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November 2004

The Japanese carbon fibre maker Toho Tenax Group has bought the US-based Fortafil carbon fibre business of Acordis, The Netherlands.
A vascular graft that prevents blood from leaking into the region between the graft and the blood vessel has been developed by Endovascular Technologies, a subsidiary of Guidant.
A T-shirt has become the latest tool in the battle against breast cancer.
Water-decomposable backsheet for absorbent articles are disclosed in US Patent 6 747 186 by Unicharm.
Polyamide High Performance is using DSM Engineering Plastics' fibre-grade Stanyl KS411 polyamide 46 (PA 46) in the production of its new Stanylenka 460HRST fibre.
A tetraxial woven construction and a machine on which to make it are the subjects of International Patent WO 03/012184.
A novel process that produces thermoplastic granules reinforced with natural fibres has been developed by Agrotechnology & Food Innovations BV of The Netherlands.
Managing a major change within a company can be a challenge for many organizations but it can prove to be a positive experience too, as illustrated by recent changes within Acordis Services Ltd.
A surgically implantable device that allows a surgeon to locate suture threads attached to the device before implantation is outlined in US Patent 6 746 458 by William Cloud of Charlotte, North Caroli
US Researchers say they have carried out the first large-scale manufacture of fibres composed solely of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNs).
Exports up by 3.5% in first half of 2004
Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial (Polyglactin 910) Suture has been launched in Europe by Ethicon Products, a division of Johnson & Johnson Medical.
International Patent WO 01/53759 discloses a comparatively simple fabric construction that the US inventor says has a variety of potential applications.
The nonwovens industry is undergoing significant structural change. A global recession has affected many end-use markets and led to greatly diminished demand.
The US-based carbon fibre maker Zoltek Co Inc says it has restarted two of the five installed carbon fibre manufacturing lines at its Abilene, Texas, USA, plant.
Smart textiles with integrated microelectronics are promising new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities for healthcare.
BBA Group's materials division Fiberweb is to acquire the Tenotex Group, a privately owned Italian nonwovens materials business, for a debt and cash-free consideration of Euro62 million.
Foss Manufacturing Co Inc has patented a process for making an antimicrobial/antifungal multicomponent fibre and claims that repeated washing in boiling water or dry cleaning does not diminish the ite
US-based PPG Industries has introduced a binder-free, continuous strand glass fibre mat that it says can be used to make pultruded parts that are strong in tension.
A US company claims to have devised a way to make nonwoven pads with convoluted surfaces.
Germany's Paul Hartman is developing fully synthetic absorbent cores for use single-use hygiene products.
A range of sleepwear designed to help women experiencing breast cancer-related or hormonal hot flashes and night sweats has been launched by CoolZs of San Diego, California, USA.
Acordis has developed two new acrylic-based fibres under its Amicor range, which includes the antifungal and antibacterial Amicor Pure for clothing and bedding and Amicor Plus for socks and footwear.
Canada's Nexia Technologies has decided to stop developing traditional fibres and yarns and will concentrate on biopolymer sales and specialized nanoscale fibre applications using spider silk.
A cellulose and seaweed-based fibre that slowly releases silver ions could have applications in medical textiles and hygiene products, such as compression stockings and burns bandages.
Researchers based in Singapore have developed threedimensional (3D) bioresorbable scaffolds for use in bone and cartilage tissue engineering.
GE Advanced Materials, The Netherlands, has adapted a papermaking process in order to produce a long thermoplastic resin reinforced with glass fibre.
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