Austria-based man-made cellulosic fibers manufacturer Lenzing AG and Germany-based smartfiber AG,
developer and marketer of high-tech lyocell specialty fibers including smartcel™ and SeaCell®, have
announced an expansion of a cooperation begun several years ago for the production of new lyocell
specialty fiber variants — including Lenzing’s granting of a license to smartfiber in 2007 to begin
pilot production of such new variants — as well as the development of new fabrics and other
projects.
Going forward, Lenzing will be the exclusive manufacturer of smartcel — a specialty fiber
featuring various performance additives to provide antibacterial, hygienic, regenerative,
temperature-regulating, conductive and/or other properties — and SeaCell — a fiber containing
active substances derived from seaweed to provide wellness, skin-nurturing and anti-free-radical
properties. The pilot plant now located at smartfiber’s Rudolstadt, Germany, headquarters will be
moved to Lenzing’s Upper Austria location in order to speed up commercialization efforts and enable
a significantly improved production cost structure. smartfiber will continue to handle sales and
marketing for the two fibers, which have applications in home textiles, fashion and medical
textiles.
January/February/March 2012