Lenzing celebrates 50 years of Lenzing Modal

16 Sep '15

3 min read

Lenzing, which supplies the global textile and nonwovens industry with high-quality man-made cellulose fibres, is celebrating 50 years of the production and marketing of Lenzing Modal.

The company will kick off celebrations for Lenzing Modal and MicroModal with its customers on November 18 in Lenzing. It has also planned further festivities with customers for international textile tradeshows. “We want to celebrate with as many customers as possible since it was they who shared our faith in Lenzing Modal and made the fibre a global success,” says Lenzing CCO Robert van de Kerkhof.

Known and loved for its unparalleled softness, over the years, the fibre has become a quintessential part of the textile world and is used in an array of textile products.

At the beginning of the 1960s research scientists at Lenzing embarked on a quest to find a cellulose fibre similar to cotton but with a higher tenacity profile than viscose. Focusing on the development of modal fibres, Lenzing scientists perceived this fibre to be the ideal solution in terms of both textile processing and environmental aspects.

The fibre was first named “Hochmodul 333”, a name which remained until the 1970s. “Intensive marketing measures to position the fibre in textile applications and Lenzing's constant technological development subsequently led to the success of the modal fibre category,” the company said in a press release.

Subsequently in 1990, Lenzing became the sole manufacturer of the modal fibre. “Lenzing demonstrated its innovative prowess and enormous economic stamina in the marketing and production of Lenzing Modal thereby making a lasting impression on the textile world and enriching it to no end. One can no longer imagine a world without modal. Lenzing and Lenzing Modal deserve to be celebrated,” feels van de Kerkhof.

For Lenzing, the 1990s were the years for innovation when the very first MicroModal was produced, and the dream of ever softer fibres was finally fulfilled. The industry put to use the finest cellulose fibre of the time to further improve textile products thereby creating a new quality standard.

In recent years, Lenzing has showcased its innovative strength with the introduction of specialties like Lenzing Modal COLOR, and MicroModal AIR, the finest cellulose fibre, as well as with innovations in the manufacturing process.

Lenzing's investments in technology made Lenzing Modal one of the most sustainable fibres in the textile industry. The fibre is made with beech wood, a replenishable raw material, and during production up to 95 per cent of the chemicals used is recycled. In addition, the fibre is CO2-neutral since the production process is integrated with cellulose recovery.

“We are working on new specialisations and also aim to push the pace of other technological innovations,” van de Kerkhof comments. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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