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In Linz, IFG develops sustainable thermoplastic staple fibres for the global market. The Fiber Research Centre (FRC), located in Linz, Austria is setting new standards in this field.

For several years, IFG has been working on bio-based and/or biodegradable thermoplastics as a raw material for fibres.

Investing in and commissioning the Staple Force 1000 has closed the gap between laboratory extruders and industrial plants, increasing the number of trials.

Several years ago, IFG began researching biopolymers with PLA and has successfully industrialised the process thanks to the pilot plant.

In-house recipe

PBS, PHA, and PA12, PA11, and PA610 are used in research and development as base polymers and spun into fibres using IFG’s own recipes.

The in-house fibre testing laboratory is used for material characterisation.

External partners support our group in developing products that focus on the advantages of bio-based materials.

Green Frontrunner

The FFG-funded Green Frontrunner project HOBBITS (highly functionalized, bio-based, and biodegradable technical staple fibres) is currently underway in cooperation with the Transfercenter für Stoffwechseltechnik (TCKT) in Wels, Austria.

The first promising results are already available. The project aims to produce fibres that are biodegradable and/or bio-based so that microplastics and the CO2 footprint can be reduced. The focus is on the interaction between formulation and processing – melt spinning and subsequent processes. The developed staple fibres are to be used for electret filters, high-temperature-resistant water filters, fully degradable melt-bonded products, geotextiles, and composites.

 

We’re thrilled to be once more part of the  Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress, taking place from 10.-12.10.2025 in Dornbirn !

On September 11, Andreas Weinberger will dive into the latest innovations in bio-based and recycled fibers, with a special focus on applications in the carpet industry.

Join us for this exciting exchange on sustainable solutions.

Let’s connect in Dornbirn !

 

We at IFG offer various additives for our customers’. One of them is UV protection, which plays an
important role in many applications.

Outdoor sports surfaces, like tennis courts, need high UV resistance to last longer and maintain their
appearance. Without proper UV protection, these surfaces can wear out and fade more quickly.

IFG’s polypropylene (PP) fibres with high UV stability help ensure that these surfaces stay strong and keep their
colours.

Especially for use in tennis courts, we provide green and red coloured fibres, as shown in the picture
below. Upon request, we can offer other colours to meet our customer’s needs.

Along with standard PP fibres, IFG also offers recycled PP fibres. These are a more sustainable solution
therefore a better option for the environment.

Another key focus at the IDEA Show 2025 was our biobased short-cut PLA fibres that are changing the game for sealing paper, as it is made from renewable resources.

Big News: We now offer new cutting lengths for improved fibre dispersion !

Perfect for tea bags and coffee pods.

Want to learn more about our fibres? Get in contact with us !

Various topics were discussed during the IDEA Show 2025, but for us, one key area was filtration.

As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation in this sector, we are working closely with our customers to meet the modern performance and sustainability demands of applications such as air and liquid filtration.

Our PP fibres are designed for high-performance filtration and we offer sustainable alternatives including PLA, rPP AND ISCC+ certified fibres.

 

Visit our LinkedIn page to get to know more on International Fibres Group .

At IFG, we offer a range of additives, including flame-retardant fibres, which are essential for many
applications, for example in the automotive industry, for floor coverings or in the construction
industry.

One possible use for these flame-retardant fibres is tunnel construction. Tunnels are vulnerable to fires,
therefore it is crucial to use materials that can withstand high temperatures. Our flame-retardant fibres,
used as a fleece in tunnel construction, play a vital role in this context.

They provide an added layer of protection to the tunnel’s structural components as they resist extreme
heat and prevent the spread of flames.

By using IFG’s flame retardant fibres, we ensure that the tunnel remains functional and secure even in the
event of a fire, offering greater protection for both the infrastructure and its users.

This is just one of many possible uses of these fibres. Different non-flammable or self-extinguishing
grades are available depending on the end application. Please contact us for further details !

As a leader in the nonwovens industry, International Fibres Group is thrilled to announce our participation in the IDEA25 show, taking place from April 29th 2025 to May 1st 2025, in Miami, Florida.  

With an ongoing commitment to sustainability, we look forward to sharing how our fibre solutions can meet the evolving needs of various industries, including filtration, food and beverage, packaging and construction. 

IDEA25 is a unique chance to connect with industry peers, customers, and potential partners. Staying informed about industry developments is essential for us to continue providing value to our clients and adapting to market demands. 

For more information on the show visit here 

If you would like to arrange to meet one of our friendly team at IDEA, please contact us here  

Gerald Metzbauer 

Andreas Weinberger 

Brian Franklin 

IFG Asota, Linz, Austria, has reported a record 150 custom colours produced in one year by their colour-matching experts. 

In 2024, IFG’s colour-matching experts successfully produced 150 custom colours, marking a significant increase in demand for IFG staple fibres, Polyamide (PA6 and PA6.10) and Polypropylene (PP), in bespoke shades. This follows a steady rise in demand for our colour-matching service, with the previous record being 2023’s 80 orders. This growth highlights IFG’s ability to deliver technically challenging services with consistently successful results to meet demands. 

2024’s technical advancements enabled the team to be able to produce coarse fibre colour samples in PA6 on the laboratory extruder which was not previously possible. 

Offering our staple fibres in any colour is a thrilling prospect for both IFG and our customers, as it empowers creativity while maintaining the product’s performance requirements. The colour-matching process is a collaborative effort, where manufacturers and customers work together to achieve the perfect, unique shade. 

This process is technically demanding and often presents challenges, particularly with lighter colours being added to coarse fibres, despite precise laboratory sampling. The human touch remains crucial: nothing sees as well as the human eye and measuring devices cannot always capture the visual differences in colour. PA6.10 requires higher temperatures (close to 300°C) and the twin-screw extruder on the production line (high shear forces). Colour matching is sometimes a real challenge, and despite perfect laboratory sampling, fine-tuning each custom match is always necessary directly on the line by IFG’s colour experts, who are recruited specifically for their perfect eyesight and colour recognition skills. 

Stefan Lindenthaler, Quality Assurance Manager from IFG Asota says:  

“Precise colour matching is more than just colour matching – it’s the art of ensuring consistency and quality in every fibre.” 

In December 2024, the team at IFG Drake lost a very special former colleague, Gerry O’Rourke.

Having worked for the company since the late 1970s, Gerry had IFG in his veins, and will be sorely missed by his colleagues and friends.

Former colleagues Andy Wilkinson and Paul Briggs shared some of their memories and insights into Gerry.

“Gerry initially worked for Plasticisers (IFG’s old name) and then transferred to Plasticisers Engineering. He moved to Emerson & Renwick when Plasticisers Engineering was sold to them.  Following redundancy from Emerson & Renwick Gerry had a spell at home, before John Parkinson at Drake Extrusion Inc., USA offered him a temporary post, which lasted 10 years! Gerry was instrumental in the installation and commissioning of machines at Drake Extrusion prior to their start up in the mid 1990s. He came back to IFG Drake, Drighlington in 2001 and stayed with us until his retirement on 30^th September 2022.”

“Gerry was always happy to pass on his extensive experience and knowledge – there wasn’t much he didn’t know about process and extrusion, yet he would always kindly share his wisdom to train and advise the wider members of the team. Even after his retirement he was always available to give help and advice on the end of the phone if it was needed, especially helping with the move from Drighlington to Golcar, advising the new Maintenance Manager and helping where he could, firefighting where it was needed to ensure the smooth amalgamation of the two sites.”

In addition to his stint in the US, Gerry also represented the company overseas in other areas, visiting Iran, China, India, Turkey and Poland throughout his career.

“Initially employed as an electrician, Gerry moved through the ranks to Electrical Engineer, and then prior to his retirement was Maintenance Manager of IFG Drake. In his spare time he was a classic car enthusiast and had a very distinctive vintage yellow mini which could often be seen parked outside IFG. He was also passionate about rescuing donkeys, something he kept very quiet, and loved his dogs and a pint at his local pub. Having come over from Ireland in the 1970s, he also enjoyed a trip to his homeland.”

“He loved Plasticisers so much that it was mentioned in his eulogy – the priest struggled to pronounce it which raised a smile!”

“Gerry was just a really good bloke” said Andy. “We all miss him”.

RIP Gerry, thank you for everything, from all of your friends and colleagues at IFG.

Recycled PP is produced from both post-industrial and post-consumer waste. Post-industrial waste comes from manufacturing and production processes, while post-consumer waste consists of PP-products that have been used by end-users.

At IFG, the post-industrial waste is being collected and send to a specialised recycling company. The waste goes through a process of cleaning and sorting, before being mechanically recycled. The resulting material could either be mixed with virgin PP or can be used on its own, depending on customers’ required properties and their final desired application.

In the final stages, the recycled PP is transformed into fibres through a spinning process. According to customers’ needs, we can apply various additives that we offer on our website such as fire retardant, UV, colours, etc.

The rPP significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to virgin PP, with a lower carbon footprint. Certificates confirming the carbon footprint values of our fibres are available upon request.

At IFG, we are ready to provide innovative solutions to meet the rising demand for products made through sustainable processes.