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.
The move towards increasing environmental protection and energy efficiency will
have a highly positive effect on the demand for technical textiles, where there
are numerous applications.
Source: Textiles Intelligence.
