Global technical textiles business update, 3rd quarter 2008

19 pages, published in Issue 74, 3rd quarter 2008   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The global technical textiles business has been characterised by a number of developments since mid-2008. Brookhouse Holdings, a manufacturer of composite aerostructures was taken over by Kaman Aerospace Group while One Equity Partners acquired the Professional Wound Care Business of Ethicon.

New products include PermaStatic from Nanogate, which uses the company’s patented N_charge technology to store electric charges on different underlying media. Meanwhile, Indo Poly will employ NanoHorizons’ SmartSilver additives in Indo Poly’s Ambs Pro and Ambs Active lines.

In business news, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is inviting medical and diagnostic equipment companies to find new solutions in the fight against healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). Ahlstrom is reducing the production of wound roving at its plant in Karhula while Fiberweb has added two global business units to its structure, namely Consumer Fabrics and Airlaid. Kermel, a producer of high performance fibres and fabrics, has been awarded a contract to supply camouflage fabrics to the French Army. Lenzing, a world leader in cellulosic staple fibres, and Weyerhaeuser, one of the world’s largest forestry companies, have agreed to cooperate on developing a lyocell nonwovens technology. Diolen Industrial Fibers has raised the prices of all its products, while Lenzing has raised the prices of some of its products. The University of Tennessee Nonwovens Research Laboratory (UTNRL) has been formed, while Toray has agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging that the company conspired to fix prices of carbon fibre for US aircraft, ammunition and satellites.

In financial news, Lenzing has posted improved sales and profits, but the global fibres business is showing signs of weakening. In investment news, Ahlstrom has inaugurated a glass fibre tissue facility in Russia. Meanwhile, Polymer Group Inc (PGI) has begun to expand in Mexico but has shut its US facility. New joint ventures include a plan by Teijin, Toray and Mitsubishi Rayon to cooperate in the mass production of recycled carbon fibre. Collectively, the three companies hold a 70% share of the global carbon fibre market.

In the market for nonwovens, output in “Greater Europe” grew by 7.3% in 2007 to reach 1.65 mn tons while in Germany the first ever Advanced Textiles conference has been held in Berlin

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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 always appreciate your efforts to publish one of the best textile-related journals all the time." (Alliedsignal, Polymers SBU, Richmond VA USA)