Trelleborg, a global industrial group specializing in advanced polymer technology, has issued a new whitepaper and mobile app designed to help engineers understand the benefits of engineered fabrics.
The purpose of the program is to raise the profile of engineered fabrics in applications where they might not have been considered in the past, according to a company news release.
Nonwoven Fabrics that Offer a Variety of Uses
Engineered fabrics, also known as nonwoven fabrics, are fabric-like materials usually made from long fibers that are bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. They can include such fabrics as felt, or can be limited life, single-use fabrics. In other cases, they can be very durable fabrics that have industrial applications.
Engineered fabrics can provide specific functions, including absorbency, liquid repellence, resilience, stretch, softnesss, strength, flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, filtration, or even as a bacterial barrier and for sterility. They are often used as replacements for materials like metals, plastics and resins where greater flexibility, durability and resistance to chemicals or extreme temperatures are required.
Company Seeks to Raise Profile
The problem is that they are not always the first solution considered. Trelleborg’s white paper on was created to guide engineers through product development processes and to help optimize innovation through the use of engineered fabrics.
The new app — called the Fabric of Industry App — is a new self-selection application tool that helps guide specifiers towards the specific high performance material that is most suitable for their requirements.
Johan Frithiof, commercial director of Trelleborg’s engineered fabrics division, said the white paper and app were created to increase the exposure of engineered fabrics.
“In a market where technology is rapidly changing, company resources are placed under strain and approvals and regulations requirements are much more demanding, it has become harder for engineers in all industries to innovate,” Frithiof said. “However, continuous product development is vital to ensure performance.
“In launching these two tools, we aim to share our specialist knowledge and arm our customers with the information they need to make educated specification decisions,” he said. “Specifically, the white paper indicates the benefits of building strategic partnerships to ease the strains on a company’s business and yield real benefits. The app will allow customers to easily select the most suitable engineered fabric for them, from a large database of products.”
Swedish Company Offers Materials Handling Solutions
Trelleborg – which is based in Trelleborg, Sweden — is a world leader in engineered polymer solutions. it has annual sales of about $21 billion and has more than 15,000 employees in 40 countries. The company, which was founded in 1905, works mostly with the aerospace, agricultural, automotive, infrastructure and construction, transportation, offshore oil and gas, and materials handing industries.