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Features

The sheer scale of the global market for hygienic nonwovens requires an awareness of all conditions at local levels, says Adrian Wilson.

There has been a notable rise in the number of companies supplying new nonwoven products as the basis for lightweight composite components for the automotive and construction industries, according to Adrian Wilson.

Nonwovens are no longer just commodity products and increasingly contribute to a range of high-performance end-uses, reports Adrian Wilson in an exploration of the latest applications and trends in the use of such fabrics around the world.

George Kellie, who is the Chair of the international conference on Nonwovens for High-performance Applications, is studying the use of nonwovens in packaging and reports that this market continues to grow, despite the ongoing problems in the wider economies of the world.

A combination of the general downturn in the US economy and deep cuts to the defence budget has hit many companies hard. John W. McCurry describes how SSM Industries’ diverse approach has helped buffer the company from the worst effects.

From its origins, Norafin has remained a pioneer of both technology and product innovation, traits that have survived changes of ownership and fluctuations in external economic conditions. Nick Butler examines what drives such dynamism.

SeaCell is a fibre that is kind to the skin, offers functionality (such as antimicrobial properties) and is made from natural materials using a closed-loop process that is environmentally friendly, according to Pooja  Anade and Kishorkumar Parbat.

The applications for nonwovens in electric-powered vehicles differ substantially from their uses in conventional cars, but low weight, low energy consumption and high fuel efficiency are the common goals, according to Adrian Wilson.

The use of strong, lightweight carbon fibres could enable carmakers to reduce the fuel consumption and environmental impact of their vehicles, but currently such materials are prohibitively expensive. Innovations in production and conversion will be vital if carbon fibres are ever to be used in mass-production applications, says James Bakewell.

Italian developers are building a machine for the atmospheric plasma treatment of wool and aim to begin commercial trials in 2014. Nick Butler reports on what could be a major step towards full-scale industrial exploitation of this technology.

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