Welcome at the Dolan News-Center

29th February 2008
Dolan attends First Mortars Conference in London

Dolan GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Lenzing Plastics GmbH, is one of the world leading producer’s of tailor-made acrylic fibres. One of its two well known fibres brands is Dolanit, a high performance fibre for technical applications such as road construction, hot gas filtration and breaking systems.

Dolan GmbH’s newly bolstered Marketing Team has recently drawn a lot of attention to the type Dolanit 18. As an additive for mortar and cement applications, it enhances the workability and improves the properties regarding resistance, increased strength, homogeneity, tensile strength, crack bridging and shrinkage. The First Global Mortars Conference & Exhibition was the perfect opportunity for Dolan GmbH to introduce Dolanit 18 to an international audience within the mortars industry.

The Conference covered mortar production technologies, new product applications, and new developments in transport. Core topics were trends in both the global dry mortar market and in the European mortar industry as well as adding value by utilising additives in mortar. A good balance between presentations and informal discussions allowed Dolan to establish promising contacts with interesting business partners.

13th February 2008
Dolanit-Team at Workshop

Dolan GmbH, 100%subsidiary of Lenzing Plastics GmbH, is one of the world’s leading producers of acrylic speciality fibres. One of these high-quality branded fibres for technical applications is Dolanit®. It is utilised in hot gas filtration, road construction, fibre cement products and in dry mortar. 

On January 15th, the entire international Dolanit team of Dolan GmbH met for a workshop at KALKWERK Rygol in Painten, Bavaria. 
Rygol GmbH & Co.KG is the licence holder and shareholder of the german Sakret group and one of Europe’s leading dry mortar manufacturers. The all-day workshop called “dry mortar – manufacturing and application”, organized in cooperation with Dolan GmbH, provided practical insight in the utilisation of technical fibres produced by Dolan GmbH. 

The day started with a warm welcome and a short introduction from the Managing Director, Dr. Karl Rygol, followed by an informative firm presentation conducted by Dr. Hollweck, director of research and development at Rygol GmbH & Co.KG. 

After the introduction of the Sakret group and the Rygol production site, the participants were given an overview of the dry mortar industry in Europe and of the actual developments in this industrial sector. During the course of the day the Dolanit team acquired a wide knowledge of dry mortar products, raw materials and the application of fibres within them. 

Extensively discussed were the initial positive test results supplied by the building material laboratory from trials of different products containing Dolanit fibres. 

The fibre utilised, called Dolanit 18, is an alkali-resistant technical short-cut fibre engineered for cement based products. Dolanit 18 optimizes the workability of cement based products and improves the end products mechanical properties. 

Today’s reduced building times require quick setting materials: more innovations in the future are expected in this area. New binding materials and new additives must be developed and brought to the market. 

Forecasts indicate that a growing market for restorations, as well as the adoption of thermal insulation composite systems will lead to increased usage of fibres in construction materials. The highlight of the day was the plant tour which provided insight into dry mortar production, blending plants and the new packing machines. 

After the successful introduction of Dolanit 18 as a high-tech fibre for the construction materials industry, this event was a promising prelude for close cooperation between fibre producer and customer: “Long term success will only be accomplished by understanding market demands and developing tailor-made solutions to support those demands,” stated Business Manager Ludwig Bullinger after the work-shop.

09th January 2008
Lenzing Plastics acquires German fiber producer Dolan GmbH

Lenzing Plastics GmbH, the Lenzing Group's specialist for plastics niche products continues to grow dynamically: As of 31 December 2007 Dolan GmbH, a producer of specialty fibers based in Kelheim (Germany), became a full subsidiary of Lenzing Plastics. The acquired company generated sales of about EUR 25 mill. in 2007 and employs a staff of about 100. Dolan had previously been a full subsidiary of fiber producing company Kelheim Fibres GmbH, where Lenzing holds a 35% share. 

Dolan produces a range of applications based on acrylic fibers for outdoor products, in particular high quality textile home architecture (sunshades, small sunsails, cover fabrics for outdoor furniture and tops for convertibles and boats). Fibers by Dolan are highly photostatic and weather-proof, as well as highly resistant to wear and decomposition. Dolan, moreover, produces fibers for technical applications, such as waste gas filtration systems and reinforcements for friction linings and construction materials under the brand name Dolanit. 

"The acquisition of Dolan is the consistent continuation of Lenzing Plastics' dynamic expansion. Dolan perfectly complements the product portfolio of Lenzing Plastics, especially in outdoor products and filtration technology" says Thomas Fahnemann, chairman of Lenzing's management board, "within the course of a single year Lenzing Plastics has entered a new industrial dimension by acquisitions and greenfield projects – offering a future-oriented product portfolio in attractive niche markets". Under its new ownership Dolan will increase its investment in sales and marketing, as well as in the development of its product portfolio, utilizing the considerable potential for synergy with Lenzing Plastics. 

Lenzing Plastics in business year 2007 acquired specialty plastics products companies Hahl, Glassmaster and Pedex and started a joint venture for the production of carbon fiber precursor, with the German companies SGL-Carbon and Kelheim Fibres. Lenzing Plastics’ product portfolio now focuses on high-tech plastics fibers, specialty monofilaments and products for the construction industry. The recent acquisition increases the staff of Lenzing Plastics to about 930 in 6 locations in Europe and the USA. Sales for 2008 are expected to reach about EUR 190.0 mill.