TEchnIcaL TEXTILES SWISS InnovaTIonS aS SoLuTIonS To

Technical Textiles Swiss innovations as solutions to global challenges
SWISS TEXTILES
Textilverband Schweiz, Fédération textile suisse, Swiss textile federation
Beethovenstrasse 20, P.O. Box. 2900, CH-8022 Zürich
T + 41 44 289 79 79, F + 41 44 289 79 80
zuerich@swisstextiles.ch, www.swisstextiles.ch
Fürstenlandstrasse 142, P.O. Box. 352, CH-9014 St. Gallen
T + 41 71 274 90 90, F + 41 71 274 91 00
stgallen@swisstextiles.ch, www.swisstextiles.ch
Technical Textiles
Swiss innovations as solutions
to global challenges
2
3
Editorial
4
Technical textiles
The advantages of textiles versus
other materials
Foreword by Federal Councillor
Johann N. Schneider-Ammann
12
Healthcare
Quality medical care
16
Product personalisation
Meeting individual requirements
22
Mobility
Safe and efficient mobility
26
Sustainability
Protection of resources
30
National and international cooperation
Innovation through networking
2
editorial
Swiss innovations for
the global market
In the course of the past few decades, the Swiss textiles and c­ lothing
industry has evolved into a globally integrated workplace. Re‑
search and development activities are carried out at one location,
management and financing at another, and manufacturing at
several. Today, entrepreneurs in this industry primarily focus on
niche markets, and offer specialised products, for example in
the fashion segment, including high-quality embroidery or fabrics for
haute couture; in the household textiles segment, with products
that meet high demands in terms of function and design; or in the
area of technical textiles, in which high-tech products made of
textile materials are utilised in a broad variety of applications. A large
number of Swiss companies have been in business for well over a
century. They have repeatedly succeeded in adapting themselves to
new developments and markets, as well as in playing a pioneering
role by utilising tried-and-tested technologies for new applications.
The aim of this brochure is to provide an insight into the diversity
of applications and the innovative strength of the Swiss textiles and
clothing industry. It draws attention to the challenges that have
to be faced, as well as to ways in which they can be overcome with
the aid of developments by our member companies.
In our view, there is no doubt that the importance of technical textiles
will continue to grow in the future. As an industry association, we
are strongly committed to networking our members with leading natio‑
nal and international research partners, as well as with other sectors.
With our support, members of Swiss Textiles will be presenting
their products to international trade visitors at the 2015 Techtextil in
Frankfurt, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles
and non-woven materials.
We are also committed to ensuring that the economic policy envi­
ronment in Switzerland provides the best possible conditions for our
members to remain internationally successful. ×
Andreas Sallmann
Chairman
Peter Flückiger
Director
Foreword
Strengthening our
competitive capacity
through high-quality
education and research
3
Switzerland is one of the world’s most innovative nations. This is
largely attributable to our unique mix of academic and professional
education, together with the existence of a research and develop‑
ment climate that is characterised by autonomy and excellence, and
successful interaction between major corporations and small and
medium-sized companies.
Innovation is particularly important in order for small and medium-­
sized companies to remain internationally competitive. Other
crucial factors include the ability to react swiftly, a high degree of
flexibility and a strong focus on customer service. Every day
these companies have to prove themselves on the market and take
the needs of their clientele into account. In this way they are able
to quickly bring about improvements to their products and processes.
The Swiss textiles and clothing industry is a prime example of
innovative activity in our country. As Switzerland’s oldest, and once
largest, industry, it has undergone a major transformation over
the course of time, and has successfully adapted itself to the chang‑
ing global conditions. As in the past, the typical characteristics of
“Swissness” – quality awareness, reliability, punctuality and precision
– continue to apply within the industry, which embodies companies
that have been successfully operating on the market for decades and
will continue to hold their own in the face of international compe‑
tition in the future. And it is precisely in the area of technical textiles,
which is one of our most important growth markets, that Swiss
companies will be able to offer solutions to global challenges.
In this connection, the already existing cooperation between business
and science is a major factor. In Switzerland there are many highly
creative individuals who not only come up with new ideas, but also go
on to implement them as entrepreneurs – independently, at their
own risk and in most cases using their own capital. This calls for openmindedness, as well as perseverance and patience. I wish all the
companies in Switzerland’s textiles and clothing industry the neces‑
sary courage and freedom: they are making a valuable contribution
towards our country’s competitiveness. ×
Johann N. Schneider-Ammann
Federal Councillor
4
Technical textiles
The advan‑
tages of
textiles
versus other
materials
Textiles are omnipresent in our daily
lives. It is often the case that we
are entirely unaware of the functions
they perform and that they are
used in an extremely broad variety
of applications.
—
Easily combinable
Textiles can be manufactured in an enormous
variety of forms and colours. They consist of natural
or artificial fibres, but can also be made from
­metal, glass or ceramics. Textiles can also be com‑
bined with practically any other desired materials.
For example, products made from fibre-reinforced
plastics are lighter and more rigid than they
would be if they were made of steel. They are used
for a broad variety of technical applications,
for example in the automotive and aerospace indus‑
tries, as well as for the manufacture of sports
equipment.
—
Large surface, low volume
Textiles have a very large surface area and a rela‑
tively low volume and mass. This renders them
suitable for use as cover material for the protection
of monuments, for example, for slowing down
­glacial melting, or as a material for housing plants
on roofs and facades of houses in towns and
cities. This unique ratio of surface area to volume
makes textiles ideal for use both on and in the
body.
—
Flexible structure, high degree of porosity
The structure and porosity of textiles can be
­precisely specified so that they can be used as
the material for accommodating cell cultures
for the cultivation of artificial organs. Our muscles
and tendons, as well as our skin, consist of
natural fibres – and it is clear that fibres and tex‑
tiles will play an increasingly important role in
the field of regenerative medicine.
—
Chemically modifiable
Textiles can be chemically modified in order to
make them perform new functions. For example,
fragrances or medicaments can be integrated
into them. As a result of this kind of refinement,
textiles can also be rendered “smart”: with the
aid of metal coating, a fibre can be turned into a
sensor, or a t-shirt into a monitoring device that
can, for example, warn a fire fighter when the tem‑
perature is too high. In hospitals and aged care
services, textiles will become an important aid to
enhancing the quality of life of patients. Textiles
with integrated sensors will be used in a variety of
areas of everyday life, for example in items of
­furniture or buildings, and will therefore play a
significant role in the “Internet of things”.
—
Unlimited potential applications
Textiles are light, thin, flexible, highly porous,
tear-resistant, mouldable yet dimensionally stable,
re-processable and multifunctional: no other
­material has such diverse properties. It is by no
means surprising that one of the first practical
applications of nanotechnology was in the area of
5
Easily combinable
Large surface, low volume
Characteristic Swiss quality
Economic freedom /
Openness /
Outstanding education
and research /
Precision /
Reliability /
Political stability
Flexible structure, high degree of porosity
Chemically modifiable
properties
light /
thin /
flexible /
highly porous /
tear-resistant /
mouldable yet
dimensionally stable /
multifunctional
textiles. With this and other new key technolo‑
gies, textiles are acquiring an ever increasing num‑
ber of properties with virtually unlimited potential
applications.
—
Switzerland: innovative and open-minded
Switzerland enjoys an excellent reputation through‑
out the world, and is regularly placed very highly
in rankings relating to innovative capacity. Distan‑
ces within the country are short, bureaucracy is
­minimal, it is ideally located in the heart of Europe,
its infrastructure is optimally developed, it offers
a high degree of economic freedom and transparen‑
cy, and its outstanding education and research
landscape is the perfect breeding ground for inno‑
vation. Switzerland’s textiles and clothing indus‑
try is also able to hold its own on the global market
thanks to innovations, top quality products and
first-class services. As a result of the outstanding
quality they deliver in terms of material, functionali‑
ty and design, as well as precision and reliability,
textile solutions from Switzerland are sought-after
the world over and enjoy an excellent reputation. ×
6
Technical textiles
Technical textiles as drivers of growth
The technical textiles segment is a driver of growth.
In the past few years, global sales figures have
risen by five percent per annum, and have meanwhile
reached around 150 billion US dollars. This trend
is set to persist, and Switzerland’s textiles industry is
positioning itself as a technological leader thanks
to its high innovative capacity.
The importance of technical textiles is often under‑
estimated. This is a technology that can be ap‑
plied in a broad variety of sectors, including vehicle
construction, medical instruments, heavy indus‑
try and building construction. This means that the
products themselves are not always immediately
visible to us.
It is estimated that the global market for tech‑
nical textiles is currently worth around 150 billion
US dollars, and if we include non-wovens and
fibrous composite materials, this figure rises to
above 250 billion.
—
Solutions to future challenges
Demand for technical textiles will continue to grow.
They provide solutions for an ageing society
with rising healthcare costs, including textile-based
implants and healing or monitoring products.
Technical textiles also provide solutions in the area
of sustainable energy production, for example
textile facades and flat roofs as sources of en‑
ergy and drinking water. Geographically speaking,
the outlook is especially promising in Asia
and North America. For example, the Chinese ­
market for technical textiles is posting doubledigit annual growth rates. In China’s automobile
industry alone, the use of technical textiles
is expected to almost double from 755 tonnes
in 2010 to 1,400 tonnes in 2017.
—
Export of top quality high-tech products
China is now the world’s leading producer of techni‑
cal textiles, too, accounting for around one-third
of global production. In terms of value, however, the
picture for Europe is considerably more favourable.
In the struggle against Asian mass production of
technologically less demanding technical textiles,
smaller businesses have very little chance of hold‑
7
Export
GLOBAL MARKET: DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL TEXTILES
of technical textiles (CHF)
In million tonnes and billion dollars
605 Million
160.4
35
127.3
30
93
25
132.6 133.9 137.3
2013 → 2014 + 8.2 %
107
100
85.7
90
80
78
20
Swiss textile exports: proportion of technical textiles
In thousand tonnes
Import
70
830 Million
60
2013 → 2014 + 5.9 %
40
of technical textiles (CHF)
15
10
5
50
30
2000
2005
2010
2011
2012
2013
2018 f
Production in million tonnes
Sales in billion dollars
2014, worldwide
Global market: share of technical textiles
2011
Rest of the world 17 %
India 18 %
China 31 %
Areas of application
EU 16 %
America 18 %
17 %
Mobile technology
Industrial technology 16 %
Building technology
15 %
12 %
Agro-technology
Medical technology
10 %
Geo-technology 9 %
Sport technology
8 %
Production technology 7 %
Packaging technology 6 %
Sources: Gherzi, Commerzbank, WTO International Trade Statistics 2013, Techtextil.
ing their own in the future. Instead, the European –
and in particular the Swiss – industry has positioned
itself at the top of the high-tech segment. Here,
the industry develops, manufactures and exports top
quality high-tech products that are used in niche
markets and which set themselves apart thanks to
their high level of innovative capacity, functionality,
quality and services. In terms of volume, Switzer‑
land exported technical textiles to the value of almost
605 million Swiss francs in 2014 – an increase
by 8.2 percent versus the prior year. And in the past
few years, the share of technical textiles in Switzer‑
land’s overall textile exports has also increased
­constantly. ×
20
10
1994
1995
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1997
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1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1995
“Switzerland has positioned itself
among the leaders in the technical
textiles sector.”
—
Peter Flückiger, Director, Swiss Textiles
8
Technical textiles
Brief descriptions
of the various
technologies
Technical textiles
are developed along
the e­ ntire value
chain encompassing
fibres, y­ arns and
fabrics. A high innova‑
tion potential is cre‑
ated through chemical
or mechanical pro‑
cesses and the ex‑
change of know-how
with other sectors.
Fibre technology
Fibres are the source product
for textile innovations. A distinc‑
tion is made between natural
and chemical fibres. The latter
may be synthetic (e.g. acrylic,
polyamide, polyester, elastane)
or consist of cellulose mole‑
cules (viscose, acetate). With the
aid of special coatings, the
incorporation of auxiliary materi‑
als or the use of fibre cross-­
section structures it is possible
to create special properties.
High-performance fibres of this
nature offer enormous inno‑
vation potential.
Fibrous composite
materials
Fibrous composite materials
consist of a plastic matrix
containing embedded fibres.
The advantage of this type
of structure is that the material
is light yet extremely durable.
The market for fibrous composite
materials has grown in the past
few years, notably as a result
of increasing demand in the
automotive and aviation sectors,
and in the area of wind energy.
Developers envisage a great deal
of potential for carbon fibre
composites, for example, though
manufacturers still have some
major challenges to contend with
regarding automation and
­processing technology. Three-­
dimensional textile construc‑
tions are already being used for a
variety of purposes today, and
they offer numerous advantages
versus other materials thanks
to their low weight and ease of
formability.
9
Surface
manufacturing
These processes involve the
production of two-dimensional or
three-dimensional textiles
from yarns using weaving, knit‑
ting, twining, etc. Thanks to
­technological advancements in
mechanical engineering,
these processes are currently
experiencing a boom, because
the surface of textile fabrics
is greater than that of conven‑
tional materials. Finer meshing
and digitally controlled manu‑
facturing processes open up new
areas of application for knitted
and woven fabrics, for example
for filtration or in the construc‑
tion industry. It is also possible
to process a broad variety of
materials in this way: for exam‑
ple, glass and metal fibres,
as well as fibres from maize, can
be processed so that the result‑
ing textile fabrics can be used for
numerous applications.
Textile sensors
Textile finishing
There is a great deal of potential
for the use of textiles with
­sensors or electricity conducting
functions in the medical, auto‑
motive, sport and fashion sectors.
A distinction is made between
textile-based sensors and sensors
integrated into textiles. In the
case of integrated sensors, elec‑
tronic components such as
printed circuit boards and probes
are stitched onto the textile or
combined with it in another way.
Textile-based sensors represent
a major opportunity for inno­
vative development. Here, optical
and electronic conducting fibres
and coatings are being used
as the basis for creating “smart”
fabrics.
With the aid of finishing pro‑
cesses, textiles can be given
special properties to render
them (for example) flame re‑
sistant, antistatic or water resist‑
ant. Finishing may involve me‑
chanical, thermal or chemical
processes. Because the various
processes require considerable
resources and in many cases the
use of chemicals, both the chal‑
lenge and the innovation poten‑
tial lie in the need to develop new
and alternative procedures and
processes for textile finishing.
10
Technical textiles
Areas of application
Healthcare
The diversity of textile products is enormous.
The Swiss textiles and clothing industry
offers numerous innovations and services for
unique solutions in the areas of healthcare,
product personalisation, mobility and sustainability.
Textiles for quality medical care
Page 12
11
Product personalisation
Mobility
Sustainability
Textiles customised to meet
individual requirements
Textiles for safe and fast travel
Textiles for the protection
of resources
Page 16
Page 22
Page 26
12
Healthcare
Quality
medical care
Life expectancy is constantly increasing and we are remaining active
longer than ever before. Here, healthcare plays a decisive role. Thanks to
groundbreaking medical developments and advancements it will be
­possible to cure ever more diseases and enhance the quality of life. The
healthcare system will have to undergo radical changes due to high ­
costs. The elderly and patients suffering from chronic illnesses will be able
to remain at home instead of having to receive treatment in hospital.
Monitoring and provision
of medicaments
Technical textiles offer revolutionary solutions for
the healthcare system of the future. With the aid of
textile sensors, it is possible for patients to trans­‑
mit health data to doctors via a permanent monitor‑
ing device. One of the advantages of textile sen‑
sors consists in the high degree of dermatological
compatibility of textile materials, which elec‑
tronic sensors are unable to provide. Attaching
conventional measurement electrodes to the
skin is time consuming and requires professional
personnel. But in the future, by putting on a
correspondingly equipped item of clothing, it will
be possible to permanently monitor health data
and transmit the information directly to a doctor.
This means that permanent monitoring will be
both possible and affordable. Textiles also repre‑
sent an ideal medium for administering medica‑
ments: for example, it is possible to treat
wounds by providing the patient with the neces‑
sary substances directly via dressings, which
no longer have to be changed daily, and the provi‑
sion of medicaments via injections will become
a thing of the past.
—
Bio-compatible textiles
Medical textiles for artificial cartilage, fatty tissue
or replacement heart valves are currently un­
dergoing a considerable boom. With fibre-based
structures it is possible to produce artificial
muscles, tendons, ligaments and special joints.
Textiles are evolving into the base material
for the cultivation of “spare body parts” from the
patient’s own cells. In various ways, textiles
are similar to body tissue, and this is why they are
far more compatible with the human organism
than other materials. ×
13
29 %
Proportion of people over
the age of 65 living in Europe
in 2050.
Source of data: OECD (2015).
trends
­—
Use of personalised medicaments to
enhance the effectiveness of therapies
and reduce side effects.
­—
“Textiles are playing an increasingly important role in
modern-day medicine. On the one hand, they are able to
perform crucial medical services such as intelligent
­monitoring of body functions and provision of precise
doses of medicaments. And on the other hand, they
unobtrusively offer a great deal of comfort and are suitable for everyday use.”
—
Professor Dr. Martin Wolf, University Hospital, Zurich
Monitoring a patient’s state of health
via clothing equipped with sensors
in order to record and process data,
e.g. vital parameters.
—
Cultivation and creation of artificial
organs on the basis of textile structures.
—
Increased demand for therapy and care
in suitable accommodation.
—
Textiles with active functions to support
(as well as protect) patients.
14
Healthcare
Caffeine for premature babies
Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for
Materials Science and Technology (Empa) have
developed a membrane that is activated by UV light
and gently administers substances to patients
via the skin. This is good news for everyone who
is afraid of injections, as well as for premature
babies, who will no longer be subjected to the stress
of caffeine injections.
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials ­Science and Technology (Empa),
St. Gallen (www.empa.ch)
For a number of years now, babies who
are born prematurely have been ad­
ministered a dose of caffeine to prevent
res­piratory arrest. The caffeine is either
fed into the incubator via a sensor, or
has to be injected. In both cases, this
means additional stress for these highly
sensitive babies. Dosing the caffeine
accurately is also a difficult task: the con‑
centration is initially very high, but it
then often weak­ens very quickly. The ideal
solution would be a constant dose over
a period of several hours.
In a project financed by the Swiss National
Science Foundation (SNSF), Empa and
the University Hospital of Zurich jointly
developed a dressing that doses medica‑
ments via an adhesive membrane which
can be placed on the skin. It then admin‑
isters a constant dose of the desired
substance (e.g. caffeine) without the need
for an injection.
The membrane developed at Empa
changes its properties after it has been
exposed to UV light. This type of effect
is familiar to us from photochromic
glasses, for example – here, silver reacts
to UV radiation and the lenses darken.
In the case of this membrane, however,
other light-sensitive compounds called
spiropyrans are used that make it
more porous so that the substances flow
more smoothly. This function then re‑
mains active for several hours.
In the view of the specialists at the
University Hospital of Zurich who were
involved in its development, this new
plaster has strong market potential be‑
cause the dose can be accurately ­con­‑
trolled and the requirements can be
readily adapted. However, it will probably
be some time before patients are able
to benefit from this innovation: the next
step is for Empa to look for a partner
for the manufacture of the plaster.
15
—
—
Braided microstructures
as implants
Highly effective compression stockings
VENOSAN® 5000 is the first medical compression
stocking using pure silver yarn. It can help prevent
venous disorders, as well as heal them. Silver
yarn also has an additional therapeutic effect: the
stocking inhibits infection and prevents the for­
mation of odours, and also performs a temperature
regulating function.
Swisslastic AG St. Gallen, St. Gallen,
www.swisslastic.ch
—
Sensor textiles for spot-on measurements
Forster Rohner’s textile innovations make use of
centuries-old embroidery techniques in order to
incorporate sensor zones in textiles. Electronic
constructions in textiles can be incorporated into a
wide variety of materials. Both large and small
pattern segments can be flexibly in­tegrated into
sensor and interactive products and interconnect‑
ed. Sensor textiles have been used in the area of
healthcare in a variety of research projects for
measuring electrical activity in the brain (electroen‑
cephalography, EEG) and heart frequency (electro‑
cardiography, ECG). The soft, pliable sensor con‑
structions are a key factor for developing suitable
body-fitting solutions that have the potential to
yield new and highly accurate measurement results.
Forster Rohner AG, St. Gallen,
www.forsterrohner.com
—
Textiles for transferring
substances into the body
iLoad® is a specially prepared
textile that can absorb emul‑
sions, for example for moistur‑
ising the skin. When the pre‑
pared item of clothing is worn,
it transfers the emulsion to the
skin so that the desired skin‑
care effect can be released.
Emulsion can be added to
these textiles in the washing
machine or manually. The re‑
lease of the substance, which
is triggered by heat, friction
and moisture, takes place con‑
stantly over a defined period
of time.
Schoeller Textil AG, Sevelen,
www.schoeller-textiles.com
In the past few years, major success‑
es have been achieved in the de­
velopment of minimally invasive (key‑
hole) surgery. An ever increasing
number of surgeons are favouring
this method, partly because it
cuts healthcare costs, but also be‑
cause the outcome of the surgery
is generally better for patients and it
also reduces the stress associated
with operations. For this purpose,
surgeons need instruments and im‑
plants that are as small as pos­‑
sible, but which also meet the neces‑
sary requirements and are bio-­
compatible. Braided microstructures
meet these requirements in full,
and can be used for a broad variety
of surgical purposes, for example
to assist with the healing of torn ten‑
dons and ligaments, or to support
the treatment of fractures. They are
also suitable for use in heart valve
operations, as replacement arteries
and as micro stents. Both the manu‑
facture and the use of such products
have to take place in accordance
with extremely stringent hygiene reg‑
ulations.
Meister & Cie AG, Hasle-Rüegsau,
www.meister-ag.ch
16
Product personalisation
Meeting individual
­requirements
In today’s society we are enjoying ever more personal freedoms,
and the life of the individual is being characterised by new
­beginnings and new opportunities. It appears that everyone can
constantly redefine the nature of their being. In the consumer
goods sector, this trend is becoming increasingly apparent in that
demand for mass-produced items is rapidly declining in favour
of personalised and unique products.
Protection and comfort
for work and leisure
In the clothing industry, textiles represent an ideal
opportunity for expressing individualisation.
Consumers can use clothing as a means of express‑
ing their individuality and setting themselves
apart from the crowd, and customised functions
and designs help them accomplish this. New
materials containing additional “smart” functions
are now being brought onto the market. Clothing
is becoming closer to nature, more functional and
more personalised. Textiles also offer a great
deal of potential with respect to the production of
protective layers and clothing. For example, fire
fighters wear flame retardant and heat insulating
clothing produced by Swiss manufacturers. In
the sports equipment segment, ultra-thin materials
protect cyclists and downhill skiers, for example,
yet the products are so light that they also offer a
high degree of comfort.
—
Functional clothing and furnishings
This trend is set to persist: outer clothing will
incorporate high-tech devices that light up, commu‑
nicate, store energy or monitor the rhythm of
life. This means that entirely new technologies for
personalised production at the point of sale will
be required, as well as for cleaning and recycling.
“Smart” clothing actively supports the perfor‑
mance and body functions of those who wear it.
In the household, innovative textiles will be
used for producing a comfortable and individually
adjustable interior atmosphere. Thanks to digi‑
tal applications, it will be possible to manufacture
made-to-measure, personalised products less
expensively, and customers will be able to have
their say at all stages of production. Clothing
“on demand” will become a matter of course. ×
17
74 %
of the Swiss population between
the ages of 15 and 74 participate
in sporting activities.
Source of data: Swiss Federal Office for Sport (2014).
trends
—
Use of new digitally controlled
production processes.
—
“My expeditions place extremely high demands on the body
and the mind, as well as on materials. The equipment for
my next North Pole expedition in 2016 /2017 has to be light,
offer the highest possible degree of reliability as well as
­maximum comfort during rest periods, and function faultlessly
even at extremely low temperatures.”
—
Evelyne Binsack, mountain guide, adventurer and author
Clothing will become “smart”
thanks to digital technologies.
—
The coating of textiles will be
further developed so that it will
be possible to incorporate
a high degree of personalised
functionality.
—
Mass production will make way
for personalised products.
18
Product personalisation
Revolutionary outdoor equipment
Within the framework of a Commission for Tech‑
no­logy and Innovation (CTI) project, Polarmond AG
joined forces with the Swiss Federal Laboratories
for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), the
Institute for Product Design and Development
(IPEK) at the College of Science and Technology,
Rapperswil (HSR) and the Swiss Textile College
(STF) to develop the prototype of the world’s first
self-heating “All-in-One” bivouac tent with inte‑
rior temperature control.
Design study for the alpha prototype
Modular equipment
“All-in-One” tent
“All-in-One” bivouac
Sleeping bag and
thermal mat
Polarmond AG, St. Gallen, www.polarmond.ch
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials
Science and Technology (Empa), St. Gallen, www.empa.ch
College of Science and Technology (HSR), Rapperswil, www.hsr.ch
Swiss Textile College (STF), Zurich, www.textilfachschule.ch
The ultralight “All-in-One” bivouac (patent
pending) combines the functions of the
three conventional models: bivouac, sleep‑
ing bag and thermal mat. The Polarmond®
bivouac tent is suitable for use at tem­
peratures ranging from minus 30 to plus
25° C. Within this range, the interior
temperature can be kept at a constant,
comfortable level through manual adjust‑
ment.
The body heat emitted by the occupant
rapidly heats the fully thermally insulated
interior. If the outside temperature rises,
the interior temperature can be manually
regulated with the aid of adjustable shut‑
ters that let in fresh air and thus evenly
cool the interior. This means that perspir‑
ing, which is a fundamental problem
with sleeping bags when the temperature
rises, is a thing of the past.
Thanks to the use of impervious textiles
in the interior, moisture is no longer able
to penetrate into the insulating layers.
In this regard, Polarmond® products offer
100 percent loss-free insulation – another
major advantage in comparison with
conventional sleeping bags at temperatures
below freezing. The moisture emitted
by the body, clothing and footwear is ab‑
sorbed via a multiple-layered insulating
inlet, where it can condense. The accumu‑
lated condensate can be monitored and
subsequently discharged to the exterior.
Better performance thanks to optimal rest
– the bivouac also offers “Nordic sleeping
comfort”: complete freedom of movement
of the body across the entire interior width
of the tent. The fact that the “All-in-One”
is ultra-lightweight also means that users
can conserve energy. It is expected to
be brought onto the market in the first
quarter of 2016.
19
—
Functional textiles for space travel
In May 2014, a rocket with German ESA astro‑
naut Alexander Gerst as a passenger lifted
off from the space port in Kazakhstan destined
for the International Space Station (ISS). The
capsule’s cargo included functional textiles
from Schoeller Textil AG. During the six-month
mission, within the scope of a project called
“Spacetex” a variety of studies were carried out
into the physiology of clothing in gravity-free
conditions, with the aim of examining the
interaction between the body, clothing and
climate. The resulting data are to be used for
optimising the clothing of astronauts (for
example, to identify methods of textile care
using less water) during future sojourns in
space, as well as on long-term missions such
as the planned journey to Mars in 2030.
The findings are also to be used for developing
other products and optimising textiles.
Schoeller Textil AG, Sevelen,
www.schoeller-textiles.com
www.spacetex-project.de
On 28 May 2014, German ESA astronaut
­Alexander Gerst lifted off from the space port
in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in a Soyuz rocket
bound for the International Space Station (ISS).
© NASA
—
PROTECTION AGAINST BIOLOGICAL ­
AND CHEMICAL INFLUENCES
A special Nomex yarn can be twisted and
processed so that a textile fabric is produced
to which an active carbon coating is added.
Together with other fabrics, this is used for the
production of protective clothing for occupa‑
tional safety and use by defence personnel. It
protects them against biological and chemical
influences.
E. Schellenberg Textildruck AG,
Fehraltorf, www.estextildruck.ch
20
Product personalisation
—
Clothing to protect against fire
Railway personnel, police officers, electricians, etc.,
need to be optimally protected against fire and electric
current, and at the same time feel comfortable in
their protective clothing. pyroshell™ fabrics offer per­
manent flame protection on synthetic materials,
are breathable, tear-resistant, abrasion-resistant, light‑
weight, elastic and easy to look after. pyroshell™ is
produced in accordance with bluesign®, the most strin‑
gent global standard relating to maximum resource
productivity in terms of environmental protection, public
health and safety.
Schoeller Textil AG, Sevelen,
www.schoeller-textiles.com
—
Light-emitting textiles
For the first time in the world, a procedure has been developed for
integrating active lighting into textiles while preserving the fabric’s
washing and draping properties. It is called “e-broidery”® and
was developed and brought onto the market by Forster Rohner Textile
Innovations. Here, sequin-sized LEDs and a specially developed
­conducting thread are integrated as designs into the fabric. In 2013,
one of the products developed within the framework of a project
­supported by the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI) in
cooperation with the University of Lucerne School of Art and Design
concerns a collection of curtains that was brought onto the market by
Création Baumann (Langenthal) under the name “eLumino”. In
Paris in March 2014, Akris presented the world’s first “prêt-à-porter”
creations based on “e-broidery”® technology. The most recent
­development based on “e-broidery”® technology concerns a foldable
and drapable light-emitting product from the Hamburg-based
start-up company, Carpetlight, that is intended for professional appli­
cations in the areas of film and television. These developments
are an indication of the diversity of applications for this groundbreaking
technology from Forster Rohner Textile Innovations.
Forster Rohner AG, St. Gallen, www.forsterrohner.com
Akris, St. Gallen, www.akris.ch
Création Baumann AG, Langenthal, www.creationbaumann.com
Lucerne School of Art and Design, Lucerne, www.hslu.ch
Carpetlight GmbH, Hamburg, www.carpetlight.com
21
—
Colours you can “touch”
Fashion is by nature short-lived and
is constantly in search of the new
and the unprecedented, but also the
expressive and the memorable.
The University of Lucerne School of
Art and Design is working together
with industry partners to develop a
new technology that will redefine
dyes as well as the way in which they
are applied. The aim is to enable
the automated application and largescale production of raised, glittering,
lacquer-like or foaming substances
for the first time. Creating this type
of fabric is aesthetically demanding
and endows materials with a sense
of the tactile.
Lucerne School of Art and Design,
Lucerne, www.hslu.ch
—
—
A team of young technicians and fashion
designers set themselves the goal of
producing the perfect pair of jeans, that
combines style and comfort with a
personalised touch. Selfnation, a spinoff from the Federal Institute of Tech­
nology, came up with a special algorithm
that can be used for calculating a ­per‑
sonalised pattern for each individual
consumer, and automatically tailors it.
All customers have to do is select a
jeans model on the website and indicate
their body mass. A 3-D model of the
lower part of the body is then generated
within seconds so that they can see
how the jeans will look on their body. If
everything is OK, they can then place
the order, and 14 days later the jeans
made in Switzerland or Germany will
be delivered directly to their door. Self‑
nation already has around 2,000
­c­ustomers on its books after just one
year.
“Let it glow” is a material that glows
without the need for electricity.
A ­fluorescent thread is woven into a
pleated fabric that can be used for
making curtains, for example, which
are recharged during the day and
light up at night. The lighting effect
lasts for a few hours: this means
that curtains in a bedroom, for example,
provide light until you fall asleep.
Jeans that sit perfectly
Selfnation, RealLook AG, Zurich, Berlin,
www.selfnation.com
Light until you fall asleep
Jenny Fabrics AG, Ziegelbrücke,
www.jenny-fabrics.ch
22
Mobility
Safe and efficient
mobility
Mobility is an integral part of modern-day life.
The demand for unlimited movement is
constantly increasing. The challenge now is not
to travel less, but to do so more smartly.
The changing face of mobility
Two developments are ensuring that mobility in its
current form will change in the future: the first
is the digitisation revolution, and the second is the
increasing awareness of the scarcity of resources.
In the past, mobility has primarily taken the form of
individual motorised transport, with everyone
using their car to go where they wish, whenever they
wish. In the future, however, use of individual
means of transport will be reduced. It is only when
we are already on our way that we will decide
which is the most suitable transport option. Time‑
tables will be called up spontaneously and the
decision to change vehicles will be made according
to the traffic situation. Traffic flows need to be
intelligently controlled and coordinated, especially
in highly congested urban centres. Together
with buses, trains and aircraft, forms of transport
provided by mobility sharing organisations are
now an integral part of a networked traffic manage‑
ment concept. And textiles are taking these
changes into account. Functional textiles make
travel more comfortable for everyone. Surfaces can
be lit up or seats can be heated thanks to the
integration of specific functions. Here, the thread
is used as a sensor equipped with electronic
functions that can be activated as required, e.g.
for lighting up, heating, cooling, or generating and
storing energy. Technical textiles improve the
hygiene and stability of seat surfaces, which is
essential in means of transport in which there
is a frequent change of users. And traffic safety
can be enhanced thanks to the permanent moni­
toring of users via the seat surfaces.
—
Sustainable mobility
Future mobility has to conserve resources and be
environmentally compatible, and this poses a
major challenge in terms of utilised materials. To
assure safe mobility they need to be strong, but
they also need to be light in order to enable the use
of solar and hydrogen drive concepts. And textiles
meet these requirements. Light textile construction,
whether for an aircraft or a car, protects resour‑
ces. Vehicles whose bodies are made of extremely
strong fibre composites consume less fuel,
produce lower exhaust emissions and thus contrib‑
ute towards the reduction of CO2 levels. Resources
can be used more efficiently by integrating renewa‑
ble raw materials and through more efficient
production and recycling processes. ×
23
20,848 km
Average distance travelled by each resident of
Switzerland at home and abroad in 2010.
Source of data: Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Federal Office for Spatial Development (2010).
trends
­—
Comprehensive mobility and traffic control
concepts will network the various forms
of transport and traffic flows (smart traffic,
smart mobility).
­—
To a large extent, means of transport will be
hired as needed.
­—
“In the field of air travel, aircraft weight strongly
influences costs and environmental pollution.
Innovative textiles help reduce weight in the interior
of an aircraft and simultaneously enhance travel
comfort.”
—
Harry Hohmeister, CEO, Swiss International Air Lines
Mobility data will be used in order to optimally
organise traffic, parking management and the
capacity of charging stations.
­—
Monitoring passenger behaviour using smart
textiles will enhance traffic safety.
­—
Continued development of comfort, technical
features, design and ambience, decoration,
­interior and luggage compartment cladding.
24
Mobility
ULTRALIGHT TEXTILES FOR FORMULA 1
Textiles are characterised by lightness as well as
stability, and are therefore highly suitable for numer‑
ous applications in motor racing, aviation and
space travel. In the past few years, Swiss company
Cortex Hümbelin AG, which was established in
1924, has moved away from its original core busi‑
ness – woven products – to become a manu‑
facturer of high-tech textiles.
For almost 15 years, Cortex Hümbelin AG
has been manufacturing textiles for
Formula 1 at its two production sites in
Rupperswil and Niederlenz. It began
by producing wheel-retaining harnesses,
which in the event of a crash prevent
the wheels from separating from the vehi‑
cle and thus endangering drivers, track
marshals and spectators. This was fol­‑
lowed by the development of protective
fabrics to prevent objects from penetrat‑
ing into the cooler system. In recent
years, Cortex has also been manufacturing
seatbelts for drivers. Now, after several
years of research and development, it has
brought its latest product for use in the
field of motor racing to the prototype stage:
textile fuel tanks. The geometry of fuel
tanks for Formula 1 cars is extremely
complex, because every millimetre of
space within the chassis has to be fully
utilised, and in motor racing, every
single gram counts. An extremely light
and flexible material with the necessary
coating is therefore the ideal solution
here.
Light fuel tanks and harnesses are also
essential in the field of space travel.
Technology developed by Cortex is used
for fastening loads in rockets supplying
the International Space Station. All
harnesses and fabrics produced by Cortex
Hümbelin AG meet extreme demands
on tensile strength, tear-resistance and
energy absorption capacity. The decisive
factors here are extremely light weight
and a high degree of resistance to temper‑
atures and aggressive substances such
as fuels and lubricants.
ortex Hümbelin AG, Rupperswil,
C
www.cortexhuembelin.com
25
—
Natural fibres for vehicle bodies
The “powerRibs” technology developed by Bcomp
AG, Fribourg, is based on the principle of veins
beneath a leaf – the surface is strengthened with
very little additional weight. Ribs made of flax
fibre yarn strengthen thin-walled structures by a
factor of three. This means that fibre compos‑
ites can be installed more easily and less expen‑
sively. In addition, the cushioning properties
are increased by up to 250 percent and the tech‑
nology promotes sustainability in that the utilised
material is renewable. Together with partners
in the process technology sector, Bcomp AG has
developed concepts for the production of com­
ponents equipped with “powerRibs”. A sophisticat‑
ed thermoplastic variant forms the basis for the
construction of interior fittings for cars and aircraft,
while the thermoset solution can be used for
the manufacture of vehicle bodies and aerospace
components.
Bcomp AG, Fribourg,
www.bcomp.ch
—
Textiles that make aircraft lighter
Seat covers and carpets are intended to make
things more comfortable for passengers and have
to meet high requirements in terms of durability
and design. Textiles used in aircraft, however, have
to meet one requirement in particular: to make
the aircraft lighter in order to save fuel.
The Pneumatic Comfort System (PCS) developed
by Lantal Textiles AG, Langenthal, is based
on cushions filled with air which are adaptable to
the passenger’s body shape. Air is used instead
of foam, and this contributes significantly towards
the reduction of the interior weight of an aircraft.
The cushions are also more hygienic than foam.
This innovative technology was developed by Lantal
for business and first class seats, for use in mat‑
tresses in private jets and the rest facilities used by
crews, as well as for premium economy seats.
PCS is now being used by many of the world’s
leading airlines and in the Solar Impulse cockpit.
Lantal Textiles AG, Langenthal,
www.lantal.com
26
Sustainability
Protection
of resources
A sustainable lifestyle and the careful use of resources will
become a matter of course in the future. There will be no new
developments and products that do not take sustainability
aspects into account during their manufacture and use. A great
deal of importance will be attached to recycling and the
avoidance of unnecessary transport, and alternative raw ma‑
terials will be used instead of oil products.
Increasing awareness of
sustainable products
This situation will give rise to new areas of applica‑
tion for efficient textiles. These can be produced
from renewable materials, and recycling is already
possible today. Thanks to the development of
new processes, it is possible to minimise the use
of chemicals and water for the production of
textiles. The properties of textile fabrics open up
major utilisation potentials for the filtration of
pollutants, for example in the areas of sewage
treatment and air purification. And in the area
of heat insulation, too, textiles offer the advantage
versus other materials that, thanks to their struc‑
ture, they have a larger surface and can therefore
absorb more heat. This advantage can also be
put to use in the area of protection against light
and noise pollution, so it is clear that technical
textiles can be utilised to protect the environment
in numerous ways.
—
Vested interest in resource-friendly production
In the production process itself, ways of mini‑
mising the use of resources in the manufacturing
chain have been sought after for decades, and
a great deal of potential has been identified in the
area of energy consumption. Today, for example,
many companies use the waste heat produced by
machines in order to heat water or entire apart‑
ment complexes. In addition, thanks to recent re‑
search findings it is now possible to use chemi‑
cals that are neither harmful to the environment nor
toxic, yet which perform the desired functions.
Various labels now exist that assure consumers of
sustainable production, including the Bluesign
Standard label, which certifies the sustainable
processing of textiles from the raw material stage
through to the finished product. ×
27
70 %
By 2050, 70 percent of the
world’s population will be living
in urban centres.
Source of data: OECD.
trends
­—
Sustainability will become a matter
of course.
­—
Microstructures in textiles will open
up highly efficient filtration options.
­—
Material cycles in manufacturing
will be closed.
“The potential for increasing energy efficiency,
and even for energy recovery, is particularly high in
buildings. Textile-based solutions in the areas of
insulation and solar technology can make a valuable
contribution.”
—
Walter Steinmann, Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE)
­—
Biodegradable materials will reduce
the volume of waste.
­—
New recycling technologies will facilitate
a reduction in the consumption of raw
materials.
­—
Energy systems will be efficiently
integrated into daily life.
28
Sustainability
Energy from glass
Buildings account for around 40 percent of the country’s energy consumption.
So how can they produce their own energy, especially in towns and cities where
high-rise buildings offer little roof space for solar cells?
The solution can be found by integrating
solar cells into windowpanes. In this
way, buildings constructed with the
corresponding cladding will be able to
produce almost all their own energy
requirement in the future. Swiss company
Sefar AG, Thal, is developing and manu‑
facturing a new type of fabric structure
that may be described as a transparent
electrode. This fabric is suitable for
the production of dye-based solar cells,
a technology that is being used by
a company called glass2energy ag in
Villaz-Saint-Pierre. The dye sensitised
solar cell (or Grätzel cell) developed
by this company is integrated into win‑
dowpanes and is able to produce elec­
tricity even at low levels of light incidence
and ambient light. glass2energy ag
was awarded the “Watt d’Or” prize by
the Swiss Federal Office of Energy
in 2014.
efar AG, Thal, www.sefar.com
S
glass2energy ag, Villaz-Saint-Pierre,
www.g2e.ch
29
—
—
Fully recyclable multifunctional
materials
climatex ® is an innovation by
­Gessner, Swiss legend in modern
textile culture. The brand is all about
climatising and regenerative prod‑
ucts. They are compelling in use and
protect resources. The materials
used can be separated homogene‑
ously and then reused. Due to
its exceptional characteristics, the
climatex® technology is perfect
for use in intelligent applications in
which climate issues influence
your feeling of well-being, for ex­
ample in interiors, healthcare,
mobility, clothing, footwear.
Gessner AG, Wädenswil,
www.gessner.ch,
www.climatex.com
TEXTILES FROM MILK
—
Textile insulation solutions
Within the framework of an ongoing
project of the Commission for Technolo‑
gy and Innovation (CTI), together with
industry partners a research team from
the University of Lucerne comprising
architects, designers and engineers is
proposing new solutions for the inte‑
rior insulation of older commercial and
industrial buildings and sports cen‑
tres. The focus is on buildings that do
not meet today’s requirements in
terms of energy efficiency. The team has
come up with a solution that combines
wrap knitted or woven fabrics containing
an insulating material used in the pro‑
duction of mineral wool insulation pan‑
els. Thanks to its flexible form, it can
be adapted to numerous structural
designs and is also recyclable. In addi‑
tion to offering thermal insulation,
this innovative system also has excellent
noise insulation and fire protection
properties.
Swisstulle AG, Münchwilen,
www.swisstulle.ch
Lucerne School of Art and Design,
Lucerne, www.hslu.ch
Calida has developed a new product line
based on a refined dairy substance,
which combines MicroModal and milk
fibres. Here, Calida processes an in­
novative combination of fibres obtained
from dairy proteins and Lenzing Micro‑
Modal®, a purely organic product that is
manufactured carbon-neutrally with
the aid of Edelweiss technology. The dairy
fibres are obtained directly from milk
protein. The MicroModal and dairy fibres
are then woven into a yarn on the spin‑
ning machines of Hermann Bühler AG.
The yarn is subsequently used to pro‑
duce the fabric, which is then finished by
E. Schellenberg Textildruck AG.
The resulting material is soft and smooth,
and is thus ideal for people with sensi‑
tive skin. It actively promotes skin mois‑
turising and also has a natural odour-­
retarding effect, thus ensuring comfort
and a feeling of freshness all day long.
The material looks and feels like certain
types of silk, is very comfortable to
wear, pleasant to touch and has an at‑
tractive sheen. With this product, ­
Calida has brought together three as‑
pects of Swiss tradition: domestic
­production, innovation and sustaina­
bility.
Calida AG Bodywear, Sursee,
www.calida.com
Hermann Bühler AG, Sennhof,
www.buehleryarn.com
E. Schellenberg Textildruck AG,
Fehraltorf, www.estextildruck.ch
30
National and international cooperation
Innovation
through
­networking
Innovation is the heart and soul of
­Switzerland’s textiles and clothing indus‑
try. It cannot be planned and does
not come about by chance. What it needs
is the right framework conditions and
an adequate degree of networking. Both
these requirements exist in Switzer‑
land and its neighbouring countries, and
have enabled Switzerland to remain
one of the leading countries in the world
for many years in terms of innovative
strength and competitive capacity.
First-class education
Education and research are major pillars for i­n‑
novation. In the area of technical textiles, although
it is a very small country, Switzerland offers out‑
standing facilities in these two fields. Its training
and further education options range from basic
training courses for qualification as EBA textile
practitioners and EFZ textile technologists, through
to the Swiss Textile College and a large number
of technical colleges, including the two Federal
Institutes of Technology (in Zurich and Lausanne).
The textiles and clothing industry benefits enor‑
mously from the advantages of Switzerland’s dual
education system, which offers a perfect com­
bination of theoretical and practical training.
—
Innovation-friendly background conditions
As the life cycles of products grow shorter and ever
more emerging countries apply advanced tech­
nologies, the pace of the innovation cycle within
Switzerland’s textiles and clothing industry
needs to be increased. The high pace of this cycle
and the required financial resources represent
major challenges for small and medium-sized com‑
panies in particular. Here the Federal Commission
for Technology and Innovation (CTI) supports
these companies in a variety of ways.
—
Promotion of networking
Networking is one of the main driving forces behind
the innovative capacity of companies. It is often
the case that product improvements and innovations
arise from customers’ needs, are inspired by
other sectors or are based on concepts resulting
from basic and applied research. With its Swiss
Texnet network, Swiss Textiles unites companies
with partners such as the Federal Laboratories
for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in
St. Gallen, the College of Science and Tech‑
nology in Rapperswil, the University of Lucerne,
Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Wädenswil
and the Swiss Textile College. Swiss Texnet is a
competence centre that encompasses a broad
variety of areas, including materials science, fibre
technology, design, mechanical engineering,
chemicals and process technology, to cite just
a few. Swiss Texnet always welcomes new re‑
search partners.
International cooperation is an essential factor.
The textile federations and research institutions in
Germany, Austria and Switzerland have been
working closely together for many years in order to
offset the disadvantages of size and cooperate
with the most suitable research and business
partners. ×
31
Our main partners in Switzerland
ZHAW
Zurich University of Applied Sciences
(ZHAW): The Institute for Chemistry
and Biochemistry at the ZHAW is an
important partner for issues relating to
industrial chemistry, the production of
textile auxiliaries and the development
of functional, biological and nano
materials.
www.zhaw.ch
HSLU
University of Lucerne School of Art and Design:
This institution carries out research and provides
training and further education in the fields of
textile design, trends in fashion and interior design,
digital printing design and technology, conceptual
design for smart textiles and experimentation on
surfaces for new functional fibres.
www.hslu.ch/design-kunst
STF
Swiss Textile College (STF): The STF is the
high-level educational institution for the
textiles sector. In addition to its education
mandate, it also acts as a project partner
for companies in the fields of textile produc‑
tion, textile machinery technology, textile
refinement, nanotechnology, smart textiles
and clothing.
www.textilfachschule.ch
EMPA
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials
Science and Technology (Empa): This
institution is a c­ omponent of the Federal
Institute of Technology. It focuses on
application-­based research and develop‑
ment. In the area of textiles it special‑
ises in materials for the improvement of
health and efficiency. Developments
arising from its research activities range
from biodegradable implant materials
and medical textiles, through to functional
surfaces.
www.empa.ch
HSR
College of Science and Technology (HSR), Rapperswil: The Institute
for Product Design, Development and Construction (IPEC) at the
HSR is of interest to manufacturers and developers of machines for
the textiles industry. Other institutes offer specific know-how, for
example in the fields of mechatronics and environmental and energy
technology, which can lead to innovative solutions in the textiles
and associated industries.
www.hsr.ch
Our partners in Europe
Euratex
www.euratex.eu
Gesamtverband textil+mode
www.textil-mode.de
Forschungskuratorium Textil
www.textilforschung.de
Allianz Faserverbundwerkstoffe
Baden-Württemberg
www.afbw.eu
Südwesttextil
www.suedwesttextil.de
Smart Textiles Plattform
www.texbook.eu
Fachverband der Textil-, Bekleidungs-,
Schuh- und Lederindustrie – WKÖ
www.wko.at
VTB – Verband der Bayerischen
Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie
www.vtb-bayern.de
Bayern Innovativ
www.bayern-innovativ.de
Publishing details and
acknowledgements
—
The descriptions of companies and products in
this brochure reflect a selection of innovative textile
products or research results. We wish to thank
all companies and research institutions who placed
information and images at our disposal.
—
We would like to offer our special thanks to
Hans-Jürgen Hübner (Schoeller Textil AG), Tina Moor
(Lucerne School of Art and Design), René Rossi
(Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and
Technology, Empa) and Urs Schellenberg
(E. Schellenberg Textildruck AG and President
of the Commission for Environment and
Technology at Swiss Textiles), for their valuable
assistance with respect to the content of this
brochure.
—
For further information about the Swiss textiles
and clothing industry and members of Swiss Textiles,
please visit www.swisstextiles.ch
—
Overall responsibility
Peter Flückiger
—
Project management and editing
Mirjam Matti Gähwiler, Nina Bachmann
—
Layout and production
Wernlis, grafische Gestalter, Zurich and Basel
—
Image databases
Portrait of Andreas Sallmann: Simon Habegger
Portrait of Evelyne Binsack: Bruno Petroni
Glacier: Jürg Alean, Eglisau
Other images: Veer, Photocase, Fotolia,
Imago/Mint Images, Imago/Chromorange,
Imago/Imagebroker, Imago/Geisser, iStock,
Keystone, Depositphotos
—
English translation
Keith Hewlett, Transcripta AG, Zug
—
Printing
DAZ Druckerei Albisrieden, Zurich
—
© April 2015, Swiss Textiles
Technical Textiles Swiss innovations as solutions to global challenges
SWISS TEXTILES
Textilverband Schweiz, Fédération textile suisse, Swiss textile federation
Beethovenstrasse 20, P.O. Box. 2900, CH-8022 Zürich
T + 41 44 289 79 79, F + 41 44 289 79 80
info@swisstextiles.ch, www.swisstextiles.ch
Technical Textiles
Swiss innovations as solutions
to global challenges