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| Issue date:01/10/2008 |
| ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel - Oct 2008 Issue |
| Source:Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel |
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by Staff Reporters
China is currently one of the most dynamic textile manufacturing and consuming countries. In addition to the area of apparel-related trade, China’s technical textile sector is also growing continually. The exhibition, Cinte Techtextil China, held from October 20 to 22 in Shanghai, demonstrates the strength and potential of China in technical textiles, while the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics show held concurrently attracted more than 2,200 apparel suppliers from around the world.
China's demand for technical textiles and nonwoven materials is massive, accounting for half of all spending in this sector in Asia. The country’s consumption of technical textiles has grown by more than 10% a year for two decades and is expected to reach nearly five million tonnes by 2010. Consumption of nonwovens is growing fast in China at a 30% increase annually and expected to reach nearly two million tonnes by 2010.
Technical textiles and nonwovens are used in a wide range of industries from construction and agriculture to medical technology. Developments in these industries have boosted the demands for technical textile and nonwoven materials.
The Cinte Techtextil China this year featured nearly 300 supplies from around the world in 11,500 square meters of trade space. The exhibition was organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT), and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).
New technologies explored
A number of companies exhibited their latest technologies in the field of nonwovens and technical textiles.
Andritz Küsters’ neXline wetlaid line |
Andritz Küsters presented the latest additions -- lines for the wetlaid production (neXline wetlaid – to its product portfolio.
“The Asian markets, above all China, are of utmost importance for us,” explained Andreas Lukas, Vice President of Andritz Küsters Nonwoven. “With AKM Shanghai and AKM Far East (Hong Kong), we have found a representative that is precisely geared to not just these markets but also to our product programme.”
The motto “nonwoven eXcellence – from forming to finishing” standed for the enterprise’s claim to increasingly offer comprehensive solutions for the nonwovens industry, according to Mr Lukas.
At the exhibition, Andritz Küsters is supported by its new representatives AKM Shanghai, which stems from the previous Küsters representatives Kuesters Far East and Kuesters.
DiloTemafa, a member of DiloGroup, launched a new Baltromix opening and blending line with increased throughput capacity.
DiloTemafa’s new Baltromix opening and blending line |
It is based on new software exceeding 1,000kg/h for the individual weigh hopper machine. The newly re-designed Carding Willow 2000 provides higher throughput using an enlarged working width of 2,000mm. The fiber from the Baltromix opening and blending line is pneumatically conveyed to the new Dosing Opener DON, which has a very large upper trunk as a reserve silo with a fine-regulating system at the flock level. Fiber flocks from the upper trunk are pre-opened and released to the lower trunk, which includes a fine-opening station.
The newly developed VentoFeed from DiloSpinnbau, on the other hand, is a universal card feeder for various working widths and for the fine to medium fibre fineness range. It is designed for highest throughput capacity at best levels of uniformity while feeding the fibre tufts continuously to the card.
More systems were presented, including the Profiline CV1 web control device and the Dilo-Layer cross-lapper of DiloMachines, as well as the HyperLines of Dilo Systems.
Additionally, Rieter Nonwovens Systems introduced a new nonwoven process for innovative fabrics with the Spunjet technology. This process offers superior fabric properties with regard to fabric bulk, softness, drape, tensile strength and isotropic MD:CD ratio. It also unveiled a new JETlace Avantage, which enables spunlace fabrics to be produced from 30 to 120 gsm with capacities of up to 4,000 tons per year. This European designed machine is a tool for emerging countries to start spunlace nonwovens production.
In order to improve the production efficiency, more users sought for advanced software and systems to upgrade their production facility.
The monitoring unit system for textile machinery (M.U.S.T.) developed by RITM is a comprehensive plant management system. It had been adopted by a number of carpet yarn producers, the company said.
The M.U.S.T. system enables an overview of process information, production results and quality control data at all levels from the twister and cabler to the weaving looms via the heat setting machines from any brands. The system is becoming compatible with RFID technology for tag read/write/printing, hand held computer traceability.
In the area of glass yarns, RITM showed its latest improvements such as new motorized spindles; improved doffing time system; reduced chain yarn breaks and yarn external pollution system; and a “QNX” operating system and Industrial PC. RITM also supplies machinery for the production of carpet yarns, for instance, the CDDT 10, which is suitable for new trends such as shaggy and super shaggy; the CDDT 20 with high productivity; and the environment friendly CDDT 30.
A UK super absorbent fiber manufacturer, Technical Absorbents Limited (TAL), on the other hand, presented new fibers for the performance apparel market, namely three-layer evaporative cooling composite fabrics and a phase-change/super-absorbent composite fabric for combined cooling and sweat absorption. Its latest development is a fully washable super-absorbent yarn system.
“This very new patent-pending yarn technology has significant application potential, particularly in undergarments offering heat and moisture management properties,” said TAL Business Development Manager David Hill.
“Key features are the maintenance of ‘dry feel’ comfort and cooling benefit, with the yarn technology giving superior directional heat and fluid transfer properties. Primarily, this avoids discomfort to the wearer, for example when dressed in stab or bullet proof vests, wet suits and diving gear,” he added.
Georg Sahm, meanwhile, introduced a new series of winders for carbon fibers and pan precursor.
The SAHM 800 series of winders were designed for the efficient winding of high-strength yarns used in automobiles, aerospace, sporting goods, laptop computers and musical instruments. The new winder can be programmed by parameters stored in a central process control unit. With these electronically programmable functions, users can make quick and efficient product changes. Down times are minimized. Normal wear and tear components and spare parts and maintenance time are reduced.
The precursor, most commonly PAN (polyacrylonitrile), is the raw material used to produce carbon fiber. PAN precursor winders are available in 120kg and 300kg version. For carbon fibers, Georg Sahm offers an automatic winder as well as a manual winder for precise winding of carbon fibers.
Innovations in coating unveiled
Brückner coating lines are used in production of protective clothing and various technical textile applications |
Brückner Plant Technologies from Germany presented innovative concepts for functionalisation of textiles, in cooperation with leading producers of coating polymer.
The company cooperates with Huntsman Textile Effects, for example, develops functionalisation of both sides of planifom textiles in one single drying step, which saves energy and costs.
In the medtech sector, incontinence articles are being coated with polyurethane, while air bags with silicone and truck tarpaulin with PVC are being developed for applications in the mobiltech sector. In the buildtech sector, acrylate coatings are used to reinforce roofing membranes made of nonwovens and in the indutech sector phenol resins are used for abrasive cloth and glass fiber impregnations.
Cavitec, a member of Santex Group, is specialized in designing and manufacturing of coating and laminating lines for hotmelt adhesives for a broad range of applications, ranging from automotive interior over textile web laminates and home textiles to various technical textiles, e.g. breathable membranes.
The company presented its latest coating head, Cavimelt Plus, featuring an add-on device that allows for the first time full hotmelt covering of very fine weights. Well received in the market since it launch in September last year, the new system is suitable for differing hotmelt coating and laminating applications where fine accuracy and reproducibility is needed, such as automotive, medical textiles, high-tech garmenting.
Exhibits were grouped into 12 application areas, namely agriculture; construction; functional clothing and footwear; textile materials used by the civil engineering industry; textile materials used in the manufacture of furniture, upholstery, floor coverings and carpets; industrial textiles; medical textiles; textiles used for transportation; textile materials used in environmental protection, waste disposal and recycling; textiles used for temporary containment, carriage, storage and protection of industrial, agricultural and other goods; textiles of personal and property protection; textiles for sport and leisure activities.
Flocks of Chinese visitors expected
Over 6,000 Chinese visitors were expected this year, mainly from Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which were three of China’s most important technical textile and nonwovens markets.
In addition, more than 1,000 overseas buyers were estimated to come to the show from around the world, including Korea, Taiwan, Japan, USA, Hong Kong and Germany.
The technical textile segment in China was gaining importance. “Cinte Techtextil China is seen in Europe and particularly in Germany as a show not to miss if one is serious about promoting technical textiles in China,“ said Claudia Saam of the Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry, organiser of the German pavilion.
China as Asian sourcing hub of apparel fabrics
With more textile manufacturing activities moving to China, the country has become one of the most dynamic markets for the sourcing of fabrics of a variety of price ranges and end application segments.
Over 2,400 suppliers exhibiting at the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics this year |
More than 2,400 suppliers from 30 countries attended the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics show held on October 20 to 23 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China. The show occupied 10 halls with more than 115,000 square meters of trade space.
A highlight of the show was four unique booths created by international chemical fiber makers to showcase the applications of their specialty products.
The Lenzing Satellite Stand allowed Lenzing to act as a sourcing stand and directly supply international buyers with information about the fabrics available with Lenzing fibers, according to the company.
The number of satellite member increased to 37 mills with 828 square meters.
Lenzing cooperated with its fiber users to launch the newest eco-friendly Tencel and Lenzing Modal knitted and woven collections at the textile fair. It also held the worldwide Fabric Competition in 2008.
Moreover, Invista featured a booth with 35 mills that adopt Coolmax, Lycra and Thermolite brands. Product demonstrations in the new Lingerie & Swimwear Fabrics zone were also presented by Invista.
Dow Fibers Solutions also showcased the XLA brand, the world’s first olefin-based stretch fiber that is resistant to harsh chemicals and high heat. Visitors to Dow’s booth saw the XLA application on denim products and other products from Dow’s global mill partners. Dow also presented trend forecasting for autumn 2009/winter 2010.
Meanwhile, Korea’s Hyosung with nine mills presented its spandex brand Creora; nylon fibre line Mipan; and latent crimped yarn Xanadu 55, a highly flexible and comfortable polyester.
Growing spandex market attracts suppliers
In addition to the above high-tech fibers, BASF described Asia as the largest PolyTHF (polymerized tetrahydrofuran) market and also the fastest growing one.
“For us, PolyTHF is a core business. In keeping with our practice for the past 25 years, we will therefore continue to be a reliable partner in support of our worldwide PolyTHF customer base,” said Dr Beate Ehle, president of BASF’s Operating Division Intermediates.
Known throughout the world either as Elastan or Spandex, the PolyTHF-enhanced fibers are processed with nylon, cotton or polyester fibers into high-quality fabrics. Major applications are found in swimwear, underwear, socks, pantyhose and modern sportswear. Their use in diapers is relatively new.
With 3% Spandex or Elastan woven into their fabric, stretch jeans live up to their name. In sportswear Spandex or Elastan may represent up to about 5%-10%, in swimwear it may range as high as 30%, according to BASF. PolyTHF is also an important intermediate in manufacturing thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU).
BASF will open a special PolyTHF application laboratory in Shanghai later this year. It will expand BASF’s technical customer service in Asia, in particular for the PolyTHF growth markets in Elastan and Spandex fibers as well as thermoplastic polyurethane and polyether ester elastomers (TPU, TPEE). The company is pleased to further present its products and services at the exhibition.
On the fairground, Uster Technologies introduced the Uster Intelligent Sourcing service to help yarn buyers understand how to optimize their quality management -- and minimize costs -- by making smart choices when sourcing these products.
The Uster Intelligent Sourcing and Usterized services are two ways to reduce quality costs in the textile value chain, the company said.
With the launch of Uster Intelligent Sourcing, buyers and users of yarns and yarn-based products can take advantage of these achievements by working closely with Uster to improve their quality management capabilities in the supply chain and reduce their quality costs sustainably.
The Usterized certification program, on the other hand, encourages spinning mills to produce yarns of consistent quality.
Uster also offers more products and services in the quality management sector of the textile chain, including the Uster Statistics and Uster range of testing and monitoring systems, allowing detailed analysis of textile raw material and yarns.
Additionally, a number of symposia were held. Dr Andrew Yu of Avery Dennison Hong Kong explained applications of heat transfer labels on garments, while Rachel Huang, Country Manager of Hohenstein Institutes China discussed the OEKO-Tex 100 and the ECO Passport Certification. |
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Copyright © Adsale Publishing Limited. Credit goes to Adsale Industry Portal when used.
We reserve the right to take legal action against any party who reprint any part of this article without acknowledgement. For enquiries, please contact the Editorial Department. |
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