#Textile chemistry

2020-08-05

Teijin and Kinoshita Fishing Net develop world's first fishing net made with UHMWPE film

Teijin Limited and Kinoshita Fishing Net Mfg. Co., Ltd. jointly announced today that they have developed the world's first high-performance knotless fishing net made with an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) film. Kinoshita Fishing Net will begin selling MX-4 made with Teijin’s Endumax® UHMWPE film in early August and is targeting annual sales of 50 tons by 2025, including Endumax® fishing nets for purse seine net fishing and later for traps, fish farms and trawling.

Teijin continues to discover new industrial applications for Endumax®, such as ropes, bulletproof wear and lightweight containers for air cargo, as well as fishing nets, and expects to develop additional applications going forward.

MX-4 combines Teijin's advanced Endumax® film and Kinoshita Fishing Net’s manufacturing technology implemented with world-leading net-knitting machines for knotless netting, made by crossing threads with each other for extra strength and abrasion resistance. In addition to Muketsu knotless netting made with twisted threads, Kinoshita Fishing Net also boasts the world’s only machines for making braided knotless nets, sold under the BM brand for purse seines, traps and fish farms.

Endumax® is a 60 µm-thick film offering high strength, high modulus and resistance to impact, abrasion, chemicals and sunlight. Advanced technologies are normally required to mass produce fish nets made with film, but Kinoshita Fishing Net’s proprietary technology enables Endumax® that has been cut to just several millimeters in width to be knit into highly functional MX-4 fishing net.

MX-4 is especially suitable for purse-seine nets for skipjack, tuna, horse mackerel and mackerel, which are used in harsh environments where durability and fast drainage are crucial. MX-4 does not shrink easily and is resistant to breakage due to abrasion even after hundreds of castings, so it can be used safely for long periods.

(left) MX-4 net showing almost no deterioration after approx. 300 uses and (right) unused knotless net (c) 2020 Teijin

It also improves work efficiency and cost efficiency by reducing needs for net reconditioning and tailoring. In addition, it reduces the frequency of net disposal and is more marine friendly. Furthermore, when MX-4 is pulled up from the sea, it immediately sheds water and becomes lighter, making it easier to work. It also stays clean.

Various types of fishing nets are used commercially depending on the fishing method, fish species and marine environment. In the case of purse-seine net fishing, where nets can become heavily loaded, over time the nets can shrink considerably, lose shape, become less efficient in enclosing fish, and require frequent repair or replacement.

Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future by creating new value based on the changing times, providing solutions to realize a more prosperous and sustainable world.

Kinoshita Fishing Net’s philosophy is be an essential enterprise that develops unique solutions by working directly with customers to understand their situations, requirements, goals and prospects. Going forward, the company will expand MX-4 applications for purse seine net fishing, and later for fish farms, traps and trawling, as a socially responsible enterprise that places top priority on evolving with distinction and sustainability.

Teijin announces availability of DPP-compliant products aligned with Europe’s ESPR Environmental Regulation

Teijin Limited announced today that it has started rolling out initiatives to enable aramid fibers and carbon fibers to be accompanied by Digital Product Passport (DPP) technology, which enhances supply chain transparency by verifying the origins of materials and supporting sustainability claims. The company is using the supply chain traceability system from Netherlands-based Circularise B.V., in which Teijin has invested since November 2024, to develop DPPs for each product.

Teijin Carbon showcases new eco-friendly Tenax Next™ R2S 513 6mm short carbon fiber at JEC World 2025

Teijin Carbon, a leading manufacturer of carbon fiber products, is presenting its latest development in sustainable materials at JEC World 2025 (hall 6, G22). New Tenax Next™ R2S 513 6mm is a short carbon fiber product in rice-shaped form for reinforcing thermoplastic compounds that not only offers exceptional performance characteristics but also reinforces the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and circularity.

Teijin to invest in Circularise B.V. and adopt its supply chain traceability platform to promote the Circular Economy

Teijin Limited announced today that it will invest in Circularise B.V., a company based in The Hague, Netherlands, which develops product traceability management systems using blockchain technology. Teijin will also implement Circularise’s software to improve visibility into its global supply chain. Circularise’s proprietary “Smart Questioning”(*) solution, which utilizes Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology, provides both anonymity and transparency to ensure a highly reliable product traceability system.

SOKO presents low-impact denim finishing innovations at Denim PV Milan

SOKO will present a range of sustainable denim finishing technologies and collaborative projects at the upcoming Denim Première Vision Milan on 20–21 May in Milan. At booth G27 in Superstudio Più, the company will showcase new chemical solutions designed to combine fashionable denim effects with reduced environmental impact.

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.