TTNet World News 10 March 2020
Nonwoven veil protects composite utility poles from fire
An intumescent nonwoven veil from Technical Fibre Products is being used by Valmont Industries in the manufacture of its composite transmission and distribution poles.
FREE CONTENT: Adient to sell fabrics business to Sage Automotive Interiors
Vehicle-seating supplier Adient has entered into an agreement to sell its automotive fabrics manufacturing business to Asahi Kasei subsidiary Sage Automotive Interiors for US$175 million.
High-technology solutions to tackle age-old preoccupations
The terms “Industry 4.0” and “digitisation” were heard routinely throughout the last staging of ITMA, but the terms can have different meanings for different developers, even among Germany’s machine builders, who arguably lead the drive to exploit such concepts to create the manufacturing plants of the future. Adrian Wilson takes a closer look.
Re-useable oil filter is made from reinforced thermoplastic
The world’s first re-usable plastic spin-on oil-filter module for cars has been developed by BASF and Hengst.
FREE CONTENT: Research centre will evaluate toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
The Center for Environmental and Human Health Effects of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) is to be established by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, USA.
Tesca announces its acquisition of Willy Schmitz
Automotive-textiles and seating-components manufacturer Tesca has bought Tuchfabrik Willy Schmitz, also a supplier of automotive fabrics, for an undisclosed sum.
Bicomponent fibre for soft cushioned nonwovens
Beaulieu Fibres International will introduce a bicomponent fibre for soft cushioned hygiene nonwovens at Index20, which is scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 20–23 October 2020.
FESPA 2020 postponed
FESPA Global Print Expo is the latest major exhibition to be postponed as a result of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Karl Mayer to purchase Stoll
Karl Mayer Group has finalised an agreement to buy flat-knitting machinery manufacturer Stoll.
Graphene additives produce high-strength cement
Graphene additives from First Graphene have been shown to increase the strength of cement mortar significantly, enabling the construction of lighter and more environmentally friendly buildings and civil engineering structures.
Rising demand for disposable nonwoven products following coronavirus outbreak
Producers and converters of disposable nonwovens are responding to increased demand for protective apparel and facemasks in China and other countries following the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Composite components for sustainable nuclear fusion reactors
The role that non-metallic composites can play in the manufacture of nuclear fusion reactors is being explored by the UK’s National Composites Centre (NCC) and Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
Cardinal Health recalls 9.1 million disposable gowns
Working with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Cardinal Health has voluntarily recalled 9.1 million surgical gowns that may have been contaminated at a manufacturing plant in China.
Index 20 postponed until October
Following an ordinance of the Swiss Federal Council brought into force on 28 February that prohibits events bringing together more than 1000 people, the organisers of Index20 have announced it has been postponed until 20-23 October 2020, still in Geneva, Switzerland.
Merger of three specialist fibre suppliers
Three fibre suppliers specialising in technical textiles have merged to form a new company, FibrXL, which is based in Almere and Beek, The Netherlands, and Richmond, Virginia, USA.
USA seeks international consensus for fibre names
An agency of the US Federal Government has proposed amending existing legislation concerning the generic names of fibres in order to bring it into line with international standards.
A different class—carbon composites research at Ford Motor Co
There has been a flurry of activity in the past decade as carmakers and composites specialists have sought to develop technologies that would enable the widescale use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics in the automotive industry. As Ford Motor Co has found in pioneering work, however, these lightweight materials might best be employed as part of a multimaterial approach to part production. Composites Editor James Bakewell takes-up the story.
Original product design is a key to successful recycling of textile containers
A Vienna, Austria-based machinery manufacturer has devised an holistic scheme that aims to put an end to unnecessary waste generated by the use of flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs), also known as “big bags”.
Lightweight headrest made from glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene
A lightweight composite headrest for a child’s car seat that is simple to produce has been developed by a consortium of companies in Germany and Poland.
Concerns over the state of the German composites industry
Composites manufacturers in Germany continue to be dissatisfied with the current business environment there, according to a half-yearly survey conducted by Berlin-based Composites Germany.