Citation
Stylios, G.K. (2002), "The Exciting World of Technical Textiles", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 14 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijcst.2002.05814baa.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
The Exciting World of Technical Textiles
There is little doubt that the technical textiles sector is booming in contrast with the battered traditional one which is still experiencing factory closures and big job losses.
Forecasters predict that technical textiles may be worth US$150 billion (£100billion) by 2005, which will be about a quarter of the total textile global market, with increasing production to 24.4 billion tonnes. This is the clearest, the most exciting and confident news for the textile industry for many years and, although technical textile products are produced for their performance and functionality, they still use a number of traditional processes which allow traditional companies to convert to the lucrative technical sector. Those reading these figures with scepticism should consider that about 5 years ago production was only 9.3 billion tonnes worth US$60 billion (£40 billion). The technical textile sector is very diverse in terms of products which are found in many industries. These may be categorised in the following 10 sub-sectors:
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Sports and leisure;
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Carpets (Domestic products);
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Building;
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Transport;
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Medical;
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Industrial and Engineering;
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Agriculture;
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Clothing Components;
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Geotextiles;
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Packaging.
Technical textiles are changing the negative image of the sector brought about by closures and job losses. Recent news reports that technical textiles are to be associated with the Winter Olympics through special laminated ski suits worn by the American team. Aston Martin, the high performance car manufacturer, is using state-of-the-art textile composites for its Vanquish, their latest flagship car model. These high tech requirements in technical textiles demand research, development and innovation by universities, companies and research organisations. Many countries have recognised the importance that research has to play in developing this sector and large initiatives are being organised. One example is the Faraday Partnership in Technical Textiles (TechniTex), which has brought together three premier UK universities Heriot-Watt University, the University of Leeds and UMIST with the British Textile Technology Group (BTTG). The TechniTex initiative is funded jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry, as well as by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council for at least 5 years and has an industrial collaborative remit in four main areas:
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Research;
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Training;
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Technology Transfer; and
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Technology Translation.
For more information please visit: www.technitex@hw.ac.uk
To promote and bring together these research efforts, IJCST is promoting a research book review focussed on technical textile research, and authors are invited to write to the Editor about their potential contribution, as well as their willingness to be considered as members of the Editorial Board for this technical textiles publication.
Please contact the Editor, on G.Stylios@hw.ac.uk
George K StyliosEditor-in-Chief