Technical or 'industrial' textiles

In the light of the fast pace of innovation in technical (or ‘industrial’) textiles, there is no generally accepted definition of this part of the textile industry. It relates both to kinds of products and to the application of textiles to particular uses. Examples of (high-tech) products are high tenacity yarns, or special elastic or coated fabrics, all of which have a high technology content. As far as industrial applications are concerned, textile-based articles can offer considerable performance advantages compared to other materials. The vehicles and transport industry is the principal industrial user of technical textiles (29% in total EU consumption of such products in 1999), followed by furniture/home furnishing (14%) and construction/civil engineering (11%). For an overview of possible fields of application of technical textile.      

In recent years, technical textiles have become a vital component of EU industry (reaching a share of 27.6% in total textile production in 1999, after 25.8% in 1998), and its importance is bound to increase. Within the EU, the main producers of technical textiles are Germany (17% of the EU total), closely followed by the UK and France (16% each), Belgium (15%) and Italy (14%). 

Given that innovation in new materials, processes and products is an inherent feature of this sub-sector, expenditure on R&D is higher in this field than for ‘conventional’ textiles (reaching up to 8-10% of turnover, compared to the industrial average of 3-5%). In the development of fibres, yarns and fabrics, functional aspects – such as anti-bacterial, anti-static, UV protective, thermal, or biodegradable functions – are playing an increasingly important role. Since technical textiles are generally not fashion oriented, performance requirements and technical specifications determine the success of a product. Usually, technical textiles are created in a close relationship between the producer and the consumer so as to ensure tailor-made solutions to specific user purposes.

Europe is internationally very competitive in this area, and runs a trade surplus in technical textiles (+ € 2.1 billion in 1999). It should be noted that such products are not just exported to industrialised countries like the US and Switzerland (with their advanced technologies and applications), but also to developing countries. Depending on the type of product, the EU’s main markets are as follows (figures for 1998):

• Technical fibres and yarns: US (18.2%), Switzerland      (6.7%), Turkey (6.4%), Poland (6%), China (4%), Hong Kong (3.7%)            
• Technical fabrics: Poland (10.2%), US (9.2%),      Turkey (5.4%), Czech Republic (5.7%), Switzerland (5.2%)            
• Technical made-up articles: US (19.7%), Switzerland      (11.6%), Japan (8.9%), Norway (4.7%)   

    In spite of the considerable potential of the market of technical textiles, it should be borne in mind that it will remain a niche market. The maintenance of a broader textiles base in Europe – including all conventional products – is essential to generate the turnover and the economies of scale which are needed to remain internationally competitive.

Source : http://europa.eu.int/