The Lenzing Group will supply flame retardant specialty fibers for the new generation of U.S. armed forces combat wear. The U.S. president recently signed the National Defense Authorization Act for the financial year 2008, enabling the long-term supply of the U.S. armed forces with TenCate Defender fabric for uniforms. The key component of this fabric is the heat protection fiber Lenzing FR.  
    
Lenzing supplies the fibers to its U.S. partner TenCate Protective Fabric (TenCate) from Austria. The company is the leading producer of flame retardant fabric for the U.S. armed forces. By legislation, only fully U.S.-made clothing may be provided to the U.S. armed forces. The recent waiver permits Lenzing to supply the required volumes of the specialty fiber Lenzing FR for the next five years.
   
The new uniform fabric Defender M meets US soldiers’ enhanced need for flame protection caused by the rise in attacks with improvised explosive devices. Unlike other fibers, Lenzing FR not only offers inherent FR properties but also active moisture management, comfort and fast, reliable and industrial-scale delivery capability.