Features

To reduce the risks of infection by airborne pathogens, three German companies are developing a ventilation system to remove and filter potentially harmful air from enclosed public spaces. Nick Butler spoke to Dastex’s Carsten Moschner to learn about the potential role for textiles.

From the beginnings of the current pandemic in China in late 2019 to the present, our industry has responded swiftly to provide the vital personal protective equipment (PPE) needed by frontline workers and the public. By forming partnerships, increasing production and developing new products, it has contributed significantly to help prevent the uncontrolled spread of the virus responsible. Editor Nick Butler picks the as-yet unfinished story of HeiQ’s commercialisation of a new anti-viral textile treatment as a prime example among many impressive achievements.

As the  covid-19 pandemic began to take its toll in the USA from late February 2020, medical facilities rapidly became overwhelmed with patients, existing stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) were exhausted and global supply chains broke down. Happily, local textile manufacturers were able to adapt their output to compensate for shortages. John McCurry tells the stories of a few of them.

Concerns about our ability to feed everyone as the world’s population continues to expand are creating opportunities for agrotextiles, according to Sarah Gibbons and Keith Nuthall, but the next generation of such products must be developed to reduce their overall burden on the environment.

Custom machinery builder Cygnet Texkimp has built a global business around fibre. Technical Manager Andy Whitham explains why fibre integrity is the essential design element in every piece of machinery Cygnet Texkimp engineers. He shares the company’s approach to fibre handling, and the technical considerations that ensure the integrity of valuable fibres is protected during processing to deliver materials and end-products of the highest quality. 

Specialising in state-of-the-art knitted technical textiles currently offers incredible challenges as well as numerous opportunities. As competitors fail, for instance, manufacturers can acquire new capabilities and new customers. One such company, reports John McCurry, is Apex Mills, which made its first acquisition in 2019.

A growing appreciation by engineers of the benefits of using fibreglass in a range of industries (notably wind-energy generation, automotive and construction) is predicted to lead to a boom in sales for the material, reports Sarah Gibbons. At the same time, this demand is also stimulating a market for recycled and re-used fibreglass.

The global covid-19 pandemic has resulted in shortages of disposable face masks and triggered manufacturers to ramp-up their production urgently. In addition, the development of new products that could offer greater protection than existing ones – or be cheaper and faster to produce – continues at a rapid pace, reports Adrian Wilson.

The haptic Internet – which will allow the sense of touch to be transmitted over long distances, with or without visual feedback – is close to commercial reality and smart fabrics will have a significant role to play in its far-reaching impact, writes Adrian Wilson.​

A boom in civil engineering and building projects, rapid growth in the healthcare and automotive sectors, the expanding scope of agrotextiles, a growing interest in sustainable manufacturing and protection of the environment, and the present Government’s policies have given fresh hope to India’s technical textile industry, reports Samuel Joseph.