Lenzing – The Lenzing Group is continuing to invest heavily in its new Web Technology. Adding to the initial €26 million investment, the Austrian firm has now filed 25 patent applications with the World Intellectual Property Organization with this initial wave focusing on product, process and application inventions.

The Lenzing Web Technology is a nonwoven web formation process that starts with botanic wood pulp and produces a nonwoven fabric made of 100 per cent continuous lyocell filament.

This web can be integrated with standard non-thermal based nonwoven bonding technologies, such as hydroentangling and needlepunching.

According to Lenzing, the technology also offers a unique self-bonding mechanism where filaments bond into a fabric during the laydown process. This self-bonding mechanism allows for a much wider variety of basis weight, surface textures, drapeability and dimensional stability than other nonwoven technologies utilizing 100 per cent cellulosic fibres. The nonwoven fabrics produced in 15gsm to 80gsm basis weights with a wide range of surface textures and drapability properties will also be certified biodegradable, clean and safe, the company says.

“Lenzing’s corporate strategy sCore TEN is very focused on driving growth via sustainability focused innovation," said Stefan Doboczky, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group. "The new Web Technology is one of the most exciting Research & Development projects. The 25 patent applications related to this new technology underline our commitment to the nonwoven industry. We will continue to support our partners in their business and help consumers with sustainable innovative solutions for their everyday needs.”

It is also hoped that the flexibility of the technology and the possible integration with other nonwoven and textile technologies will enable the development of a wide range of composite structures for highly engineered end use applications.

Web: www.lenzing.com