The Lenzing Group, Vienna, Austria, will expand and modernize its existing dissolving wood pulp production at company sites in Lenzing/Austria and Paskov/Czech Republic.

At a press meeting in Vienna yesterday (Oct. 12, 2016), Lenzing CEO Stefan Doboczky announced a total investment program of EUR 100 million, approximately EUR 60 million of it in Lenzing and almost EUR 40 million in Paskov. Additional new capacities of around 35,000 metric tons will be added during the next 2.5 years.

 

"With these investments, we are taking another step in the implementation of our new corporate strategy sCore TEN," said Stefan Doboczky. "We aim to increase our own dissolving wood pulp production from currently 56% to 75% of the group’s requirements for the production of botanic cellulose fibers by the end of the decade. The modernization will lead to more efficiency of our plants. The upgrade and expansion of our bio-refinery setup will underline Lenzing’s leadership as the most sustainable fiber producer."

 

Lenzing’s biorefinery concept is based on using only certified wood from countries in Western and Central Europe. It is an essential part of Lenzing’s mission to turn CO2 and sunlight into high value fibers, as it ensures that 100% of the wood components are used to produce fibers, bio-chemicals, and bio-energy. This investment is also an essential part of Lenzing’s quality strategy, as the high quality of our botanic fibers depends on the quality of the dissolving wood pulp.

 

In August 2016, Lenzing announced a capacity expansion for specialty fibers of 35,000 metric tons by mid-2018. Roughly EUR 70 million will be invested in the site in Heiligenkreuz/Burgenland and approximately EUR 30 million in Lenzing/Upper Austria as part of this project. The new pulp investment program will be implemented in addition to these investments. 

These investments are yet another long-term commitment of the Lenzing Group to the Austrian production sites. In the next 2.5 years, Lenzing will therefore invest a total of EUR 160 million in Austria. Lenzing is thus once again one of the leading industrial investors in Austria.