Composite

The majority of the members of Swissmem’s association of Swiss textile machinery manufacturers have their origins in technology for the processing of cotton fibers, and as the textile industry developed, synthetics. It has been calculated, in fact, that the association’s 44 members can draw on a staggering 4,011 years of combined engineering and processing know-how between them, but all have greatly diversified over the years.

Polypropylene (PP) staple fibers are used in many different applications, such as automotive, carpets and floorcoverings, geotextiles, apparel, sanitary and hygiene, and technical applications. In the automotive sector, for example, end-uses include luggage compartments, undershields, floor carpet systems, wheel arch liners and seam reinforcement. Currently, around 20 kg of various fibers are used per vehicle – and this figure is increasing.