Industry Europe – Issue 28.3

Page 16

Prof. Dr. Andreas Greiner (left) and Prof. Dr. Seema Agarwal (right) with equipment for electrospinning at the University of Bayreuth. Credit- Christian Wißler

Smart dress

We’ve been hearing a lot about smart textiles recently. From fabrics to regulate body temperature to those that can release medication into the skin, in the future the clothes we wear will no longer be just an aesthetic statement. Industry Europe looks at just some of the innovations in this field over the past year.

IN

the Internet of Things, everything is connected – and this includes what we wear. According to a 2016 report by the technology consultancy Cientifica, the smart textiles industry – dubbed ‘Fashion’s Fourth Industrial Revolution’ – will be worth more than $130 billion by 2025. Recognising that tomorrow’s consumer will expect more from their clothes, textile manufacturers and research institutions are investing in the latest technologies to develop fabrics combining technological components that can monitor external stimiuli, translate this into data and respond accordingly. Special functions of the most recent ‘ultrasmart’ textiles can include regulating body temperature, releasing medication into the

Image credit - Dr Elias Torres Alonso, University of Exeter 14 Industry Europe

skin or even controlling the vibration of muscles during exercise. In addition, there are also more aesthetic applications for smart textiles, such as those that can change colour, light up or even display pictures or video. To give some idea of the areas researchers and manufacturers are focusing on, here are just some of the more interesting stories from the world of technical textile technology over the past year.

Heated clothing technology At this year’s ISPO Munich trade show, DuPont Advanced Materials announced the launch of Intexar Heat, a powered smart clothing technology for on-body heating. “Intexar Heat is a revolutionary stretchable ink and film that when powered, creates a comfortable warmth,” said Michael Burrows, Global Business Manager, DuPont Advanced Materials. “Our team has worked hard to develop a heater that feels like fabric, doesn’t rely on cables, thick wires or big batteries, and can stand up to very cold environments. From outdoor enthusiasts to industrial workers, Intexar Heat can help conquer the elements in comfort, increasing focus and improving performance.”

Formosa Taffeta Company was the first textiles manufacturer to incorporate the Intexar Heat technology as part of its Permawarm line. Permawarm delivers clothing brands a complete garment heater system including the Intexar heater, connectors and control software.

Comfortable conductors Up to now, textiles that are capable of conducting electricity have tended to be rigid, uncomfortable and generally impractical for everyday use. However, researchers at the University of Bayreuth, Donghua University in Shanghai and Nanjing Forestry University think they may have come up with a solution to this with the development of new, more wearable conductive nonwoven materials. The materials developed by Prof. Dr Andreas Greiner’s team from the University of Bayreuth and their Chinese partners are flexible, and can thus adapt to movements and changes in posture. Furthermore, they are air-permeable, meaning they allow the skin to ‘breathe’ normally. These properties have been achieved through a unique production process: rather than inserting metal wires into finished textiles, the scientists modified the


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A passion for style and performance

4min
pages 191-195

Driving diversification in speciality papers

4min
pages 186-190

Joanna is the name of beauty

5min
pages 196-200

Pioneering biodegradable tubes Emballator Tectubes

4min
pages 183-185

Star performer Starlinger

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pages 180-182

Diversity – A convertible currency Uteco Group

5min
pages 176-179

Green paper production Smurfit Kappa Piteå

5min
pages 164-169

Sustainable strength Sofidel

5min
pages 170-175

Stronger together LINPRA

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pages 156-159

Delivering steel diversity Feralpi

5min
pages 152-155

Abrasive’s smooth operator Ekamant

4min
pages 148-151

Pre-packed innovation Sarten

4min
pages 160-163

Powering sustainability Atlas Copco

4min
pages 145-147

Shaping the digital future of the CNC industry ORDERFOX

4min
pages 142-144

long tradition in casting innovation Drawski

5min
pages 139-141

Innovation in transportation Waberer’s Group

4min
pages 132-135

mÁV goes full steam ahead MÁV

5min
pages 136-138

Sitting comfortably Growag

5min
pages 128-131

Driving forward eu plastics initiatives

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pages 124-127

Budding genius Jabra

4min
pages 120-123

Hoods and hobs for classy kitchens Akpo

6min
pages 116-119

Joinery inspired by perfection Petecki Group

5min
pages 96-99

Bacon King Tamási-Hús

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pages 112-115

Finishing first Steinemann Technology

5min
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ensuring a smooth flow of energy APS Energia

5min
pages 100-103

A taste for healthy living Vandemoortele

5min
pages 108-111

The right profiles Decco

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pages 85-91

Building on knowledge KÉSZ

4min
pages 92-95

At full speed EXEDY Corporation

4min
pages 82-84

out in front SOR Libchavy

4min
pages 78-81

Always on the road Autosan

6min
pages 54-57

Performance and sustainability plugged in

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pages 70-73

In the spotlight HELLA Autotechnik Nova

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pages 62-65

Intelligent machine control technology Komatsu

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pages 74-77

Integrated precision Brovedani Group

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pages 58-61

Clear vision Hella Slovakia Front Lighting

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optimsing in-car acoustic technology

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meeting the needs of industrial automation

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pages 45-49

Technology spotlight Advances in technology

3min
page 25

At the cutting edge TOS VARNSDORF

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pages 29-33

Industry in the digital age MSV

4min
pages 26-28

Positive signs Zodiac Aerospace

5min
pages 34-36

master factory Festo

5min
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Driving e-mobility forward ABB Group

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moving on Relocations and expansions across Europe

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page 24

Bill Jamieson Dancing close to the door

6min
pages 6-7

Bridging europe’s North-South divide

6min
pages 8-9

linking up Combining strengths

7min
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metals news The latest from the industry

7min
pages 14-15

Smart dress The future of wearable tech

5min
pages 16-17

Winning business New orders and contracts

7min
pages 20-21

Textiles news The latest from the industry

6min
pages 18-19

Trade tensions threaten stability Steel tariffs call for

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