All the latest information from the textile world

The biggest continent continues to grow

Asia is the world's biggest continent, comprising 45 countries and extending from the equator to the Arctic Circle. It covers an area of more than 44.5 million square meters – that is, around one third of the worldwide land mass. Alongside many poorer countries it also contains some of the wealthiest lands in the world. The continent's population numbers roughly four billion – equivalent to around 60 percent of all the people in the world.

The world's population is continuing to grow, and on average is becoming ever older. This growth is of course driving urbanization, especially in Asia. Today almost 50 percent of human beings on this planet live in cities. Over the next 40 years, that figure will rise to 70 percent – an enormous challenge, on many levels. Secure food and power supplies, availability of affordable housing, and effective national and international transport connections are just a few examples here.

A special challenge will be to reduce energy requirements, so as to maintain living standards in cities in the future as well. Cities currently account for around 80 percent of the planet's total CO2 emissions.

Fewer emissions, more potential for geotextiles & filter

The growth in Asia presents the nonwovens industry with great opportunities. Worldwide, cities are investing around 2 billion Euro in their infrastructure – so the hope is that there will be steadily increasing demand for geotextiles. The fight to reduce CO2 emissions will also require the increased production of filters. There are further areas of application too: since an increasing number of people live in areas without sufficient drinking water, high growth rates for the drinking-water filter sector are also expected.

With its Technology and Development Center (TEZ) Groz-Beckert offers not only its German customers but all its customers worldwide the opportunity to either initiate such products or to further develop them.

52 agencies across the continent

The growth in Asia presents the nonwovens industry with great opportunities. Worldwide, cities are investing around 2 billion Euro in their infrastructure – so the hope is that there will be steadily increasing demand for geotextiles. The fight to reduce CO2 emissions will also require the increased production of filters. There are further areas of application too: since an increasing number of people live in areas without sufficient drinking water, high growth rates for the drinking-water filter sector are also expected.

With its Technology and Development Center (TEZ) Groz-Beckert offers not only its German customers but all its customers worldwide the opportunity to either initiate such products or to further develop them.

Differing requirements, constantly high quality

The most important countries so far in the nonwovens sector for Groz-Beckert are China, Japan, South Korea and India. The main areas of application range from artificial leather, filter products and paper-machine felts to automotive felts, geotextiles, floor coverings and felts for insulation.

In Japan, growth in the nonwovens industry is beginning to stagnate. The products from Japan are primarily impressive for their outstandingly high quality. Fine and ultrafine gauge needles with rounded barbs are primarily used here (RF and HL), providing a very good and even product surface while achieving optimal gentleness to fibers at the same time.

In addition to barb needles so-called structuring needles are used – i.e. fork and crown needles. They are especially suitable wherever quality requirements are extremely high, e.g. the automotive sector. Groz-Beckert is the only manufacturer on the market able to provide a structuring needle in the fine gauge 43 gg, which despite its filigree design is stable enough for the manufacture of the highest-quality products.

Groz-Beckert also offers needles with special coatings which not only prevent corrosion but also lengthen needle service life. As a full assortment provider Groz-Beckert can of course deliver needle types for less demanding applications as well. This involves needles with so-called conventional barbs, which have also proven themselves to be very suitable for highly specialized and technically demanding applications. Products manufactured in this way include synthetic leather and felts for automotive interiors.

Needle rotation system

In addition to selection of a suitable needle type, handling of the needles as well as the right exchange cycles are of crucial importance where product quality is concerned. Customers interested in overall optimization of their product receive support from Groz-Beckert in the form of useful suggestions as well as specific recommendations with regard to the introduction of a needle rotation system.

Jet strips

In the jetstrips sector for hydroentanglement products, Asia is the world's largest market. Continuing growth is primarily due to the hygiene sector, the main centers of which are located in the provinces of Shanghai, Fujian, Haian and the region around the Yangtse Delta.

In this product segment, too, Groz-Beckert has successfully gained a foothold in the Asian market. One reason for this is comprehensive customer support – just as with the needles. Materials are analyzed and optimized so that the performance specifications of the jetstrips can be continuously improved.