THAILAND IN TECHNICAL TEXTILES.

Functional textile is produced by enhancing special properties to various technologies; from functional fiber manufacturing process to functional fabric manufacturing process.

In sportwear, for example, it is desirable for functional fiber and functional fabric to be capable of waterproof, good air-ventilation, easy to dry, and having light weight. The other example is in garment clothing; it is desirable to possess properties of comfort for wearing, good appearance, endurance, good sweat permeation, no bad odor, etc.

These can now be done by various technologies applicable to introduce a variety of properties; examples of which are nanotechnology, use of technology or plasma, new technology in alteration of features and structures of thread and fabric, as well as use of chemical in finishing process.

An example of manufacturing functional textile by nanotechnology is that the manufacture of functional fabric from adding bamboo charcoal in nano size to polyester in spinning (functional fiber) to enhance antibacterial and odor- absorbing properties.

Nanotechnology is presently introduced to textile industries in some extent. With its very small molecular sizeone- billionth meter (nano meter), textile entrepreneurs could enhance some of its material properties to clothing such as the addition of stain resistant, crease resistant, flame retardant, anti-bacterial agent, protection from effect of UV Radiation, or self-cleaning, etc. There are used various nano-agents: silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), etc.

A term “Technical Textiles” was defined in 1980 to describe various types of increasing textile products, as well as production technology improved to have technical properties and performances other than appearance or aesthetic characteristics.

This term has replaced “industrial textiles” being widely used in USA, whose meaning is too restrictive to explain complexity and variety of rapidly progressive textile products. From international technical textile exposition at Germany in 1985 on, it has been reflected the growth of such textiles. In addition, there has been developed in classification to facilitate in explaining application areas of this new industry, including its marketing.

Nowadays Technical textiles have been growing rapidly in the world of textile industry. In 1997, technical textiles were used nearly 19% or about 10 billion tons from 53 million tons of world’s functional fiber usage for textile products. Moreover, it is expected of rapid growth every year (Horrocks & Anand, 2000). There are different demands on each group of technical textile. For example, from a research in USA during 1980 to 1990, it was found that the growth of medical functional textile (medtech) products was 11% of all products and would increase about 10% during 1991 to 2000. In Western European countries, usage quantity of non-woven products in 1970 was 3,000 tons and would increase to 19,700 tons in 1994. In Table 1.1 showing manufacturing quantity of world’s technical textiles classified by application area during 1995-2010, it is found that overall quantity increases every year. In table 1.2 showing ranking of volume and value of technical textiles during 1995-2010, it is found that mobiltech (textile for automobile) is likely to grow rapidly. In figure 1.1 showing proportion of world’s technical textile manufacture in 2002.

Technical textiles products are classified into 12 categories, based on existing classification.

[1]. Agrotech: products in application of agriculture and aquatic animal germination.

[2]. Buildtech: products in application of buildings and constructions.

[3]. Geotech: products in application of geology and civil engineering material.

[4]. Indutech: products in application of any industries.

[5]. Medtech: products in application of medical and health.

[6]. Mobiltech: products in application of automobile including spaceship.

[7]. Packtech: products in application of packaging.

[8]. Protech: products in application of personal and property protection.

[9]. Sporttech: products in application of sports and entertainment.

[10]. Hometech: products in application of furniture compositions.

[11]. Oekotech: products in application of environment.

{12}. [12]. Clothtech: products in application of clothes for completion and beauty.

The Thailand Textile Institute was established by virtue of a cabinet resolution of October 15, 1996, at the initiative of all textile associations in Thailand, endorsed by the Ministry of Industry. All parties involved shared the goal of forming an autonomous organization to focus the development of the potential of the Thai Textile Industry for Thailand’s sustained competitiveness in the global textile market.

- To brainstorm ideas among the public and private sectors to formulate a five-year national textile industry development masterplan and amend this plan to suit evolving circumstances.

- To coordinate within the private sector and between the public and private sectors to align Thailand’s textile industry development with the master plan.

- To follow the assigned directives under the master The two main objectives under the first masterplan (1997-2001) are to upgrade the entire textile industry to enable Thailand to become a quality textile manufacturing country in line with the market rather than a low-cost one, and to equip the Thai textile industry with the readiness to enter a valueadding age under the same free-trade system as in developed countries.

Here is a brief description of the major directives to be implemented by the Institute for 1997-2001

[1]. Replacement of existing machinery with modern technology machinery for greater efficiency.

[2]. Quality management to expedite the accreditation of the Thai textile industry by an ISO standard as early as possible through an awareness compaign for all parties involved and through cooperation with other organizations to provide technical support to textile factories, and through needed and suitable standard certification.

[3]. Human resource development to upgrade the knowledge, appreciation, and competency of textile industry staff members, technical professionals, and management teams through meetings, seminars, training course, and other forms of education through collaboration with relevant organizations and agencies.

[4]. Establishment of business and technical relations with foreign textile industries through relationship building, and industry news and information exchange with the Institute’s foreign counterparts.

[5]. Preparation for value addition to the textile industrial system through applying the proven practices in countries with highly developed textile industries, in particular a practice called Quick Response, by preparing an information system and relevant work plans, e.g., design, management, brand name development, relying on the knowhow and past experience of foreign countries plan for an operational continuity and efficiency.

For more information visit:

http://www.thaitextile.org