#Techtextil / Texprocess 2013

2013-06-07

TechTextil: Development Expertise for Customized Solutions

ContiTech intends to make diving suits safer. Developers are currently working on a new coated fabric for diving suits that provides protection and safety in and under water. On the one hand, the material needs to be absolutely water- and media-proof, thus providing reliable protection against chemicals and harmful substances even in contaminated waters.

Coated fabrics from ContiTech provide protection and safety
material know-how and modern process technology for customers all over the world
new ideas for many different areas of application

On the other, it needs to be light and flexible, and allow the wearer optimum freedom of movement coupled with best possible protection against the cold. “Based on our know-how and many years of experience, we want to develop further areas of application for our protective clothing materials and for this reason, we are now venturing into the water,” Rodrigo Maia, head of the Coated Fabrics segment at ContiTech Elastomer Coatings, announces at the TechTextil trade fair. ContiTech Elastomer Coatings is an exhibitor at the trade fair as an expert development partner for coated fabrics. In hall 3.0, booth B43, the company will be demonstrating how versatile the field of application for coated fabrics is.

Whether coated fabrics for protective suits, life raft materials or customized solutions for completely new applications – ContiTech Elastomer Coatings will be an exhibitor at TechTextil in Frankfurt as an expert development partner for coated fabrics.

Also in development is a new hybrid material made of elastomers and thermoplastics, which optimally combines the characteristics of the two materials. The elastomer content makes the material extremely airtight, in other words, allows little permeation and diffusion, and is also electrically conductive and chemically resistant to acids, lyes, fuels, oils and other media. In addition, the material needs to be pressure- and temperature-resistant, and be available in attractive finishes and colors. Thermoplastic materials should ensure that the material can be fused – an advantage for the further processing of the material.

“The areas of application for both materials are absolutely versatile, yet our materials expertise and modern process technology allow us to offer our customers tailor-made solutions for their quite individual requirements,” segment head Rodrigo Maia emphasizes. “Since we cooperate closely with our customers’ development and design departments, we are familiar with their specific requirements and can match our products perfectly to them.”

This is possible thanks to the wide selection of materials the company has at its disposal: More than 300 elastomer coating materials – including special elastomers for extreme application requirements – and more than 100 textiles with a wide range of different properties and material strengths can be combined for almost any application – from coated fabric for protective suits or life raft materials through to customized solutions for completely new areas of application.

Alongside coated fabrics, ContiTech Elastomer Coatings also produces printing blankets, industrial products and elastomer sheeting as well as containers for industrial partners all over the world. The business unit has sites in Germany, China, Japan, Russia, Singapore and the USA and reported sales of around €110 million in 2012. It has a workforce of around 600.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Barmag and Hitech Automation enter into partnership for an auto-doff system for texturing machines

Barmag (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Hitech Automation Solutions PVT LTD. of Surat, India, have agreed to an exclusive partnership to jointly market Hitech’s Doffmatic automation solution for Barmag’s proven manual eFK texturing machines. In many texturing facilities, manual doffing processes remain heavily operator-dependent – resulting in issues such as increased scrap, inconsistent quality, and limited productivity.

Uster’s new Recycling Opening Index guides spinners to the perfect blend

Uster AFIS 6 now offers the key data for better decisions when blending recycled fibers. Process control is decisive in determining the quality and economic outcome. The new R Recycling Module of AFIS 6 introduces the Recycling Opening Index (ROI), so spinners can optimize their circularity credentials. It was officially launched at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The heart of the technical textiles and nonwovens world will beat in Istanbul

Only 1 day remains until HIGHTEX 2026 International Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition opens its doors. Bringing together manufacturers, technology developers, investors, and industry professionals from around the world, HIGHTEX 2026 is preparing to showcase the innovations shaping the future of the industry. As the countdown to this major event continues, Istanbul is once again getting ready to become the meeting point of the global technical textiles industry.

Grasim Industries announces fresh investment of ₹3094 Crore to expand Lyocell capacity

Grasim Industries Limited, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group and a global leader in cellulosic fibres, today announced an investment of ₹3,094 crore, for Phase II Lyocell capacity of 110K TPA at Harihar, Karnataka. This expansion will consist of 2 lines of 55K TPA (150 Tons per day) each. The first line is expected to be commissioned by 2028, and the second line is expected to be commissioned by 2030.