[ ISPO Munich 2021: Hybrid concept to reach wide international audience. ]

 

The world-leading trade fair ISPO Munich, will take place from January 31 to February 3, 2021, for the first time as a hybrid event that will be held both ‘in-person’ in Munich and online around the world. The new concept marks the event’s systematic transformation into a platform and applies the broad range of digital expertise that ISPO has gained over the past 10 years, organizers Messe München have announced.

With the threat of travel restrictions looming over the trade fair, the digital elements will create the ideal basis for integrating global target groups, the organisers says. While representatives from European markets are generally expected to attend the in-person event, the digital enhancements will enable an intercontinental audience to participate as well. Another new addition next year will be the digital integration of end consumers, it adds.

“Sports and outdoor activities – two areas that are closely related to the topic of health at the moment – have never been so socially relevant,” said Klaus Dittrich, the Chairman and CEO of Messe München. “This has created a growing desire in the industry for personal interaction. The urge to present and discuss new potential, partnerships and business models is greater than ever. The industry has been communicating this need to us, and we have come up with the concept to meet it.”

Personal interaction meets global participation options, new topics, expanded target groups: All of these things are reflected in particular in the large number of physical and digital attendance options devoted to the focus topics of creativity and digitization, health and sustainability. In addition to product presentations in the trade fair halls, the event will focus on networking, matchmaking, knowledge transfer and innovations.

Thanks to the Integrated hybrid system the visitors will be able to attend presentations, talks and workshops not only on site, but also from locations around the world. Brands, key players and top athletes will speak with an audience that extends well beyond the walls of the trade fair halls. ISPO Munich will also include two single-day conference formats: ISPO Digitize Summit (February 1, 2021) and the Sports Tech World Series Conference (February 2, 2021).

implementing the hybrid concept, the ISPO team has drawn on the digital expertise and reach that it has acquired over the past 10 years - they are based on the development of an eco-system with services that extend along the value chain and on the implementation of an entirely digital ISPO Re.Start Days in the summer of 2020.

Digital integration of consumers.

The first time end consumers will have an opportunity to experience something that was formerly reserved for the B2B audience: the chance to participate digitally and conduct a direct dialogue with the industry. With the help of presentations, workshops and master classes, the brands and companies will have an opportunity to make digital presentations to sports and outdoor fans around the world and speak directly to them.

The ISPO

SPO Open Innovation Community has already demonstrated the effectiveness of this concept: approximately 80,000 end consumers contribute their know-how to crowd- funding and market-research campaigns and provide companies with valuable insights about new products and ideas throughout the year.

Final interaction on the exhibition grounds in Munich will remain the provision of the B2B audience. Markus Hefter comments: “We are ready for ISPO Munich 2021 and are really looking forward to lots of new ideas. One thing is clear: even though many issues can be solved digitally, the desire to meet and interact in person has grown dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. We are really happy about the strong support we have received from the industry and will provide our customers with a safe platform.”

Mazimum Safty and Flexibility.

A comprehensive safety and hygiene concept that Messe München worked out with the state government of Bavaria will be used during the on-site activities of ISPO Munich 2021. The safety of exhibitors and visitors will have the highest priority. Events began to be successfully held once again on the Munich exhibition grounds on September 1. The rule of thumb for international visitors is: trade fair participants may travel from all countries to Germany provided that certain conditions are met because they are considered to be business travelers on an important mission.

Exhibitors will have more flexibility as a result of the extension of deadlines and flexible cancellation terms. If needed, pre-built booths may be used in order to cost-effectively and efficiently participate in the trade fair.

If exhibitors or visitors have any questions about the safety and hygiene concept, they may contact the Messe München hotline by phone +49 89 949 11400 or e- mail at corona.support@messe-muenchen.de. The service hours are: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4pm

www.ispo.com

Author:

Innovation in Textiles.

[ Technical Textiles - Techtextil targets exhibitor growth for 2009 too Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance. ]

(openPR) - First time and returning exhibitors confirm the trade fair's leading position worldwide Press release from: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH .
Range of congresses and symposiums expanded.

From 16 to 18 June, Techtextil will be the foremost platform for users and developers of technical textiles in the fields of research, industry, architecture and other technical areas of application throughout the world. Over recent months, the indications have been pointing to further growth at Techtextil with the number of exhibitors at the last event (1,119) having already been matched.

Thus, the trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens confirms once again its position as the world's leading event for the sector. “We are particularly pleased that, despite the world economic crisis, many exhibitors who did not exhibit in 2007 have decided to return for Techtextil 2009. Additionally, twelve percent of the exhibitors are taking part in Techtextil for the first time”, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textile Fairs of Messe Frankfurt. “With Techtextil, we offer not only an overview of the latest products but also a platform for orientation and information”, adds Olaf Schmidt.

The exhibitors will present their products and their potential uses in relation to twelve areas of application in Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1 of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. The biggest segment of the fair is ‘Indutech’ with applications for the mechanical engineering, chemical and electrical engineering sectors being shown by over 500 exhibitors. Second and third places in the list of best-represented applications are held by ‘Mobiltech’ and ‘Clothtech’ with a total of over 450 exhibitors. Also very well represented are suppliers for the ‘Sport-tech’, ‘Medtech’ and ‘Buildtech’ segments.

In the past, Techtextil has concentrated fully on potential technical applications. From 2009, however, the range on show is being expanded to include the segment covered by Avantex, International Forum for Innovative Garment Textiles, the aim of which is to boost technology transfer under the motto ‘Avantex Integrated’.

Additionally, Material Vision – Materials for Product Development, Design and Architecture, International Trade Fair and Lecture Forum – will be held parallel to Techtextil for the first time. Together, these two trade fairs represent an optimum platform for modern materials, product innovations and material technologies, and present an assortment that his unique in terms of both depth and breadth.

The complementary programme of Techtextil 2009 is more extensive and informative than ever before. Thus, the Techtextil and Avantex symposiums will take place as in previous years. In view of the additional conferences to be held, they have been shortened to two days and, on 16 and 17 June, will offer trade visitors insights into the following subjects: Materials and Technologies, Buildtech: Innovative Building with Textiles, Protech: The Latest Protective Clothing Developments; and Medtech: New Textile Products in the Medical Field.

Moreover, EURATEX - European Apparel and Textile Organisation – will hold an information event about research initiated and partially funded by the EU, which aims to encourage innovations in the technical-textiles sector.

Another highlight during Techtextil will be the Natural Fibres Conference, which is being organised by Messe Frankfurt and will take place on 17 and 18 June. The main themes to be covered at the conference are innovative functions, natural fibres in automobiles and natural fibres in architecture and building. The aim of the conference is, inter alia, to link natural fibres more closely with technical applications and thus generate new ideas and impulses for the sector.

In line with the aims of the Natural Fibres Conference, the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) will hold a congress on the subject of ‘Wool – Smart, Natural, Technical’. The IWTO Congress begins on the day before the fair opens, 15 June, and ends on the same day as the fair, 18 June 2009.

In addition to the symposiums and congresses, the Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Awards will also be presented during the fair. With these awards, Techtextil honours extraordinary achievements in connection with unconventional and pioneering applications for materials and technologies. Moreover, the awards of the ‘Textile Structures for New Building’ competition for students will also be given during the fair.

This is the tenth time that the international TensiNet association and Techtextil have organised the competition, which aims to help students and newcomers to make their way in the sector. Rounding off the Techtextil complementary programme are exclusive special shows with the award-winning products of the Innovation Awards and the student competition.

You will find further information at:
www.techtextil.messefrankfurt.com
Techtextil 2009:

Techtextil opens from 09.00 to 18.00 hrs on 16 and 17 June and from 09.00 to 17.00 hrs on 18 June 2009.

Admission prices.
Day ticket (Online ticket / in advance) EUR 20
Day ticket (At the fair) EUR 30
Day ticket, reduced (At the fair only) EUR 17
Season ticket (Online ticket / in advance) EUR 35
Season ticket (At the fair) EUR 55
Admission tickets also entitle the holder to visit Material Vision. All admission tickets purchased in advance include free travel to and from the fair using local public-transport services operated by the RMV public-transport authority. Tickets purchased on arrival at the fair only include free travel from the fair.
Background information on Messe Frankfurt:

With annual revenues of EUR 436 million (November 2008) and over 1,400 employees around the world, Messe Frankfurt is Germany's biggest fair and exhibition company. The corporate group has a global network of 29 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 48 international sales partners, which represent Messe Frankfurt in over 150 countries of the world. Events 'made by Messe Frankfurt' are held at over 30 venues worldwide. In 2008, the Messe Frankfurt group organised over 100 fairs, more than half of them outside Germany.

At present, the Exhibition Centre can boast 322,000 square metres of exhibition space with nine exhibition halls and a congress centre. The company is publicly owned with 60 percent being held by the City of Frankfurt and 40 by the State of Hesse.

Further information: www.messefrankfurt.com
Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1
D-60327 Frankfurt a. M.
Telefon +49 69 75 75-0
Telefax +49 69 75 75-64 33
info@messefrankfurt.com
www.messefrankfurt.com
Contact:
Kerstin Riemann
Tel. +49 69 7575-6738
Fax +49 69 7575-6099
kerstin.riemann@messefrankfurt.com

[ Technical Textiles - Art Silk Weavers.]

Art Silk weaving is mostly confined to the decentralized power loom weavers. They may have the latest weaving preparatory and weaving machines but this industry is a cluster with out proper infrastructure. They produce all types of fabrics and process them mostly elsewhere and market anywhere. They are incapable of producing any Technical Textiles which can be exported or locally acceptable in quality standards. The quality testing to be done is not like their production of the material which is mostly done by skilled workmen,who may not know as to the end use of the product they are involved in. If Art Silk Weavers produce Technical Textiles acceptable in the International Market,they do not need any perks from the Govt. This will indeed enable India to beat China where Technical Textiles and Machinery is far ahead of India.

[ Technical Textiles - Let Your Team Grow Mr.Arvind Singhal.]

From the fashion retailing perspective, the most relevant models for India remain those that are centred around highly affordable, reasonable quality, fashion-for-the-masses such as H&M (Sweden), Primark (UK) and even Metersbonwe (China). For industrial uses, and as the services sector increases in size and scale, industrial uniform business models like that of Cintas and Aramark (both USA) offer great opportunity in India. And finally, as India sees major investment in agriculture, healthcare and construction, technical textile applications offer major investment opportunities.
Concluding remarks by Mr.Arvind Singhal as published in:-
Business Standard.
Thursday,May 7,2009.
E-mail:-arvind.singhal@technopak.com

[ Technical Textiles - Spider Silk Research at Max Planck Institute - Germany.]

Fig.: Endurance test for spider silk: in many ways, spider silk - here the picture of a garden cross spider in its web- is stronger than a metal wire of the same thickness. After researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics infiltrated spider silk with metal ions, a double-strand of silk can support the weight of a cube of 27.5 grams, three times more than an untreated strand.

Image: Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysilk.

Power thrust for spider silk.

A team of scientists from Halle has succeeded in making spider silk significantly more break-resistant and ductile through the addition of metals. Spiderman would definitely have an easier time of things with this spider silk - for example, if he had to stop a getaway car moving off at 100 kilometres per hour. A five-millimetre-thick thread would do the job from a distance of 20 metres - assuming it had been treated by a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics. The same task would require a finger-thick thread of untreated spider silk and a steel rod as thick as a forearm. The Max Planck scientists strengthen the natural material by infiltrating it with metal ions. It may also be possible to strengthen other natural and synthetic fibres in this way. (Science, April 24, 2009). Even if it has nothing to do with the elevator for the ISS space station, the vision being pursued by NASA in its dream factory, a steel cable that pulls the elevator in a skyscraper on the scale of the Empire State Building, has to carry almost as much in its own weight as it does in the actual elevator cabin. And the higher the buildings, the thicker and heavier the cables become. A material that is as strong as the spider silk infiltrated with metal ions produced by the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics could help with this application. The fact that spider silk treated with metal ions does not break under enormous tension is just one of the advantages it has to offer: "It can be expanded twice as much as natural spider silk," says Mato Knez, who is heading the research at the Max Planck Institute. As the treated material withstands high levels of tension and strain, it absorbs ten times more energy than the natural material before it breaks. Thus, it is particularly suitable for braking at full speed or braking free fall, for example in the case of a mountain climber. Materials with such properties could also be used in aircraft and vehicle construction or in space technology, generally for any application that requires light, strong, and flexible materials. "Our work promises great potential in terms of practical applications, as many other biomaterials can be made more break-resistant and ductile using our method," explains Mato Knez. There is one important precondition, however: the natural materials must contain proteins as their main component. For example, Knez and his colleagues have already used the metal infiltration process to strengthen fibres made of the protein collagen which composes bones and skins in human body. As the researchers discovered, the strengthening treatment for spider silk and other protein fibres only works when the metal ions can penetrate into the fibres. To achieve this, they adapted the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. This method is usually used to deposit individual layers of metal oxides on the surface of materials by exposing them to water vapour and a volatile compound comprising metal and organic appendages in rapid succession. Up to a few hundred of such gas pulses stream into the material and coat it with a more or less thick layer of oxide. "Because each pulse only lasts fractions of a second, the metal does not penetrate the material, however," explains Mato Knez: "Therefore, we adapted the equipment so that we could extend an individual pulse to a duration of up to 40 seconds." In order to make it clear that the process involved here no longer involves a coating process as is the case in standard ALD, the researchers refer to the modified technique as "Multiple Pulsed Vapour Phase Infiltration" or MPI. By doing this, they wish to avoid any possible confusion in the future. "Actually, it was rather difficult for us to make it clear to colleagues that we are infiltrating materials using a process that previously was only used for coating." The researchers were able to detect under the transmission electron microscope that metal atoms from the vapour phase could also creep into the interior of the spider silk. For these tests, a scientist from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg cut 90-nanometer-thin slices of the spider silk. The microscopic images did not explain, however, why the metal atoms increase the strength of the protein fibres. "Up to now, we only have a few pointers about this," says Mato Knez: for example, from NMR measurements, which the researchers at the University of Halle made of spider silks infiltrated with aluminium. "This would indicate that the aluminium is present in a compound other than a typical aluminium oxide," says Knez. And he has a good idea which compound it is: "We assume that the metal atoms bind the protein molecules to each other." Hydrogen atoms usually form bridges between the molecules which, however, break far more easily than the strong compounds made using metal atoms. Thus, it becomes plausible for metal-infiltrated spider silk to withstand more weight than the natural version. The better ductility can also be explained in this way. A thread of spider silk can be extended in length because its protein fibres run together like tangled wool in areas referred to as amorphous. In other locations, they arrange themselves in an orderly line like a neat ball of wool. "In these crystalline areas, the hydrogen bridges are probably also replaced by metal ions," says Mato Knez. Consequently, their order dissolves, the amorphous areas increase and with them the ductility. Despite its dramatically improved properties, metal-infiltrated spider silk is unlikely to be used to reinforce either fenders or aircraft wings in the future. "It would probably be more or less impossible to obtain large volumes of natural spider silk," says Knez. The insects are very difficult to keep and are not particularly productive when it comes to spinning their silk. Nonetheless, Knez is convinced of the practical use of this power thrust for materials: "We are pretty certain that we will also be able to improve the properties of synthetic materials that imitate natural ones using our process."
Original work:

Seung-Mo Lee, Eckhard Pippel, Ulrich Gösele, Christian Dresbach, Yong Qin, C. Vinod Chandran, Thomas Bräuniger, Gerd Hause, Mato Knez

Greatly Increased Toughness 
of Infiltrated Spider Silk.
Science, 24. April 2009
Max Planck Society
for the Advancement of Science
Press and Public Relations Department
Hofgartenstrasse 8
D-80539 Munich
Germany
PO Box 10 10 62
D-80084 Munich
Phone: +49-89-2108-1276
Fax: +49-89-2108-1207
E-mail: presse@gv.mpg.de
Internet: www.mpg.de/english/
Head of scientific communications:
Dr. Christina Beck (-1275)
Press Officer / Head of corporate 
communications:
Dr. Felicitas von Aretin (-1227)
Executive Editor:
Barbara Abrell (-1416)
ISSN 0170-4656
Contact:
Dr. Mato Knez
Max-Planck-Institute of Microstructure,
Physics,Halle
Tel.: +49 345 5582-642
E-mail: mknez@mpi-halle.de

SOURCE.

http://www.mpg.de/english/illustrationsDocumentation/documentation/pressReleases/2009/pressRelease20090423/index.html
Permission to Republish obtained from Dr.Mato Knez. Permission to Republish pictures forwarded to by Dr.Mato Kenz to Mr.Sevng-Mo if he has any objection.(Reply awaited).

[ Technical Textiles - Fibretronics.]

Date of publication: 6 April 2009

Fibretronics looks at the bigger picture

Steve Leftly: “If we can drive the cost of integration down to just a couple of dollars to the garment manufacturer, we are looking at a mass market of millions.”

E-textile components must get down to the cost of basic trim items such as zips and buttons in order to achieve mass market penetration. “All of the leading apparel companies have now introduced electronic products to some extent and the biggest demand remains for those to control entertainment and communication devices,” said Steve Leftly, CEO of the UK’s Fibretronics at the recent Smart Fabrics conference held in Rome. “So far, we have sold bundled systems to garment manufacturers consisting of the component and electronic hardwear or interface to portable electronic devices. However, there are limitations and difficulties for both brands and consumers alike with this approach.”

SOURCE.

http://www.technical-textiles.net

[ Technical - Textiles - Dow Corning Corporation of the United States to develop new textile silicone technologies.]

The world’s leading manufacturer of silicone materials and technology suppliers - the United States Dow Corning Corporation (DowCorning) has developed a new product from the DowCorning of the new textile silicone technologies will enable the state athletes And to keep feelings in the best condition. Football and other large impact force of sports for athletes, sports equipment important than anything else. In the pursuit of maximum performance, professional sports equipment buyers to understand the combination of silicon technology products, to provide the highest level of quality, aesthetics and safety. DowCorning senior product marketing CharieZimmer Commissioner said that the modern emphasis on athletes and equipment, combined with the latest trends in style and provide the protective effect of exercise clothes, the silica gel in the technical aspects of the new development will enable the sports apparel manufacturer to provide maximum performance, advanced Protection, and at the same time enhance the aesthetics of clothing and comfort. Over the years, retailers and consumers to seek emphasis on bright colors, printing on flexible clothing, especially in the T-shirt and shorts sports projects. Campaign sponsors like the logo on their uniforms, but the flexibility to the fabric of clothing made from the traditional color of the color fastness is not durable enough.

DowCorning has developed a breakthrough related to the color printing technology, manufacturers will be available for the use of printing technology in a variety of high-functional clothing. The new silicone paint in addition to a better durability and color fastness, can be provided to improve durability and prevent cracking, as well as the extension of the elastic fabric of the use of effectiveness.

DowCorning developed by an effective protection system (ActiveProtectionSystem) intelligent impact-resistant textiles, to provide protection without impeding freedom of movement and flexibility. The intelligent use of the Department of textile impact-resistant silicone coating raw materials processing, in the general state of the fabric has a soft, flexible nature of the oppression experienced heavy blow as soon as hardened, so as to help protect the wearer against Be harmed if the lifting of external force, that is, to restore the original soft, flexible features. Since the technology development, research and development of this technology has been applied to a large number of high-functional sports apparel market of protective fabric.

SOURCE

http://www.inkjetscouponcode.com/209.html

[ Technical Textiles - What's our Technical Textile Industry and Research Assciations doing.? ]

Annual US demand for coated fabrics to reach 548 million m2 in 2012.

US demand for coated fabrics is expected to grow an average of 2.1% a year, reaching 548 million square meters (655 million square yards) in 2012.
1 -

Online gauge measures coating weights and moisture for webs.

Designed for simultaneously measuring coating weights and moisture on substrates such as textiles and nonwovens, a range of online gauges is now available from NDC Infrared Engineering of Maldon, UK. Disposable diaper with urination indicator.

2 -

A disposable diaper (1) that includes an indicator (14), which indicates visually whether urination has occurred or not, has been developed by Unicharm.

3 -

Bandages receive expanded indication for antibacterial barrier.

HemCon Medical Technologies has announced new antibacterial indications cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including a barrier against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), for its HemCon bandages, ChitoFlex dressings and KytoStat bandages.

4 -

Kimberly-Clark unveils gender specific adult absorbent underwear Kimberly-Clark has introduced its first line of genderspecific adult absorbent underwear under the Depend brand of incontinence products. The new male and female designs are tailored to fit the unique body shapes of both sexes offering superior fit and protection.

5 -

Infant hats, caps, bonnets and hoods with padded pressure relief region Infant headwear has been developed by Boppy of Golden, Colorado, USA, to reduce pressure associated with flat head syndrome.

SOURCE

http://www.technical-textiles.net

[ Technical Textiles - Nanotechnology Victoria "NanoVic"has relationships and projects with the leading nanotechnology teams in Austra.]

TEXTILES IN AUSTRALIA.

The textiles industry has been one of the early adopters of nanotechnology products and processes. Branding of nanotechnology in the fabric industry will be important to the introduction of nanotechnology across the spectrum of industries.

Innovation in the Textiles Industry

Textiles innovation can comprise both product innovation "the development of new products to address existing or latent consumer demand" or process innovation, leading to lower unit costs, greater capacity, or improved quality. Australia is well positioned to take the lead in textiles innovation, due to its strong production base, good technology base and established infrastructure (manufacturing, marketing, distribution, quality control).

Technology supply to the industry is led by CSIRO Textile & Fibre Technology: the leading domestic technology supplier to sectors such as wool, cotton, leather and technical textiles at the fibre, yarn, fabric and garment levels.

The Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, which includes University of Wollongong, RMIT University, CSIRO TFT, CSIRO CMIT, has internationally recognised expertise.

The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries Limited is also engaged in a range of projects aimed at assisting the Australian Textiles and Clothing industry to create, adapt and commercialise innovative practices and products.

Textiles Nanotechnology Information Source

Nanotechnology Victoria has established a link to the www.technical-textiles.net website. This is the most visited technical textiles website worldwide with over 150,000 visitors a year. The publisher, International Newsletters, has recognized the pivotal role nanotechnology is playing in this field, and is offering subscription services to new products.

To access the site click on the logo below,Of particular interest are:

Smart Textiles and Nanotechnology

A new online news service covering company, product and technology news in the field of functional fabrics, with a particular focus on the role of nanotechnology.

Advances in Textiles Technology.

A monthly newsletter providing comprehensive coverage of textile materials available for commercial use and how to explore the full potential of new textile technology. Includes state-of-the-art reports from the latest research programs.Australia’s textile industry is undergoing a rapid transformation driven both by regional economics and the opportunities created by new technologies and new consumer demands. Companies such as CTE and The Specialty Group are recognized as innovators in uptake of a variety of technologies, including emerging nanotechnologies. Their efforts are supported by leading textile research and development units such as CSIRO’s Textile & Fibre Technologies Division, Deakin University, and RMIT University.

Opportunities for Nanotechnology

In the near term, the opportunity for nanotechnology in the textiles industry is in product innovation, not process innovation. Nanotechnology is more likely to be used to produce new materials, or enhance the properties of existing materials, than to reduce the production cost or improve quality.

A number of nanotechnology innovations are already commercially available. These include:

* Stain, wrinkle, and liquid-resistant fabrics (see NanoTex below);

* Clothing which can absorb body odours;

* Clothing that emits deodorant by slow release;

* Clothing that changes colour with change in light; and

* Clothing that changes colour with external or body heat.

There are a number of opportunities which will be explored as nanotechnology develops further:

* New blended fabrics for specific applications (eg. sportswear, mountainwear, military applications); including the incorporation of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) into fabrics. It is expected that composites with CNTs or interweaving with extruded CNT fibres will introduce higher conductivity and capacitive, as well as high strength.

* Property enhancement or alterations (UV blocking, durability, breathability, flexibility, recyclability, colour retention, self-repair etc.); included in this are the introduction of electronic properties into fabrics by treatment with inherently conducting polymers. These provide capabilities such as sensing (chemical and mechanical), energy generation (photovoltaics), energy storage (batteries, supercapacitors) and charge dissipation (anti-static). Additionally, controlled release polymers may replenish and/or trigger release of antifungal, surface finish or medical growth aids to the polymer surface. The triggered release systems may be made to be responsive to stimuli such as changes in temperature, humidity pH and/or dissolved oxygen.

* Development of specific aesthetic properties (eg. glow in the dark, colour change with angle of light, colour change artwork with applied electric field).

* Production of synthetic fibres (eg. polyester) with

properties of natural fibres (eg. wool) by surface coating.

Nanotechnology Victoria - Textiles Projects

Nanotechnology Victoria is project-managing a series of product evaluations for a Victorian nanoparticle manufacturer seeking opportunities in the treated textiles market. The particles have attractive optical properties which can be transferred to textiles through a polymer coating or lacquer. Product performance is critically dependent upon binding within the coating; dispersion mechanisms and loading of the particles.

Nanotechnology Victoria's evaluation and design process is likely to lead to new applications for nanoparticles, and also provide valuable technical marketing support to the manufacturer's strategy.

NanoVic has already invested in the development of capabilities which will support textile nanotechnology:

* The Victorian Advanced Microscopy Centre to be established at Monash University in 2006 will include state-of-the-art characterization equipment (FEG-TEM and FEG-SEM) able to analyze composition of materials such as fibres to the molecular level. Key projects related to the textile industry include analysis of structures such as carbon nanotubes and nanofibres; nanoparticle-polymer composites; and engineering of multilayer nanostructures.

These will contribute to the development of new products for the Australian textiles industry, such as:

* New polymers and polyurethanes with enhanced strength and electrical properties;

* Materials with fire-resistant and biodegradable properties. CSIRO brings world-class expertise in wool and other keratin-based materials, and has recently been involved in a revolutionary development of carbon nanotube yarns.

At a broader level, Nanotechnology Victoria believes the technical textiles industry will be one of the leading adopters of nanotechnology over the coming decade in Victoria:

* Nanotechnology treatments - largely provided by NanoTex (USA) - are already sold in garments marketed by Kathmandu and other Australian outdoor apparel producers.

* Victoria has a vibrant technical textiles and specialty garment industry, featuring companies in the sportswear, mountainwear, defence and security and beachwear product sectors.

* Textiles for industrial usage, such as conveyor belts and filters are also designed and made in Victoria.

Nanotechnology Victoria has received enquiries from firms in these areas, and is developing project proposals and relationships. The Victorian Government is also aware of the opportunity, and is considering establishment of one of its Application Development Centres for Technical Textiles.

Nanotechnology Victoria has also commenced relationships with a number of firms in Taiwan who are interested in applying significant Australian technological developments. These include:

* Formosa Taffeta who have an interest specifically in nanopigments. They are also involved in reflective textiles, multifunctional moisture management fabrics, conductive textiles, clean room clothing and self-cleaning or antibacterial textiles.

* The ITRI (Industrial Technology Research Institute) has interests in a number of Nanotechnology Victoria's projects including thermal control coatings on window glass, dye-sensitised solar cells, heat transfer from IC devices, photocatalytic materials, and carbon nanotube based devices

* Haojey produce textiles containing a TiO2 particle core for UV resistance, as well as nanobamboo for odour adsorption, and silver nanoparticles for antibacterial textiles.

For further information on any of these projects or partnerships, please contact Dr Ravi Krishnamurthy, Manager Nanoparticle Technologies at Nanotechnology Victoria. For further information on nanotechnology and Australian textiles please contact Peter Kreitals of the Australian TCF Technology Network.

The Textiles Industry in Australia.

The Australian textiles industry is one of Australia's major domestic industries, both in supply for domestic consumption and as an export earner. The industry has prospered in Australia due to an abundance of land for cheap production of natural fibres such as wool and cotton, and a concerted focus on investment and technology development for over 50 years. As a result:

* Australia has a leading worldwide position in the production of wool (approx. 25% of worldwide production), cotton (12% of world exports) and blended fibres;

* The textiles industry contributed just over 5% to total value added in manufacturing in Australia in 1992/3; and

* Western economies spend about 5% of their total personal expenditure on clothing and footwear.

At the early stage processing end and in textiles the Australian industry is relatively concentrated with just a few major players in each key industry segment. However, further downstream in the processing chain, especially in relation to apparel, the industry is much more fragmented with a very large number of small and micro businesses and a few more dominant companies (eg. Pacific Brands and the Yakka Group). Local manufacturing has traditionally been highly protected through quotas and tariffs, although these have been dramatically reduced over time (with quotas eliminated in 1993 and tariffs reducing to 5% by 2015, subjecting the industry to significantly more restructuring pressure than faced by any other Australian industry).

Australian-based players in the technical textiles industry include:

* Australian Defence Apparel - producers of a range of protective clothing.

* Melba Textiles - manufacturer and exporter of a comprehensive range of high performance fabrics for a wide range of industries

* Textor Australia - foremost producer of non-woven textiles for uses in healthcare and hygiene, cleaning, filtration, food packaging and environmental applications.

Other notable Australian companies in the associated fields of fabrics, garments, and footwear include:

* Blundstone - footwear; * CTE - protective apparel; * Highmark Shoes - footwear; * Godfrey Hirst - carpets; * Oliver's - footwear * Yakka - workwear.

In some of these areas Australian producers are world leaders. For example, Australian technology makes Albany International a world leader in filter bags for the power generation industry. Australian technology is also at the forefront of filtration in the alumina smelting industry, and in some geotextiles.

Australian textiles companies are using nanotechnology to produce new properties:

* Australian Wool Innovation Ltd are actively researching fibres with over 60 projects ongoing at the moment. Their main focus is to produce fibres with significant weight reduction, increased stretch and better drape of the garments.

* CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology researches a broad range of areas for textiles ranging from technical textiles based on synthetic fibres though to the natural fibres of wool, cotton and leather. In addition, the Molecular Science division has also cooperated with the industry on various projects relating to the textiles industry.

* Both Australian Defence Apparel and Bruck Textiles are researching and selling in the field of protective clothing. This encompasses both civil and military applications such as fireman suits and bullet proof vests. Aspects of nanotechnology such as integration of CNTs could provide improved performance of the protective clothing.

Internationally, the acknowledged market leader in utilising nanotechnology in textiles to enhance their properties is NanoTex.NanoTex is a US based company that uses technology to create, alter and improve textiles at the molecular level to develop intelligent fabrics for better living. Their products are NANO-CARE®, NANO-DRY®, NANO-PEL ™ and NANO-TOUCH™. NANO-CARE® is a stain repelling fabric that also has wrinkle resistance yet retains good breathability

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Levi Strauss has recently lanched its Dockers proStyleTM collection of casual business menswear. The collection makes use of both the Nano-Touch as well as Nano-Dry nanotechnology innovations from NanoTex to protect the fabric in the garments from water-based stains. Other notable companies to use nanotechnology solutions from Nano-Tex are Nike®, Champion®, Kathmandu sm and Sleepmaker®.

[ Technical Textiles - Materials innovation at Materialica 09.]

The 12th international Materialica trade fair for material applications, surfaces, and product engineering takes place at the Munich Expo in Germany from 13-15 October 2009. A highlight of the show is likely to be the seventh Materialica Design and Technology Award which recognises concepts characterised by superior achievements in terms of innovation, design or engineering in the categories Material, Surface and Technology and Product, as well as CO2 Efficiency since 2008.

SOURCE.

http://www.technical-textiles.net