Edana Automotive Nonwovens Newsletter Issue June 2013

8/18/2019 Edana Automotive Nonwovens Newsletter Issue June 2013

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This is the first newsletter from EDANA focussing on some of thelatest developments of Nonwovens in Automotive Applications.

In today’s demanding automotive industry, with a multitude ofrequirements, nonwovens are increasingly being deployed asvital components. The purpose of this series of newsletters isto highlight nonwoven technologies, processes, and applicationsfor automotive end uses.

EDANA

EDANA is the international associationserving the nonwovens and related

industries.

EDANA provides a comprehensiverange of services and supplies itsmembers with the information anddata necessary for them to enhancethe industry goals and performance.Formed in 1971 originally as theEuropean Disposables and NonwovensAssociation, for more than four decadesEDANA has grown and evolved, tobecome today a modern industry

association with a European focusand global influence and profile,reflecting the changing dynamics ofthe nonwovens industry.

Today, unifying the diversified interestsof more than 230 member companies

in a unique vertically integrated structurealong the supply chain, EDANA is thesingle, powerful Voice of Nonwovens,representing, protecting and activelypromoting the common interests ofnonwovens and their related industriesthroughout the world, with a particularfocus on Europe, Middle East andAfrica.

More information is available atwww.edana.org.

newautomotivenonwovens1 Nonwovens in Automotive

Applications

2 The Market

3 List of Members of the

Automotive Interest Group

4 Upcoming Events

4 “Clothes make the man” -and nonwovens make the car

4 Textiles in automobiles – Lower

consumption is just the beginning

4 Textiles accelerate automotivedevelopments

5 Lean concepts from Faurecia

5 Floor carpets provide lightweight

soundproofing advantages

6 New Market Review

7 Utilising natural-fibre productsin the automotive supply chain

7 General Motors Supplier Quality

Excellence Award goes to Ziegler

8 Automotive Seat Concept

NONWOVENSIN AUTOMOTIVEAPPLICATIONS

#1

newMay2013

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edana automotive nonwovens news

THE MARKETNonwovens are expanding rapidly in the automotive Sector.

Over 40 significant applications have been identified and

more new end uses are being developed on a continuous

basis.

We can see just a few of the applications in the graphic

below.

A major new study is being carriedout by EDANA and Kellie Solution Ltdand is due for publication later in 2013.This work has shown that growth inthe use of Nonwovens in automotiveapplications is over 6% pa CAGR.

The sector is being driven by such asthe need for lighter and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

The chart below highlights some of themajor forces that we expect to drive themarket over the coming decade.

Chart courtesy of Kellie Solutions


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List of Members of the

Automotive Interest Group

Fibertex Denmark

J.H. Ziegler Germany

Freudenberg Nonwovens Germany

Hassan Group Turkey

IMS Nonwoven Sweden

Bonar Netherlands

Rubi Industrial Spain

Sandler Germany

TENOWO Germany

Hollingsworth & Vose Germany

IPETEX Portugal

JX Nippon ANCI France

TWE Group Germany

Exten Switzerland

CHA Technologies Group – Cosmotec UK

Komitex Russia

Tessiture Pietro Radici Italy

The consumption of Nonwovens iscurrently around 28m2 per vehicle andthis is expected to rise to over 40m2 pervehicle in the future.

We have projected an exciting periodof growth and some estimates of thisgrowth are set out below.

In this rapid expansion we are seeinga surge in innovative and excitingapplications many of which arehighlighted in the newsletter. •

Source: Kellie Solutions Ltd, EDANA, Market Data

Nonwovens in Automotive million m2

6,000

4,500

3,000

1,500

2010 20202015 20250


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UPCOMING

EVENTSThe EDANA Automotive Group will be exhibiting at the GlobalAutomotive Components and Suppliers Expo4-6th June 2013Messe Stuttgart Germany.

www.globalautomotivecomponentsandsuppliersexpo.com

TEXTILES INAUTOMOBILES –LOWERCONSUMPTION ISJUST THE BEGINNING

Scanty resources and rising raw-material prices -to counter this situation, carmakers are making apowerful commitment to optimising weight and

consumption as well as new drive concepts. Onthe way to sustainable mobility, textiles areproviding an important contribution - and theapplications are becoming more numerous aswell as more surprising. •


Textile materials are conquering the automobile andwill even be deployed in future applications. Even

today, most cars contain more than 20 kilograms ofmanmade and natural fibers: in seat upholstery andbelts, airbags and cladding, filter and insulating

materials and in numerous further applications.Textile researchers anticipate that this will increaseto 30 kg and even more by 2015. The reason for this:textiles are increasingly assuming functions relating to

comfort, acoustics, safety and fuel economy. •

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TEXTILES

ACCELERATEAUTOMOTIVEDEVELOPMENTS

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“CLOTHES MAKETHE MAN” - ANDNONWOVENS MAKETHE CARThere are now more than 40 applications for nonwovensinside automobiles. That means that over 35 square metresof flat textile surfaces can be found inside one of today’s cars.Visible nonwovens, however, account for only 10 percent ofthe entire amount, i.e. roughly 3.5 square metres.

What other areas of application exist? What are the namesof the technologies employed, and what criteria have to betaken into consideration? The following articles answerthese questions and many more. •

LEAN CONCEPTSFROM FAURECIA

FLOOR CARPETSPROVIDELIGHTWEIGHTSOUNDPROOFINGADVANTAGES

At a recent financial summit in London, Tier 1 automotivesupplier Faurecia showcased its latest technologies andmaterials that are enabling car makers to achieve up to 22kgin weight savings.

These include the Peugeot 208’s latest acoustic package that

has cut the weight of this component by 60% and the injectednatural fibre door panels now being employed in European CSegment cars that are 40% lighter than previous versions.The wood fibre door panels on premium sedans like theMercedes SL allow 20% weight reductions, with similarsavings being achieved by Faurecia innovations such as thinslush skins, cellular polypropylene instrument panel carriersand synthetic premium skins.

Faurecia is a significant user of nonwovens, as the second-largest supplier of acoustic packages and the leadingsupplier of floor carpet and package trays. Each year it usesan estimated 20,000 tons of felt, 50,000 tons of processed

heavy layer and 24 million square metres of needlepunchedcarpet.

At its London conference, executives outlined the company’sstrategy for achieving sales of 22 billion by 2016,boosted, among other initiatives, by the opening of 25 newmanufacturing plants in China, 20 in North America andseven in East European countries, as well as significantexpansion in Russia. •

Teijin’s V-Lap lightweight, sound-absorbing polyesternonwovens have been selected for use in the floor carpet ofthe new Mitsubishi Outlander, a midsize crossover vehiclelaunched in Japan in October.

The floor carpet was developed by Hayashi TelempuCorporation, a manufacturer of interior automotive parts.V-Lap was adopted as the sound-absorbing material for thecarpet’s back side.

V-Lap’s vertically oriented nonwoven structure performs aswell as conventional sound-absorbing materials yet weighsonly half as much, helping to improve fuel efficiency through

vehicle-weight reduction.

Going forward, Teijin aims to expand the global marketfor V-Lap’s use in various sound-absorption auto parts,including ceilings and doors.

V-Lap is a nonwoven fabric comprising fibres that areoriented vertically. It is made by a unique manufacturingmethod to produce a structure that is bulky, lightweight andeasy to mould. It was first utilized as a cushioning material forseating bedding, but its superior sound-absorbing propertyhas led to its use in vehicles for sound proofing. Teijin is

also developing V-Lap as a heat-insulating material for usein next-generation houses. Nonwoven products with addedfunctionality can be produced through composite fabricationby bonding V-Lap to other films. •

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NEW MARKETREVIEWNonwovens are being increasingly employed in vehicles

because of their low weight and low cost, according to a

new report which predicts that the use of textiles in the

automotive industry is set for significant growth.

Nonwovens are being increasingly employed in vehiclesbecause of their low weight and low cost, according toa new report which predicts that the use of textiles in theautomotive industry is set for significant growth.

The average weight of textile materials in a mid-size car hasincreased from 20 kg in 2000 to 26 kg today, and by 2020 itis expected to reach 35 kg. The increase stems from a risein demand for greater comfort and safety, and efforts aimedat reducing the weight of a vehicle in order to lower fuel

consumption and CO2 emissions.

In terms of fabric type, it has been predicted that wovenfabrics and knitted fabrics will continue to account for apredominant share of the global market for automotivetextiles. This prediction holds true despite a rise in the use ofnonwovens and an increase in the penetration of composites.As far as nonwovens are concerned, there are now more than40 applications for nonwovens inside cars, equating to over35 square metres of flat surfaces, according to the reportaccording to the report, Automotive Fabrics: ExpandingOpportunities in the Vehicles of Tomorrow, published in the

latest issue of Technical Textile Markets from the businessinformation company Textiles Intelligence.

Furthermore, the use of recycled materials in nonwovens forautomotive applications is increasing. A growing proportionof needlepunched nonwovens for automotive applications,for example, is being manufactured from recycled polyesterderive from plastic bottles. There has also been an increasein the use of natural fibre nonwovens in vehicles. In manyapplications, natural fibre nonwovens are used as thesubstrate in composite parts. In the future, there will besignificant growth in the market for passive safety devices– which include airbags and seat belts – as a result of new

US legislation which will make the fitting of side-impactairbags mandatory on all vehicles in 2013. The automotivesafety market has grown faster than the automotive marketas a whole for many years, and will continue to do so for theforeseeable future.

However, there are a number of other areas in the automotiveindustry where the use of textiles is expected to expand ornew applications for textiles are expected to be found in theyears ahead. In particular, there will be growing opportunitiesfor using nonwovens and other textiles in applications suchas battery separators and polyurethane foam replacement,

as well as in new heating and lighting materials and acousticinsulation components in the interiors of vehicles. Inaddition, nonwoven materials are now being employed in theexteriors of vehicles -- especially as undershields and outerwheel arch liners. •

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NatureWorks and Joma Wool are two key partners for VitaNonwovens, based in High Point, North Carolina, which has

just successfully completed a management buy-out fromVitafoam, a division of the UK’s Vita Group.

In its pursuit of sustainable products, Vita employs PLAIngeo fibre in many of its products, including its Envita highloft nonwovens and VitaSafe FR, in combination with naturalviscose fibre made from dissolving wood pulp. Joma Wool isan exporter of greasy, scoured wool which Vita employs in arange of its natural fibre products.

Having partnered with a number of Charlotte-based privateequity firms for the buy-out, Vita’s management will nowactively seek new markets for such materials in bedding,furniture, hygiene, automotive, filtration and building

applications.

“Customers will experience a seamless transition,” promisedKevin Womble, executive VP of sales and marketing. “Wehave built a solid foundation and forged strong partnershipsover the years which are critical for our future. We want to

enhance our customers’ experience and continue to findways to bring value in support of their initiatives. Our newstructure will allow us to achieve these objectives with anentrepreneurial flair.” •

GENERAL MOTORSSUPPLIER QUALITYEXCELLENCEAWARD GOES TOZIEGLERThe newly-created General Motors Supplier Quality

Excellence Award has been presented to nonwovensmanufacturer Ziegler, headquartered in Achern, Germany.

Ziegler supplies acoustic insulating materials to theEuropean factories of General Motors and its productsare used in various seat applications of GM Group brandsaround the world.

“This reward reflects our uncompromising commitmentto quality,” said MD Peter Hartwig. “My thanks go to allour employees, whose professional work enabled us towin it.” •

UTILISING NATURAL-FIBRE PRODUCTSIN THE AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY CHAIN

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Founded in 1840, the Harrison Spinksbedding brand is run by the Spinks family,and their expertise in high-end mattressand comfort technologies is also opening

up new markets in other sectors. Thecompany has a long history of innovationin components and spring technology,utilising patented machinery and designtechnology.

The company is known for its innovationskills. Chief Executive Simon Spinksrecently won the prestigious Ernst &Young Northern Entrepreneur of theYear for Technology CommercialisationAward.

Simon is one of 40 outstandingindividuals from some of the UnitedKingdom’s most successful businessesthat were recognised in the Ernst &Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards.Harrison Spinks’s spring technologyutilise nonwoven fabrics to enablecompanies to replace existing fillingmaterials such as polyurethane foam andpolyester fibre with a 100% recyclablealternative.

In its latest innovative venture HarrisonSpinks has formed a developmentrelationship with Johnson Controlstointegrate pocketed coil spring mattresstechnology into an automotive seatconcept called ComfortThin.

The very thin profile seats replaceconventional urethane foam pads witha 100 percent recyclable alternative,and provide a five to 20 percent massreduction. This technology would be

available for 2015 model year vehicles.

“As part of our innovation process,Johnson Controls looks to applytechnology from other industriesinto automotive applications,” said

Andreas Eppinger, group vice president,technology management for JohnsonControls Automotive Experience. Withmore than 200 plants worldwide,Johnson Controls supply components formore than 30 million cars per year.

“Johnson Controls have taken ourtechnology and are really developingit into a great product … said DarrenMarcangelo, Commercial Director, forSpinks Springs. This innovation has led

to Johnson Controls, being awarded theprestigious ÖkoGlobe in the category“Resources, Materials and ProcessOptimization”. The jury chose thisyear’s winners of the internationalenvironmental award for themobility industry from morethan 110 applications - agreater number than everbefore. •


AUTOMOTIVESEAT CONCEPT

“COMFORTTHIN CONVINCED THEJURY, SINCE JOHNSON CONTROLSSUCCESSFULLY TRANSFERREDLIGHTWEIGHT AND RECYCLABLEMATERIALS FROM OTHER INDUSTRIESTO AN AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCT. ALSO,THIS SEAT CREATES ADDITIONALWEIGHT SAVING POTENTIAL THROUGHSHORTER BODYWORK, THUSREDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTION,”said Professor Ferdinand Dudenhöffer,automotive expert and spokesperson forthe ÖkoGlobe jury.

Avenue Herrmann Debroux 46

B-1160 Brussels, Belgium

Tel: +32 2 734 93 10

www edana org

Edana Automotive Nonwovens Newsletter Issue June 2013

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