ST. PAUL, Minn. — January 22, 2019 — Brilliant® Reflective has launched a new line of segmented iron-on Brilliant Reflective safety strips. Designed to withstand repeated washings without peeling or fraying, the new segmented reflective iron-on strips instantly increase your ability to be noticed by cars on the road and allow you to further customize your look. This new segmented iron-on product offers the perfect combination of outstanding reflective performance, durability and breathable comfort. Segmentation allows the reflective to move with the garment, keeping you cool and comfortable. What’s more, after 50 wash cycles, Brilliant Reflective Segmented Strips can retain twice the reflective performance of solid reflective.
“Segmented reflective has been widely available in the occupational and industrial markets for decades. We are thrilled to now offer the same level of safety and durability that has been available in a work zone, directly to the consumer in a product that is affordable, fashionable, and easy to use,” said Nate Damro, vice president Business Development for Safe Reflections Inc., Brilliant Reflective’s parent company.
Brilliant Reflective Segmented Iron-On Strips feature 3M™ Scotchlite™ Reflective Material for ultimate brightness. Each strip can be applied to clothing, or gear such as backpacks, for added security during low-light hours. The segmented iron-on strips are machine washable, up to 50 washes, waterproof, and incredibly flexible.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — January 23, 2019 — Southern Tide, a coastal lifestyle and apparel brand, announced today a new brand partnership with brrr°, a cooling performance fabric that is proven to draw heat and moisture away from the skin. The new innovation will be introduced in Southern Tide’s Spring/Summer 2019 men’s collection.
“Each season Southern Tide looks to provide its customers with the latest in style, fabrication and innovation,” said Southern Tide CEO Christopher Heyn. “Each of our partnerships are strategically curated to put the customers’ needs at the forefront, and brrr°’s pioneering innovation will better expand our performance wear offerings. We are excited to introduce this technology to our customers and expect big things from the partnership. We look forward to our new partnership with brrr° and incorporating their cooling technology into the Southern Tide brand moving forward.”
brrr°’s disruptive cooling technology creates a “Triple Chill Effect™”. It is cool to the touch and instantly draws heat and moisture away from the body to lower the temperature of skin. The cooling effects of brrr° fabrics have been rigorously tested by globally recognized independent labs, and brrr° consistently outperforms other products.
“We are thrilled to work with Southern Tide on these new lines of casual clothing that can actually lower skin temperature when life brings the heat,” said Mary-Cathryn Kolb, CEO and founder of brrr°.
The Southern Tide brrr° apparel, which will include the men’s Gulf Short, polos and other sport shirts, will be available at Southern Tide signature stores and wholesale partners beginning late February 2019, alongside a launch on the Southern Tide website. Southern Tide will be launching additional product offerings featuring brrr° throughout 2019.
NEW YORK CITY — January 23, 2019 — The best way to kick start a great day begins with a good night’s sleep. Getting rest which adequately rejuvenates and restores you is a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Regular physical activity promotes better physical and mental health and an overall better mood. The more active you are in your day to day, the higher your need for deep and effective sleep. Which is why having a mattress to restore and aid in recovery is so critical in your daily routine: move, improve, sleep, repeat.
What if you could press reset? Signature Sleep is proud to unveil its latest innovation – the Nanobionic® Reset mattress designed to promote quality sleep which in turn promotes a healthier lifestyle. The mattress itself comprises multiple layers: the first is a charcoal and gel-infused memory foam layer, which provides a cooler sleeping surface that helps regulate body temperature. Following, is a layer of natural Talalay that allows for superior airflow, distributing heat away from the body. The core of the mattress is made with independently encased coils that minimize motion transfer, help to relieve pressure and contribute to a more restful sleep.
Lastly but certainly not least, the top layer includes the Nanobionic technology.
So what is Nanobionic technology and how does it promote a better night’s rest? Nanobionic is a high-tech patented coating, in the form of a liquid substance, which transforms body heat into Far Infrared Rays (FIR) and reflects them back to the body. Far Infrared Rays are invisible waves of energy which have the ability to penetrate, soothe and stimulate the human body. This in turn promotes a temporary increase in local blood flow and helps to soothe muscles to promote restful sleep and increase comfort.
This recycling of the body’s energy also helps to reduce cold feet and hands, optimizes thermoregulation and helps to enhance faster recovery from your day to day life. Nanobionic® products are regulated by the U.S. FDA as medical devices and general wellness products.
This ground breaking technology was originally used in athletic apparel to aid with recovery and has now been integrated into different textiles such as mattresses – allowing for wellness to be achieved at every stage of your day.
BALTIMORE — January 23, 2019 — Under Armour Inc. today announced the appointment of Tchernavia Rocker as its new Chief People and Culture Officer.
Rocker will lead all facets of the company’s human resources function. As a direct report to chairman and CEO Kevin Plank, she will partner with the executive leadership team to advance and execute Under Armour’s people and culture strategy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Tchernavia to the Under Armour family and to our executive leadership team. Tchernavia brings deep industry experience in building best in class HR operations while developing strong workplace culture rooted in brand, values and transparency,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour’s chairman and CEO. “We truly have the best team on the planet driving our business, and our investment in their careers is a top priority.”
Rocker joins Under Armour from Harley-Davidson Inc. where she spent more than 18 years in HR leadership roles, most recently as the vice president and chief human resources officer. Prior to that, she served in various HR and operations roles at Goodyear Dunlop North America Tire Inc.
At Harley-Davidson Tchernavia served as a member of the executive leadership team as well as the company representative and advisor to the HR Committee of its Board of Directors. She crafted the strategic direction and led the execution of the organization’s workforce strategy, specifically in the areas of organizational effectiveness, employee value proposition and experience, succession planning, talent management, organizational and performance management, leadership development, compensation and benefits, employee relations and global inclusion, with a team of approximately 200 human resources professionals across the globe.
She currently serves on the board of directors for Girl Scouts of Southeast Wisconsin, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and the Marcus Center for Performing Arts and is a member of HR Policy Institute, the Society for Human Resource Management and the National Black MBA Association.
LOS ANGELES — January 21, 2019 — Emerald Textiles, a portfolio company of Los Angeles-based private investment firms Pacific Avenue Capital Partners LLC and Highland Avenue Funds LLC, announced that Richard “Rich” Bott has joined the executive management team and was appointed CEO. Bott’s appointment follows Emerald’s recent announcement of its expansion into Los Angeles and the San Diego Market as well as its greenfield expansion in Northern California.
“We are excited to have a leader of Rich’s caliber joining the Emerald team,” said Chris Sznewajs, chairman of the Board of Directors of Emerald Textiles and managing partner and Founder of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. “Rich has a proven track record of success, high integrity, and brings over twenty-five years of experience in the healthcare service industry. We believe Rich’s deep experience in the healthcare linen and service industry, as well as his strong business sense and collaborative approach, make him the ideal candidate to lead Emerald through its next stage of growth.”
Greg Anderson will transition to executive chairman and will continue to support the business in a daily role, overseeing the integration of the recent acquisitions of the San Diego and Los Angeles facilities, while also providing oversight for the greenfield facility that is underway in Livingston, Calif. Greg will remain a member of the Board of Directors and will lead several other key strategic initiatives for Emerald. “We are excited for Greg’s evolving role as he continues as a key partner to Emerald Textiles. Greg has done an excellent job leading the business through an impressive transformation. I look forward to Greg’s continued involvement in the organization,” Chris Sznewajs added.
“We are excited to have Rich join our team and lead Emerald as the company enters its next phase of growth,” said Greg Anderson. “Rich shares our vision of excellent quality and customer service at a competitive price. Emerald has invested heavily in all of its facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, Turlock, Livingston and Reno to ensure it has the most modern, safe, and efficient facilities in the industry. I look forward to supporting and working closely with Rich in my new role as Executive Chairman.”
Anderson added: “I want to thank Pacific Avenue and Highland for their support of my vision to scale and grow the company over the last eighteen months. I also want to thank all Emerald Team Members, which is over 1,000 strong for their dedication and support of the company’s vision.”
Prior to Emerald, Rich served as the director of Intermountain Healthcare’s Supply Chain Services, which includes Central Laundry, Design and Print Services, Corporate Travel, Supply Chain Guidance Council, Fleet Management and Sign Center. Before Rich joined Intermountain Healthcare, he served as a medic and LPN in the 328th General Hospital unit of the 96th ARCOM where he began his nursing education at the Academy of Health Sciences. He then was trained clinically at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas and then at Fitzsimons Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado.
“The Emerald Textiles team has shown an incredible commitment to providing fantastic service at an undeniable value while scaling the organization through both organic growth, acquisitions, capital investments and greenfield opportunities,” said Bott. “It is my pleasure to join this exceptional management team and employee base in continuing to enhance our value proposition and service to our customers.”
Bott is active in the community serving as board chair for The Columbus Community Center, committee chairman for the Boy Scouts of America and has been a delegate for Davis County. Richard also serves as the President Elect of The Association for Linen Management and serves on the board of the International Association for Healthcare Textile Management.
Bott holds an Associates of Nursing Degree from The Academy of Health Sciences, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Health Services Administration from Weber State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is a native of Utah and currently resides in Mountain Green, with his wife Darcie and their four children.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — January 22, 2019 — International Textile Group (ITG) announced today the launch of a new name and corporate identity, Elevate Textiles Inc. (Elevate). The new company replaces ITG as the parent company of American & Efird, Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components, creating a portfolio of leading global brands that provide innovative solutions and premium textile products throughout the world. Elevate Textiles was born out of the integration of A&E and ITG last year under the leadership of Platinum Equity, which acquired ITG in 2016 and American & Efird in 2018.
Elevate Textiles services 25,000 customers in over 100 countries and across six continents via a global footprint that includes 37 facilities and over 15,000 employees, representing a textile company without parallel in the industry. Our combined company offers customers an unprecedented breadth of textile products and solutions ranging from performance-driven and specialty apparel fabrics, high quality denims, advanced technical fabrics, and premium industrial and consumer sewing threads.
The new parent company will establish its global headquarters in Charlotte, N.C. Current offices in Greensboro, N.C., and Mount Holly, N.C., will remain as divisional headquarters for the respective fabrics and threads portfolio brands.
Elevate Textiles offers a new, innovative approach to the textiles sector, providing both premium fabric and thread solutions globally. As a consolidated platform, Elevate Textiles will continue to focus on operational excellence, safety, and environmental sustainability, with an integrated approach to supply chain, R&D, and procurement. Elevate Textiles is committed to growth through customer collaboration, innovative product development, and delivery of premium, mission-critical textile solutions globally.
Elevate Textiles
With a global array of premium fabric and thread solutions focused on innovation, sustainability and quality craftsmanship, Elevate Textiles provides products that surround us every day and in all facets of life. We offer advanced, high quality products and mission critical textile solutions across vast industries including fashion and functional apparel, footwear, military, fire, medical, athletic, automotive, aerospace, outdoor, and other specialty sectors. Elevate Textiles is committed to delivering solutions that protect and enhance our lives through its global manufacturing platform that includes 37 facilities and over 15,000 employees. Elevate Textiles, a portfolio company of Platinum Equity, offers distinguished global textile brands including American & Efird, Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components.
Platinum Equity
Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with approximately $13 billion of assets under management and a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. The firm is currently investing from Platinum Equity Capital Partners IV, a $6.5 billion global buyout fund, and Platinum Equity Small Cap Fund, a $1.5 billion buyout fund focused on investment opportunities in the lower middle market. Platinum Equity specializes in mergers, acquisitions and operations — a trademarked strategy it calls M&A&O® — acquiring and operating companies in a broad range of business markets, including manufacturing, distribution, transportation and logistics, equipment rental, metals services, media and entertainment, technology, telecommunications and other industries. Over the past 23 years Platinum Equity has completed more than 250 acquisitions.
WILMINGTON, Del. — January 22, 2019 — Despite overwhelming evidence of business disruptions that can occur from failing to manage various risks, company executives are not adequately identifying and preparing for risks that can have potentially catastrophic implications on business operations, according to DuPont Sustainable Solutions’ (DSS) annual global survey of company executives. If left unchanged, a company’s operational performance, business continuity, right to operate and ability to deliver consistent value to shareholders could all suffer.
“Old ways of looking at risk are insufficient in today’s global business environment if executives want their organizations to be sustainable and prosper,” said Davide Vassallo, global managing director of DuPont Sustainable Solutions. “Running a successful business is more complex today than ever before, with executives facing numerous challenges on a daily basis both within and outside their organizations. With these challenges come numerous associated risks that executives must successfully anticipate and mitigate. In order to transform an organization, executives should integrate risk into the organizations business strategy to engage employees, increase productivity and drive competitive advantage.”
The findings of DSS’ 2018 global operations risk management survey of executives show that while there is general agreement and acknowledgement among participating executives of important characteristics of a successful risk management program, leaders are failing to implement those characteristics in their organizations. This failure is manifesting in the following ways:
Executives are not placing sufficient emphasis on risks that can lead to large-scale incidents. Executives appear to be allowing low incident rates to give them a false sense of security and are not paying attention to other indicators of potential significant events. While 78 percent of survey participants agree that low incident rates do not correlate to reduced risk, two-thirds of executives nonetheless acknowledge feeling safe when they see data indicating incident rates are low or trending to zero.
Executives address gaps in risk management processes by adding more processes. Executives participating in the survey agree that processes and systems alone are inadequate to manage risk and ensure operational performance. They agree on the importance of having systems in place to manage risks that are integrated, complement each other and are regularly reviewed for effectiveness. Yet 44 percent admit that gaps in existing systems present a challenge for their organizations.
Executives confirm disconnect among personnel in managing risk. One-quarter of surveyed executives feel front-line personnel are not aligned on top risks facing the company. More than half (55 percent) do not feel senior executives are fully aligned on top risks facing the organization which is an increase of 35 percent versus last year’s DSS survey, which is a general indication of a widening engagement gap between company leaders and front-line workers that prevents an organization from effectively recognizing and mitigating risks.
DSS’ annual global risk management survey of executives benchmarks and measures the maturity of operational risk management programs in companies across numerous industries, and examines the challenges they face in effectively managing risk to improve business performance. Executives from more than 350 companies participated in the survey, which was conducted between May and August. One-half of survey participants (52 percent) were senior executives (CEO, CFO, etc.) and one-half (48 percent) were from the executive director level. Sixty percent of participating companies are in high-hazard industries such as mining and metals, oil and gas, and manufacturing. Roughly two-thirds of participating companies have a global presence. Forty-four percent are headquartered in North America, 27 percent in Asia-Pacific and 24 percent in Europe.
Posted January 22, 2019
Source: DowDuPont Specialty Products, a division of DowDuPont
TOKYO — January 22, 2019 — Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fiber and products converting company, announced today that it will participate in Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2019, the world’s largest international sports and outdoor trade fair to be held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Clo., from January 30-February 1.
The Teijin Frontier stand (#MR208) will exhibit DELTAPEAK and related hybrid materials that offer excellent combinations of performance, appearance and texture for sportswear. The stand also will promote Teijin Frontier’s environmentally friendly solutions, including microplastics pollution prevention, reducing hazardous chemicals usage, fossil resource conservation and CO2 emissions reduction.
Some of the many exhibits at the Teijin Frontier stand will include the following:
DELTAPEAK
Deltapeak is a next-generation fabric that integrates physical properties, functionality and quality on a highly advanced level. Thanks to its dense, flat-knit surface, it is a light and stretchable form-fitting, anti-transparent and snag-resistant fabric. Various DELTAPEAK versions will be displayed, including a unique new material that is both form-fitting and highly natural like appearance.
Octa
This fiber features a unique, highly modified cross section of eight projecting fins aligned in a radial pattern around a hollow fiber. Notable advantages include rapid wicking and drying as well as useful bulkiness. Octa Neo is a multilayer fiber that combines Octa fiber with various chemical and natural staple fibers.
SOLOTEX
Polytrimethylene terephthalate fiber SOLOTEX is soft, stretchable, shape-retaining, dimensionally stable and brightly colored thanks to its molecular structure from a flexible spinning-like helix.
Microplastics Pollution Prevention
Non-brushed and heat-insulating materials that help to reduce microplastics will be exhibited. These will include a towel-like pile-structure material, a soft, bulky sweatsuit fabric in the Deltapeak series, and Octa integrated with insulation and lining materials.
The booth will also present Teijin Frontier’s initiatives to protect the human rights of its technical interns from overseas.
Teijin Frontier looks forward to strengthening its recognition and cultivating new customers in the North American outdoor market through its appearance at the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show 2019.
LENZING, Austria — January 21, 2019 — Planet REhab is a capsule collection produced by an international partnership of textile and apparel companies committed to reducing their impact on the environment. The companies recognize that achieving their goal requires both working collaboratively and responsibly — seeking out more sustainable raw materials, implementing new technologies and employing processes that reduce resource utilization and waste.
Juan Carlos Gordillo designed the Rehab collection around TENCEL™ and TENCEL™ x REFIBRA™ branded lyocell fabrics from Tejidos Royo. The fabrics were dyed using Recycrom technology from Officina+39 and the resultant garments finished by Tonello. The aim of Planet REhab collection is to illustrate that fashion can be both responsible and beautiful given the right supply chain partnerships.
In Planet Rehab, Lenzing, Tejidos Royo, Officina+39 and Tonello joined together with designer Juan Carlos Gordillo to create a soulful Latin inspired womenswear collection:
Lenzing’s Tencel and Tencel x Refibra branded lyocell fibers enhance the sustainability of the fabrics. Made from renewable wood in a closed loop, energy and resource efficient manufacturing process, Tencel fibers and Tencel x Refibra fibers made with recycled cotton scraps provide the fabrics with softness, smoothness, tenacity, and color intensity.
Spanish fabric producer, Tejidos Royo, creates “fabric with values” through the company’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The vertically integrated manufacturer has substantially reduced its energy consumption and CO2 emissions through aggressive R&D and provides complete transparency and traceability for customers.
Officina+39’s Recycrom dyes are made from recycled clothing and textile scraps that are specially processed by these Italian experts through a sophisticated production process using only sustainable chemicals. Waste fabrics are crystalized into an incredibly fine powder that can be used as a pigment dye. Recycrom was awarded the Hightex Award at Munich Fabric Start for Autumn/Winter 17/18.
Laundry specialist, Tonello, also based in Italy, contributes their All-in-one system to the project. Born from ideation with designers and customers, Tonello’s revolutionary washing process significantly reduces the water and hazardous chemical consumption typically associated with denim finishing.
Guatemalan designer, Juan Carlos Gordillo, applauds the Planet REhab objectives and used the member companies’ products to create fifteen women’s outfits that celebrate life and nature with exceptional color flair and a decided Latin influence. The collection displays the eclectic, artistic style for which Gordillo is known.
“Planet REhab is my tribute to the ocean with its deep colors and flowing shapes,” the celebrated designer said. “The collection also protects the ocean because it is created from the sustainable fibers, fabrics, dyes, and finishing techniques perfected by the Planet REhab companies. While many companies talk about being sustainable, these companies had the courage to actually create sustainable products and processes that benefit the industry, society, and the planet. I hope this collection can inspire other designers to prioritize sustainability in their creative processes,” Gordillo concluded.
“We are excited to unveil Juan Carlos’s Planet REhab collection, which is as beautiful as it is sustainable,” says Tricia Carey, Director of Global Business Development for Denim at Lenzing Group. “Juan Carlos has proven Planet REhab’s premise that global collaboration of sustainability-minded companies results in gorgeous designs that are made with respect for the environment. Keyhouse at Bluezone is the perfect place to showcase this outstanding collection and the supply chain and manufacturing innovations that made it possible.”
“We strongly believe in this type of cooperation,” explains Andrea Venier, Managing Director of Officina+39 – Italy. “Planet REhab will be a model for positive change. Innovation, sustainable practices, clear information, transparency, and social responsibility are the pillars of our #TRUSTAINABLE concept. We are honored to contribute to Planet REhab, which exemplifies our commitments and also maximizes the synergies between companies that are investing in green innovations and a sustainability-oriented designer like Juan Carlos Gordillo. Planet REhab stands as a genuine call to action for the industry.”
“Companies who want to be in business one hundred years from now must become cleaner and more sustainable right now,” predicts Jose Royo of Tejidos Royo. “Planet REhab represents the business model of the future. We were proud to take action with such a forward-thinking project, collaborating with companies as committed to sustainability as we are. This is the responsible approach that the textile industry must embrace to ensure the future of the business, the planet, and the people who come after us.”
“Environmental sustainability, energy savings and garment wholesomeness have been at the center of our vision, our research, and our production for many years,” says Alice Tonello of Tonello. “We are therefore very proud to participate, along with other prestigious companies, in Planet REhab because we believe that only through a greater awareness and sense of responsibility from those companies working “on garments” will we, all of us together, be able to plan a future where fashion, art, and design can continue to give us beauty, pleasure, and well-being.”
Munich Fabric Start/Keyhouse at Bluezone/January 29-31, 2019
The special double-rapier weaving loom and Vandewiele Jacquard attachment at the Open Hybrid Lightweight Campus (OHLF) in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Unique Vandewiele jacquard technology is proving central to research exploring the potential of hybrid woven technical textiles for a leading German research institution.
TW Special Report
Along with a number of partners, HOFZET® — the Application Center for Wood Fiber Research of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research based in Hannover — has developed new forms of bio-hybrid fibre reinforced composites (bio-HFCs) containing the highest possible bio-based content.
“Bio-HFCs are already successfully employed in a range of sporting goods, such as racing cycle frames, tennis rackets and skis, where they have a number of advantageous properties,” explained technical textiles specialist Jana Winkelmann. “In particular, they have a low density, high vibration damping and flexible mechanical characteristics, in addition to the added benefit of containing substantial renewable raw material content.
“We are developing new and practical combinations of natural and high-performance fibers, such as flax, hemp and viscose with carbon, glass or polyamide in multi-layer fabrics. These have application-oriented properties with the potential to be scaled up for mass production, and are targeted at applications in both the automotive and construction sectors.”
One Of A Kind
The development work is being carried out on a special double-rapier weaving loom and Vandewiele Jacquard attachment — the only one of its kind in Europe — at the Open Hybrid Lightweight Campus (OHLF) in Wolfsburg, not far from Volkswagen AG’s parent plant. It serves as a competence and research centre for cost-efficient lightweight engineering and innovative materials and manufacturing technologies developed by Volkswagen and its industrial and institutional partners.
The OHLF weaving technology is enabling the Fraunhofer experts to cost-effectively produce materials with complex, application-specific textile structures and integrated functions, in widths of up to 50 centimeters.
“We are producing load path-appropriate combinations of the different reinforcing fibres and additional matrix fibers to produce hybrid textiles which will provide simpler handling and faster processing, as well as flexibility in achieving the desired mechanical properties in the finished product,” said Winkelmann.
Samples of the HOFZET® multi-layer fabrics constructed from new combinations of natural and high-performance fibers.
At present, a key HOFZET research focus is on composite reinforcements with a thermoplastic matrix, or organosheets, which offer reversible deformation and recycling potential in comparison with thermoset composite materials. The weaving loom enables the integration of thermoplastic matrix fibers into hybrid textiles as perfect thermoplastic prepregs. These prepregs can be shaped to a required form and turned into composites using hot pressing technology. This approach enables a reduction of process steps, cycle times and production waste. Furthermore, the process allows new design freedom, which enlarges the component spectrum of fiber-reinforced composites. The shaping, for example, can be carried out simply and quickly through thermoforming in a die or in the clamping unit of an injection molding machine.
A robot-controlled fiber-spraying unit further expands possibilities, allowing continuous filaments and yarns to be cut to a specific length and simultaneously wetted in an air stream with a mixture of resin and curing agent and sprayed onto a shaping tool.
Construction
In another project, flax-based multi-layer fabrics produced on the special HOFZET weaving system are being employed to reinforce concrete.
Textile-reinforced concrete has already proved to be durable, formable in diverse shapes and suitable for lightweight construction and so far has been based on carbon or glass fibers to replace the steel which is conventionally employed.
The flax-based textile is embedded in the given component in layers. Its stiffness is variable, so it can be arranged in a desired shape and could conceivably be cast to create curved contours such as domes and rounded wall elements.
“The quality of reinforced concrete made with a flax fabric is higher than that of the reinforced concrete in bridges,” says Jan Binde, a scientist at ZELUBA®, a second department of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research based in Braunschweig. “The matrix — that is, the structure — is so dense that harmful substances cannot penetrate the component. This results in a far longer service life of several decades.”
“The natural fibers mesh very well with the building material and we can control how the textile is fixed in the concrete. The textile’s specific surface is variable. A reinforced concrete bridge with a span of 15 meters would be about 35 to 40 centimeters thick, while its flax counterpart would be considerably slimmer at 12 to 16 centimeters. This saves a lot of material.”
HOFZET® technical textiles specialist Jana Winkelmann.
HOFZET next plans to make various modifications to the unique, advanced weaving system, in order to manufacture special spacer fabrics, for which the Vandewiele Jacquard will also play an integral part.
A special feature of the jacquard is that every warp of the fabric can be controlled individually. This results in an unlimited variety of patterns. By using different patterns it is also possible to change the structure from one-layer to multilayer fabric in a single process.
“We have further ideas for such new materials for both the automotive and construction sectors,” Jana Winkelmann concludes. “Watch this space.”
