The competitiveness cluster of the technical and functional textile industry in Rhône-Alpes

What are technical and functional textiles ?

©French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, General Directory for Businesses, 12/2006

Technical and functional textiles are high performance products, with specific properties fit for specific applications. These textiles can be woven, knitted or non-woven. Scope of application are varied: textile, electronics, agriculture, health, transportation (11% in volume of a car is made of fibres), construction and civil engineering, personal protective equipment, sports, etc.
Their properties are also varied: high resistance, fire-proof, anti-microbial, water repellent, UV protection, etc.

Two main development guidelines are currently given priority :

• functional or multi-functional textiles: fire-proof and water-repellent fire-fighting clothing including the function of indicating temperature and toxicity of vapour gases…
• technical textiles with applications in many fields: transportation, construction (heat and cold insulation), geo-textiles (improving mechanical and hydraulic properties of soils), agriculture (shades textiles, hail protection nets and tarpaulin), automotive (high tenacity yarns are used to produce air-bags), medical devices, etc.
  

The main aim will be to improve the long-lasting effect of these textile functions : use resistance, wash and wear resistance, etc.

The market

France produces 24% of the overall European technical textile production, and ranks 4th globally, following Japan, United-States and Germany. China is the top consumer in the world for technical textile. Rhône-Alpes is the leading area for technical textiles, with 65% of the French production (more than 300,000 tons) and 70% of national turnover.

Main players

Competitiveness clusters : Techtera (Rhône-Alpes), Up-Tex (Nord-Pas-de-Calais).
Skill centres : IFTH, R2iTH, Insa, Ensait.
Businesses : Dickson Constant, Ferrari, Porcher, Hexcel, Chargeurs Entoilage, Thuasne, Chomarat ...

More players worldwide : Asahi (Japan), Daikin (Japan), Dupont (United States), Nanotex (United States) ...
More information : http://www.industrie.gouv.fr/ ; http://www.ifth.fr/ ; http://www.r2ith.org/