Global technical textiles business update, 2nd quarter 2008

18 pages, published in Issue 73, 2nd quarter 2008   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The second quarter of 2008 was a busy period for the global technical textile sector. Synthetic turf supplier Edel Grass was taken over by TenCate and Oranjewoud while Dow Chemical acquired the intellectual property assets of Advanced Design Concepts (ADC). The Staple Fibers business unit of Xentrys has agreed to buy the polypropylene and polyethylene staple fibres business of Propilan in Spain, while Icelandic company Ossur has divested its advanced wound care product line to BSN Medical in Germany. But Avgol has decided not to buy Fiberweb because of difficulties in obtaining financing on reasonable terms.

New products include Ahlstrom’s Disruptor PAC nonwoven—made from alumina nanofibre under licence from Argonide—for use in water filtration. In business news, DSM has won claims against Armor USA after alleging that the latter infringed the Dyneema trademark by using the brand name Unima. Ahlstrom has changed the responsibilities of board members following the departure of its chief executive officer (CEO), Jukka Moisio. SCA has increased its focus on hygiene products to capitalise on growth opportunities in this sector. Techtextil North America (TTNA) will be staged annually and its venue will alternate between Atlanta, Georgia, and a site in the Western region of the USA. In investment news, Hyosung—the world’s second largest producer of elastane fibre after Invista—has started to make Creora elastane (spandex) fibre at its new factory in Cerkezkoy, Turkey. In China, Toray has begun to make spunbondmeltblown- spunbond (SMS) nonwovens at Toray Polytech Nantong (TPN)—a joint venture between Toray Saehan, Toray Industries and Toray Industries (China). Unilever Ventures is investing in ion-mask plasma-based technology, developed by P2i, which helps to create waterproof breathable surfaces. Fibertex has formed a joint venture with Innowo Print which will use a new technology to print directly on to nonwovens for diapers and feminine hygiene products. Markets for nonwovens and technical textiles in India are forecast to grow by 13.3% per annum during 2005-50, according to Texas Tech University. In China the demand for filters is forecast to rise by 14.4% a year up to 2011. Growth will be driven by expansion in motor vehicle production, manufacturing output, building construction, and urbanisation of the population. The Institute of Nanotechnology predicts that nano-based products and processes will be worth US$4.9 bn to the textile industry by 2015. Also, about 25% of textile products available in 2015 will incorporate some form of nanotechnology. Penetration will be greatest in hygiene—including household care, leisure and consumer goods, and healthcare.

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Technical Textile Markets provides intelligence, analysis and insight on the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries.

What's in it? Each issue contains data and expert analysis on key industry topics, including: automotive technical textiles; biopolymers; chemical protective textiles; circularity; composites; e-textiles; environmental sustainability; filter media; flame resistant fabrics; glass fibre; graphene; Industry 4.0; insulation; medical textiles; military textiles; nonwoven specialities; personal protective equipment (PPE); synthetic fibre; and wearable technology. A single issue of Technical Textile Markets includes: an editorial think-piece on a topical issue from an industry expert a report on the latest product developments and innovations a profile of the world's top producers of nonwovens a main feature on a new or established market a round-up of the latest business news statistical data and analysis of fibre and fabric production in a key geographical market An annual subscription to Technical Textile Markets is a cost-effective way to keep informed about trends and developments in the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries. Subscriptions are available in printed and/or digital formats. Printed and digital subscribers receive each issue in printed format in addition to a digital PDF file, which is available immediately on publication. Subscribers also receive a complementary digital subscription to Technical Textiles Business Update, delivered directly by email once a month. This free supplement contains essential information on business news and the latest product developments. Like all Textiles Intelligence publications, Technical Textile Markets is a reliable source of independently sourced business information, and it does not carry advertising. This is what our customers say: "I can't believe I never ran across Textiles Intelligence when I was in graduate school. While researching today I found it..it was like finding gold. GREAT JOB!!!" (Researcher/Writer; [TC]² (Textile Clothing Technology Corp), Cary NC,)