Materia is always looking for the newest and most innovative materials. Last month, for example, we were at the Milan Design Week to this end. From 9 to 12 May, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main was held, and of course Materia was there as well. Techtextil is the world’s leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. During the opening ceremony on 9 May, the Techtextil Innovation Awards were presented, honouring products made from technical textiles, and new technologies and materials. Below, you’ll find the 8 winners, divided over four categories.

New applications
In the category ‘New application’, Centexbel and Peterseim Strickwaren were chosen as the winners. Centexbel, a non-profit from Belgium, developed an intelligent knee brace, which supports patients during the rehabilitation phase after knee operations. A textile sensor identifies the angle of the knee in real-time and informs the patient of this accordingly. It also offers personalised exercises via an app.

Peterseim Strickwaren from Germany presented a basalt knitted fabric called SEAL that protects maritime systems, such as buoys, from environmental influences and cuts maintenance costs. The surface properties of basalt prevent algae growth and should extend the possible dwell time in the water.

New technology
German company V. Fraas Solutions in Textiles won over the international jury with their patented load securing net SITnet in the category ‘New technology’ at the Techtextil Innovation Awards. Due to the exclusive manufacturing process by which the cross points of the belt web are knitted and not sewn together, the net lies completely flat and even. This increases the load bearing strength because the stress is uniformly distributed with less weight and lower costs.

In addition, Vetex NV from Belgium is specialised in coating and laminating technology. Its OC2PUS technology can apply polyurethane coating to flexible substrates, without the use of solvents. For this, they use specially developed polyurethane resins that harden chemically during the coating process.

New product
As winners of the ‘New product’ category, the German start-up Tex-Lock and Penn Textile Solutions were chosen. The former created a textile based bicycle lock, which is light, flexible and does not scratch the bicycle’s paint. Made up from different layers, the lock is fire and cut resistant.

Penn Textile Solutions, on the other hand, specialises in the production of elastic textiles. They were selected for their Ombra-DLS, which is a shading net for the use in façade construction and window installation. By expanding the net for a greater or lesser extent, the light admitted to a room can be modified according to the requirements.

New material
Lastly, Techtextil Innovation Awards appointed two winners in the ‘New material’ category. The first, the Institute of Textile Chemistry and Chemical Fibres (ITCF) Denkendorf won with their Purcell, a sustainable composite made of pure cellulose. The cellulose is not only used as a high strength reinforcement fibre, but also as a matrix component.

The second winner in this category was Durafiber Technologies, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polyester fibres, fabrics and materials. They were awarded for their alkaline resistant polyester HT yarn. This yarn retains its original technical properties, even after being in contacts with alkaline products at high temperatures for several days.

Photos: Messe Frankfurt