Kaluga
French technical textiles manufacturer Porcher Industries has opened a new manufacturing subsidiary - Porcher Modern Materials - in the Borovsk district of Russia’s Kaluga Region. The opening ceremony which took place on 18 December was attended by Vladimir Potyomkin, Deputy Governor of Kaluga Region, as well as Porcher representatives including Viktor Burkov, Director General, Porcher Modern Materials.
Tokyo
Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibre product converting company, has announced the start of full-scale production at N.I. Teijin Airbag Fabric (Nantong) Co., Ltd., a joint venture engaged in manufacturing and sales of fabrics for automotive airbags.
Muttenz
Clariant has signed an agreement to sell its Textile Chemicals, Paper Specialties and Emulsions businesses to SK Capital. The total consideration of the sale amounts to approximately CHF 502 million, out of which approximately 460 million in cash, equivalent to 6.3 times the estimated full year 2012 recurring EBITDA of those businesses. The divestment has been approved by the Boards of both companies. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of 2013.
Bönnigheim
Germany’s Hohenstein Institute is now offering testing and certification of protective/safety gloves in accordance with a number of industry standards.
Singapore
Huntsman Textile Effects has launched two AEEA-free (amino-ethyl-ethanol-amine) alternatives for two of its key silicone softeners used in the manufacture of apparel and home textiles.
Dewatering breakthrough from RHL means textile finishers can finally say goodbye to conventional rubber squeezing
A revolutionary new version of the famed Roberto roll is said to be the first fibre-based squeezing system to offer full resistance to harsh chemicals. The global launch of the RoberteX squeezing roll means that processors no longer have to rely on outdated rubber rolls for water extraction in demanding conditions, according to UK producer Richard Hough Ltd. (RHL).
Almelo
TenCate Advanced Armour has announced the opening of a permanent sales office in the Middle East with Mr Yohann Barnaud, who has been managing TenCate Advanced Armour sales in the Gulf Cooperation Council region and Eastern Europe, being appointed director.
Almelo
TenCate Advanced Composites has announced that it has been successful in qualifying to supply carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composite material for a leading global automotive customer.
London
UK based Armadillo Merino was presented with the NatWest ‘Product Business of the Year 2012 Award’ in London on Friday. The Derbyshire based ‘new start’ company’s knitted tops and leggings in single jersey and rib structures, made from super-fine merino wool, are said to be the ultimate in comfort, with qualities that are ideally suited to those professionals exposed to endurance, extreme weather or potential risk of fire or burns.
New composites for automotive applications have been in the news this past week along with news of a new forthcoming in-depth Automotive Textiles report. In the meantime, it has been announced that bio-polyesters are to be used in the interior of the 100% electric Nissan Leaf and Teijin’s V-Lap lightweight, sound-absorbing polyester material has been selected for use in the carpeting of the new Mitsubishi Outlander.
Automotive Textiles: Latest news, new report to be published
The presence of Boeing and Citroen at the latest confrence held by CELC – the European Confederation of Flax and Hemp – illustrates how seriously the potential of flax and other bast fibre fabrics to replace glass in composites is now being taken.
Brescia
Leading seamless circular knitting machine builder Santoni has reported strong sales of its machines into the sportswear sector especially for the production of merino wool based seamless garments. Sportswear manufacturers are mainly interested in the Italian company’s SM8 TR1 machine for single jersey garments with mesh effects – particularly in 24 gauge for zonal knitting or body mapping in natural fibres such as merino wool.
Maudlin, SC
South Carolina based Mount Vernon Mills is now offering its Amsoft finish on all fabrics available within the brand’s six collections, to enhance the comfort of flame resistant garments made with Mount Vernon FR fabric.
Tokyo
Teijin has announced today that it has started operating its pilot plant for the fully integrated production of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) components at its Matsuyama Factory in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Plans to build the pilot plant were announced exactly a year ago and capital expenditure is said to have been over two billion yen.
Duffield
UK based Armadillo Merino reports that the Italian navy is set to order thousands of its British developed hi-tech garments, which give unprecedented next-to-skin protection and performance in action.
‘Automotive Textiles: Moving towards a new global equilibrium’, a forthcoming new report from Textile Media Services, provides the latest analysis of the fast-altering automotive textiles industry.
Automotive Textiles (3rd edition) - Moving towards a new global equilibrium
