Technical Textiles are defined as Textile material and products manufactured primarily for their Technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.

SCOPE OF TECHNICAL TEXTILES: According to the recent reports, there has been a sharp Increase in the global demand for Technical Textiles in various application areas namely Meditech, buildtech, Mobiletech,Protech, Indutech, Hometech, Clothtech, Sporttech, Packtech, Oekotech, Defence, Geotech.These applications have provided scope for making various products – from Car Upholstrey to Parachutes,Shelter Fabric to Home furnishing, Infrastructure to Environmental and even to Hospitals.The WORLD TRADE in technical textiles is believed to be over USD 50 Billion per annum and it isgrowing at an accelerated pace. It is expected to increase to USD 127 Billion by 2010 and drivers of future growth of this industry is expected to be Asian countries like India and China. Out of both the Countries, India has the capacity of not only becoming a large consumer of technical textiles in divercified application in view of the fast pace of the developing / growing economy but also become the world leader in manufacturing the COATED TECHNICAL TEXTILES.

TECHNICAL TEXTILES V/S CONVENTIONAL MATERIAL:

Technical textiles are now being increasingly used / consumed due to various properties / advantages such as

• Cost effectiveness
• Versatility
• Durability
• Customization
• High Strength
• User friendliness
• Light in weight
• Eco friendliness
• Contribution to quality of life
• Logistic Convenience

This article comes from sgiventure edit released

Technical textiles are manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties. Function is more important than form. Durability is more important than tactile effect.

Silicone rubber coatings can be used to add valuable performance and functional properties to technical textiles, engineered fabrics and industrial textiles.

Silicone rubber is a unique synthetic elastomer made from a crosslinked polymer that is reinforced with silica. Its characteristics are such that it provides the perfect balance of mechanical and chemical properties required by many of today’s most demanding industrial applications.

This article comes from dowcorning edit released

Economy, in particular the losses of manufacturing jobs occupy the centre stage in the Presidential election campaigns in the US these days. This has been a dramatic shift from other issues that were considered priority six months back. Some economic pundits are predicting recession in 2008 in the United States. However, this situation is quite a contrast to what is happening 10,000 miles away – in India.

India is rising and moving ahead with opportunities in every sector. For the past four years, India’s GDP has grown over 8%. The growth in 2007 reached as high as 9.4% and is predicted to be in between 8-9% in 2008. The Indian middle class population is over 300 million, which is set to spearhead the growth of the nonwoven and technical textile industry.

According to Goldman Sachs, India’s economy will exceed the economy of Europe and Japan by 2030 and that of the US by 2045. Such a growth is possible because of the increase in household incomes and the predicted growth in agriculture, manufacturing and service sectors. The consumer spending level is growing over 5% per annum, which has resulted in the ongoing growth of organised retail sectors. India’s population of 1.1 billion of which one-third being middle income group, plays an important role with the growth of India’s economy.

India has roughly one hundred million people who are less than 25 years in age, out of which approximately 25 million are highly educated and this number is still growing. The economy gets a boost due to the growing middle class, young and educated population. These are vital factors for the growth of nonwoven and technical textile industry in India. The 11th Five Year Plan of the Government of India (April 2007- March 2012) calls for an all inclusive growth which is expected to reach double digits by the end of the fiscal year 2012. This clearly emphasises the growth needed in agriculture and manufacturing sectors, as the IT and service sectors have done extremely well in recent years.

Taking this mandate of the National Planning Council into consideration, the Ministry of Textiles of India has taken nonwoven and technical textile sector as an important thrust area for support and growth. Several positive schemes at the central government level have been implemented to support the growth of the nonwoven and technical textile industry in India. A major support scheme has been the launching of the National Technology Mission for Technical Textiles by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, which will be implemented during the 11th Five Year Plan to promote the development of the technical textile industry base in India with a budget of US$ 170 million. This technology mission is in addition to the inclusion of technical textiles sector in the Technology Upgradation Fund scheme.

These supportive schemes from the Government of India as well as the growth in the middle class population are expected to change the nature of the technical textile industry in the next five to ten years. This fits with the goal of India Inc. and the vision of the Ex-President of India, Dr Abdul Kalam to enable India to be an industrialised and developed nation by 2020. This article will highlight some of the recent developments that have taken place in India to boost the technical textile industry.

In addition, we predict that India’s per capita consumption of nonwovens and technical textiles will be double than that of the US when India reaches a per capita GDP of US$ 45,028 which is the current per capita GDP of the United States. Interestingly, at this per capita GDP level, United States’ consumption is far less than what India would be having. An important prediction is that in the next two decades, the rate of growth of nonwoven and technical textile industry will be far ahead than what it was in the US and Europe during the last three decades, during which the industry in the western hemisphere grew and matured. Therefore, growth is certain in India and hence it is the place for international players to be active.

This article comes from indiantextilejournal edit released

Owing to the success of the 7th International Istanbul Textile Conference which was held in 2016 in Istanbul for the textile and apparel industry, we want to take this opportunity to discuss and share the new development in technical textiles and apparel industry by inviting you again to the city where East meets West, to a place steeped in culture and history. Istanbul is proved to play host on this auspicious occasion to the 8th International Istanbul Textile Conference on Evolution of Technical Textiles (ETT 2018) with a theme of “Recent and Future Advances in Innovation and Enterprise in Traditional Textiles, Technical Textiles and Clothing”. It is clear that the role being played by textile in the applied materials science is considerable and that there is still ample scope for further development. For this conference, the focus is on looking beyond the gadgets and the broad spectrum of papers demonstrates when, where and how technical textiles are selected for their true value and applications.

The conference will provide a unique opportunity to meet leading personalities with research, management and technology experience from all over the world and to discuss with them any ideas and proposals in your particular field. The ETT 2018 is intended to intensify and promote cooperation among academics, inventors, textile specialities and producer companies. This time, International Istanbul Textile Conference and International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITM) have signed a collaboration agreement for the contemporary scheduling in synergy of the next editions of their respective events ETT Conference and ITM Exhibition, which will now be held 14-16 April 2018 in the Istanbul TÜYAP Fair Convention and Congress Center. ITM is the largest exhibition in Turkey and in the region, is among the most important exhibition in the World. ITM 2016 is a global textile show with 49.730 visitors and more than 1.000 textile technology producer companies presented their latest models and technologies in operation. As usual the papers cover a wide spectrum of issues, all of which are pertinent to the successful use and application of technical textile. The papers represent current research on technical textile issues and within the nine conference themes, contributions cover:

• Latest development on spinning, weaving and knitting

• Latest development on dying and finishing

• Medical Textiles

• Technical Textiles

• Smart and Interactive Textiles

• Surface Coatings

• Advances in Apparel Design

• Ecological Textiles

• Composites Materials

• Textile Innovations

• Computer Technology for Textiles and Apparel

This article comes from nonwoventechnology edit released

Wool was being used in clothing as early as the stone age, probably the first animal fiber to be spin and made into cloth.

Due to unique properties of wool it’s called as “Natures Miracle”. Wool is being used by the apparel industry for last many years & now a day’s its increasingly being used in technical applications. To utilize wool in technical textiles requires application such that it can exploit the natural attributes of wool and control over cost.

Because of the use of wool fibre into new high value technical market & developing innovative products, global demand for wool products is increasing.

This paper focuses on different attributes of wool fibre for new future applications in technical textiles.

Wool is the most complex and versatile of all textile fibres. It can be used to make products as diverse as cloth for billiard tables to the finest woven and knitted fabrics. The insulating and moisture absorbing properties of the fibre make fine wool products extremely comfortable to wear. The chemical composition of wool enables it to be easily dyed to shades ranging from pastels to full, rich colours. So it is called wool: “Natures Wonder Fibre”

Upholstery

Both wool and wool blend fabrics are used in upholstery due to its good retention appearance, excellent durability, natural flame resistance and aesthetic characteristics. For residential wool items, no additional flame retardant finish applied. While commercial wool upholstery fabric may undergo flame retardant treatment.

Industrial Uses

Wool is important in making felts, which help to decrease noise or for variety uses. Wool is also used to clean up oil spills. Another application is the wool mulch mats for landscape and horticultural weed control.

This article comes from textiletoday edit released

Technical textiles or functional textiles, considered a sunrise sector in the country, is all set for demand taking off for products such as geo and agro textiles.

“Technical textiles is a thrust area for the Government because of the value addition involved,” said Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta. “It can be used in infastructure projects, including ports, roads, and railways, and in sectors such as agriculture. We want to promote use of textile products that will improve productivity, health standards, and infrastructure,” she said.

Geo textiles, for example, are permeable fabrics that are used in association with soil and which have the ability to separate and filter, while agro-textiles are used in shading and in weed and insect control.

In an effort to increase use of technical textiles in Government projects, she said, “We are trying to promote interface with other ministries. The Textiles Minister has spoken to four ministers so far and will be speaking to more.” Union Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani has spoken to Agriculture, Urban Development, Health, and Surface Transport ministers and is expected to have discussions with defence, railways, and heavy industries ministers too.

The aim is to create awareness, promote use of technical textile products, then ensure the usage is mandated in at least some areas. “Development and use of products have to go up. Simultaneously, standards are being created,” she said.

Functional textiles can be woven or non-woven. Automobile, geo, medical, industrial, and agro textiles are among the range of products that are made in the country. Foreign Direct Investments are also coming in, especially for geo textiles. There are a large number of units that are into production of items such as non-woven carry bags or wipes too.

The Textile Commissioner said that the number of larger industries involved in the manufacture of various technical textile products is estimated to be about 2,500. Close to 1,000 of these have received Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme support.

Industrial textiles (such as filtration fabric) and made-ups (home textiles) have taken off. “Geo (textiles used in road works) and agro textiles will [also] take off. Smart textiles (sensor embedded textiles) is another potential area,” she said.

According to K.S. Sundararaman, vice-chairman of Indian Technical Textile Association, technical textiles is a fragmented sector with several small and medium-scale industries manufacturing specialised products. “It is difficult to give a definite number on the number of units, production, etc. But, a majority of them are in the SME sector,” he said.

The main challenges for technical textiles in the country are awareness among consumers, need for technology and knowledge about it among entrepreneurs, the investments and time needed to be innovative and develop applications, and raw material availability.

“China is a generation ahead in production of technical textiles. But, their costs are going up and this is an opportunity for India,” he said. The Government should select and support entrepreneurs to be sent abroad to learn about technical textiles, he suggested.

This article comes from thehindu edit released

Technical textiles are textile products manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes. They are used for automotive applications, medical usages, crop protection, protective clothing etc. Textile technical means textile materials ad products manufactured primarily for their technical and performance properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.

Why Move on to Technical Textiles ?

The traditional textiles are becoming more and more competitive and will have to face tough competition in exports from China and asian countries.Obviously many companies producing traditional textiles have to continuously struggle to survive in a highly competitive global market. In these circumstances, textile manufacturers need to consider some emerging factors and redefine their strategies for production and marketing.

Basic requirements of Technical Textiles

Technical Textile markets are usually more application specific and demanding altogether different types of production strategies.The strict adherence to the product specification and quality standards are the prime requirements to enter in this field. Usually, there is a need for special dialogue between the producers and the users. The user needs products with specific performance and functional requirement. Therefore , the producers must peep into requirements and translate the same in the products to the satisfaction of the users.

This article comes from textileschool edit released

Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance and functional properties, sometimes as a component or part of another product to improve the performance of the product.

The global demand for a variety of such textiles has continuously increased as a result of their rising base of applications in end-use industries.

The 2016 Technical Textiles Top Markets Report, produced by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA), forecasts global demand for U.S. technical textile products to increase 4 percent annually through 2017. Innovation and new technology coupled with trade relationships developed under existing and future free trade agreements will drive this increase in demand.

The Top Markets Report examines historical data from 2008 through 2015 plus forecasts demand for 2016 and 2017, and ranks 70 markets for overall technical textile exports. This study of the U.S. technical textiles market is intended to provide an analysis of the competitive landscape, including developing trends and key regions where U.S. producers could find new and continued opportunities for their products.

In addition to examining historical and future global demand for U.S. technical textile products, this Top Markets Report identifies nine key foreign markets where U.S. producers could see growth and opportunities to expand their market.

This article comes from trade edit released

In many business areas, technical textiles and materials are the starting point for the development of innovative products, which must often meet both functional and aesthetic demands. On modern weaving machines, ideas become reality, day after day.

We are a respected manufacturer that works together with innovative clients in the industry to develop technical textiles and textile solutions for a huge variety of applications. We are committed, purposeful and unbureaucratic in promoting the interests of its clients and it guarantees quick and efficient development processes.

Thanks to its unparalleled specialized competence with regard to textiles and its maintenance of absolute confidentiality, we have proved itself as a reliability partner for technical textiles. Its adherence to schedules, dependability and competence paired with highly optimised and automated production processes delight even the most discerning clients.

This article comes from colsman edit released

Today it’s needed to adopt a different approach to textiles; fabrics have to be regarded not only just as a surface, to be interpreted graphically, but as a material to all intents and purposes, with its own intrinsic structure and performance. In the sector of technical textiles there are a large number of niches and products.

Textiles are everywhere in modern society; worn as protection and self expression on the human body, used as decoration and comfort elements in homes, offices, hospitals, hotels or public buildings, as interior components in cars, buses, trains, ships and airplanes, or structural elements for tents, roofs, bridges, or as reinforcements for roads, and dikes but also as bags, nets or artificial turf in sports and outdoor activities. In spite of the fact that normally the textile industry is considered a traditional sector, today it has become one of the main test-beds regarding new business strategies. The new market standards, achievable with process innovations, which on one hand reduce costs, whereas on the other hand allows to distinguish oneself from the other competitors, have become a very important competitive factor. Ever since the mid 80’s, the market of textile products started to change radically, and it was divided between: standard productions, identified with a low innovation and technology level, medium to low quality, weak customer service – complex productions identified with a high product innovation level, with the use of state-of-the art process technologies and product research, a strong aesthetic element, as well as certain and high quality levels, quick timing addressing requirements, production flexibility and customer service. As well as the above, currently there is a new phase in the textile field in which new materials allow to make dynamic and interactive products, able to offer protection, comfort and performance. The textile materials are therefore becoming the basis for a completely new range of new applications.

Innovative and Technical Textiles: A Sector of Niches with High Added Value

Today it’s needed to adopt a different approach to textiles; fabrics have to be regarded not only just as a surface, to be interpreted graphically, but as a material to all intents and purposes, with its own intrinsic structure and performance. In the sector of technical textiles there are a large number of niches and products, often highly technological and where the end user requires specific requirements, and for which the cost is no longer the only parameter taken into consideration. Regarding innovative textiles the market is growing rapidly and many developments of new products and applications are underway. The technological evolution which transversally integrates human science, materials and information technology, does allow to foresee positive perspectives in the approach towards development of new products and applications.

The general trend is therefore towards high tech, high performance fabrics designed not just to look attractive, but to offer a significant added value in terms of functionality.

Application Field of Technical Textiles

In the field of specialized applications, the technological assets are those that provide the highest performance and comfort standards, and ensure a better quality of life. Already there are fabrics capable of reducing risks (e.g. antibacterial, mite-proof, insect proof, odorless, flame retardant, soil-resistant, anti-UV and anti-electromagnetic radiation, etc.). Other fabrics function actively (e.g. heat-regulating, with new visual features, or providing cosmetic-medical effects, and so forth).

Home Textiles

Traditionally textiles have been an important part of the interior of human habitations, as well as human transportation systems such as cars, buses, passenger trains, cruise ships or airplanes. In that respect textile served three basic purposes:

• Decoration (carpets, wall coverings, curtains & drapes, table cloths, etc.)
• Comfort (Upholstery, seat covers, mattresses, bed sheets, blankets, carpets etc)
• Safety (Safety belts and nets, airbags)

While the basic functions remain unchanged, increased user and regulatory requirements for textile interiors have already made such products more complex, multifunctional or even “intelligent”.

This article comes from technical-textile edit released