Technikum Laubholz at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress 2026
Research for the fibre technologies of tomorrow – From 16 to 18 September, international experts from research and industry gathered at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress 2026 to discuss the latest developments and future applications in the field of fibres.
For the Technikum Laubholz, Erna Nawrath and Dr Anjum Saleem presented the latest developments along the process chain for wood-based fibre materials. In their presentation, “Wood-Based Carbon Fiber: A New Era of Wood Utilization”, they showed how cellulose derived from hardwood is first processed into WDBSD TX® and then converted into WDBSD CF®.
From Cellulose Fibre to Carbon Fibre
The cellulose obtained from locally sourced hardwood is spun into continuous filaments using an ionic liquid. To produce WDBSD CF®, the fibres are continuously stabilised and carbonised. By adjusting temperature, residence time and other process parameters, the properties of the carbon fibres can be specifically tailored.
In the research project on biosurfactants and chiral fine chemicals, the focus is on investigating how sustainable solvents and enzymatic processes can be scaled up for industrial applications. Together with KIT and Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg), we are laying the foundations for environmentally friendly bioprocesses.
In this way, the Technikum Laubholz is developing the technological foundations for a process chain extending from wood-based cellulose fibres to carbon fibres, while investigating its implementation on a technically relevant scale.
Engaging with the International Fibre Industry
The congress also demonstrated that the industry’s focus is increasingly shifting from material and process development alone towards scaling up, industrial applications and concrete routes to market. Partnerships between research, fibre production and end-user industries such as textiles and automotive are becoming increasingly important.
For the Technikum Laubholz, this reinforces the importance of developing wood-based fibres holistically, from their technical properties and potential applications to their integration into future circular economies. The aim is to unlock the potential of locally sourced renewable raw materials for high-performance materials and to lay the foundations for new industrial value chains.
Further information about our wood-based fibres can be found here:
Textile Fibre WDBSD TX®
Carbon Fibre WDBSD CF®
