TEXTILES

Global demand for technical textiles is on the rise as new applications and new markets continue to emerge, according to the latest issue of Technical Textile Markets from the business information company Textiles Intelligence.

Over the long term, global demand for technical textiles is expected to rise by 5% per annum, providing myriad opportunities for manufacturers supplying a number of different sectors -- notably automotive, construction, environment, energy and medical.

In many developing and newly industrialised countries, the use of technical textiles in industrial applications will intensify, thus providing enormous opportunities internationally.Demand is also being stimulated by the increasing need for mobility, where technical textiles can play an important role by improving the attributes of products made by the automotive industry.

In vehicle construction, technical textiles have an important role to play in increasing the safety and comfort of drivers and passengers, and reducing the amount of energy consumed by vehicles.More ambitiously, the use of technical textiles can help the automotive industry to comply with EU directives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions.

Panels and components made from carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are now being used in mass produced vehicles to reduce vehicle weight and hence fuel consumption.In the construction industry, the technical textile industry should profit from an increase in global demand for infrastructure, where technical textiles can be used for both functional and visual reasons.

For instance, embankments and shore areas can be strengthened and stabilised using geotextiles based on natural materials, such as jute. Energy consumption in buildings can be reduced by using textile-based insulating materials.