Technical Textiles International (June 2016)

Technical
TEXTILES
June 2016
Volume 25, Number 3
international
Informing the industry worldwide
Coating and laminating
investments in a
growing market
Wrapping, packaging and
preparing sensitive fibres
for transportation
INSIDE:
IDEA exposes fluctuating fortunes in the global nonwovens industry
Lightweight, smart textiles made from natural materials for cars
Shiva Texyarn shares its unique approach to the Indian market
From the publisher of Technical Textiles International:
a commercially focussed, practical symposium
The Third International Conference on
Nonwovens for HighPerformance Applications
7-8 March 2017, Prague, Czech Republic
The International Conference on Nonwovens for High-performance Applications is a
high-level, commercially focussed symposium which addresses the issues of entering
and expanding in the advanced nonwovens market.
The global nonwovens industry is thriving, primarily because new applications for these
highly adaptable engineered materials continue to be found.
The Third International Conference on Nonwovens for High-performance Applications
will train a spotlight on the latest developments in various fields, including:
tTransportationoNBUFSJBMTSFQMBDFNFOUBOEMJHIUXFJHIUJOHPQQPSUVOJUJFTtFiltration –
from water and air purification to advances in biopharma and medical applications
tEnergy HFOFSBUJPOTUPSBHFBOEUSBOTQPSUBUJPOtDurable nonwovens as the ideal medium
GPSUIFMBUFTUEJHJUBMQSJOUJOHBOEöOJTIJOHUFDIOJRVFTt5IFQPUFOUJBMOFXBQQMJDBUJPOTGPS
nanofibre MBZFSTt/POXPWFOTGPSextreme performance
Call for Papers
The core of the programme will be presentations by industry leaders, but in order to give an
opportunity for anyone with exciting and relevant ideas to present to a high-level international
audience, we are seeking papers relating to high-performance applications for nonwovens,
especially those that are commercial or near-commercial. To find out how to submit an abstract,
visit the conference website (deadline 30 June 2016).
For full details on how to participate in NHPA2017 as a
speaker, delegate or sponsor visit
www.intnews.com/NHPA
Technical
TEXTILES
international
In the Editor’s opinion
June 2016
Industry's growth stresses the urgency of
finding its next generation of skilled workers
(Volume 25, Number 3)
Business in North America continues to thrive, with plenty of evidence of investment
Editor: Nick Butler
Tel: +44 (870) 165-7211
Fax: +44 (870) 165-7212
and the return of manufacturing operations long since thought lost to other parts of
the world. While this message is not breaking news, it was thoroughly re-affirmed in
conversations I held with numerous participants at the recently concluded Techtextil
North America (which took place in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on 3–5 May 2016) and in the
Email: [email protected]
report of Adrian Wilson from the concurrently held, IDEA 2016 (see also, page 19).
Nonwovens Editor:
Adrian Wilson
Composites Editor:
Amanda Jacob
US correspondents:
John W. McCurry and
William C. Smith
Asian correspondent:
Vicky M. Sung
Indian correspondents:
Samuel Joseph and Reena Mital
Regular contributors:
Geoff Fisher, Ian Holme and Niki Tait
Co-located with Texprocess Americas and JEC Americas, Techtextil North America attracted
Display advertising sales:
David Kay/Maria Box
Tel: +44 (1273) 423512
Fax: +44 (1273) 422707
Email: [email protected]
a total of 589 exhibitors and more than 9350 visitors, according to Atlanta-based Messe
Frankfurt Inc, one of the principal organizers. The combined shows also covered more
than 1.5 ha, all of the recorded statistics showing improvements on those from the last
time the three exhibitions took place together, in Atlanta on 13–15 May 2014.
However, these bare statistics do not give a fair representation of the high degree of
confidence in the market. For that it was necessary to be present and to speak directly
with those involved, and to witness the atmosphere at the venue, the Georgia World
Congress Center, particularly around the stands of the machinery builders in the
Texprocess Americas section.
Of the three exhibitions, Texprocess Americas showed the biggest improvement,
according to Messe Frankfurt’s Michael Jänecke, with 80% of exhibitors opting this
time to go to the not inconsiderable expense of showing machinery. Judging by the
buzz of visitors around this area and several reports of investments being made on the
show floor, their additional expense would appear to have been repaid.
Published by International
Newsletters Ltd, 44 Friar Street,
Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire,
WR9 8ED, UK.
Subscription enquiries, orders
and payments:
International Newsletters Ltd,
44 Friar Street, Droitwich Spa,
Worcestershire, WR9 8ED, UK.
Tel: +44 (870) 165-7210
Fax: +44 (870) 165-7212
Email: [email protected]
http://www.technical-textiles.net
Particular interest was shown in machinery designed to automate production.
Investments of this kind are needed of course to help reduce the costs of labour
associated with manufacturing in high-wage economies, but many of those enthusiastic
to buy such equipment cited another reason: the need to substitute for the lack of an
indigenous, skilled labour force. During recent decades, when much of its manufacturing
left the region, North America has lost a traditional skilled workforce, which is yet to be
replaced. Even innovative companies, which succeeded in keeping their production on
the continent during this period by evolving to become technical textiles manufacturers,
report that recruitment of suitable employees is a big and growing problem.
It is to be hoped, therefore, that initiatives such as the establishment of the Advanced
Functional Fibers of America (AFFOA) Institute, another conversational topic of great
Annual subscription (six issues):
includes free access to publications
and back issues online:
£278/$459/€390.
(Payments in other currencies are subject to
interest at the shows, can have an impact in persuading a new generation of bright
students to consider textiles as a career.
The industry, particularly the technical textiles sector, is far more sophisticated than
our prevailing exchange rate). Prices are
those outside can imagine and it needs to attract a new generation of the brightest
valid to the end of 2016, and include
and the best if its current momentum is to be sustained.
airmail delivery in Europe and air-speeded
delivery elsewhere.
2
Nick Butler, Editor
Technical Textiles International—June 2016
Technical
TEXTILES
international
Contents
4
June 2016
On the cover:
Products update
Mogul adds three ranges of performance nonwovens to its portfolio
Lightweight nonwovens for industrial wipes unveiled
Japanese partners create high-visibility aramid fabric
6
Coating and laminating update
Arville Textiles invests £1 million in UK coating plant
US demand for coated fabrics set to exceed 540 million square metres
8
Processing update
Plasma-based oxidation of carbon fibre close to commercialization
Recycled carbon fibres as reinforcements for automotive applications
Arville Textiles has completed a
£1-million upgrade at its
coating and laminating plant in
Bury, UK (see also, page 6).
In depth: Natural materials
11 Smart, lightweight and natural materials shape modern cars
In depth: IDEA 2016 review
19 What IDEA 2016 exposed about the global nonwovens industry
In depth: Company profile
27 Shiva Texyarn—textiles for consumer markets and protection
30 Markets update
Bright future predicted for high-performance spunlaid nonwovens
Medical textiles market to reach US$20.2 billion by 2022
Wearable medical devices to exceed US$10 billion in 2023
32 Industry update
Trützschler exits staple fibres
Karl Mayer acquires seamless warp-knitting technology from Santoni
A fully automated system that
wraps, packs and prepares
sensitive fibres for
transportation is now available
from Cygnet Texkimp
(see also, page 36).
Santex acquires SMIT to add weaving machinery to its portfolio
36 Machinery and equipment update
Fully automated system for handling delicate fibres unveiled
38 Events diary
40 Index to advertisers
June 2016—Technical Textiles International
Technical
TEXTILES
international
Further information at
http://www.technical-textiles.net
3
www.staubli.com/textile
When it comes to developing and producing innovative textile products for
industry
y,, you’ll take the lead with highly
developed Stäubli solutions for technical textiles. From weaving preparation
to shed formation to modular weaving
system solutions, Stäubli offers innovative machines and systems that produce high-quality technical textiles for a
very wide range of applications. Pick up
Stäubli’s know-how and rise to the top of
the textile charts.