For the films division of Lenzing AG (A-4860 Lenzing), the 1997 financial year proved to be the most successful in the company's history. After the economic weakness of 1996, overall sales of plastic film, yarn and tape increased by some 18% to ATS 640m (542m), while production totalled roughly 12,800 t (11,761 t).

Despite keen competition, the company was able to retain or expand its market position for woven and raschel films, as well as for packaging tape and protective covers. Lenzing reports an increase of some 18% in sales of special film for the packaging and cable industry and for decorative applications. Engineering composites, by contrast, and particularly those for the construction industry, experienced stagnation. According to Lenzing, "highly gratifying" development was recorded in its PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) products of sealing and packaging yarns in 1997, as well as for starting materials for dental floss production.

READER SERVICE: Company profile brochure "Problem solutions in plastics processing": PIE-No. 42576 – Technical data sheets on engineering composites: PIE-No. 42577 – Lenzing catalogue "Films for the cable industry": PIE-No. 42578 – Set of brochures on "Lenzingtex roofing sheet": PIE-No. 42579. All in German.