We are a premier marketing and distributing agency based in the UK. We trade in all grades of fibre including 3L, UG, SSUG, TOW and other sisal products....
Brief History;
Located in the alluvial plain of kenya, MogotIo district, Athnal region, more than 300 kilometres southwest of nairobi, kenya, Our Sisal Farm (Nakuru) invested by Agro Minerals Ltd (Group) Corporation covers an area of 7000 hectares of fertile dark land. The farm was established in 2001 at the investment of USD1.9 million.
Sisal;
Sisal fibre can be used as raw material for making rope, polishing stuff, carpet, liner of automobile or even the stuff material of optical fibre cable. Currently the world demand for sisal fibre is on the rise. It is estimated 1 hectare sisal will produce 4 tons of fibre per annum. The fully cultivated farm will have the 28,000 tons potential of fibre production annually.
Community;
The farm employed 100 local workers, and more farmers from the neighbouring villages were temporarily employed as seasonal workers in different growing stage and processing procedure. It seems that the farm has boosted the economy of the local village, where the once bleak street has emerged the sign of prosperity.
Properties of Sisal Fiber:
Sisal Fiber is exceptionally durable with a low maintenance with minimal wear and tear.
It is Recyclable.
Sisal fibers are obtained from the outer leaf skin, removing the inner pulp.
It is available as plaid, herringbone and twill.
Sisal fibers are Anti static, does not attract or trap dust particles and does not absorb moisture or water easily.
The fine texture takes dyes easily and offers the largest range of dyed colors of all natural fibers.
It exhibits good sound and impact absorbing properties.
Its leaves can be treated with natural borax for fire resistance properties.
Chemical Composition of Sisal Fiber:
Cellulose65%
Hemicelluloses12%
Lignin9.9%
Waxes2%
Total100%
Uses/Application of Sisal Fiber:
From ancient times sisal has been the leading material for agricultural twine because of its strength, durability, ability to stretch, affinity for certain dyestuffs, and resistance to deterioration in saltwater.
Sisal is used commonly in the shipping industry for mooring small craft, lashing, and handling cargo.
It is also surprisingly used as the fibre core of the steel wire cables of elevators, being used for lubrication and flexibility purposes. Traditionally sisal was the leading material for agricultural twine or baler twine. Although this has now been overtaken by polypropylene.
It is used in automobile industry with fiberglass in composite materials.
Other products developed from sisal fiber include spa products, cat scratching posts, lumbar support belts, rugs, slippers, cloths and disc buffers.
Sisal is used by itself in carpets or in blends with wool and acrylic for a softer hand.
Grading Sisal Fiber:
Sisal fibre is fairly coarse and inflexible. It is valued for cordage use because of its strength, durability, ability to stretch, affinity for certain dyestuffs, and resistance to deterioration in saltwater. Sisal is used by industry in three grades:
The lower grade fibre is processed by the paper industry because of its high content of cellulose and hemicelluloses.
The medium grade fibre is used in the cordage industry for making: ropes, baler and binders twine. Ropes and twines are widely employed for marine, agricultural, and general industrial use.
The higher-grade fibre after treatment is converted into yarns and used by the carpet industry.
The following sisal fibre products are available for export,quality descriptions are sisal fibre grades definitions approved by Kenyan Sisal Board.
Fibre Type: Greige / Dyed
Length from 80 cm (2 feet) upwards..
Fibre Size: Diameter: 0.35 mm
Color: Cream White / Natural
Grades: UG GRADE 1
Fiber Strength: ≥ 880 N
Trash Content: About 2%
Moisture Regain: 9%
Supply Ability: 400 Tons Monthly
Port: Mombasa, Kenya
Delivery Time: 15-21 days Approx
Export Market: Worldwide
Payment Terms: T/T, WU, BTC
PRCIE IS NEGOTIABLE
Fibre Type: Greige / Dyed
Length from 60 cm (2 feet) upwards..
Fibre Size: Diameter: 0.35 mm
Color: Cream White / Natural
Grades: UG GRADE 1
Fiber Strength: ≥ 880 N
Trash Content: About 2%
Moisture Regain: 9%
Supply Ability: 80 Tons Monthly
Port: Mombasa, Kenya
Delivery Time: 15-21 days Approx
Export Market: Worldwide
Payment Terms: T/T, WU, BTC
Sisal Fibre Grade 3L
Length from 90 cm (3 feet) upwards.
Colour of fibre: mixture of whitish and yellowish free of defective decortications, free of tows and properly brushed.
Color: Cream White / Natural
Grades: UG GRADE 1
Fiber Strength: ≥ 880 N
Trash Content: About 2%
Moisture Regain: 9%
Supply Ability: 100 Tons Monthly
Port: Mombasa, Kenya
Delivery Time: 15-21 days Approx
Export Market: Worldwide
Payment Terms: T/T, WU, BTC
Biology of Sisal
Sisal is a member of the agave family, which are hardy plants of arid regions of Central America, Mexico and South West USA. In the past, several species of Agave were used for fibre production, but now A. sisalana is the commercially grown species. Henequen (A. fourcroydes) is another species of agave that produces fibre, but not of as high quality as A. sisalana.
Sisal plants consist of a rosette of fleshy leaves growing from a central bud. The leaves are dagger shaped and when mature 1 m to 1.5 m long and about 10 cm wide. Young plants may have minute spines along the edge of the leaf, but they soon loose them, with only the sharp tip remaining. The leaves are heavy, weighing 500 to 700 grams each, 90% of the weight being moisture. Despite the high water content, the fleshy pulp is firm and the leaves are rigid.
The plants grow for 7 to 12 years and then produce a flower stalk 4 to 6 metres tall and die. Although some flowers produce seeds, sisal plants are usually sterile and most propagation is by bulbils produced in the flower stalk, or by suckers that appear at the base of the plant.
Sisal Fibre
Sisal fibre is very long, with an average length of 0.6 to 1.2 m and it is creamy white to yellowish in colour. It is coarse and strong, durable and has the ability to stretch. It also has good insulation properties and it is highly resistant to bacterial damage and to deterioration in saltwater.
The fibre lies along the length of the leaf, being most abundant near the surface of the leaf where it is long and strong. The interior fibres are weaker, and they are usually removed during processing.
c) Cultivation and Harvest of Sisal
Sisal plants grow fast and all year round. The first harvest can be made when the plants are about two years old and they remain productive for 10 to 12 years. Each plant produces 180 to 240 leaves in a lifetime yielding 1 to 4 tonnes of fibre per hectare.
Sisal is a labour intensive crop and it offers employment to rural communities in areas which are often not suitable for other crops. The workers go round the plantation and cut some leaves from each plant every few weeks. They deposit the heavy leaves at the end of rows from where they are taken to a central processing unit. Almost no fertilisers are used in sisal production, they are resilient to disease and most of the weeding is done by hand.
FAQ:
Is sisal a natural fiber?
Sisal is a natural fibre ( Scientific name Agave sisalana) of Agavaceae (Agave) family yields a stiff fiber traditionally used in making twine and rope. ... Sisal is natural fibre fully biodegradable. It is highly renewable resource of energy.
Is sisal eco friendly?
As a natural fiber, sisal is a renewable and sustainable material. Since sisal is the strongest natural fiber, its rugs last longer than jute, seagrass and other natural fiber options, giving it even more staying power. ... The fibers aren't the only reason a sisal rug is an environmentally friendly choice.
How is sisal harvested?
Our collection of sisal rugs is harvested in superior-grade plantations in Tanzania. The strong sisal fibers are extracted from the plant's long, green leaves, then washed, sun-dried, brushed, graded and bailed on the plantations. ... Every part of the plant is used, making sisal an excellent renewable resource..
What is sisal fiber used for?
It is sometimes referred to as "sisal hemp", because for centuries hemp was a major source for fibre, and other fibre sources were named after it. The sisal fibre is traditionally used for rope and twine, gypsum work and has many other uses, including paper, cloth, footwear, hats, bags, carpets, and dartboards......