Business

Germany: New Hygiene Zones at Kelheim Fibres

Viscose fibre manufacturer Kelheim Fibres has reached a significant milestone in the progress of the company’s Hygiene Project: at the beginning of December, the newly designated “hygiene zones” were ceremonially “closed off” – and now, only specially trained staff are permitted access to these areas.

As a result of the outstanding quality of its hygiene fibers, Kelheim Fibres has been the world’s leading supplier of tampon fibers for many years. In recognition of the responsibility this brings and to extend their role as a pioneer in this area, the business launched an extensive Hygiene Project in 2011. The project not only addresses technical and technological improvements – the primary focus is on raising the awareness of the plant personnel of the correct handling of the sensitive hygiene fibers and of the stringent demands of customers in the hygiene market.

“Global corporations in the hygiene products market now see our medium-sized company as a peer level partner – that is already one benefit that results from our hygiene project”, said Dr. Haio Harms, CEO at Kelheim Fibres, during the event. “We have proven that we understand what really matters to our customers and that we can trust each other as equal partners.”

Numerous measures –for example intensive training sessions for the staff as well as the introduction of special workwear for the relevant employees - have helped build increasing trust. At the same time, Harms emphasized that this latest step, namely the designation of hygiene zones, would not be the final point of Kelheim’s efforts. The Bavarian fiber experts will continue to improve their speciality hygiene fibers – with external support and expertise drawn from, among others, the pharmaceutical industry.

Although Kelheim Fibres has been the preferred supplier for a long time for customers from the tampon industry who need to meet the strict demands of the American FDA for this sensitive area, the company wants to further raise their in-house standards for hygiene fibers and even set higher requirements depending on the specific application of the fibers.

“The main focus of our efforts in the context of our hygiene project is on our tampon fibers, which are of enormous significance for Kelheim Fibres”, says Matthew North, Commercial Director at Kelheim.

“But we see an increasing demand for hygienically sound fibers in other fields of application. The hygiene project has helped us prepare for these markets.