Global technical textiles business update, 4th quarter 2007

19 pages, published in Issue 71, 4th quarter 2007   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The fourth quarter of 2007 was a busy period for the global technical textile sector. Acquisitions included the takeover of French rival Abrium by Netherlands-based Intersafe Holding, a supplier of personal protection equipment (PPE). In Germany, warp knitting, warp preparation and weaving machinery specialist Karl Mayer has taken over Sucker-Müller, which builds machinery for preparing warps used in weaving. In the Netherlands, Oranjewoud and TenCate Thiolon will take over Edel Grass, a supplier of synthetic turf for hockey, tennis and football. In the USA, Performance Fibers Holdings will acquire Invista?s North American tyre cord and industrial polyester filament businesses.

Business news includes the announcement that Dyneema HB26?a unidirectional (UD) bullet-resistant composite?will be used by Composix in the USA to make hard ballistic armour panels for about 1,000 US Army combat vehicles. In China, Enka nylon airbag yarns are now being made by a joint venture between Polyamide High Performance and China ShenMa. In Europe, the European Synthetic Turf Organisation (ESTO) has been launched by 15 leading synthetic turf producers: Bonar Yarns & Fabrics, Desso Sports Systems, Domo Sports & Leisure Grass, Edel Grass, FieldTurf Tarkett, Greenfields, Lano Sports, Limonta Sport, Mondo Tufting, Poligras Ibérica, Polytan Sportstättenbau, Saltex, Ten Cate Thiolon, Tessiture Pietro Radici, and TigerTurf. Meanwhile, Oerlikon Neumag will add a meltblown line and a second spunbond beam at its Spunbond Solution Center in Germany.

Investments include a new facility at AGY (formerly Advanced Glassfiber Yarns) in the USA for producing S-2 Glass fibre reinforcements for the defence and aerospace markets. Ahlstrom in Finland will build a new nonwovens plant in India, will double its capacity for making speciality glass fibre reinforcements in the USA and will increase its capacity for making industrial nonwovens in Italy. South Korea-based Hyosung will invest US$100 mn in a new elastane (spandex) facility in Vietnam. Lenzing will expand its production of Tencel fibre in Austria, while Toho Tenax America?a subsidiary of Teijin?will invest US$23 mn in carbon fibre manufacturing. In the UK, SmartLife Technology has been granted £500,000 (US$1 mn) to develop its HealthVest, which has sensors to monitor vital health signs.

Recent market forecasts predict fast growth between 2007 and 2012 in biodegradable polymers globally and in smart and interactive textiles in the USA.

New products announced include DuraWipe XTRA heavy-duty industrial cleaning wipes from Chicopee, and a range of activewear apparel fabrics containing Coolmax and Tencel from Advansa and Lenzing.

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• Making the Transition from Traditional to Technical Textile Markets, (4th quarter 2007)
• Global technical textiles business update, 3rd quarter 2007, (3rd quarter 2007)

Four times a year, Technical Textile Markets provides an overview of the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries. It provides market data and analysis of new and established markets for technical textiles, and is essential reading for senior executives in (or supplying) the man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile sectors ? as well as for those who are not involved in the industry on a day-to-day basis, but who need an authoritative source which helps them to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues facing the companies which are actively involved in this fast-growing sector.
Reports in Technical Textile Markets include:
	company and country profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others, in terms of production, sourcing, import/export, infrastructure and development, and plans for the future.
	profiles of the world's top 40 producers of nonwovens ? updated each year with details of developments from each of the leading producers, including acquisitions, investments and divestments, and analyses of trends which the "rising stars" are using to their advantage.
	statistical reports ? including consumption data, by fibre and end-use applications. Regular updates are published for fibre consumption in Japan, the rest of Asia, the USA, and Western Europe.
	market sector information ? analyses of important commercial end-user applications, and profiles of both established and emerging markets which take into account such innovations and developments as nanotechnology and intelligent textiles.
	regular updates on innovations in fibres, technical textiles, apparel and machinery ? including developments in the following categories: fibres and yarns; technical textile fabrics for industrial applications; machinery; technical textiles for apparel; composites; other technical textile products; and technical textile treatments and finishes.
	reports on new technological developments and other topical issues ? with clear, authoritative comments on their economic and commercial significance. The reports bring to your attention the key issues which you can use to develop your business, and provides contact details of useful organisations.
So whether you are involved in man-made fibres, nonwovens or technical textiles ? in manufacturing, converting, import/export, or end use ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance ? a subscription to Technical Textile Markets will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
Technical Textile Markets is available on subscription ? either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 4 printed publications a year. Each issue contains five research-based reports (see above) and an editorial.
Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information ? but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don?t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility. You will also receive a monthly update of business news, called "Technical Textiles Business Update" delivered to you by email, free of charge.
Technical textiles are used in a wide range of end-use applications and markets, including agricultural; automotive; building/ construction/ engineering; medical and hygiene; packaging; protective clothing; sports and sportswear; and transport. A subscription to Technical Textile Markets will support your decision making, and provide the information you need to expand into new markets.