Pakistan Textile Journal. October index

Technical Textile producers and their technologies met at HIGHTEX 2007 Exhibition - technical textiles meeting of Middle East and Eastern Europe

The 2nd HIGHTEX Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Exhibition and SAFETECH 2007 Protective Textiles and Technologies Exhibition was held from 30th November to 2nd December 2007, in Istanbul Exhibition Center. HIGHTEX 2007 and SAFETECH 2007 Exhibitions, in which the raw materials, intermediate and end products of future’s market nonwovens, their production techniques and machinery were presented for the interest of Turkish textile industry.
Pakistan Textile Journal also exhibited at the show and is pleased to present the show review of the Hightex 2007.

HIGHTEX 2007 and SAFETECH 2007 Exhibitions in the field of technical textiles and nonwovens brought together the most important brands of Turkish industry and the textile machinery suppliers from worldwide.

The exhibition can be considered as first and only exhibition in this field in Turkey and more than 300 specialized companies of which 150 are foreign companies introduced the latest products and technologies in technical textiles. These exhibitors from Turkey and from 20 others countries were pleased with the number of professional visitors and purchase committees from 35 countries, mainly from China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Syria, Uzbekistan, Korea, Taiwan, Greece, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France and Holland.

The opening ceremony on 30th December 2007 was attended by Adil Nalbant, The Chairman of TEMSAD Textile Machinery and Accessories Association and Prof. Dr. Bülent Özipek, Dean of ITU Textile Technologies and Design Faculty. They discussed about the importance of HIGHTEX 2007 Exhibition and development of technical textiles sector in Turkey over the years.

In his speech at the opening of the exhibition Necip Güney, Founder Partner, Teknik Ltd. explained the meaning and importance of HIGHTEX exhibitions, the first and only exhibition in its field in Turkey. He added, “The show was held for the first time in 2005, today we are opening the 2nd edition of HIGHTEX exhibition and we believe that HIGHTEX exhibitions have become a worldwide known brand as ITM exhibitions in a short time.”

He said, “The recent capacity increase in traditional textiles, both worldwide and in Turkey and the increasing interest for the products with high added value has led the Turkish companies in direction of technical textiles and nonwoven products. HIGHTEX exhibition is an important step for further development of technical textiles and nonwovens market, that has grown in the recent years in Turkey.”

While talking about another leading textile machinery exhibition and an important brand, ITM Textile Machinery Exhibition, he said. “ITM will be held during 6-10 June 2009 in Beylikdüzü Tüyap Exhibition Center with the cooperation of Temsad and Tuyap. The next edition of Hightex 2009 will be combined with ITM brand. We hope that HIGHTEX exhibitions will improve and grow further with each edition.”

During the exhibition, the 3rd International Technical Textiles Congress, which was organized by Dokuz Eylül University, Engineering Faculty, Textile engineering Department during 1-2 December 2007. At the Congress, in which specialized academician and company representatives made presentations; all the elements of the sectors including experts and researchers in the field of technical textiles and national and international producers, consumers and investors were present and audience appreciated the interactive approach of academia and industry.

The textile and apparel industry has been an integral part of the Turkish economy and accounts for 24% of industrial employment. The technical textile and nonwovens in

dustry is a growing sector of this industry and according to Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters Association (ITKIB), the country imported technical textiles worth US $625 million in 2006 from markets like Germany, Italy, China, the United Kingdom and France to meet its domestic demand. Similarly, the Turkey’s exports of technical textiles have been more than double in the last six years. In 2000 shipments were worth $405 million, whereas in 2006 it was around $847 million. Germany topped the list of export markets with around $147 million Turkish technical textiles with flexible, intermediate bulk containers of man-made textile materials and tire cord fabric leading the exports.

Turkish textile sector exports, excluding apparel accounted for approximately $6.1 billion in 2006 showed a 12.2% increase over 2005. Turkish textile sector, having reached the best exportation figures of the recent years, will keep its leadership for many years.

v Technology: Airlaid, Crosslapper, Drylaid, Meltblown, Needlepunch, Spunbond, Spunlace, Stitchbond, Thermobond, Weblaiding, Waterlaid, Wilding.

v Machines: In this category; there are flame retarding technologies, refining and renovation technologies, waste packaging machines, waste and recycling technologies, bonding and separation technologies, printing machines, dyeing- general finishing, narrow weaving, converting machines, fiber tearing machines, flocking-impregnation systems, embossing machines, needling machines, coating and lamination systems, cutting and separation systems, drying systems, laboratory measurement equipment, micro-organism protection technologies, multi-filament systems, nonwoven processing machines, plastics and other hardening materials, plasma application technologies, robot technologies, rag pulling machines, technical textile weaving machines, tufting machines, braiding machines, adhesive mixture and implementation systems.

v Raw materials: Polymer chips and granules, bands and elastics, bind-latex and foams, fibers and filament, super absorbents, reinforcement textiles and fibers, tampons, structural composites and patterns, adhesives, hot melts, adhesive films and coating powders, adhesive and pattern materials, surface processing chemicals, acrylic fibers, biodegradable fiber materials, glass fibers, natural fibers, recycled fibers, flame retardant fiber, carbon fibers, metallic fibers, polyester fibers, melting yarns, filament yarns, high-tech yarns, polypropylene yarns, polyester fibers, polyamide yarns, cellulose and synthetic yarns, carded yarns and textile glass fibers.

v End products: Agrotextiles, construction textiles, clothing textiles, road and ground textiles, decoration textiles, industrial textiles, food textiles, medical and hygiene textiles, cleaning and cosmetics textiles, transportation industry textiles, environment protection textiles, packaging textiles, protective textiles, spot textiles.