NEWS
New developments in the Textiles industry
Trevira invests in new textile equipment
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revira GmbH’s owner Indorama Ventures has approved various large projects at its Guben site. The approved investments will be in the form of equipment that will affect all processes (polycondensation, spinning and textile processing) at the Guben site where Trevira GmbH produces filament specialties for the textile industry. A total investment of around €7.5 million is planned. These investments will generate additional quantitative growth and optimise processes and procedures at Trevira GmbH’s site in Guben where flat and texturised fila-
ment yarns are produced for automotive interiors, technical textiles, apparel, and home textiles. CEO Klaus Holz: “These investments are an extremely important signal. They are a reiteration of the long-term commitment of our parent company IVL to Trevira GmbH.” The head of the Filament BU, Edo Lieven added: “We are very excited about the investments in the new equipment. The Guben site and the Filament BU will be strengthened by these projects.” Visit: www.trevira.de
Elastic fibre set to revolutionise smart clothes
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PFL scientists have found a fast and simple way to make super-elastic, multi-material, highperformance fibres. Its fibres have already been used as sensors on robotic fingers and in clothing. This breakthrough method opens the door to new kinds of smart textiles and medical implants. It’s a whole new way of thinking about sensors. The tiny fibres developed at EPFL are made of elastomer and can incorporate materials like
electrodes and nanocomposite polymers. The fibres can detect even the slightest pressure and strain and can withstand deformation of close to 500% before recovering their initial shape. All that makes them perfect for applications in smart clothing and prostheses, and for creating artificial nerves for robots. The fibers were developed at EPFL’s Laboratory of Photonic Materials and Fiber Devices (FIMAP),
headed by Fabien Sorin at the School of Engineering. The scientists came up with a fast and easy method for embedding different kinds of microstructures in super-elastic fibres. For instance, by adding electrodes at strategic locations, they turned the fibres into ultra-sensitive sensors. What’s more, their method can be used to produce hundreds of meters of fibre in a short amount of time. Visit: www.actu.epfl.ch
NIRI invests in nonwoven technology T he Nonwovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI) has invested significantly in a range of new equipment, made possible by a move from the University of Leeds campus to a new facility, and giving NIRI even greater scope to help companies develop better-performing products and processes. The Institute’s investment reflects the expansion of nonwoven technologies across multiple sectors, and responds to ever-increasing demands for product development and enhancement, cost reduction and quality improvement, identification and evaluation of new markets, and the reduction of environmental impact. The investment in new
Lenzing’s VEOCEL furthers sustainability in nonwovens
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he Lenzing Group has introduced VEOCEL™, a new nonwoven speciality brand. Positioned as a premium brand of nonwoven fibres for daily care rituals, Veocel provides the nonwoven industry with fibres that are certified clean and safe, biodegradable, from botanic origin and
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facilities includes a range of equipment, all of which is helping NIRI’s clients through the increased ability to manufacture and test new products. Dr Matthew Tipper, Business Director at NIRI, comments on the investment, “With over 10 years’ track record in successful R&D, helping clients develop and improve products and processes across numerous sectors, this further investment in testing and production equipment enhances our extensive facilities, building on our research excellence and further helping realise the business imperatives of our industry collaborators and commercial clients.” Visit: www.nonwovens-innovation.com produced in an environmentally responsible production process. Offerings under the Veocel brand cover a broad range of applications for everyday use, from baby care, beauty and body care to intimate care and surface cleaning. Such applications are categorised under branded offers Veocel Beauty, Veocel Body, Veocel Intimate and Veocel Surface.
The introduction of Veocel is a key milestone of Lenzing’s new brand strategy to transform from a B2B fibre producer to a business-tobusiness-to-consumer (B2B2C) brand. Coupled with ongoing co-branding, joint marketing and brand education initiatives, Veocel will enable Lenzing to shift its focus beyond fibre types to product application. Visit: www.lenzing.com
