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June 2005

At a Techtextil that promises to be bigger and fuller with innovation than ever, how will visitors begin to find what they are looking for?
Alltracel Pharmaceuticals of Dublin, Ireland, has signed a technology and product development agreement with nanofibre technology specialists Elmarco of Liberec, Czech Republic.
Nordic Capital and other major shareholders have agreed to sell Molnlycke Health Care to funds advised by Apax Partners.
Ontex, Europe's largest private-label disposable hygiene products manufacturer, is reported to be expanding or building factories in four countries in the greater Europe region.
Keratec of New Zealand has entered into an agreement with US-based Keraplast Technologies for the commercialization of keratin-based biomedical technologies for orthopaedic and wound care products.
Borealis has upgraded its range of Borflow low viscosity polypropylene (PP) homopolymers for meltblown nonwoven applications, such as diapers and medical gowns.
The European Disposables and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) has announced the programme for the 4th Outlook Personal Care Products Conference to be held from 28-30 September 2005 in Barcelona (Sitges),
Paul Hartmann of Heidenheim,Germany, is selling its Fixies baby diaper brand to French hygiene product manufacturer Novacare.
A method of forming leak-proof, peripherally sealed absorbent pads, such as compression sponges for wound care, using a pre-cut overlay is disclosed in US Patent 6 849 775 by Jeffrey Klein of San Juan
The European Disposable and Nonwovens Association (EDANA) is planning a conference on medical nonwovens and infection prevention in spring 2006.
Invista Performance Fibers is to increase its capacity for hightenacity, low decitex per filament (dpf) yarns at its plant in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The yarns are used in automotive airbags.
Having made significant inroads with respect to the use of nanotechnology in traditional textile markets,senior executives at Nano-Tex explain to JohnW.
Saint Gobain's Reinforcements Branch has signed an agreement to acquire the Austrian company Hornstein Glastextil AG.
DSM will invest more than US$50 million to build a new fibre line in Greenville, North Carolina, USA, and boost production in Heerlen,The Netherlands, for its ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
Carpet maker Vorwerk has joined forces with another German firm,computer chip manufacturer Infineon,to develop a textile material that can think for itself,survive being wetted and can be cut to shape
With its decision of 5 April 2005, the Austrian Cartel Court has finally approved the acquisition of the Tencel Group by Lenzing AG.
Geoff Fisher reviews some of the key developments and announcements from Index 05.
With effect from 1 March, BASF has increased its prices for polyamide 6 extrusion and spinning grades and caprolactam by Euro100-150 a tonne.
Teijin Twaron BV is to expand production of the high-performance para-aramid fibre (Twaron(r)) at its plants in Emmen and Delfzijl, The Netherlands.
FiberVisions, a business unit of Hercules Inc, has announced a 10% price increase globally on all polypropylene and polyethylene fibres.The increase was effective from 15 March for all new customers a
Polyester fibre specialist Trevira will feature new filament yarns for medical applications at this month's Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt am Main,Germany (7-9 June 2005).
An apertured nonwoven composite is disclosed in US Patent 6 849 319 by Tredegar Film Products.
A study by the UK's Nottingham Trent University has revealed that Amicor fibres could help fight the spread of the "superbug", methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is responsible
A team at the US Marine Corps has a developed a socalled "disruptive camouflage" suitable for use in the visible and infra-red (IR) ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Germany's Groz-Beckert KG has patented a transfer needle for a loop-forming knitting machine in which the transfer spring is held firmly in place.
An inventor has developed an artificial turf, claiming it solves problems associated with earlier surfaces such as granules migrating to the surface and the rapid separation of sand and granules causi
International Patent WO 03/069030 describes a novel system of creating an insulating composite by loading it with microspheres.
DuPont has developed a woven weft-stretch fabric that, the company claims, has a high degree of recovery.
International Patent WO 03/052179 discloses a method of making low denier, highly extensible fibres, as well as soft, extensible nonwoven webs based on them.
Japan's Toray Industries Inc claims it has developed a polylactic acid (PLA) fibre that is stronger than its rivals at high temperatures.
USA's Otis Elevator Co has developed a cable for lifts that warns of a possible failure.
Czech open-end (OE) machine builder Saurer Czech has developed a rotor-spinning system for making multicomponent yarns (European Patent EP 1 464 742).
M Cubed Technologies Inc has developed a form of silicon-infiltrated ceramic based on a reaction-bonded silicon carbide body for use as an anti-ballistic material.
A US-based inventor claims to have used elastomeric materials to develop a device for protecting fingers. Dennis J.
The smart textiles team at Canesis of Christchurch, New Zealand, is currently involved in several projects to develop wearable medical devices.These include:
A disposable absorbent article, which includes an absorbent chassis and a fastening system that creates a refastenable pant, has been developed by Kimberly-Clark.
At April's Index 05 exhibition,nonwoven roll goods producer Texsus of Chiesina Uzzanese, Pistoia, Italy, showed several novelties, including products for the feminine hygiene, baby diaper, adult incon
The Band-Aid brand of adhesive bandages, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, is now being manufactured with the company's new Comfort-Flex technology.
Kelheim Fibres introduced two new viscose fibres for nonwoven applications at the Index 05 exhibition held in April 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland.
A mechanical process for creating microfibres is the subject of International Patent WO 00/46435.
Malden Mills Industries claims to have developed a process that can be applied to a raised, knitted fabric to render it absorbent to moisture and/or water on one face while the other is repellent.
Freudenberg Nonwovens of Durham,North Carolina, USA, claims to have developed a tufted carpet that offers acoustical insulation in automobiles.
Kelheim Fibres introduced two new viscose fibres for nonwoven applications at the Index 05 exhibition held in April 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland.
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