Technology Zones
Technical textiles, zone by zone
Ten zones cover the fibres, fabrics, coatings, composites and processes behind technical and industrial textiles.
Each zone brings together the latest news and case studies, the manufacturers in the Material Guide and the field experts who answer your questions.
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Bondtec
Bondtec covers the surface and bonding techniques that change what a textile can do. This zone covers plasma and chemical surface treatment, thermal, ultrasonic and adhesive bonding, lamination and the machinery behind them.
1 articles · 86 manufacturers
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Field experts
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Coated Textiles
Coated textiles carry a polymer or resin layer that adds water resistance, flame retardancy and abrasion resistance. This zone covers coating and laminating processes, the polymers used, and the fabrics they become for outdoor, industrial and architectural use.
1 articles · 114 manufacturers
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Newsletter editions
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Composites
Composite textiles combine two or more fibres or materials so the result outperforms each part on its own. This zone covers reinforcement fabrics, prepregs, resins and the moulding and curing processes that shape them.
6 articles · 115 manufacturers
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Equipment types
Field experts
Newsletter editions
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Fibers and Yarns
Fibers and yarns are where every textile starts, from man-made polyester and nylon to glass, aramid and carbon. This zone covers staple fibres and filaments, spinning and texturing, rovings and the yarn properties that decide the end product.
5 articles · 96 manufacturers
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Flexible Connections
Flexible connections join piping and machines and absorb movement, vibration and misalignment. This zone covers expansion joints, compensators, flexible sleeves and hoses for product and air transfer, plus shaft protection.
5 articles · 71 manufacturers
Field experts
Newsletter editions
Recommended manufacturers
Functional apparel textiles
Functional apparel textiles add performance, comfort and protection to what people wear. This zone covers moisture management, thermal and windproof layers, stretch and abrasion resistance, and the finishes and membranes that deliver them.
2 articles · 136 manufacturers
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Equipment types
Field experts
Newsletter editions
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Nonwoven Fabrics
Nonwoven fabrics bond fibres together mechanically, thermally or chemically instead of weaving or knitting them. This zone covers spunbond, meltblown, needlepunch and spunlace, and the filtration, hygiene, medical and geotextile products they end up in.
1 articles · 126 manufacturers
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Equipment types
Field experts
Newsletter editions
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Research & Development
Research and development is where the next textile is decided, from eco-friendly fibres to smart and e-textiles. This zone covers institutes, pilot lines, test methods and the projects that move a material from laboratory to production.
10 articles · 80 manufacturers
Field experts
Newsletter editions
Recommended manufacturers
Technology and Processes
Textile technology and processes turn raw fibre into finished fabric. This zone covers spinning, weaving and knitting, dyeing, printing and finishing, and the machinery, automation and quality control around them.
4 articles · 142 manufacturers
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Equipment types
Field experts
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Woven Fabrics, Laid Webs, Braidings, Knitted Fabrics
Woven fabrics, laid webs, braidings and knitted fabrics each build structure in a different way. This zone covers interlaced wovens, unidirectional laid webs, braided sleeves and ropes, and warp and weft knits for clothing and industrial use.
1 articles · 217 manufacturers
Field experts
Newsletter editions
Recommended manufacturers
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Technology Zone and the Material Guide?
A Technology Zone is the editorial side of a technology: news, case studies, videos, newsletter editions and field experts. The Material Guide is the directory side: material types and the manufacturers that make them. Every zone links to its Material Guide category and back.
How do I find the right zone for my question?
Start from what you need to do with the textile: pick a fibre, weave or knit it, bond a web, coat it, reinforce it, or develop something new. The “What do you need to do?” row links each of those to the zone that covers it, and every zone panel shows the material types and manufacturers for that step.
Can I get updates on one technology only?
Yes. The E-Product editions each cover one technology and the Market Insight editions each cover one market, so you subscribe to the ones you work with. Every zone panel and zone page also lists the past editions on that technology.
How do I get my company or expert into a zone?
A basic Material Guide listing is free via List your company. Partner and Expert listings add a full profile, videos and a field expert who appears in the zone. No zone has an expert yet, so every one of the ten is still open.