Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd. has announced that it has developed an all-new, highly comfortable and functional polyester material that achieves the pile structure of towelling. The material, made of 100 per cent polyester, offers excellent water absorbency, a soft texture and a unique bulky-but-lightweight feeling.
Teijin Frontier is developing a variety of applications for the new material, focusing on 2016 fall/winter sportswear and also on functional clothing such as underwear and uniforms, as well as bedding and industrial materials. The fiscal 2019 sales target is 500,000 meters.
Thanks to its pile structure without buffing, the new material’s surface appearance, functionality and comfort remain durable after repeated washing. In addition, the fabric structure is applicable for multi-seasonal products, not just fall and winter clothing.
Fleece, a major synthetic fiber product with a bulky fiber structure, has been used widely for many years because its napping provides excellent heat retention and warmth. However, the fabric has disadvantages, including deteriorating surface appearance and water absorption after repeated washing, and usage limited to fall and winter clothing.
Teijin Frontier’s response was to innovate a new type of polyester fabric with a pile structure similar to that of toweling. The company combined technologies from its popular DELTAPEAK, a highly balanced material that incorporates unique yarn texturizing, knitting and dyeing techniques, and the newly-developed textile technologies based on a new false-twist yarn.
Teijin is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the areas of sustainable transportation, information and electronics, safety and protection, environment and energy, and healthcare. Its main fields of operation are high-performance fibers such as aramid, carbon fibers & composites, healthcare, films, resin & plastic processing, polyester fibers, products converting and IT.
The group has some 150 companies and around 16,000 employees spread out over 20 countries worldwide. It posted consolidated sales of JPY 786.2 billion ($6.6 billion) and total assets of JPY 823.7 billion ($6.9 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.