Home
Editorial Calendar
How can the future of nonwoven products?
Story in: February-2024
Story: How can the future of nonwoven products?
Textile manufacturing may be the world's oldest industry, dating back to pre-history. It's remarkable how little has changed over time. It is undeniably true that over the centuries we have improved the process considerably. The spinning wheel became ring-spun open-end spinning, followed more recently by new 'high-tech' machinery. However, the process has remained somewhat unchanged since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, such as Hargreaves' spinning Jenny Crompton's mule and John Kay's flying shuttle. What is true of spinning is equally true of downstream processes. Weaving is still almost entirely limited to three types: plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave.
Knits have similar limitations: circular knit, flat knit, and warp knit. While it is true that the shift from natural to synthetic dyes brought about a major change, that change was brought about by the invention of aniline dyes in 1856. Popular fabrics we use today, such as corduroy and denim, date back to cord-du-roi and de Nime in 17th-century France. We think about the changes that technology has brought to Shifley — all in embroidery. Where once the Schiffli machine was complex and fragile, with 512 needles, where the slightest wobble would render the operation useless, today the latest computerized version is smaller, stronger, and cheaper. This is indeed progress until we recognize that today's high-tech computerized machine is an updated version of 16th-century broderie anglaise.
In today's world, where rapid change has become the order of the day, we have the right to ask the global textile industry: What have you done for us recently? The fundamental problem is that in the traditional textile world, new products are constrained by process constraints.
Nonwoven textiles turn the process on its head. Where once new products had to adapt to the process, nonwoven textiles designed the process to meet market demands. For years nonwoven textiles were orphans of the industry, limited to felt hats, interlinings, and pool-table coverings.
Today the market is just beginning to recognize the benefits of nonwoven fabric. Truly it will bring a new dimension to textiles. If the first industrial revolution began with textiles, nonwovens are likely to usher in the second. Because with nonwovens, production is much less complicated and substantially lower cost. And the list of benefits provided by nonwoven textiles is almost endless. -Editor
Home Editorial Calendar How can the future of nonwoven products?
Story: How can the future of nonwoven products?
Textile manufacturing may be the world's oldest industry, dating back to pre-history. It's remarkable how little has changed over time. It is undeniably true that over the centuries we have improved the process considerably. The spinning wheel became ring-spun open-end spinning, followed more recently by new 'high-tech' machinery. However, the process has remained somewhat unchanged since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th century, such as Hargreaves' spinning Jenny Crompton's mule and John Kay's flying shuttle. What is true of spinning is equally true of downstream processes. Weaving is still almost entirely limited to three types: plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave.
Knits have similar limitations: circular knit, flat knit, and warp knit. While it is true that the shift from natural to synthetic dyes brought about a major change, that change was brought about by the invention of aniline dyes in 1856. Popular fabrics we use today, such as corduroy and denim, date back to cord-du-roi and de Nime in 17th-century France. We think about the changes that technology has brought to Shifley — all in embroidery. Where once the Schiffli machine was complex and fragile, with 512 needles, where the slightest wobble would render the operation useless, today the latest computerized version is smaller, stronger, and cheaper. This is indeed progress until we recognize that today's high-tech computerized machine is an updated version of 16th-century broderie anglaise.
In today's world, where rapid change has become the order of the day, we have the right to ask the global textile industry: What have you done for us recently? The fundamental problem is that in the traditional textile world, new products are constrained by process constraints.
Nonwoven textiles turn the process on its head. Where once new products had to adapt to the process, nonwoven textiles designed the process to meet market demands. For years nonwoven textiles were orphans of the industry, limited to felt hats, interlinings, and pool-table coverings.
Today the market is just beginning to recognize the benefits of nonwoven fabric. Truly it will bring a new dimension to textiles. If the first industrial revolution began with textiles, nonwovens are likely to usher in the second. Because with nonwovens, production is much less complicated and substantially lower cost. And the list of benefits provided by nonwoven textiles is almost endless. -Editor
SHeare