Fibres, Yarns & Fabrics

Horticulture in the Netherlands is big business. Not only is the country an international leader in flowers, plants, bulbs, and food products; it is also in innovator in solutions for greenhouse horticulture. According to the NL Agency, a division of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Dutch greenhouses cover an area of more than 10560 km2, with a focus on technologies that facilitate energy efficiency and adaptability to climate change. A new Netherlands-based company called Elasol, established in 2012, has developed one such technology that uses an innovative elastic, warp-knit textile in an intelligent system to help balance sunlight, shade, temperature and humidity.

Alexium International Group has announced that its affiliate Alexium Government Solutions LLC (AGS) has submitted a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal to the US Army to develop novel multi-threat protection capabilities on military applications.

Teijin is to establish a specialized department to accelerate materials business incubation through technology acquisitions and alliances with immediate effect. The new Technology Alliance Development Department, established under Teijin’s New Business Development Group, will strategically grow materials related businesses by identifying promising partners and mergers and acquisitions opportunities. Alliances are envisioned for undertakings ranging from R&D to business model creation.

Innovative German technical textiles producer Riedel Textil has introduced a new range of seamlessly knitted tights called KinesioTight, which have been scientifically developed to both improve sports performance and protect against injuries. Developed in cooperation with sports and medical experts, KinesioTight is said to integrate the effects of the well known Kinesio Tape Method of treatment into functional sportswear.

Fibre producer Invista has acquired Ashburn Hill Corp., along with its associated intellectual property, including the Tecgen brands and a manufacturing operation in Texas. The company says Tecgen flame resistant garment products will expand its existing performance and protective fabric offerings, as well as add a new skill set to the company.

Statistics reveal that spinning line capacities are becoming increasingly large The majority of recent installations for polyester have been spinning lines directly connected to a common reactor. Lines of this kind are economically prudent, although flexibility is very limited compared to extruder spinning lines. Here, additive injection and mixing systems can help regain this lost flexibility.

Karl Mayer will be presenting two new innovations at Techtextil 2013, which takes place from 11 to 13 June in Frankfurt. The German company’s Warp Knitting Business Unit has developed acoustic-damping warp-knitted spacer fabrics which will be integrated into its stand at the exhibition.

A new publication from Textile Media Services – Agrotextiles: A growing landscape with huge potential – provides a unique overview of woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics and other textiles used in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, floriculture and landscape gardening, as well as in fishing and aquaculture. These include fabrics for livestock protection, shading, weed and insect control, and for extending the growing season of plants and crops.

Lenzing has succeeded in achieving the second best business result in its history in the 2012 financial year in spite of difficult market conditions in its core fibre business. The Austrian company’s Annual Report published today says that this can be attributed to new record fibre sales volumes and good performance of its specialty Tencel fibre. Readers can download the full Lenzing Group Annual Report 2012 at the foot of this article.

Market leaders in the sportswear sector will present specialist technologies at Texprocess, the leading international trade fair for processing textile and flexible materials from 10-13 June this year in Frankfurt, Germany, in co-location with Techtextil, the international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. The following text, provided by the show’s organiser summarises some of the leading technologies which will be exhibited.