Technical Absorbents
Techtextil Frankfurt

Free membership

Receive our weekly Newsletter
and set tailored daily news alerts.

Fibres/​Yarns/​Fabrics

Lenzing ramps up production of Smartcel and SeaCell fibres

Market leader in the production of cellulose fibres Lenzing is to exclusively produce the lyocell based specialty fibres Smartcel and SeaCell which were developed by German company Smartfiber AG of Rudolstadt. The two companies have been cooperating for some time and under the newly expanded arrangement Lenzing will produce the fibres at the Lenzing site in Upper Austria. In 2007, Lenzing granted Smartfiber a license for the pilot production of new types of lyocell spe

21st December 2011

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Lenzing

Sports/​Outdoor, Protective, Medical/Hygiene, Transport/​Aerospace, Clothing/​Footwear, Sustainable, Interiors

Beech forest. Copyright: Lenzing AG. Photographer: Markus Renner / Electric ArtsMarket leader in the production of cellulose fibres Lenzing is to exclusively produce the lyocell based specialty fibres Smartcel and SeaCell which were developed by German company Smartfiber AG of Rudolstadt.

The two companies have been cooperating for some time and under the newly expanded arrangement Lenzing will produce the fibres at the Lenzing site in Upper Austria. In 2007, Lenzing granted Smartfiber a license for the pilot production of new types of lyocell specialty fibres and the two companies have since cooperating to develop new fabrics and on various research projects.

"For reasons of profitability, the pilot plant of Smartfiber is being relocated from Rudolstadt to Lenzing in order to be able to rapidly move ahead with the commercial exploitation of Smartcel and SeaCell fibres in spite of rising energy and raw material prices," Lenzing said today in a press statement.

According to Lenzing, the integration of the facility at Lenzing, the world's largest cellulose fibre production site, will enable a significantly better cost structure. In addition, the company says the Smartfiber pilot plant "had recently reached its capacity limits due to the continually increasing order volume, which no longer made it possible to optimally coordinate incoming orders and accept large orders."

Smartfiber will continue to be responsible for the sales and marketing of Smartcel and SeaCell. Smartcel and SeaCell fibres are primarily used in home textiles as well as in the fashion and medical sectors.  SeaCell fibres contain active substances from seaweed which are said to promote health, nurture the skin and protect against free radicals.

According to Lenzing, Smartcel sensitive is the first antibacterial, natural fibre available on the market to which "the essential trace element zinc is added, thus enabling regenerative skin care and hygiene in textiles."

"The management of Smartfiber considers the intensified cooperation with Lenzing to be an important and future-oriented step for the benefit of customers which comprises a win-win situation for the two companies involved," the statement said.

"Thus the high level of competence on the part of Lenzing with respect to the production and processing of lyocell fibres under the brand Tencel will be combined with the original and innovative patented technology of the function-oriented fibre products developed by Smartfiber."

"The objective of Smartfiber is to be able to offer the best possible quality, service-oriented order processing and intensified sales-driven marketing support to customers in the future."

"For Lenzing the launch of pilot production for Smartfiber at the Lenzing site is a consistent continuation of the research and development partnership which Smartfiber and Lenzing have pursued for years."    

Latest Reports

Business intelligence for the fibre, textiles and apparel industries: technologies, innovations, markets, investments, trade policy, sourcing, strategy...

Find out more