Technical textile

As technical textiles all textile materials ( linear textile structures such as corduroy and textile fabrics such as woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, knitted fabrics, nonwovens, felts ) and manufactured therefrom finished textile products (such as, for example, protective clothing or tents) referred to, which are mainly produced in terms of its technical and functional characteristics and not because of their aesthetic and decorative character. For many years (in the U.S. sometimes even today ) existed, the term "Industrial Textiles ", whereby it as a priority to the demarcation of the traditional textiles, which are used by consumers as clothing and home furnishings, and not only to an application these products within the industry declined, as it implied the term language. The current term can be used as distinct from the traditional clothing and home textiles in which the aesthetic and decorative aspect is important, although an increasing number of products both functional and decorative properties to the same degree unite in itself. (Eg flame-retardant upholstery fabrics or breathable leisure wear ).

This definition goes beyond that emerged in the 1960s, which saw the purpose of technical textiles mainly in their use as objects of labor and work is in production ..

As industrial textiles such are called to serve as a component in another product, and thus the strength, performance, and contribute to other features of this product (such as corduroy in tires) that are used as a tool in the production of other products (such as eg textile filter media or paper machine clothing ) or can be directly used to fulfill important functions ( eg as stadium roofing ). This definition thus encompasses a majority of the products that we refer to today as " Technical Textiles " and also offers a wide scope for the assignment of the different fields of application of textiles.

Ultimately, the concept of technical textiles and the definition given above has largely prevailed since this best allows the classification of new products is one of the most dynamically developing branches of textile industry. Nevertheless, new generic names appear time and time again that these products are used for this type of product or only a portion, such as functional textiles, performance textiles.

Areas of application

For today is the division of the application areas of technical textiles often TECHTEXTIL, the International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens, use:

Agrotech: including textiles for agriculture, horticulture and forestry, such as z: B. Abdecktextilien for earlier harvesting and insect protection, shade fabric and knitted fabric, textile irrigation systems
Buildtech: including textiles for buildings such as reinforcing fabric, textile facade substructure systems, membranes for Lightweight Structures, insulation against heat and cold, sun protective textiles
Clothtech: including components for clothing and footwear, such as non-woven interlining fabrics, shoulder pads for clothing, shoe reinforcing materials, wind and weather protection liner
Geotech: including textiles for earthmoving and road construction, gardening and landscaping, as well as railway and dyke construction, such as: drainage nonwoven fabrics, erosion control mats, barrier layers, planting aids
Hometech: among others, Textiles for interior design and interior decoration, ceiling and wall coverings, sun protection fabrics such as awnings, ceiling hangings, furniture components
Indutech: et al. Textiles for filtration, electrical, textillaminierte moldings and pipes such as filters, nonwovens and textiles, electrical insulation materials, surface non-woven fabrics, conveyor belts
Medtech: eg dressings, hospital equipment such as wound plasters, surgical drapes, doctors and nurses' clothing
Mobiltech: including textiles for the automotive, rail vehicles, shipbuilding, such as seat belt, airbag, awnings, wall linings, components for reinforced plastic parts for ships and boats
Oekotech: Textiles for environmental protection such as soil sealing in landfills, textiles for waste water and air filters
Packtech: among others, Packaging such as tea bags or desiccant bags, bags, mobile containers, carrying cases
Protech: among others, Protective clothing, chemical-resistant clothing, personal protective equipment, such as bulletproof vests, military clothing such as NBC suits
Sporttech: among others, Sports equipment, sports clothing such as climbing rope, sailing, parachuting, diving suit.

Comparable subdivisions according to application areas are also included in standard works on technical textiles.

About this Application Areas, can also be a subdivision according to the different functions of the technical textiles are made:

Separation
Stabilize
Conduct
Densities and Reject
Save
Isolate.

Historical development

Products, which we refer to today as technical textiles and including capture in economic statistics have been produced already thousands of years ago. An exact indication of the earliest use is difficult because their preparation was carried out by means of natural fibers and therefore liable to rotting. Sometimes there are only drawings or engravings in stone that point us to the production or use. These technical textiles with a very long tradition include, for example:

So always occurred in the course of history, new applications for technical textiles in the interaction with requirements of industry, construction, medical and household, but also from the mid-20th century by the performance of the more numerous the provided chemical fibers and new manufacturing processes, as eg: for stitch-bonded fabrics and nonwovens. The production of technical textiles has become an increasingly important part of the textile industry. So your shares in the total textile production increased, for example from 1980 to 1990 in Western Europe from 9 to 22%.

Market

Since the mid-1990s years, production of technical textiles by 2010 has increased in real terms by 40%. This economic sector grew so against the trend of the textile industry as a whole.

The total turnover in the production of technical textiles textile was, according to the General Association mode in 2012, € 2.384 billion, down 1.9 % on the year 2011.Darin do not include cordage (although ropes, nets to traditional technical textiles belong ) that are statistically recorded separately, and reached a turnover of 141 million € in 2012. Similarly, the non-woven fabrics and products therefrom are recognized as a separate area, although also a considerable part has technical applications. Sales in the production was 2012 for this area at € 1.364 billion and thus 4.2% below that of 2011. Overall sales of the textile industry reached € 9.938 billion in 2012, which is due to the came into force on 1 January 2007 SME Relief Act only production numbers of farms are recorded with a total staff of 50 . For the companies from just one employee, an extrapolation of € 17.555 billion for the entire German textile industry is reported

On the other hand, were also published results for the year 2010 in an innovation report Heimtextil 2011, 2011, which, according to the industry association Finishing - Yarn - Fabric - e Technical Textiles V. sales figures for Technical Textiles 7, are said to have reached € 8 billion, ca. account for 52% of the total turnover of the textile industry in Germany. However, the aggregate turnover of the textile industry is reported at € 15.1 billion, indicating a detection of farms also low employment numbers, which could also be a cause for the difference in information for the area technical textiles; In addition, the collection of additional product groups of technical textiles is conceivable, which is in the collection assigned by the Static Federal Office other departments. In this innovation report, the world market for technical textiles to 127, given € 2 billion in 2010. In the application markets of the market Mobiltech with 22 %, followed by Indutech with 18% and 13% with Meditech be specified by the total application market for Germany.

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