Global Technical Textiles Business Update, 1st quarter 2008

The first quarter of 2008 was a busy period for the global technical textile sector. A number of important acquisitions took place. Diolen Industrial Fibers was taken over by a Netherlands-based investment company, Traction Partners. Lenzing Plastics became the new owner of Dolan, and TenCate and Oranjewoud completed their acquisition of Edel Grass. Performance Fibers bought Invista's North American tyre cord and industrial polyester filament businesses while Ter Group acquired Simon & Werner.

In business news, Ahlstrom has announced that its chief executive officer has resigned and that it will shed production capacity to improve its profitability. Freudenberg Nonwovens has announced that it will shut down two of its US production lines. DSM Dyneema has become a separate business group within DSM, while Lenzing and TenCate Protective Fabrics have won the right to supply the USA's armed forces. NanoHorizons and Piedmont Chemical Industries have combined forces to develop and market antimicrobial and moisture management additives for textiles while Oerlikon Neumag has announced that it plans to expand its spunlaid pilot plant in Germany.

In investment news, Ahlstrom has announced a wave of new investments, Invista has revealed that it plans to build a development facility for polyamide research, Lenzing is investing heavily in cellulosic fibres, and Lurgi Zimmer plans to build a new polyamide plant in China.

Meanwhile, a recent market forecast shows that fast growth is predicted for biodegradable polymers.

• Summary
• Acquisitions
  • Diolen Industrial Fibers Has Been Acquired By Traction Partners
  • Lenzing Plastics Is The New Owner Of Dolan
  • Tencate And Oranjewoud Have Completed Their Acquisition Of Edel Grass
  • Performance Fibers Has Bought Invista's North American Tyre Cord And Industrial Polyester Filament Businesses
  • Ter Group Has Acquired Simon & Werner
• Applications
  • Alginate And Chitosan Are Being Combined To Make An Innovative Textile For Wound Dressings
• Business News
  • Ahlstrom's Chief Executive Officer Has Resigned
  • Ahlstrom Will Shed Production Capacity To Improve Its Profitability
  • Dsm Dyneema Is Now A Separate Business Group Within Dsm
  • Freudenberg Nonwovens Has Shut Down Two Of Its Production Lines In The Usa
  • Lenzing And Tencate Protective Fabrics Have Won The Right To Supply The Usa's Armed Forces
  • Nanohorizons And Piedmont Chemical Industries Will Combine Forces To Develop And Market
  • Antimicrobial And Moisture Management Additives For Textiles
  • Oerlikon Neumag Plans To Expand Its Spunlaid Pilot Plant In Germany
• Investments
  • Ahlstrom Has Announced A Wave Of Investments
  • Invista Is Building A Development Facility For Polyamide Research
  • Lenzing Is Investing Heavily In Cellulosic Fibres
  • Lurgi Zimmer Plans To Build A New Polyamide Plant In China
• Markets
  • High Growth Is Predicted For Biodegradable Polymers