The next trend in technical textiles development is anybody’s guess… Switzerland is the hub of innovation and member companies are definitely the first call for partners seeking consultancy, components and machines. They already work closely with industry-oriented, non-profit research institutions, building relationships to explore the unlimited future potential in the expanding world of technical textiles.
Members of the technical textiles sector
Autefa | Bräcker | Crealet | Graf | Heberlein | Hunziker | Jakob Müller | Loepfe | Luwa | Retech | Santex Rimar | Stäubli | Steiger | SSM | Uster Technologies | W. Grob | Zeta Datatec
Their offerings cover yarn, fabric and special applications.
Yarns
Yarns can cope with extreme conditions when made of high-strength technical fibres using latest air splicers for tear-resistant, homogeneous material joints without interfering knots. Technology drives applications beyond our current imagining in the case of precision godet rolls, which draw and stretch fibres to achieve filament yarns with impressive specifications. Yarn producers don’t want to take risks with quality – so they use specialist finish winders that, for example, can produce coarse-count technical yarns up to 50,000 dtex.
Technical yarns are ‘hidden’ inside our vehicles. They can absorb tensile forces at defined elongation. Such specifications make twisting and cabling machines essential for the automotive industry to produce items such as tyre carcasses, toothed engine belts, seat belts, airbags and lorry tarpaulins to Swiss quality standards. Lifestyle essentials such as mobile devices contain twisted glass fibres. The touch-sensitivity of these screens is made possible largely by this component. To make these fibres perfect for a great user experience, it takes the correct vertical sinter metal rings and nylon travelers for glass fibre twisting.
Fabrics
The best results in fabric manufacturing start from the right conditions in the mill. For example, the ideal humidity is vital for optimal processing and pneumatic conveyance of fibres, while a production environment free of bacterial contamination is required for hygiene products. Humidification systems and filters must be of the same high standard as the machinery, for sustainable and impeccable manufacturing of nonwovens. Sophisticated control systems allow product quality in needlepunching lines to be monitored and improved. This results in excellent uniformity in the fabric. High web quality is also based on the innovative and ingenious design of products such as metallic card clothing. Thanks to precise fibre transfer, a reduction of 20% in web failures is feasible.
To maintain the flawless trend in fabric making, quality should be ensured before, during and after the production process. Specialized electronic warp thread feed solutions are highly reliable and applicable to various types of weaving machines, as the basis for ensuring that yarn tension is exactly right. During the weaving process, yarn and weft control systems detect the smallest filamentation, fluff and knots, as well as all types of weft faults. Such high-tech systems drive quality levels and meet the high demands of technical textiles. Swiss companies empower customers to realize their creative ideas with impeccable fabrics – and fabric producers need to deliver guaranteed quality reliably. Fabric inspection machines are ideal quality assurance systems, using automated control during intermediate and final inspection, to remove the need for costly manual inspection. Their ability to capture any visible defects ensures satisfaction.
Applications
Some technical textiles feel like a second skin – activewear from the ‘sport tech’ field for instance. Sophisticated technology allows bonding of three individual layers without losing breathability or softness, while meeting technical requirements such as resistance to a number of wash cycles. Feel-good technical fabrics might also come with a heating mat as an inner jacket. The heated inlay offers the wearer extra comfort, even in a cold climate. The mat is particularly light, breathable, and flexible.
Life-saving reliability is often based on Swiss innovation. Vehicle airbags fulfil high security aspects, and must remain inflated for several seconds when an accident occurs. The latest Jacquard technology enables one-piece-woven airbags to be produced, as a sealed cushion with resistant woven seams.
A revolution for orthopaedic patients is a flat knitting machine which uses compressive yarns. The doctor selects the compression class in the various sections of the item and a data file created by the software automatically applies a preconfigured program for the special automatic machine. Help for patients with an injured limb is assured within 48 hours.
Quote
“We observe markets and companies being keen on developing in the technical textiles industry. It’s challenging to establish successful business with new applications.”
Market-ready technical textiles
Technical textiles have a compelling aura. Textile producers are ambitious to develop solutions for new industries benefiting from technical textiles. Such developments are extremely time- and cost-consuming, until a product is ready to be launched. That means partners can sometimes expect learning periods and uncertain ROI.
But Swiss Textile Machinery companies have expertise spanning many decades – in some cases over a hundred years – and have the proven track record of innovation which is a good basis for their new developments, as well as the ideal precondition for successful partnerships.
