Global technical textiles business update, 4th quarter 2008

19 pages, published in Issue 75, 4th quarter 2008   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The global technical textiles business has been characterised by a number of developments in recent months. Micropolis, a microencapsulation and hydrogel specialist, has been acquired by Devan Chemicals. Sympatex Technologies and its parent, Ploucquet Textiles Zittau, have been bought out by Morgan Stanley and Annex Capital. Kimberly-Clark, meanwhile, has increased its interest in Colombiana Kimberly Colpapel (CKC) to 100%.

Australia?s Water Research Laboratory (WRL) has completed a programme of research into the effectiveness of Geofabrics Australasia?s Elcorock shoreline protection system. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is incorporating conductive textiles to provide shielding against electromagnetic radiation in a tent for testing spacecraft. Teijin Fibers has started commercial production of a strong polyester nanofibre called Nanofront for use in a wide range of applications, from clothing to industrial materials.

Winner Medical Group in China has been granted a US patent for its PurCotton products while Nextec has won a patent battle with W L Gore relating to a process for laminating waterproof and breathable membranes on to leather. Freudenberg Nonwovens has closed the staple fibre production lines at its facility in North Carolina, USA. North Carolina State University has opened a centre to develop a new environmentally friendly system which provides apparel and other textiles with moisture management, water repellency, and stain repellency properties using plasma textile finishing technology. Teijin Aramid has raised the prices of its para-aramids, Twaron and Technora, and its meta-aramid, Teijinconex. TenCate Advanced Composites will supply more anti-ballistic materials to protect European troops in Afghanistan.

Polymer Group Inc (PGI) has achieved record sales but its margins have been hit by higher raw material costs. AGY has increased its capacity for making S-2 Glass fibre products in response to robust demand for composite armour systems for US military vehicles. Klopman International and MW Corporation are intending to invest almost Euro50 mn to build a 30 mn metre fabric production facility in India, and Owens Corning is upgrading glass fibre plants that the company acquired from Saint-Gobain by implementing its boron-free technology, Advantex. Meanwhile, the UK?s Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) and the Textile Institute (TI) plan to merge.

Global Technical Textiles Business Update

• Summary
• Acquisitions
• Applications
• Business News
• Financial Results
• Investments
• Mergers

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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.