offers high softness levels Photo: Neela Archives Jeans made with Neela Blu denim added with Viloft and Viseta fibers Neelablue has added the two fibers to its blends to its Ginola Sapphire Blue Swift Core Blue and Veyron Halicarnas Blue fabrics Each of these fabrics uses different blends of the two innovative technologies with cotton the ratio between cotton and Viseta or Viloft fibers varies between roughly 70-30 and 50-50 The use of these two fibers can offer additional advantages to both consumers and brands Each fiber can be blended with cotton providing materials that have a smooth exceptional moisture wicking management properties and extreme flexibility providing denim products the end consumer can highly appreciate. Clothing brands can benefit by offering garments that follow reasonable manufacturing practices with renewable resources.  $(document).ready(function() { adition.srq.push(function(api) { api.renderSlot("renderSlot_Rectangle-2"); }); }); READ ALSO: The Materials The ceremony was performed by Priest Schmidbauer and was followed by a reception at Ritterschenke Restaurant at the Castle Randeck Rohn is the daughter of Dagmar and Hans Koebler of Saal She is employed in the export department at Erlus Baustoffwerke AG Markus Rohn is the son of Gertrud and Werner Rohn of Kelheim He is an electrical engineer for Zweckverband Haefen (port of Kelheim) Bridesmaids were Marlies Guhr of Regensburg Germany and Andrea Schindlbeck of Bad Abbach Germany and Martin Koebler of San Francsico Music was provided by the Ihrlerstein Church Choir; Regina Menath-Kuerzinger The aim of the project was to develop a biotechnological process to produce alginate and then process it into fibre-based products for use in wound dressings B.R.A.I.N AG and Kelheim Fibres have successfully developed wound dressings made from bacterial alginate The soil bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii was used as a natural alginate resource time-consuming process of obtaining the biopolymer from brown algae can be avoided and replaced by a sustainable biotechnological process Alginate is a biopolymer (polysaccharide) that consists of the glycosidically bonded monomers The range of industrial applications for the biopolymer is determined by the sequence and ration of these two sugar components Alginate is particularly suitable for use in wound dressings because of its excellent biocompatibility enormous liquid-absorption capacity and good healing properties The conventional alginate that is obtained from algae varies greatly in the composition of its sugar components A time-consuming preparation process is required to obtain the ultrapure and biochemically defined alginate that is needed for medical applications is said to offer the option of synthesising biopolymers which have defined properties and are of consistent quality for use in medical products Research work that began in 2013 has been able to establish optimise and standardise the cultivation of the soil bacterium and the biotechnological process for producing and isolating bacterial alginates By working specifically on optimising the bacterium's alginate biosynthesis the researchers succeeded in improving the composition and therefore the properties and yield of the alginate This meant that they could make customised alginates that are particularly suitable for producing fibres for use in medical products the research partners were able to spin fibres from alginate and alginate-viscose and turn them into innovative nonwoven materials and wound dressings within the established process When the new wound dressings were tested in use the alginate product that had been made using biotechnology was impressive for its liquid absorption capacity which was significantly better than that of commercially available marine alginate-based wound dressings The bacterial wound dressings absorbed up to 70% more liquid than marine-based dressings “The results that were achieved from this successful research project will form the basis for incorporating bacterial alginate in industrial production,” declared Dr Guido Meurer a member of the Management Board of BRAIN AG “Now our next goal for the future is to identify other areas of application for bacterial alginate and so open up new sales markets for customised special alginates,” added Dr Daniela Beck from Kelheim Fibres Prof Dirk Höfer of the Hohenstein Institute concluded: “Until now it has been impossible to vary and optimise the material properties of alginate there is now nothing to prevent the targeted use of alginate in specialist textiles.” www.hohenstein.de www.brain-biotech.de Empa scientists develop wound dressing that kills bacteria Freudenberg’s directly applied silicone adhesives at Compamed KELHEIM – German viscose manufacturer Kelheim Fibres has launched a new type of fibre developed specifically to have static dissipation properties for personal protective equipment (PPE) and industrial textiles Log in or subscribe to see this content Why Subscribe? 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