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Tech-Fab Europe

Markets

Tech-Fab Europe markets

The European technical textile industry is composed of large, and SME located in different countries in Europe. This local footprint enables our manufacturers members to be at the centre of the supply-chain in between the raw materials and the end users, with the support of universities and technical centres. Our industrial members carry out intense research & development to contribute to a more sustainable world, as our textiles are key components in various markets, such as Mobility, Construction, Energy, and Industry.
Discover the diversity and the ingenuity of our technical textiles in the following pages :

MOBILITY
CONSTRUCTION
ENERGY
INDUSTRY

DESCRIPTION

Mobility Market

To support the transition to cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal,  an efficient multimodal transport system has to be developed.

Our technical textile industry is playing an important role, to facilitate the development of lightweight parts for cars, trucks, buses, and train. The composite parts reinforced by smart textiles are the result of active innovation from our EU manufacturers. Lighter chassis, battery covers, and carbon wings are recent examples illustrating our active participation to reduce CO2 emissions.

Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans said on Dec 21st, 2021, “Europe’s green and digital transition will bring big changes to the ways we move around. Today’s proposals set European mobility on track for a sustainable future: faster European rail connections with easy-to-find tickets and improved passenger rights support for cities to increase and improve public transport and infrastructure for walking and cycling and making the best possible use of solutions for smart and efficient driving.”

DESCRIPTION

Construction Market

Tech-Fab members offer a wide range of solutions which can effectively reinforce several construction elements, increasing durability, and reducing their weight. Those durable elements contribute to reaching the objectives of European Green Deal 2050.

Typical examples are the OMF for External Thermal Insulation Systems (ETICS) and for plaster reinforcement, the textiles used to convey dimensional stability to waterproofing membranes or industrial floorings and the geogrids used to reinforce road access and screeds.
Our technical textiles used inside buildings may have either aesthetic or structural, fire resistance & anti-cracking functions: from fiberglass wall coverings to tapes or grids for gypsum or cement boards, including fabrics with special coatings and OMF for mosaics back mounting.

Our members also offer a wide range of glass non-wovens designed to convey stability, fire resistance properties and aesthetic functions to ceilings and walls.
Last but not least, the trend for composite materials in the construction market is growing rapidly, such as, for example - CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) applications, participating to water waste reduction and faster pipe renovation.

DESCRIPTION

Energy Market

The new geopolitical and energy market realities require us to drastically accelerate our clean energy transition and increase Europe's energy independence from unreliable suppliers and volatile fossil fuels.

Renewables are the cheapest and cleanest energy available, and can be produced domestically, reducing our need for energy imports. Wind energy is a key solution, with composite blades reinforced by technical textiles, based on glass or carbon. Supported by active research & development activities, our European textile manufacturers are world leaders. The new generation of textile reinforcements are playing a crucial role allowing for longer blades and improving their efficiency. Those innovations serve the short term REPowerEU plan to reduce our energy dependency and longer-term objective, European Green Deal, with zero CO2 emission by 2050.

Moreover, in the oil & gas industries, FRP pipes are made of technical textiles. Our products enable increased pressure resistance, longer life, and rehabilitation of supply lines.

DESCRIPTION

Industry Market

This segment covers a wide range of applications for technical textiles.  There are fabrics for Sports & Leisure, enjoying constant development of new materials, applications or processes for Marine, Cycles, skis and other specialties.
Textile reinforcements with specific coatings are dedicated to the Defence & ballistics to absorb or dissipate energy, thus reducing equipment’s weight, as well as in the production of grinding wheels for DIY, construction or for industrial use.
Fibre glass lightweight fabrics are also widely used to reinforce adhesive tapes for special packagings or for industrial use.
Last but not least, there is a wide range of products for High thermal Insulation, boasting a resistance up to 1100° and allowing a reduction of heat consumption.