Techtextil, Avantex Announce Innovation Prize Winners
A total of nine Innovation Prizes were awarded at last week’s Techtextil and Avantex symposia,
which accompanied the corresponding Techtextil, the International Trade Fair For Technical Textiles
and Nonwovens, and Avantex, the International Forum for Innovative Apparel Textiles — events held
in Frankfurt, Germany. The goal of the competitions is to promote new ideas and innovations in the
high-tech textiles field, as well as to promote the transfer of ideas among research, industry and
end-user.
Michael Jänecke, brand manager, Techtextil Avantex, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH,
presents the innovation honorees during the recent Techtextil held in Frankfurt, Germany.
The following Techtextil Innovation Prizes were awarded:
New Material Developments
Technical blade of grass: Dr. Markus Milwich, Prof. Heinrich Planck, and Dr. Thomas Stegmaier, Institute for Textile Technology and Process Engineering, Germany; and Dr. Prof. Thomas Speck and Dr. Olga Speck of the Plant Biomechanics Group at the University of Freiburg, Germany, developed this bionically optimized composite fiber material whose potential application areas include such fields as aerospace, automotive, construction and apparatus engineering, where there is a demand for tube-shaped structures, as well as medical purposes such as prosthetics.
New Areas of Application
Intelligent Impact Protection: Dr. Liz Mallen, Dr. Steve Robson, Graham Budden, Ph.D., and Dr. Rich Sibbick, Dow Corning Corp., Midland Mich., developed a textile that serves as an alternative to hard armoring, becoming solid upon impact but otherwise remaining flexible for freedom of movement.
Auxetic Fabric: Dr. Patrick Hook, Auxetix Ltd., England; John Stimpson, Heathcoat & Co. Ltd., England; and Prof. Ken Evans, Exeter University, England, developed a fabric that reduces pressure created by explosions, offering new application possibilities in the security and protection sectors.
Self-Cleaning Textile Surfaces with a Nano Finish: Dr. Ralf Nörenberg, Wolfram Badura and Sylvia von Krog, BASF AG, Germany, developed a finish that repels oil, water and particles, and whose potential application areas include tents, parasols and awnings.
Functional Translucent Concrete: Dr. Gerd Frankze, Helge Hausding, Dr. Evelin Hufnagl, and Dr. Chokri Cherif from the Institute for Textile and Apparel Technology at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, developed a process based on the automatic fixation of rod-shaped elements made of solid or tubular fibers in matrix or mat form. The process allows the integration of additional features to provide for the transmission of signals or modification of room climate, among other functions.
New Products
Water-Saving Irrigation Mat: Dr. Holger Erth, Rolf Arnold and Reinhard Helbig of the Saxon Textile Research Institute at the Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany; Thomas Roess, Internationale Geotextil GmbH, Germany; and Dietmar Haub, Eco Rain GmbH, Germany, developed a mat made of two nonwoven layers of fabric with perforated tubes that enable water savings of up to 70 percent, according to the developers. Application areas may include agriculture, landscaping and horticulture, especially in hot and dry climates.
Honorees were recognized for their innovative developments in technical textiles.
The following Avantex Innovation Prizes were awarded:
Innovative Apparel
Photo-luminescent textiles with long-term effect: Jean-Marc Viénot, Imasol Sprl, Belgium; Christian Fombert, Setila S.A., France; and Michel Sarazain, Idem Conseil, France, developed a textile that emits light for more than 12 hours, and with apparel applications such as rain, motorcycle, work and sports.
Bionic climate membrane: The development team at Switzerland-based Schoeller Textil AG developed the c_change™ wind- and waterproof membrane technology capable of controlling water-vapor permeability, whose application area may include apparel.
Anatomic motorcycle suit: Designer Jasmin Julin-Aro with the research and design team from Rukka/L Fashion Group Oy, Finland, developed a breathable, windproof, climate-controlled motorcycle suit that incorporates an intelligent impact-protection textile that becomes a solid shield upon impact. The suit uses Outlast climate-control technology and the Dow Corning® Active Protection System.
The following Avantex Innovation Prizes were awarded:
Innovative Apparel
Photo-luminescent textiles with long-term effect: Jean-Marc Viénot, Imasol Sprl, Belgium; Christian Fombert, Setila S.A., France; and Michel Sarazain, Idem Conseil, France, developed a textile that emits light for more than 12 hours, and with apparel applications such as rain, motorcycle, work and sports.
Bionic climate membrane: The development team at Switzerland-based Schoeller Textil AG developed the c_change™ wind- and waterproof membrane technology capable of controlling water-vapor permeability, whose application area may include apparel.
Anatomic motorcycle suit: Designer Jasmin Julin-Aro with the research and design team from Rukka/L Fashion Group Oy, Finland, developed a breathable, windproof, climate-controlled motorcycle suit that incorporates an intelligent impact-protection textile that becomes a solid shield upon impact. The suit uses Outlast climate-control technology and the Dow Corning® Active Protection System.
June 19, 2007