Buildtech (Construction Textiles)

Buildtech segment comprises of textiles or composite materials used in the construction of

permanent and temporary buildings as well as structures. Textiles are used in construction for
concrete reinforcement, faade foundations systems, interior construction, insulations,
proofing materials, air conditioning, noise prevention, protection, visual protection,
protection against the sun building safety.
Indian Buildtech market is estimated at US$ 547.1million (2009-10), over 50% of which is
contributed by tarpaulins and around 40% by the floor and wall coverings. Hoardings and
signages account for 8%share of the buildtech market
The products covered under Buildtech are given below:

Architectural membranes

Hoardings & signages

Cotton canvas tarpaulins

HDPE tarpaulins

Awnings & canopies

Scaffolding nets

Floor & wall coverings

An interesting and astethic appealing application is the use of textile membranes for roof
construction. This area is also referred to as textile architecture. PVC coated high tenacity
PES, teflon coated glass fibre fabrics or silicone coated PES are used for their low creep
properties. Splendid examples of such construction are found in football stadia, airports and
hotels. Domestic consumption of Buildtech segment has been estimated at Rs 1,726 crore.
Consumption of HDPE tarpaulins is estimated at Rs 650 crore, accounting for around of the
total segment.
Utility: Buildtech products offer characteristics such as lightness, strength and resilience as
well as resistance to many factors such as defamation, creep, degradation by chemicals and
pollutants in the air, rain or other construction material as well as the effects of sunlight &
acid is much useful in construction of permanent and temporary buildings as well as
structures.

Market size for buildtech (Value in rupees crores)

2007-2008
Production

Imports

Exports

2012-2013
Domestic

Domestic

Export

consumption consumption potential

Architectural 1

15

16

40

161

175

258

396

66

457

336

5.5

650

1.75

1.25

650

1,330

1.4

0.5

2.25

4.5

0.58

1.17

100

425

425

685

570

344

431

1,726

2,665

577

membranes
Hoardings & 14
signages
Cotton
canvas
tarpaulins
HDPE
tarpaulins
Awnings & 1.75
canopies
Scaffolding

0.58

nets
Floor & wall 750
covering
Total

1,813

1. Architectural membranes
High-strength, high-modulus textile fabrics are increasingly being used in the Building and
construction industry as are placement for more traditional materials, Such as wood, concrete,
masonry and steel. The mechanical properties of fabrics made With aramid carbon and glass

fibres, combined with cross-linking resin systems to form a Composite, provide civil
engineers with a range of new materials that offer high strength to weight, High stiffness to
weight, and extreme flexibility in design and used. Fabrics for sun protection made of
polyester and combined with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Or polytetrafluroethylene(PTFE)
coatings offer many applications and provide function combined With design to modern
architecture, where flexible roofs and wall coverings are a feature.

2- Transport covers
Cunningham covers are the experts when it comes to transport tarpaulins. Transport
tarpaulins are one of the many product which Cunningham originally provided and over the
past 40 years we have produced the most effective transport tarpaulins in the industry.

Flat sheet tarpaulins covers

Flat sheet tarpaulins are used on flat bed Lorries. This flexible solution is ideal for the
haulage of irregular loads, usually of steel or timber. Steel or timber can often be
difficult to transport in large quantities and through the use of a Cunningham transport
tarp this is made possible giving the extra capacity to carry these irregular loads.

Water proof cotton canvas tarpaulins

High grade 16oz cotton canvas is the best natural grade cotton canvas available to
buy. It is the natural material which is both waterproof and breathable. Cotton canvas
is made from 100% cotton, contains no man-made or artificial fibre component so
therefore it does not melt, distort or degrade with exposure to high temperatures.
Features

Made in 16oz cotton canvas.

Natural and breathable.

Fully waterproof and UV resistant.

Individually made

3- Awning fabric of Entremonde Polycoaters, india

The rich color used in the fabrics has an outstanding color fastness.

Withstand extreme weather condition.

Excellent breaking and tearing strength

Application: mostly used as folding arm awing for shops and restaurants, window
awning, umbrellas, passage awnings etc.

a special lacquer to enhance the UV

resistances property of the fabric can be done on demand.

4- Tent fabric of Entremonde polycoaters, India

Both side PVC coated fabric

The blackout effect makes it possible to create any kind of desired visual effect by
artificial light inside the tent, even at day time.

Has a soft feel

100% waterproof

Good UV properties

Excellent breaking and tearing strength

Application : used while hiking also used as an exhibition tent.

5- Sheds Entremonde polycoaters, India

Both side PVC coated fabric

Excellent ageing properties and low temperature properties

Safeguards from dust and other falling particles from the top

Unaffected by any extreme weather condition like rain and heat

Application: used for sheds for protective purpose.

6- Meridian fabric Architectural systems, India

Tensile architecture is the modern technique in which the architectural membranes bring
curvature, translucency, to cover clear and very large spans in interior and exterior
environments, its light weight and daylight is unmatched with any other building technique.
Services that meridian offers in tensile architecture:

Designs

Build

Fabricated

Erect

Coated technical textiles application area/ products buildtech

Direct coating plant with its state of art machines, can produce special type of coatings on
cotton, polyester, nylon, blended fabrics etc. to meet specific market requirement in terms of
waterproof, water repellency, flame retardancy, resistance to UV etc and offer a wide range
of products for building industry.
A. Waterproof membranes
B. Thermal and sound Insulation
C. Roofing linings / sheetings

Packtech
Packtech includes several flexible packaging materials used for industrial, agricultural,
consumer and other goods. It ranges from synthetic bags used for industrial packaging to jute
sacks used for packing food grains.
The technical textile products covered under Packtech are as given below:

Polyolefin woven sacks

FIBC

Leno bags

Wrapping fabric

Jute hessian and sacks (including Food grade jute bags)

Soft luggage products (TT component)

Tea-bags

Technical textiles consumption under Packtech is estimated at Rs 14,067 crore. Woven sacks
(excluding FIBC) account for around 50% of the technical textiles consumption under
Packtech followed by Jute hessian and sacks (including Food grade jute bags) with around
30%

share.

Utility: It provides Innovative packing solutions such as oxygen scavenging, packaging for
foodstuffs and anti-static packaging for computer equipment. With the advantage of moisture
proof quality they are used for packing moisture sensitive goods.

Market size for packtech (value in rupees crores)

2007-2008
Production

Polyolefin

Import

Export

2012-2013
Domestic

Domestic

Export

consumption

consumption

potential

6,725

6,725

12,950

FIBC

1,750

250

1500

5000

441

Leno bags

57

0.5

0.5

57

125

0.7

Wrapping

1,350

1,350

2,950

4,325

50

300

4,075

3,947

383

142

30

12

160

500

15.3

Tea-bags

195

200

441

Total

14,544

86

563

14,067

25,913

840

woven sacks

fabric
Jute hessian
and sacks
(including
Food grade
jute bags)
Soft luggage
products (TT
component)

Short descriptions of packaging materials are highlighted below:

1) Polyolefin woven sacks

Polyolefin (HDPE/PP) woven sacks are versatile packing materials used extensively in the
packing of cement, fertilizers, thermo plastic raw materials, food grains, sugar etc. The list of
user-industries where they are used is:
1. Cement
2. Fertilizers

3. Chemicals
4. Food Grains
5. Cattle Feed
6. Salt
7. Sugar
8. Polymers
9. Sacks - Export
10. Others

Polyolefin (HDPE/PP) woven sacks

PP/HDPE printed sandwich bags are made by sandwiching PP and HDPE. They have a very
good appearance and are used for packaging costlier products like pesticides, seeds, wheat
flour, high-end chemicals, etc. They may also be used for secondary packaging of smaller
1kg

bags.

Advantages of polyolefin woven sacks bags:

The various advantages that HDPE/PP bags have conventional packing materials are:
1. Higher Strength
2. Light Weight
3. Minimal Seepage
4. Moisture Proof
5. Long Lasting (Durable)
6. Cheaper (as it can be reused)

2) FIBC
Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBC), popularly known as Jumbo Bags, is similar
to the HDPE/PP bags but that of a larger size. FIBCs are one of the most cost effective and
ideal types of packaging for shipping and storing dry bulk products. They can be produced
from either tubular or flat polypropylene (PP) woven fabrics. These fabrics can be coated or
uncoated and vary in terms of weights depending upon the requirements of the Safe Working
Load (SWL), or Safety Factor (SF).

Jumbo Bag
There are three types of FIBC bags:
1. Panel Type
2. Circular woven
3. Baffle type (Square bags)
These bags have capacities ranging from 500-4000 kgs. The weight of fabric varies from
180-275 gsm. FIBCs can vary from 900 gms to 3 kgs in weight depending upon the bag
properties

and

weight to

be carried.

Advantages of FIBC:
1. Low cost of material handling from the manufacturer to the end user, inclusive of
wastage of material
2. Easy filling and discharge
3. Savings in loading/unloading time due to ease of handling
4. Low weight packing for transport
5. Built in safety factor of at least 5:1 on nominal load
6. Transportation of empty FIBCs is cheap and space saving
7. No requirement of pallets when compared to small bags self supporting
8. Good chemical and organic resistance
9. Eco-friendly, since product is recyclable
10. Can be used for storage in open air (if UV stabilised)
Uses of FIBC:

It is used in bulk packaging of

1. Polymers, such as PET and PVC
2. Petrochemicals, such as DMT, PTA and polyester chips
3. Minerals, such as bentonite, alumina, ebonite, magnesite, mineral ores like nickel
4. Agro-products, such as wheat, rice, starch, lactose and sugar
5. Chemicals, such as carbon black, dyes and intermediates and fertilisers
6. Oil cakes (powder form)
7. Detergents
8. Oat meal
9. Clay, mica and feldspar
10. Cement
11. Pharmaceuticals
12. Fish meal

3) Leno bags
Leno bags are excellent for packing & preserving vegetables like potato, onion, ginger,
garlic, cabbage etc. and fruits like pineapple, citrus fruits, raw mango, coconut etc. The Leno
Bag is made of netted fabric of virgin Polypropylene (PP) with color Masterbatch.

Leno bag
Advantages of a Leno Bag:
1. Superior aesthetics
2. Excellent mechanical properties
3. Chemically Inert
4. Ease in handling & storage
5. Reuse & recyclable
6. Cost Effective
7. Suitable for dry skin vegetables (Potato, Onion, Garlic etc.)
8. Suitable for cold storage
4) Wrapping fabric
Wrapping fabric is made out of HDPE/PP, cotton canvas, etc. Unlaminated PP/HDPE Woven
Fabric is mainly used for wrapping of paper rolls, paper bundles, steel coils, tyres, yarn cones
etc. Wrapping fabric weighs 50 to 200 gsm and its size varies from 20 to 210 cms. The fabric
is generally packed in roll form and can be run on automatic cutting and stitching
machines. Clear Woven Sheets (Natural Woven Laminated Sheets) are used for packing of
used clothes

etc.

Uses of wrapping fabric:

These fabrics are widely used in industries such as paper bundles, wrapping of paper rolls,
steel coils, yarn cones, tyres etc. These fabrics can be utilized with automatic cutting &
stitching machines for manufacturing bags too.
5) Jute hessian and sacks (including Food grade jute bags)
Jute Hessian also termed as Burlap is a finer quality jute fabric that has been long used as the
most preferred packaging material for all kinds of goods. Hessian is used for bags and many
other coarse fabric uses, such as wrappers, wall coverings, etc. Presently, shopping bags are
being made out of hessian fabrics. It is also used in the upholstery and home furniture. Also
available in "dyed" or "bleached" form and treated with vegetable oil, Burlap meets the latest
international standards

for

food

safety.

Jute sacks
A range of heavy jute fabrics either in plain or twill weaves manufactured by using coarse
jute fibre in larger percentage than used for manufacturing tarpaulin, hessian or such light
fabrics. Sacking refers to the coarser and heavier cloth, used primarily for sacks for packing
materials, which do not need special protection, but has higher weight. Jute bagging material
is in demand because of the openness of the weave, which allows air to circulate while
protecting the contents.

Jute sack
Sacking bags, specifically used for the purpose of storing agro-based products, are known as
Hydro carbon free bags that have been treated with vegetable oils to destroy the harmful

effect of hydrocarbons. Thus sacking bags have great demand not just in the cement industry
but also in the agro-based

industries.

Different categories of sacking are:1. A-Twill

2. B-Twill
3. L-Twill
4. D.W. Flour
5. D.W. Salt
6. D. W. Nitrates
7. Heavy Cees
8. Light Cees
9. Sydney Woolpacks
10. Australian Woolpacks
11. Australian Cornsacks
12. New Zealand Cornsacks
13. New Zealand Woolpacks
14. Fine Twill Cloth
15. Cement Bags
The difference between hessian and sacking is in the quality of the cloth and the jute used for
its production, the difference being primarily one of fineness, the former being made of finer
grade jute, the latter of coarser qualities. Hessian can be available in cloth lengths while the
mills usually convert sacking cloth into bags and sacks.
6) Soft luggage products (TT component)
The luggage industry is classified into hard and soft luggage. Hard luggages are mainly
the large travel bags made from moulded plastic. Soft luggage is made out of woven
fabrics like nylon and polyester. It comprises of uprights, totes, duffle and sky bags which
can be with or without wheels and handles. The soft luggage today is becoming very
popular due to the ease of carry as it is light and flexible. It includes handbags, military
backpacks, athletic backpacks, wallets, briefcases and other soft sided luggage items.

Soft luggage

7) Tea-bags
Tea bags are sold by organised tea producers to the high-end consumers. Tea bags consist of
a filter paper pouch with a thread, which holds the tea powder and a tag. The tea bag is
dipped in hot water / milk to produce the beverage.

Tea bag

Tea bag filter paper is made with a blend of wood and vegetable fibers. The vegetable fiber is
bleached pulp abaca hemp, a small plantation tree grown for the fiber, mostly in the
Philippines

and

Colombia.

Heat-sealed tea bag paper usually has a heat-sealable thermoplastic such as PVC or
polypropylene, as a component fiber (100% non-woven technical textile) on inner side of the
teabag surface.