Technical Textiles Technologies: Current Scenario And Prospects Ahead

Present Market and Growth of Technical Textiles

According to a paper prepared by the Ministry of Textiles on technical textile industry, world market for technical Textiles products to around 23.77 million tonnes by 2010, worth $127 billion and among them India and China will be global demand growth driver for Asia. Asia's consumption for technical textiles products is expected to grow at 10,645,000 tons by 2010. This market is growing at approximately 4% CAGR. Particularly nonwoven products are expected register higher growth rate in Asia than the world market with 9.6 per cent per annum.


According to Mr. Andreas Lukas, Vice President of Andritz Kústers GmbH, in Asia like in nearly all other regions of the world the technical textiles market will grow considerably. The Asian textile industry also looks for differentiation in terms of adding value to products. Environmental engineering has become a key word and the textile machinery will grow exactly towards this focus, e.g. the filter media section. Not one special region or nation will benefit from this trend, but all companies that learn quickly to implement advanced production processes. This means comprehensive process know-how as well as access to excellent raw material and energy.


China is one of the important countries for technical textiles in Asia with the country accounting for approximately 50% of total spending in Asia. The demand is still growing at rate of 10 percent per year. Spending on nonwoven is growing at 30% a year. China is having more than 500-600 nonwovens manufacturing companies. Geographically most of this industry is concentrated at eastern party of China with greater presence in provinces like Guangdong. This region alone contributes 30% in nonwoven production with around 140-150 nonwovens producers present in the region with their high-tech lines. Other important provinces include Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.


Factors driving growth in demand mainly includes changes in lifestyle of Chinese society led by increasing consumerism. This increasing consumerism guides demand for technical textiles products such as Hygiene products and diapers, products for medical care and disposables. Also requirement is rising in wake of increasing demand for technical textiles products for infrastructural projects and in automobiles.


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2008 - A Year Of Transition For Global Nonwovens Industry

The annual growth rates of over 6% seen in the European nonwovens industry over the past 20 years have meant it has long enjoyed the position of being the largest nonwovens producing and exporting bloc in the world. In 2009, this leading status, at least quantitatively, will no longer be enjoyed by the Old Continent.


China is seen as the largest country producing nonwovens with a production of 1.1 million tons in 2007 and an estimated 1.5 million tons per annum by 2009. Meanwhile, market observers are keenly watching India - a market hungry to catch-up - where massive investment plans await confirmation. Indeed EDANA will organise nonwovens training courses in Delhi for the third time in November 2008. Similarly, Latin America has some impressive new nonwovens capacity coming on-stream or announced, making it the other investment area of choice for the key multi-continental players. New markets are also being opened up to nonwovens, such as certain types of chemical protective clothing, or the incorporation of viral barrier properties in the fabric itself. Some of the applications where nonwovens are seeing increased uptake are in geotextiles and filtration with increased product sophistication and enhanced functional characteristics. With ever-reducing weights, refined surface treatments, composites and hybrid multilayer webs, all resulting in improved performance and aesthetics, nonwoven producers are doing more with less and diversifying their sales into new areas across the board.


Qualitatively however, with its leading edge in nonwovens web making and bonding machinery and an application mix oriented towards increasingly sophisticated end-uses, the European nonwovens industry has demonstrated in Geneva (INDEX 08) that in terms of technological content and value, it maintains its lead.


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SmartSilver Antimicrobial Integrated With Technical Fibers

NanoHorizons Inc., a leader in the creation of nanoscale antimicrobial performance additives for the textile, health care, and coatings and plastics industries, and G. J. Littlewood & Son, Inc., a Philadelphia-based commission specialty dye house, announced today a breakthrough application process to integrate NanoHorizons’ SmartSilver certified antimicrobial performance into technical fibers, including Nomex, Basofil, Kevlar, and Twaron.

These fibers are used primarily for protective clothing such as bullet-proof vests and fire suits. SmartSilver is an Oeko-Tex approved, EPA registered antimicrobial performance brand that provides permanent, safe, and cost effective protection against odor and material degradation caused by bacteria.

“NanoHorizons’ expertise in applied nanotechnology has created unique and effective antimicrobial nanoscale silver additives that bind to any fiber type at the molecular level,” says Richard Littlewood, VP of G. J. Littlewood & Son, Inc. “After testing various antimicrobials, we can say without hesitation that for customers who want affordable, environmentally-sensitive, permanent antimicrobial protection, there is no better choice than SmartSilver.”

Through Littlewood’s proprietary methods, SmartSilver’s nanoscale silver additives are evenly and completely dispersed in the dye bath. Because the process is so efficient, less additive is required resulting in superior performance at a lower cost versus other antimicrobial options.

SmartSilver’s nanotechnology also ensures that other performance additives, such as those for FR and wicking, are not compromised in any way so that finished textiles perform as specified. SmartSilver works as effectively for natural fibers as for synthetics.

“The combination of SmartSilver and Littlewood’s dyeing and finishing expertise provides highly valued benefits for performance fabrics used in fire, military, and safety occupations,” says James Delattre, VP Global Marketing at NanoHorizons Inc.

“SmartSilver protects fabrics from odor build up and microbial damage and degradation. Fabrics made with SmartSilver enhanced fibers also require fewer washings which helps fabrics last longer and reduces the use of water and detergents. We look forward to working with Littlewood to introduce these remarkable fibers to the performance textile market.”


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