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Coating and laminating

How environmental and health issues are forcing change on coaters and laminators

Polyurethane, fluorocarbon and flame-retardant coatings have been integral parts of the textiles industry for many years, but all are based on the use of chemicals falling foul of modern legislation and standards with respect to human health and environmental impacts. Nick Butler reports how several speakers at the International Conference on Textile Coating and Laminating considered the viability of alternative technologies.

Nanobionic coating technology is being applied to the seats of the limited-edition McLaren Senna sportscar.

A short-chain fluorocarbon-based coating that can be used to make natural and synthetic fabrics waterproof is being developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Ca

A textile finish that reduces the presence of the allergens found in cat and dog hairs has been launched by Devan Chemicals of Ronse, Belgium.

Baldwin pioneers hydraulic spray finishing for textiles

Experience in the highly demanding newspaper print industry has given Baldwin Technology its expertise in hydraulic spray technology. Now the company aims to introduce the technology to solve many of the problems faced by textile finishers.

A durable, halogen-free coated polyester (PES) mesh fabric has been developed by Dow Global Technologies.

A surface treatment for aramid fibres that improves the mechanical properties of rubber composites reinforced with them has been developed by Textilcord Steinfort (now Glanzstoff Textilcord) of Ste

HanesBrands – the apparel manufacturer behind the Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali and Maidenform brands – has invested in 19 Baldwin Technology precision spray application textile finishing systems

A German company claims its latest textile finish offers an effective water- and oil-repellent treatment while eliminating the use of undesirable

Sweden’s Trelleborg Group has, through its Italy-based Trelleborg Coated Systems business area, acquired privately owned British company Dartex, which manufactures coated fabrics primarily for the

A non-fluorinated durable water repellent (DWR) for on high-performance synthetic textiles has been launched by Huntsman Textile Effects of Singapore. 

A range of products designed to increase the abrasion resistance of fabrics, thereby reducing instances of fuzzing and pilling, has been launched by HeiQ of Schlieren, Switzerland.

Baldwin Technology Co Inc of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is to acquire Ahlbrandt System GmbH of Lauterbach, Germany.  

A water-based, flame-retardant (FR) acrylic coating is now available that its Japanese co-developers claim is halogen-free, transparent and suitable for application to a range of substrates, includ

A range of ecologically friendly flame retardants has been launched by Ecoatech GmbH of Augsburg, Germany.

Carver Non-Woven Technologies of Fremont, Indiana, USA, is to begin commercial production of pre-impregnated, preconsolidated glass-mat thermoplastic (GMT) composite products. 

A negatively-charged finish for textiles that attracts the positively-charged allergens like a magnet has been developed by researchers at Hohenstein Group's William Küster Institute for Hygiene, E

The challenge of finding alternatives to fluorocarbon-based finishes

Switching to fluorocarbon-free treatments is proving to be a big challenge for garment manufacturers and is likely to be even more problematic for the manufacturers of technical textiles. Adrian Wilson reports on the latest developments from Techtextil.

Research carried out at the University of Leeds in the UK suggests that the use of controversial fluorochemicals in the manufacture of most waterproof garments may be unnecessary.

Lohmann Technologies UK has installed a specialist infra-red (IR)-based heating system for the manufacture of adhesive tapes at its factory in Milton Keynes.

Red Bull and Schoeller are to unveil their jointly-developed Taurex finishing technology at Outdoor in Friedrichshafen, Germany on 20 June 2017.

A range of microencapsulated phase-change materials (PCMs) used for thermal regulation in a variety of industries has been acquired by Microtek Laboratories Inc.

Beaulieu Technical Textiles (BTT) used the occasion of Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, on 9–12 May to highlight its specialized extrusion coating and extrusion laminating support for its

Puma has used its Accufoam – comprising three-dimensional, diamond-shaped dots (Topaz-Dots) applied to both sides of an elastane (spandex) upper material – to create a distinctive look for its late

HeiQ will use the occasion of Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, on 9–12 May 2017 to launch its latest odou

Chemical suppliers face the challenge of fluorine-free finishing

Chemical suppliers continue to create treatments that can add a variety of functionalities to textiles, but one major theme at Techtextil in 2017 will be the development of alternatives to fluorocarbons as water- and liquid-repellents, reports Editor Nick Butler.

Coating, laminating and finishing—crucial ways to add functionality

Coating, laminating and finishing processes are vital to the transformation of textiles for technical applications. Once again, the latest innovations in these processes will be to the fore at Techtextil, says Editor Nick Butler.

EuroFibers BV is to launch a range of cut-resistant sweaters (BodyShield) at the forthcoming Techtextil.

ContiTech of Hanover, Germany, has opened a facility for coated fabrics in Changsu, China. 

High technology the key to the future of the textile industry

Ian Holme reports technical textiles were high on the agenda at the 24th International Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Textile Chemists and Colourists, held in Pardubice, Czech Republic, on 13–16 June 2016.

Shiva Texyarn—textiles for consumer markets and protection

Reena Mital spoke to the Executive Director of Shiva Texyarn, K.S. Sundararaman, to learn about the company’s unique approach to making and selling technical textiles in India, and how it hopes to exploit the Government’s support for the replacement of many imports with locally made products. 

In the period 2015–2020, US demand for coated fabrics will increase from 489.1 million m2 (585 million square yards) to 543.5 million m2 (650 million square yards), according

A UK-based specialist in technical textiles has invested £1 million to upgrade one of its coating plants.

A Swiss specialist in antimicrobial additives for textiles and polymers has invested in a new technical centre.

A patented process that allows for the production of short, fine polymer fibres has found its first use in the creation of a mattress ticking with a comfortable and luxurious silk finish.

Bio-based raw materials to meet emerging demands for sustainability

With another producer of polyurethane-coated fabric signing-up to its Insqin Partner Manufacturer Program, Covestro continues to promote and develop sustainable materials in several sectors, including automotive interiors, reports Geoff Fisher from Shanghai, China.

EuroFibers BV of Maastricht, The Netherlands, has signed its first distribution agreement relating to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres that have been coloured with a propriet

A range of coating machinery for applying waterborne polyurethane (PU) to materials is under development.

Shaping a bright future for the coating and laminating industry

Ian Holme visited Ghent, Belgium, listened to the debates at the 8th European Coating Congress (3–4 September 2015) and learned what its delegates see as the opportunities for and threats to the coating and laminating industry.

The organizer of the International Conference on Textile Coating and Laminating has revealed the preliminary programme for the latest edition of the event.

The world’s first stretchable and conformable thin-film transistor-driven light-emitting diode (LED) display laminated into textiles paves the way for wearable displays in clothing.

Senior figures from the textile coating and laminating sector are invited to Prague, Czech Republic, on 16–17 March 2016, to attend the latest in the series of international conferences dedicated t

Six customers in the European markets for automotive, workwear and military fabrics, with a combined sales potential of US$15–20 million in the next 12–18 months, are already being

Coating and laminating bring novel functionalities to textiles displayed at Techtextil

Coating and laminating remain crucial ways of developing innovative textiles and adding novel functionalities. Once more, according to Nick Butler, Techtextil provides visitors with a wide variety of the latest examples.

Archroma says its Smartrepel Hydro represents a true innovation in water-repellency for outdoor clothing based on polyester (PES), polyamide (PA) and cotton textiles.

A project that aimed to reduce the cost of manufacturing hold-up stockings has led to the development of a robot capable of making siliconecoated textiles for medical products, and sports-, fashion- a
The Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) of Natick, Massachusetts, USA, has provided technical guidance to an industrial partner, Luna Innovations of Roanoke, Virginia,

Innovation spurs on globalized coating and laminating industry

US Correspondent, John McCurry reviews the state of the coating and laminating industry, finding it to be dynamic, innovative and reaching into every aspect of technical textiles, as well as the lives of all that make use of these materials.

A programme to encourage manufacturers of polyurethane (PU)-coated fabrics and their customers to adopt a solvent-free technology has been launched by Bayer MaterialScience of Leverkusen, Germany.
The World Cup 2014 organized by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) of Zurich, Switzerland, not only provided a global showcase of some of the best players on the planet, but
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