Shift of customer base and textile processing chain to Asia
Growing interfiber competition
(cotton, polyester vs. viscose, lyocell, modal).
Innovative technologies and major investments into environmental protection have made the Lenzing Group the quality and technology leader for man-made cellulose fibers. The milestones along this road are: Founding new companies and introducing new processes.
Lenzing Group
1892
Industrialist Emil Hamburger operates a papermill in Lenzing.
1938
Zellwolle Lenzing AG founded. Viscose fiber plant construction starts.
1969
Acquisition of the Lenzing Pulp and Paper Factory.
Magnesium bisulfite technology for pulp production developed at Lenzing allows for the recovery of wood cooking process chemicals and reduces pollution.
1982
December: South Pacific Viscose (SPV) goes operational in Purwakarta, Indonesia.
1983
Vapors condensate extraction developed and implemented: Acetic acid and furfural are obtained from wood components, water pollution is further reduced.
1985
First listing of Lenzing shares at the Vienna Stock Exchange.
1986/89
Construction of a multi-stage biological waste-water treatment plant.
1987
Construction of a fluidized-bed boiler for burning sludge, bark and other biogenic fuels.
1992
A global first: Commercial ozone bleach plant for pulp goes operational.
1997
A European first: The commercial lyocell plant at Heiligenkreuz goes operational.
2004
Acquisition of the Tencel Group.
2005
Construction work for the Nanjing viscose production plant in China starts.
Tencel
1987
Lenzing and Courtaulds acquire basic patents for solvent-based cellulose fiber production.
1988 Tencel fiber pilot plant
After almost ten years of research Courtaulds plc, a British company, starts lyocell fiber production at a semi-commercial pilot plant at Grimsby/Great Britain.
1992 First large-scale plant in United States
Courtaulds starts up its first commercial plant in the USA in Mobile, Alabama. The fiber is marketed as TENCEL®.
1998
Courtaulds starts its second production plant for TENCEL® at Grimsby/ Great Britain.
Lenzing Lyocell
1990 Lyocell fiber pilot plant
After more than five years of preparation, pilot production of lyocell fibers begins at Lenzing. Key customers are integrated into the development process to optimize the production process of the new fiber.
1995 Ground breaking ceremony at Heiligenkreuz in Burgenland
Construction work for Lenzing‘s first commercial lyocell fiber plant begins.
1997 Production start at Heiligenkreuz
The plant goes operational with an annual capacity of 12,000 tons.
1997/1998 End of patent litigation
After many years of litigation, Lenzing and Courtaulds mutually recognize their respective technological developments. The licensor of the basic patent is party to the agreement. Mutual exchange of know-how begins.
2003 Heiligenkreuz expansion
Lenzing starts doubling capacity to 40,000 tons per year. Start up of the new plant scheduled for 2004.
2004 Acquisition of Tencel
Lenzing takes over the Tencel group of companies. Lyocell production capacity is tripled to 120,000 tons per year.
