TEXTILES.ORG
Fabrics go multifunctional
October 31st, 2017
Textiles have evolved from being commodity materials to providing an array of benefits, including additional comfort and protection, improved hygiene and support for health care. The innate nature of fibers can provide certain special characteristics—cotton adds breathability and a smooth hand, and wool offers thermal comfort, for example. But due to the growing need for […]
Electricity-generating yarns
October 31st, 2017
What if the shirt a patient wears could monitor breathing with no special power-driven applications—because the yarn it’s made of produces electricity? A research team led by scientists at the University of Texas at Dallas and Hanyang University in South Korea are developing these high-tech yarns. The twistron yarns create electricity when twisted and stretched. […]
Biomimetics: Fabrics borrow from nature to solve problems
October 31st, 2017
For most people, arriving home from a hike covered in burrs would likely cause aggravation. But for George de Mestral, the burrs became an inspiration. Curious about how they clung so stubbornly to his clothes, the Swiss electrical engineer put them under a microscope, which revealed hundreds of “hooks” that attached to anything with a […]
Baldwin acquires Ahlbrandt System GmbH
October 30th, 2017
Baldwin Technology Company Inc., a leader in process automation solutions, consumables and services to the print, textile and film industries, has acquired Ahlbrandt System GmbH, Lauterbach, Germany. Ahlbrandt’s 87 team members and Corona treatment, spray coating and hot air-drying products complement the Baldwin team and their broad product and service portfolios. In addition, Baldwin plans […]
Microban names Texchem UK distributor
October 27th, 2017
Microban International Ltd., a leader in textile odor control and prevention, has named textile chemical manufacturer Texchem as a United Kingdom distributor. Texchem will distribute Microban’s entire range of odor control and anti-microbial solutions, including the AEGIS® product line, to apparel, furnishings, home textile, technical textile and healthcare retailers and brands in the U.K. and […]
EXPO 2017 HUB winners announced
October 26th, 2017
More than a hundred IFAI members took part in the daily prize drawings in the HUB at EXPO 2017. One business card was pulled out of the jar each day of the show and the winner received a $50 VISA gift card. On the last day, the lucky winner received a full registration to EXPO […]
Roy Schweinfurth, former IFAI president, dies
October 26th, 2017
Roy Schweinfurth, former IFAI board member and president, died October 8th. He served on the IFAI Board of Directors from 1977 to 1989, and as IFAI president (a position now called chairman) from 1985 to 1987. He was involved with the IFAI Awning Division, now called the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association. His obituary appeared in […]
FiberVisions commemorates 50 years
October 26th, 2017
FiberVisions, a leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing polyolefin staple fibers for nonwoven applications, has operated at its Covington, Ga., location for 50 years. The plant began in 1967 as Hercules Incorporated, providing polypropylene fibers to the carpet and upholstery industries. In the early 1980s, Hercules’ focus shifted to staple fibers for the hygienic and […]
VTT introduces recycled fiber
October 25th, 2017
The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has introduced a new fiber by dissolving worn and discarded cotton and using it as a raw material. The first product models demonstrate that recycled fiber can be transformed into a yarn and comfortable fabric. Based on a carbamate dissolution process, the technology has been used to produce […]
ECO-PASSPORT accepted by ZDHC
October 24th, 2017
OEKO-TEX ® ECO-PASSPORT certification is now accepted by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) Programme as an indicator of conformance with the organization’s Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) in connection with the ZDHC Gateway—Chemical Module. The ZDHC’s MRSL covers chemical substances that are limited or banned from intentional use in the production of apparel […]