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  1. Issues
  2. January 2008

January 2008

IFAI launches platform to present speciality fabric innovations

1 January 2008
Fabrics for healthcare and medical applications will be among the main topics of the first Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) international symposium, IFAI Advanced Textiles 2008,whic
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High growth predicted for biodegradable polymers

1 January 2008
The worldwide market for biodegradable polymers reached 245 kt (541 million pounds) in 2007, according to the latest report.
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Polycomponent extrusion for tobacco smoke filtration

1 January 2008
Acetate Products Ltd of Spondon, UK, has developed a coextrusion process for making acetate-based fibres that are effective in cigarette filters.
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Performance Fibers to buy North American assets from Invista

1 January 2008
Performance Fibers Holdings Inc says it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the North American tyre cord and industrial polyester filament businesses of Invita.
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Ahlstrom to build medical nonwovens plant in India

1 January 2008
Finland's Ahlstrom announced on 13 December 2007 that it will invest Euro38 million in a new nonwovens plant in India that will use spunmelt technology to make products principally for medical applica
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Membrane sailcloth proves it worth

1 January 2008
Dimension-Polyant and DSM Dyneema have announced the successful performance in race conditions of their new D4(r) membrane sailcloth that features Dyneema(r) fibre.
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Revised standards for cellulosic filament yarn

1 January 2008
The International Bureau for the Standardization of Man-made Fibres (BISFA) has issued new and updated standards on test methods for cellulosic filament yarn.
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Making plant fibres containing antimicrobial nanosilver

1 January 2008
Anson Nanotechnology of Hong Kong, China, has patented a manufacturing method for making plant fibres that contain nano-scale silver particles.
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Oranjewoud and TenCate to take over Edel Grass

1 January 2008
Oranjewoud and TenCate Thiolon have signed a letter of intent confirming their intention to jointly takeover Edel Grass.
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Ahlstrom doubles US production capacity for speciality reinforcements

1 January 2008
Performance fibre specialist Ahlstrom will double its production capacity for speciality glass fibre reinforcements in the USA, the Finland-based company said on 13 December 2007.
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Refined method for cellulose extrusion

1 January 2008
Korea's Hyosung Corp has patented a method for extruding cellulose fibre (International Patent WO 2006/071101).
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Oerlikon Neumag expands spunlaid pilot plant in Germany

1 January 2008
In order to optimize its research and development (R&D) activities in spunlaid, Oerlikon Neumag is expanding the existing one-beam spunbond line at its Spunbond Solution Center at its headquarters
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Pre-treatment for ink-jets

1 January 2008
A pre-treatment agent to facilitate the ink-jet printing of textiles with acid dyes is the subject of European Patent EP 1 835 069.
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Project to increase the lifespan of organic solar cells

1 January 2008
Konarka Technologies - the developer of Power Plastic which converts light into energy - is to head a consortium which will attempt to significantly increase the lifespan of organic solar cells (OSCs)
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Henleys and Tog 24 feature Fibretronic functions

1 January 2008
The Plutonic iPod Jacket by UK retro clothing brand Henleys features Fibretronic's five function keypad controller built into the sleeve.
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Ahlstrom to spend Euro10 million at Turin nonwovens plant

1 January 2008
Capacity for industrial nonwovens at Ahlstrom's plant in Turin, Italy, will be increased as a result of further investment announced on 13 December 2007 by the Finland-based company.
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Oil helps make high-quality, uniform carbon fibres

1 January 2008
Toray Industries has developed an oil agent for precursors that is the heart of an efficient process, the Japanese company claims, for producing uniform, high quality carbon fibres.
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Composite with an absorbent layer

1 January 2008
A multilayer composite that is claimed to prevent the loss of material arranged between the layers is disclosed in US Patent 7 271 113 by Fiberweb Corovin.
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Hand brace

1 January 2008
An improved finger,wrist and hand brace is disclosed in US Patent 7 278 980 by Weber Orthopedic.
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Advances in sustainability

1 January 2008
EDANA, the Brussels,Belgium-based international association representing the interests of the nonwovens and related industries, has launched its second Sustainability Report: Absorbent Hygiene Product
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US nonwoven fabric demand to reach US $5.8 billion in 2011

1 January 2008
US demand for nonwoven roll goods is projected to increase by 4.5% a year to US$5.8 billion in 2011,driven by gains in key markets such as filtration,construction and wipes.Further growth will derive
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Synergy Healthcare acquires Vernon-Carus

1 January 2008
Synergy Healthcare, a provider of outsourced healthcare support services in Europe, Asia and South Africa, has acquired UK-based healthcare company Vernon-Carus for GBP24.4 million, including the assu
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Vancouver city officials say 'don't flush flushable diapers'

1 January 2008
The city of Vancouver,Washington,USA, has rejected the use of flushable diapers until it can be proved they will not harm the city's ability to treat wastewater.
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Ethicon launches Prineo in Europe

1 January 2008
Ethicon has announced the European launch of the Prineo Skin Closure System,which combines mesh and topical skin adhesive technologies to offer fast, secure wound closure.
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Kimberly-Clark HealthCare appoints Medical Director

1 January 2008
Kimberly-Clark has appointed Dr Lynne Kelley to the newly created position of Vice President,Medical Director, for the company's US$1.2 billion healthcare business.Kelley assumes responsibilities for
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Ankle brace

1 January 2008
An ankle brace developed by Ronni Cooper Medical of Santa Monica,California,USA, allows the wearer to participate in normal home,work and athletic activities while protecting an injured ankle.
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Convergence leads to smart fabrics

1 January 2008
A new report from Frost and Sullivan, Advances in High Tech Polymer Fibers and Smart Fabrics, states that the convergence of textiles, chemical engineering,materials and electronics is likely to lead
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Nanopeutics signs technology agreement with ConvaTec

1 January 2008
Alltracel Pharmaceuticals subsidiary Nanopeutics has signed a collaborative technology development agreement with ConvaTec, a manufacturer of ostomy and wound care products.
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Moisture-absorbing cellulose-based material

1 January 2008
A cellulose-based moisture-absorbing material has been developed by the US Department of the Navy.
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Skin closure system

1 January 2008
A method and system for closing wounds using wound closures and a flowable adhesive skin paint are disclosed in US Patent 7 267 681 by 3M.
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Synthetic turf designed to resemble a grass field

1 January 2008
A synthetic turf designed to look like a grass field also has similar frictional properties and improved resilience, according to its Belgian inventor.
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Submarine escape suits evaluated

1 January 2008
Researchers from the US Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) have used the Doriot Climatic Chambers at the US Army Soldier Systems Center (SSC) in Natick, Massacusetts, to begin an eval
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Japan's focus on nanofibres

1 January 2008
Nanofibre developments are taking centre stage in Japan as the country's producers continue to pour considerable energy and resources into man-made fibre innovation.
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Radiation blocking fabrics launched

1 January 2008
Radiation Shield Technologies (RST), headquartered in Miami, Florida, USA, is launching a range of radiation-blocking medical garments which feature a radiopaque, nano-polymeric compound fused between
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Joji troupe moves in Lumalive fabrics

1 January 2008
Dance troupe Joji Inc has this month been demonstrating the possibilities of applying Philips Lumalive luminating fabrics into their performance.
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Teijin looks to the future with concept car

1 January 2008
The centrepiece of the new Mirai Studio, which has just been opened by Teijin to coincide with the company's relocation of its head office to Tokyo, is the PU-PA concept car.
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New patents for NanoInk

1 January 2008
NanoInk, based in Skokie, Illinois, USA, has been awarded three additional patents pertaining to its core patented Dip Pen Nanolithography (DPN) patterning technology for nanoscale manufacturing.
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Nanoparticles attack tumours by remote control

1 January 2008
MIT scientists have devised remotely-controlled nanoparticles that release drugs to attack tumours when pulsed with an electromagnetic field, which could lead to the improved diagnosis and targeted tr
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Army evaluates reflective fabrics

1 January 2008
A user evaluation of new reflective clothing technologies for physical training exercises is currently being carried out by the US army.
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Metal-coated carbon fibres introduced

1 January 2008
Electro Fiber Technologies (EFT) is launching a range of patented, metal-plated carbon fibre products for use in aerospace, defence, automotive, construction, medical and electronics applications.
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Australian bid to develop CNT yarns

1 January 2008
CSIRO has been granted A$2 million under the Australian Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program to demonstrate the capabilities of carbon nanotubes as strong, lightweight anti-bal
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Australian funding for energy harvester

1 January 2008
Targeted for integration into military clothing, CSIRO's Flexible Integrated Energy Device (FIED) is a technology comprsing three components - advanced, conductive fabrics as part of the battery, a vi
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UK process for one-step CNT fibres

1 January 2008
A UK team is claiming to be the first to make fibres from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a simple one-step process that could be adapted for commercial production.
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Tuning photonic materials

1 January 2008
MIT researchers have created a new structured gel that can rapidly change colour in response to a variety of stimuli, including temperature, pressure, salt concentration and humidity.
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UK to take lead in nanotech standardization

1 January 2008
BSI British Standards is soon to launch a series of standards and guides to underpin the rapidly expanding fields of nanotechnologies and nanosciences.
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New transmitter for textile sensors

1 January 2008
Textronics has developed a new transmitter for use with the stretchy fabric electrode sensors that are knitted into the company's NuMetrex brand of heart rate monitor fitness apparel.
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IET Award for digital plaster

1 January 2008
A sensor-containing plaster that can continuously monitor key physiological parameters of the body was one of the winning products at the 2007 IET Innovation in Engineering Awards.
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NanoWave from new technology platform

1 January 2008
Hollingsworth & Vose, based in East Walpole, Massachusetts, has launched its HVision technology platform, a collaborative process designed to enhance the development and commercialisation of new p
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Textile dye could hold key to super processing power

1 January 2008
A technique for controlling the magnetic properties of a commonly used blue dye could revolutionise computer processing power.
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Vital funding for HealthVest

1 January 2008
SmartLife Technology in Manchester, UK, has been awarded an Exceptional Development Grant of GBP500,000 by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to develop the 'HealthVest'.
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