Lenzing To Expand Lenzing FR Production To Supply Fiber For Military Uniforms

Austria-based fiber manufacturer Lenzing Group plans to expand capacity at its Lenzing, Austria, manufacturing facility for the production of Lenzing FR® flame-resistant fiber. The expansion will enable the company to supply increased volumes of the fiber to Union City, Ga.-based TenCate Protective Fabrics for use in its Defender™M Lenzing FR/para-aramid-blend fabrics to be used for US armed forces military combat uniforms (See “ Quality Fabric Of the Month: Saving Our Troops,” Textile World, September/October 2007).

A special amendment to the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, signed into law recently by President George W. Bush, exempts FR rayon fiber for five years from requirements that it be manufactured in the United States in order to be used in garments supplied to the US armed forces. Lenzing FR is produced only at the Lenzing facility, which devotes about 50 percent of its capacity to the production of specialty fibers.

TenCate’s Defender M fabric offers inherent FR properties in addition to moisture management and breathability. The Lenzing FR/para-aramid blend also can increase the fabric’s thermal protection properties. The fabric has been specified by the US Army and Marine Corps to replace the nylon/cotton uniform fabric used currently.

According to Lenzing, increased manufacturing flexibility and capacity at the Lenzing site will enable it to focus on Lenzing FR production for the Defender M application. The ensuing increased production of Defender M also will enable TenCate to supply the fabric to the armed forces of other countries, which now are conducting wear trials and tests of the fabric, Lenzing and TenCate report.

February 19, 2008

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Saving Our Troops : TenCate Protective Fabrics' Defender™ M with Lenzing FR® for military combat uniforms will help save lives while keeping soldiers comfortable.