Conference Speakers

Helmut Lauterbach

Business Manager Textile And Nonwoven, Kelheim Fibres GmbH

BIOGRAPHY

After a completing an apprenticeship as dyer, Helmut studied textile applications with focus on nonwoven/technical textiles. He acquired a degree in textile engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Münchberg/Germany.

Work experience:

•     5 years as R&D engineer for New Product Development at Du Pont de Nemours

Deutschland GmbH/Germany (Nylon, Antron® carpet fibers)

•     6.5 years as Area Sales Manager for Stäubli Bayreuth GmbH one of the leading companies for specialty textile machinery

•     8 years as International Sales Manager for Stäubli Bayreuth GmbH (carpet weaving machines for the residential, contract, outdoor and transportation area)

•     3 years Business Manager Textile and Nonwoven at Kelheim Fibres GmbH, one of the world´s leading supplier for functional viscose fibers.

Textiles run through Helmut’s working life like a red thread. Working with fibers, textiles/nonwovens and exciting people from the industry is his designation and mission. It should also be noted that Helmut won for his team at Kelheim Fibres the 2019 WOW Innovation Award™.

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Activated Viscose Fibres for Utilisation of Disinfectants with Cellulosic Wipes

With the newly developed viscose fibre speciality Danufil® QR, Kelheim Fibres has mastered a challenge in the area of disinfection wipes. So far, the use of viscose fibres in these antiseptic wipes has posed a significant problem in spite of their excellent fluid handling properties: the fibres bind certain disinfectant substances which severely interferes with the wipes‘ function. The active substances are quaternary ammonium compounds. These so-called „quats“ are positively charged. Standard viscose fibres are negatively charged which is why up to 80% of the quats are tightly bound to the fibre – meaning they are no longer available for their actual purpose. 

With the viscose speciality Danufil® QR, we have developed a positively charged viscose fibre. This fibre receives its functionality through the incorporation of a – completely bio-degradable - additive into the fibre’s core. Therefore, the functionality is evenly distributed and cannot migrate from the material. To prove the functionality standard viscose, Danufil® QR and fibre blends were treated with quat solutions of different concentrations. The solutions were analysed in terms of free quats remaining in solution. In the case of Danufil® QR 80 – 90 % of quats remain free in solution whereas regular viscose immobilises more than 70 % of the quats. Kelheim’s viscose fibres also score high points for eco-friendliness, particularly in convenient disposable products: Danufil® QR is made of 100% renewable raw materials. The cellulose used for these fibres comes exclusively from FSC®- or PEFCTM-certified sources. Subsequently, Danufil® QR offers all the well-known benefits of viscose fibres such as absorbency and distribution of lotion, softness and skin-friendliness for disinfectant wipes.