Features

A number of distinctive displays of contract fabrics at the recent Heimtexil in Frankfurt, Germany, served to illustrate the home and contract-textiles exhibition’s dominant themes; the importance of functionality and sustainability. Nonwovens Editor Adrian Wilson reports.

While the nanomaterial graphene has attracted significant attention over the last fifteen years, its use in the manufacture of textiles has been limited. Versarien is looking to change this with a range of graphene-based inks for the production of sportswear. James Bakewell spoke to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Neill Ricketts, to find-out more. 

Cotton fabrics can often provide the perfect conditions for the growth of bacteria that cause them to smell and, ultimately, degrade. Senior Technical Manager, Textiles, at Microban International, Yihong Li, describes a potential solution to this problem.

Companies operating in every sector of the fibres, nonwovens and technical textiles industries must continue to innovate in order to make their products more environmentally sustainable. Adrian Wilson reports on the latest developments from the annual Global Fiber Congress (GFC), held most recently on 13–15 September 2022 in Dornbirn, Austria.

The recent staging of Techtextil, Texprocess and Heimtextil was perfectly timed, as the technical textiles industry wrestles with a long list of challenges. As Editor James Bakewell reports, the shows illustrated that strong partnerships will be vital if these problems are to be solved. 

Freudenberg Performance Materials used Techtextil, which was held in Frankfurt, Germany, on 21–24 June 2022, to showcase its ever-expanding portfolio of nonwovens and technical textiles. During the show, Nonwovens Editor Adrian Wilson spoke to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Weinheim, Germany-based company, Dr Frank Heislitz, about progress since the last edition of Techtextil.

Established in 1883, Aurora Specialty Textiles specialises in applying coatings and finishes to textiles. In an interview with John McCurry, Aurora’s President, Marcia Ayala, describes the company’s business philosophy, the challenges posed by the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic and her plans for the future. 

Examples of innovation from manufacturers of knitted, woven and laminated fabrics will be plentiful at Techtextil. James Bakewell provides a guide to companies to look for on the show floor.

The development of high-performance fibres, yarns, filaments and threads continues to create a myriad of opportunities for manufacturers of technical textiles. James Bakewell offers some highlights to look-out for during Techtextil.

It is likely that many machinery builders will present their most important developments at ITMA (which will be held in Milan, Italy, on 8–14 June 2023), but Techtextil and its sister show, Texprocess, still provide them with a vital opportunity to showcase their technologies to the technical textiles market. Editor James Bakewell picks-out some highlights.