Optical fibers are in development to be used as sensors to monitor physiological properties and this will definitely have an impact on health related topics for an ordinary's man life.
Gert Frederiks, the President and CEO of Teijin Aramid speaks about the markets and technical textiles during an interview with Fibre2Fashion Correspondent Manushi Gandhi.
Synopsis:
Teijin Aramid is a subsidiary of Teijin Group which is engaged in production of aramid fibres. It was formerly known as Teijin Twaron. Twaron is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fiber, developed in early 1970s. The company produces various high-strength fibers for industrial purposes. Twaron is used in tires, hoses, belts, aerospace, civil engineering, construction and has also various other applications. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands.
Gert Frederiks, aged 58 years, was appointed the President and CEO of Teijin Aramid in 2010. Prior to this, he was Commercial Director of Teijin Aramid. He started his career in 1982 as an account manager at Akzo Nobel Arnhem. Mr. Frederiks studied Marketing and Business Administration from University of Groningen.
Excerpts:
Why did Teijin Aramid choose Techtextil as the platform to introduce a new-generation Twaron CT 608 Aramid fabric?
It is an exposition where a lot of our customers and prospects in the ballistic, protective and automotive area are present and it of course is one of the biggest ones in Europe for the technical textile industry. Our new product, the next generation aramid fabric Twaron CT 608, based on the high performing lightweight aramid yarn, Twaron 550dtex f1000 was launched there because of the large ballistic oriented public that is visiting that exhibition. An ideal platform for us to communicate about our newest products. Our Twaron CT 608 fabrics for instance proved that it is possible to achieve up to 20% weight reduction of a ballistic panel while offering the same ballistic performance. We also announced there that we are now offering new water repellent treatments for its ballistic fabrics ensuring the best performance level even in wet conditions.
What are the special applications of Aramid fibers?
Wherever strength, safety, heat or flame resistance, low weight or sustainability is required, Twaron, Sulfron, Teijinconex or Technora is used. Our products are used worldwide in many different applications and markets, including automotive, ballistic protection, marine, civil engineering, protective clothing, optical fiber cables, and oil & gas. More specific applications: ballistic protection; hard ballistics, soft body armor, helmets, civil engineering products, composites, conveyer belts, cut protection products, elastomer reinforcement, engineering plastics, flexible flow lines and umbilicals, friction products, ropes and cables, reinforced pipes, sealing material, special paper, tires, heat protection products.
What is the future of Global composite market and what all sectors of Technical Textile you will cater?
With Twaron we offer a product which is used in niches of the global composite market dominated by glass and carbon fibers. We are active in developments on airfreight cargo containers and gas cylinders.
What efforts are being put by Teijin in the field of technical textiles?
Teijin has a strong focus on the high performance fiber market with its broad product portfolio of Twaron and Technora para-aramid fibers, Teijinconex meta-aramid, Tenax carbon fiber and Endumax UHMWPE. An investment in new meta-aramid fibers was approved and announced recently. Our company clearly regards high performance fibers as core business.
How can water repellent treatments be useful in fabrics and what are their special applications?
We actually offer WRT treatments for ballistics fabrics and in special applications like containment belts for jet engines. But also the opposite effect is sometimes very effective to prevent detrimental effects from moisture contact: We apply a super-absorbent finish to Twaron yarn reinforcing optical fiber cables. In case of a leak in small water volumes intrude and the swelling finish prevents further water intake into the cable. We are actually the front runner in this so called water blocking yarn and technology.
What are your predictions regarding Growth of Technical Textiles Market and how do you see the TT Market?
I can give you our assumption for the para-aramid world market where we expect a 5 to 7% growth p.a. in the coming years.
Which kind of aramid fibres are very much popular and have an increasing demand in the market?
Both the meta aramid as well as the para aramid fibers are popular in different markets. It depends on the application and the requirements which one is used.
We see an increasing demand in the fields of protection, automotive and optical fiber cables. If we dive into the protective apparel market than we see that our company has supported the global market for protective apparel over decades with our high-performance materials, Teijinconex meta-aramid, Twaron and Technora para-aramid, Pyromex flame-resistant fiber and since recently with Endumax high-performance polyethylene. We now have developed a new type of meta-aramid fiber offering the world’s highest level of heat resistance combined with excellent dyeability.
In July we announced that we will produce this in a facility to be built in Ayutthaya Province, Thailand. The construction begins this December and production is scheduled from July 2015. The newly developed fiber will strengthen our group’s global presence in the protective apparel market, where demand for high-performance materials is increasing. The new type of meta-aramid fiber strengthens our competitiveness in the emerging economies and Asia, where the demand for heat-proof and flame-retardant high-performance materials is growing due to increasing safety regulations, and in North America and Europe, where the demand is high for advanced solutions that combine comfort and maneuverability with high protection.
What is the scope for the use of optical fibres in textiles and how far do you think that they can become a part of an ordinary man’s life?
We are not involved in these developments since our product Twaron doesn’t play a key role in it. However, optical fibers are in development to be used as sensors to monitor physiological properties and this will definitely have an impact on health related topics for an ordinary’s man life.
What are the key requirements for making fabrics used in making firefighting costumes on a larger scale? What is the cost of Flame-resistant fibers?
Key requirements are heat and flame resistance and charring without melting. The fibers used include Twaron, Technora and Teijinconex, but also PBI, PBO and FR viscose. Due to the wet spinning process used in manufacturing theirs cost are higher than for PET or PA fibers.
According to you which market factors will play a key role in the business of your company for the year 2013?
Cost performance (price) and sustainable light weight solution in terms of steel replacement play a key role in our business and that of our customers.
We want to be “the best para-aramid company in the world”. We believe that sustainable value creation and cost awareness are critical success factors. This means making products that match our customers’ needs as efficiently as possible, while also ensuring that our products can contribute to the cost efficiency of their applications. In this approach, we take both financial and ecological aspects into account. The ultimate aim of the products and services we deliver is to improve both our own competitive position and that of our customers. We call this “maximizing cost performance in the value chain”. Of course, we cannot do this alone – it requires all parties in the value chain to work closely together. We will continue to proactively initiate collaboration with our partners in the chain whenever we see the opportunity.
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