Kelheim to display viscose specialities at Techtextil

With its range of newly developed functional fibres, the Bavarian viscose fibre manufacturer Kelheim Fibres offers the perfect raw material for a wide range of technical textiles, from nonwoven applications to functional apparel, from sportswear to filtration.

Their latest development, Olea, is the world’s first intrinsically hydrophobic viscose fibre. Olea combines the typical properties of a viscose fibre such as softness, skin-friendliness and wearer comfort with water repellency and is therefore an ideal raw material for functional clothing. A further advantage: as the additive is incorporated in the fibre matrix itself, the hydrophobic effect is durable and cannot be washed out.

In contrast to Olea, Bramante delivers significantly increased levels of absorbency and water retention capacity relative to standard viscose fibres. Bramante is characterised by its segmented hollow structure in the wet state – it stores fluid inside the fibre, which minimises rewetting – even under pressure. Functional textiles, hygienic applications and washable incontinence products are just some end-uses in which Bramante helps deliver enhanced performance.

Another addition to Kelheim’s range of products is Danufil CS, a flame retardant viscose speciality, which has been adopted from the bankrupt Finnish fibre company Avilon. Particularly in the US market with its strict regulations on fire safety, the fibre is used as a protective nonwoven in mattresses.

With Bramante, Olea and Danufil CS, Kelheim Fibres offers viscose specialities for completely different needs – yet they are just some examples of the versatility of Kelheim’s viscose specialities:

By modifying fibre dimensions and cross sections or by incorporating additional functionalities in the fibre matrix, Kelheim’s R&D team makes use of a valuable tool box to create tailor-made solutions according to their customer’s specific needs

“By delivering fibres that improve the end products in which they are used, we generate added value for our customer – and that is our most important goal”, says Matthew North, Commercial Director at Kelheim Fibres.

In addition to the new fibre specialities, Kelheim’s established brands will also be an important focus at Techtextil. These include the extremely versatile Danufil fibre, which can be found in a wide range of technical applications.

Kelheim Fibres