New Exhibitors and Innovators Set Their Sights on Atlanta, Georgia

conductive fabric John W. McCurry selects his highlights from the plans of exhibitors for the forthcoming Techtextil North America, the fifth edition of this biennial show, to be held at the Cobb Galleria Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, from 1-3 April. Techtextil North America heads into its fifth edition at the Cobb Galleria Center,Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with high expectations: organizer Messe Frankfurt has sold approximately I S% more exhibition floor space than for the previous event in 2006 and expects around 325 exhibitors (2006: 329) with about half from outside the USA (2006: exhibitors from 25 countries). A look at the list of exhibitors shows that fibre and fabric manufacturers will be prominent, both in number and in terms of exhibition space. Nevertheless all 12 of the Techtexti/family's designated application areas (seeTechtextil application areas below) will be well represented, according to Show Manager Stephanie Everett. Following is a look at the innovations exhibitors will be featuring when Techtextil North America 2008 convenes on 1-3 April. The roster includes several companies exhibiting for the first time. COATINGS, CHEMICALS AND ADHESlVES Bluestar Silicones - a company whose technical textile products are used in fire protection, hosiery, architectural coatings, medical and water repellency applications - plans to feature its seam sealant for flat fabrics used in airbags. Additionally, the company plans to highlight its elastomeric coating for surgical gowns and drapes, and its silicone-based technology for sportswear applications. Norafn wiH display its filter medium with integrated metal scrim, which con be pleated without additional treatment (see also, page 34 and 37). CHT R. Beitlich will feature its halogen-free flame retardant coatings specifically designed for the transportation, protective wear and industrial market segments. These coatings are water-based and can be applied by a variety of coating methods. CHTs Halogen- Free Apyrol flame retardant coatings are formulated to meet specific requirements where environmentally friendly systems are required. CHTs flame barrier systems are fully formulated, intumescent coatings designed to enhance a material's stability during intense exposure to direct flame for extended periods of time. The company will also show its high-performance polyurethane coatings. These coatings are designed for protection and to promote adhesion in the flooring, protective wear, communications and industrial market segments. Schaetti Group is one of the leading global manufacturers of plastic powder adhesives such as polyamides, polyester, polyethylene, or ethylene vinyl acetates for coating applications. At the beginning of 2008, the Switzerland based firm founded a new sales office with warehouse and logistics centre in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Schaetti will demonstrate its ability to provide compounds according to customers' formulations, as well as the grinding into coarse and fine particle sizes. Schaetti's customers are in the automotive industry, as well as the geotextiles, home textiles or hygiene products sectors. FIBERSANDYARNS American & Efird Technical Textile's new Camel superabsorbent yarn will be featured in its exhibit. Camel provides manufacturers of fabric and industrial products the flexibility to capture, manage and manipulate moisture for a wide variety of applications. Camel yarns are based on superabsorbent fibres and provide rapid absorbency. Already being used in ground water management (for instance, on golf courses) and geo-absorbent (landfill) applications, the yarn can reach 90% of its maximum absorbency in slightly more than five seconds, with an average minimum absorbency of 30 g of moisture for each gram of yarn. The company says the absorbency characteristics of Camel can be tailored to meet specific absorbency requirements, yielding maximum performance and cost benefits. ArmorWorks LLC and TechFiber LLC are both providers of high- technology armour protection, and are both based in Phoenix,Arizona, USA. The companies work together and will share a stand in Atlanta to showcase their Ballistic Advantage Kit armour systems. The featured M915 A2/A3 tactical vehicles and High Mobility MultipurposeWheeledVehicle (HMMVW) will be fitted with the same type of armour protection currently being used by the US Army and US Marine Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan. This armour exceeds the specifications required to protect against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), according to ArmorWorks'Vice President of Business Development Robert Codney:"The US Army took the HMMVW onto the streets of Al Fallujah, Iraq, where actual IED attacks resulted in only minor abrasions to the troops using this armour."As an armour designer and producer, ArmorWorks demonstrates how some of the materials it will exhibit at Techtextil North America have been engineered into state-of-the-art composite technologies. The M915 A2 and A3 full-scale cab and underbody armament,and the fully armoured HMMVW use ceramic systems containing aramid fibres manufactured byTechFiber LLC. Cupron develops and test bioactive fibres in a variety of fields, including healthcare, industrial, military and consumer industries. Exploiting the unique qualities of copper, Cupron's patented technology adds a broad-spectrum antimicrobial compound to its fibres. A first time exhibitor, Cupron plans to showcase its products in medical sheets, towels and robes, where the fibres act to suppress the odours caused by bacteria. It will also display nonwoven masks. Ticona says its Riteflex thermoplastic polyester elastomer creates films that offer a high barrier to liquid water while allowing for the transmission of water vapour (see also, page 30). Diolen Industrial Fibers will introduce its polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) yarn, Diofort, touting it as the world's first high- tenacity, multifilament yarn made from this material1. Diofort combines chemical and heat resistance, with flame retardance and its high tenacity, and is used in filtration fabrics, and as reinforcement for mechanical rubber goods and composites. New industrial applications for the product are being explored. Product representative Craig Heaton said "In hot gas filtration the resulting performance will improve through higher strength and better dimensional stability. Furthermore, the lifetime of the end products will increase considerably, and the yarn properties open the possibility for lower fabric weight"Diolen Industrial Fibers, which is also one of Europe's largest producers of polyester fibres, will be exhibiting atTechtextil North America for the first time under its new owner, Traction Partners, an investment firm based in Amsterdam.The Netherlands11.