#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2016-11-03

Synthetic leather made with Elastollan® makes car seats more comfortable

Car seats can now be more comfortable thanks to synthetic leather made with BASF’s thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) Elastollan®. The ultra-soft synthetic leather is highly abrasion resistant and helps manufacturers meet the stringent volatile organic compound (VOC) standards for applications such as car seats and furniture.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Elastollan can be extruded onto fabric directly with a non-solvent based technology
Soft but durable: Elastollan provides excellent haptic properties and outstanding wear resistance

Suzhou Ruigao New Material Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of synthetic leather, has adopted Elastollan grade B50A12CF in the production of synthetic leather in a Chinese automaker’s latest model, due to its cost effective and environmentally friendly thermoplastic process in comparison with conventional processing technologies such as coagulation. “Elastollan significantly simplifies and speeds up the production process of synthetic leather as it can be extruded onto fabric directly without a middle layer using a non-solvent based technology. This helps car makers meet the increasingly stringent VOC standards, especially for car interior applications,” said Tony Jones, Head of Industrial, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, BASF.

In addition to being durable and wear resistant, synthetic leather made with Elastollan is well suited for use in car seats and furniture due to its high mechanical performance. This not only enables a soft, thin and flexible layer of material but also makes it easy to dye and emboss, allowing a variety of colors and fashion designs.

The product complements BASF’s synthetic leather portfolio, which includes Haptex®, a polyurethane (PU) system solution for the production of synthetic leather.

Pic: Synthetic leather made with Elastollan

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.