Source: http://www.igeme.gov.tr/

Technical Textile and Nonwovens are the most developing and promising sector in the global textile industry. The production and consumption of technical textiles and nonwovens has gained great economic value in the last decade.

The demand for technical textiles and nonwovens is directly related to overall economic developments and textile technology. The increase in GDP per capita in Turkey in recent years has fueled demand for technical textile and nonwoven products such as feminine hygiene products, diapers, medical textiles and disposable products. In addition, rapid growth and the requirements in the automotive, construction, filtration, agriculture and chemical industries have stimulated demand for technical textiles and nonwovens.

Today, many sophisticated, functional, hightex and high performance textiles are produced in Turkey including waterproof, windproof, breathable, flame retardant, anti-bacterial fabrics and garments, tire cord fabrics, military and protective wear.

The production capacity in Turkey for nonwovens is over 110,000 metric tons per year. Istanbul, Bursa, Gaziantep, Kocaeli and Tekirdag are the major cities in the production of echnical textiles and nonwovens.

During the past decade, an increasing number of Turkish companies have moved into technical textiles and nonwovens production because of the high value added of the products and less vulnerability to price changes. Both production volume and the variety of products are continuing to increase. There were 10 companies which dealt with technical textiles and nonwovens among Turkey's 500 largest companies in 2004.

There are more than 150 companies manufacturing technical textiles and non-woven in Turkey. More than 20 large companies produce nonwoven roll goods. Most large-scale Turkish nonwoven and technical textile companies are members of the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association-EDANA These companies are:

• Advansa Sasa Polyester San. A$.
• Aklnal Sentetik Tekstil ve Ticaret A$.
• General Tekstil San.ve Tic. A$.
• Gulsan Group
• Hassan Group
• Hayat Temizlik ve Sagllk Orunleri San ve Tic. A$.
• Kurt Kuma~ San.ve Tic. A$.
• Mogul Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. $ti.,
• Vateks Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret AS.

The major end-user sectors for technical textiles and nonwovens are automotive, packaging, hygiene, medical supplies, construction, clothing, military, agriculture and filtration in Turkey.

Turkey is an important producer of tire cord fabrics and industrial yarns. Kordsa, with manufacturing facilities in seven countries and a global supply network, is the world's leading supplier of nylon industrial yarn fabrics and single end cord to tire, mechanical rubber goods, webbing ropes and cordage markets.

Some Turkish companies, Sude Suni Deri and Fiberflon, have formed joint ventures with foreign technical textile firms, especially in the production of technical fabrics.

Turkey is one of the world leaders in big bag (FIBC) production and Turkey ranked first in world big bag (FIBC) exports in 2006. Mogul Tekstil was the winner of the IDEA "Entrepreneurship" award given by INDA (Industrial Nonwovens and Disposables Association in North America) during the IDEA 01 show organized in Miami - USA.

There is a suitable infrastructure for technical textiles and nonwovens which is growing and developing in terms of technology, human resources and know-how in Turkey. The technical textile industry in Turkey has the benefit of a well-established textile infrastructure, strong textile educational and research institutions, a skilled workforce, the availability of raw materials and a large domestic market. The Scientific & Technological Resarch Council of Turkey (TUBiTAK) and its subsidiary organizations, the Marmara Research Center (MAM) and the Bursa Test and Analysis laboratory (BUTAL) provide technical, testing and scientific assistance to the sector. TUBiTAK provides research and development aid to support the companies which are conducting R&D projects, regardless of the size of the company. In addition, a National Nano-technology Center has started operating at Silkent University, Ankara.

In 2007 the total value of technical textiles and nonwovens exports was estimated to exceed US$ 1,5 billion. The main export products in 2006 were big bags (FIBC), tire cord fabrics, nonwovens, glass fibers and articles, technical fabrics, safety seat belts and high tenacity yarns. The EU (Germany, France, UK, Italy), the Russian Federation, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Ukraine are the most important markets for Turkish technical textiles and nonwoven sectors.

Although all technical textiles products cannot be identified in the Harmonized System, the major items are given in the table.

Turkey's Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exports By Major Product Groups (US $ 1000)

Source: Undersecretarial of Foreign Trade

2nd HIGHTEX Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition and SAFETECH 2007 Protective Textiles and Technologies Exhibition were realized simultaneously on 30 November-2 December 2007 in Istanbul Exhibition Center. HIGHTEX 2007 and SAFETECH 2007 Exhibitions, in which the raw materials, intermediate and end products of future's market nonwovens, their production techniques were together, was the largest technical textiles meeting of Middle East and Eastern Europe. During the exhibition, the 3rd International Technical Textiles Congress, which was organized by Dokuz Eylul University, Engineering Faculty, Textile engineering Department, was also realized on 1-2 December. For detailed information please visit http://www.hightex2007.com/

A monthly issued magazine in English and Turkish, named Nonwoven Technical Textiles Technology Magazine, and is available since 2003. For detailed information please visit http://www.teknikfuarcilik.com/en/dergi2.asp?dergi=2