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Plant Fibers

Cotton

Photo by Stephanie Berghaeuser from freeimages.com

Cotton is a vegan plant fiber and the most popular textile fiber for mattresses. This is not surprising, since cotton can absorb up to 45 percent of its own weight in liquid. Cotton fibres therefore excellently absorb sweat and are an ideal cover material for heavily utilised mattresses. Cotton is very tear-resistant, especially when wet.

We offer various cotton qualities, from cotton linters – the short fibres of cotton which are not suitable for spinning – to very clean qualities for the bedding industry as well as organic cotton and GOTS certified cotton. Furthermore, Hans Höffele Industriewatte GmbH developed a process which prepares cotton for the needs of persons with allergies. Cotton is pre-washed and bleached at 130° Celsius. The cotton can be freely washed up to 95° Celsius and is suitable for tumble drying.


Kapok

Kapok grows in tropical regions on up to 30 m high trees. The trees carry fruits of 10-15 cm whose fruit hair is our Kapok fiber. The kapok fiber is a hollow fiber, a tube filled with air. The hollow fiber is surrounded by a thin layer of wax on the outside. Due to these properties, kapok has been used for the fillings of lifejackets in the past.

Because it absorbs moisture, kapok is very suitable for mattress covers. It supports ideal conditions for a dry and anti-rheumatic sleeping climate. These properties also have the effect of creating a warm climate in winter and a cool climate in summer.

Kapok is odourless and contains a natural bitter subtance which keeps away dust mites and bugs. Therefore, Kapok is a good raw material in the application of allergy-friendly products.


Linen and Hemp

Linen and Hemp come from the family of bast fibers and are cultivated in Europe, mainly in Belgium and the Netherlands. Both materials are very resistant natural fibers usable for applications which need a high durability. Both plants need a lot of sun as well as humid nights.

Compared to other fibers, linen and hemp are very stable and heavy. Due to the fact that they dry fast, the fibers have a cool and light feeling. Although linen and hemp seem coarse and stiff in the beginning, they get comfortably soft after some time. The fibers trap little air and are less susceptible to dirt and bacteria. Linen and hemp are bactericidal and almost antistatic by nature. The fibers are inelastic and very durable.

Hans Höffele Industriewatte GmbH