Lenzing celebrates
Austrian cellulose fibre manufacturer Lenzing AG's Indonesian subsidiary South Pacific Viscose (SPV) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The company is one of the largest producers of cellulose fibres worldwide and the Lenzing Group's second largest production site.
It produces 155,000 tons of viscose fibres annually and production capacity is currently being expanded to a nominal 220,000 tons of viscose fibres annually at an investment of €106 million ($163.2 million).
SPV in Purwakarta represents the largest investment of any Austrian company in Indonesia. The parent company initially acquired a minority share of 42% in SPV in 1978. Production started in 1983 with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons. Further expansion stages in 1990 and 1997 built up the export business and enhanced the textile fibre product portfolio. Today SPV supplies all of the Asian market and also exports to North America and Europe. In 2007, Lenzing raised its share in the company to 86%. The remainder is still owned by Indonesian investors.
Lenzing's closed chemical cycles technology is applied at SPV in a way similar to that at the Lenzing site. Combined with waste gas and waste water purification facilities, this enables a production process to European environmental standards. Moreover, SPV has been committed to improving education and social conditions in the environs of the Purwakarta plant. The company sponsors schools and educational projects and finances numerous communal projects.
