Researchers tackle unintentionally transparent clothing

Whether it is nurses in their uniforms, sportsmen in their training gear or anyone wearing light-coloured swimming trunks - everyone knows the problem of white garments which all too often reveal more than you want - either of yourself or of any white or dark underwear underneath. However, for things like scaffolding covers or trade fair stands, too, the transparency of textiles is an important factor.

Researchers at the Hohenstein Institute in Bönnigheim, in cooperation with their project partner Eschler Texti, are working hard on finding a way of being able to give an objective evaluation of the specific degree of transparency or opacity of textiles and also control it. In this "hands-on" research using volunteers with different skin types, existing measuring methods already used in paper-making are to be transferred to real-life conditions in the textile industry.

Participants in the optical trials assessed the transparency of a piece of white test fabric by means of a questionnaire. The findings from the tests will then be confirmed using actual skin types and finally converted into an objective method for classifying transparency.

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BMS Clean Room to improve medical device textile production

Biomedical Structures LLC (BMS), a provider of biomedical textiles for medical devices and other advanced clinical applications, today announced that it has expanded its textile engineering capabilities with a new purpose-built clean room for high-density weaving and advanced braiding infrastructure for polymer and wire materials. BMS will support this growth by complementing its engineering expertise with new hires to the company's technical workforce at its manufacturing facilities.

BMS' newest clean room supports high-density weaving and knitting for biomedical textile production, and houses state-of-the-art warping equipment and twisting equipment for an increased range of very fine and precise solutions for orthopedic, cardiovascular, and general surgery device applications.

The facility addition is purpose-built for handling finer PET fibers, DSM Dyneema Purity, and other mono- and multifilament fibers, especially those of lower denier. BMS recently teamed up with fiber manufacturer DSM Dyneema as a proven specialist in processing Dyneema Purity and Dyneema Purity BLUE, the first ever 100% colored implantable grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber.

Additionally, BMS has expanded its braiding capabilities with multiple new 16-carrier braiding machines, as well as a best-in-class 48-carrier machine for improved production capacity of polymer and wire braiding. In support of this expansion, the company has increased its manufacturing workforce with additional textile technicians, and plans to supplement current employee growth with more sales engineering and project management expertise in the near future.

"BMS has consistently worked to remain at the cutting edge of medical device product development," said BMS President John Gray. "Our textile solutions are helping orthopedic and cardiovascular device manufacturers bring the next generation of more lifelike, high performance implantables and instruments to market. These expanded capabilities for more advanced engineering and production of our biomaterials will allow us to further innovate and deliver at the level our customers have come to expect."

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Trevira in MoOD again

The business situation at Trevira continues to develop positively. In July the polyester specialist had reported turnover of some 120 million euros for the first half year of 2010, a clear 10 % above plan. This positive upturn resulted mainly from growth in the specialty business of the fibre manufacturer and reflected improvements in the economic environment.

In the first five months of 2010 output from the German textile industry rose by 13.5%, with turnover increasing by almost 16%. The textile industry as a whole is on the road to recovery, and demand for polyester products has shown a marked rise. The export markets, important for Trevira, are likewise indicating an upward trend, with the current revival of the global economy bringing increased activity here as well. As a supplier of polyester specialties for the textile industry, Trevira is involved both in the export successes of its direct customers and in the downstream stages as well.

“Compared with the previous year Trevira CS business has recovered with greater speed and strength than expected. This is particularly true of the positive performance in Italy and Turkey“, says Anke Vollenbröker, Head of Marketing & Business Development at Trevira. Likewise in nonwoven applications of our flame retardant fibres and in monofilaments, we are recording above-average growth as against 2009. We are also pleased with the continuing good demand for our low-melt component yarns (NSK). Here we are currently working on extending the programme with coloured melange yarns /NSK yarns.“

Trevira is anticipating sound business for the second six months, with ongoing stability in turnover. For 2011 the company is assuming a moderate continuation of the good economic conditions. Anke Vollenbröker: “We expect further growth next year in our core business, supported by some interesting newh developments.“

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Orlando event to focus on advanced textiles, sustainable design

IFAI Expo Americas 2010, the specialty fabric industry's one-stop-shop for connecting buyers with sellers, will host hundreds of exhibitors from the industry's top companies in fabrics, fiber, films and chemicals, end products, components, equipment, and technology services.

Ask Stephen Warner, president and CEO of Industrial Fabrics Association International if he's excited about his association's signature event, IFAI Expo Americas 2010, and he will tell you, "It's going to knock your socks off!"

Thousands of attendees are expected at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, USA, 27-29 Oct. It is the largest specialty fabrics trade show in the Americas, after all, and Warner explained what makes 2010 exceptional. "This year has been very exciting because the specialty fabrics industry's activities are virtually ripped from the headlines," he said.

"Everywhere we look there are new opportunities for using specialty fabrics, such as temporary structures for disaster relief in Haiti and Chile; and of course, fabrics used in the emergency oil spill cleanup response in the Gulf of Mexico.

"This summer the world saw the soaring fabric designs of a World Cup Soccer stadium which served as a focal point for the most-watched sport in the world.

"We're providing high-performing camouflage for soldiers' uniforms; sustainable designs for green building; and environmental advances using geomembranes in coal ash containment, for example, which is currently being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

IFAI is at the forefront of the global demand for new fibers, fabrics and technologies, and these will all be on display at Expo."

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Introduction of GENIUS by Portico at HFPA

Eco-friendly home fashion brand Portico Home & Spa is introducing its GENIUS collection of luxuriously soft and breathable sheets made with a unique 60/40 percent blend of organic cotton and TENCEL MICRO during the HFPA New York Home Fashions Market September 13-17 at its showroom at 230 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1910, in New York City.

Portico is one of the only companies to have introduced such products to the North American market. This collection is available in fig, stone, earth, and cloud colors and is perfect for homes or hotels interested in being stylish as well as environmentally conscious. TENCEL, a fine cellulose-based fiber made in a closed loop processing system, is known for being soft, wrinkle resistant, absorbent, and durable.

Buyers will also be visiting a separate Portico showroom at the United Feather & Down offices at 1071 Avenue of the Americas featuring Portico’s Essential Bedding collection of comforters, pillows, blankets, and mattress pads made with 100 percent organic cotton.

Portico Home & Spa launched its first bed (blankets, coverlets, decorative pillows, duvets, shams, and sheets), and bath ( bath robes, rugs, towels) collection of items made with organic cotton at the Fall 2009 HFPA show. This resulted in highly successful sales in both the United States and Canada. Portico anticipates sales in over 500 doors, more than double the current number, in major retailers in both countries by the end of 2010. Noted author and green living expert Summer Rayne Oakes consults on the lines and serves as the Portico brand ambassador.

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