Magazine September 2012

All the latest information from the textile world

Just an image

Just an image

51st Dornbirn Man-Made Fibers Congress

In time-honored tradition, numerous international firms with textile connections gathered for the 51st Man-Made Fibers Congress in Dornbirn between September 19 and 21: machine builders, textile producers, users and institutions. Those taking part ranged from the RWTH Aachen to Volkswagen and from Rhodia, Brazil to Toray Industries, Japan.

Just an image

The 2012 Man-Made Fibers Congress focussed on the following topics:

  • Fiber innovations (sustainability)
  • Fibers and Textiles in Automotive (mobility)
  • Man-made Fibers for Environmental Protection
  • Unconventional Fiber Applications
  • Medical Applications
  • Technical Nonwovens (filtration, membranes)
  • EU Research Projects

Groz-Beckert had already attended this congress several times, but this time the company provided a lecture of its own. Dr. Stefan Zamel, the head of the TEZ, delivered a lecture as part of the "Technical Nonwovens" topic on how the perfect interaction of needle and fiber can save material during nonwovens production.

Just an image

The TEZ lecture – basics and starting points

Increasing fiber prices, fiercer competition, and sustainability: these three factors continue to confront the nonwovens industry. The use of materials in nonwovens production is becoming increasingly important to developers – and it is also a research topic at the TEZ.

For Groz-Beckert, as a partner of the textile industry and as manufacturer of the relevant tools, the task was to examine whether or not the utilization of material could be made more efficient by selecting a specific type of needle.

At the heart of this investigation was a series of experiments whereby a predefined nonwoven was created using different needle geometries. The nonwovens produced in this way were then characterized via textile-physical testing, so that any differences in their textile properties could be identified and quantified.

On the basis of these results, new approaches were established where the optimization of material efficiency was concerned. Application-specific recommendations for action deriving from this can be individually established for relevant projects, together with customers and partners.

Dr. Stefan Zamel, head of the TEZ, reported on this – and on the concrete results of this research – in the lecture he gave at the Congress. Great interest was shown, and the first projects were already being discussed with partners during the Congress itself.

Just an image

The TEZ: internationally effective

The next opportunity to gain familiarity with the potential and expertise of the TEZ outside Albstadt is coming soon – in Turkey, at the textile machinery symposium of the VDMA (German Engineering Federation). Entitled „German Technology meets Turkish Textile – Conference and B2B Matchmaking", the event will be held from November 12-13 in Istanbul, and from November 15-16 in Gaziantep.


Like to find out more about the Technology and Development Center? Just download the current TEZ Brochure here. Your TEZ experts will be happy to answer any further questions.