Why Are Customers Shifting from Natural Fibers to Synthetic Fibers?

Over the last few years, customers have shifted from natural fibers to synthetic or man-made fibers due to the cost-effectiveness, wider application base, and abundant availability of the latter. Additionally, higher strength, elasticity and resistance to wear of synthetic fibers make them more sought after than natural variants. As man-made fibers are not dependent on agricultural produce and favorable temperature ranges, which are inconsistent due to global warming, their production will not be hindered by changing agriculture patterns and weather conditions.

Acrylic, polyester, polyolefin, and nylon are the different types of synthetic fibers being produced in contemporary times. In recent years, the consumption of polyester fibers has significantly surged in heavy-duty industrial applications, such as conveyor belts, due to their high strength and elasticity, low cost, and recyclability. Thus, the increasing consumption of polyester will help the synthetic fibers market prosper during 2021–2030. According to P&S Intelligence, the market generated ~$60.0 billion revenue in 2020.

Moreover, the expanding clothing industry will also accelerate the consumption of synthetic fibers in the forthcoming years. For instance, the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, states that cloth production (excluding wool, silk, and khadi) in the country grew from 66,845 million square meters (sq. mtr.) during 2017–2018 to 70,046 million sq. mtr. during 2018–2019. Furthermore, the National Council of Textile Organization (NCTO) states that U.S. textile and apparel shipments stood at $64.4 billion in 2020.

Apart from industrial and clothing applications, synthetic fibers are also used in automotive, home furnishing, and filtration applications. For example, automobile manufacturers use polyester fibers in the production of insulation materials, automobile carpets, fuel filters, door panels, seat fabrics, airbags, tires, and air filters. Customers can avail these fibers from offline and online distribution channels. In the forthcoming years, end users will show high interest in online channels, because e-commerce platforms offer easy accessibility and convenience of shopping to customers.

In recent years, synthetic fiber producers, such as Toray Chemical Korea Inc., Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd., Lenzing AG, Indorama Corporation, Toyobo Co. Ltd., E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, The Dow Chemical Company, and Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Co. Ltd., have been engaging in mergers and acquisitions to reach out to a larger number of customers. For example, in March 2021, Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd. merged its subsidiary companies— Teijin Modern Yarn Co. Ltd. and Shinwa Limited to develop, produce, process, and sell yarns under a new name, Teijin Frontier Knitting Co. Ltd.

Globally, the Asia-Pacific region dominated the synthetic fibers market in the recent past, due to the large-scale production of acrylic, polyester, nylon, and other man-made fibers in India, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea. For instance, according to the Ministry of Textiles of the Government of India, India produced over 1441 million kg of synthetic fibers during 2017–2018. Furthermore, the Ministry reported that India is the second largest producer of viscose and polyester in the world. 

Thus, the wide application base of synthetic fibers will amplify their consumption in the upcoming years.

Read More

How Will Automobile Sector Facilitate Physical Vapor Deposition Technology Use?

According to OurWorldInData, the installed solar energy capacity of the world increased from 580.76 gigawatts (GW) in 2019 to 707.50 GW in 2020. Further, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that China, the U.S., Europe, India, and Latin America will add 35.3 GW, 18.8 GW, 23.6 GW, 11.1 GW, and 6.8 GW to their net solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, respectively, in 2022. The surging adoption of solar energy products, on account of the soaring preference for clean and green energy, will facilitate the use of physical vapor deposition (PVD) components in the coming years.

Moreover, the large-scale integration of advanced technologies in automobiles, especially electronics and semiconductors, will help the physical vapor deposition market grow during 2021–2030. According to P&S Intelligence, the market generated $20 billion in 2020. PVD, a vacuum deposition process, is used to fabricate thin films and micro-structure and nanostructured coatings, which are used in semiconductors and coatings of automobiles. The ongoing advancements being made in nanoscience will augment the use of PVD technology-based coatings in vehicles globally.

Currently, the physical vapor deposition market is dominated by Angstrom Engineering Inc., Tokyo Electron Limited, Impact Coatings AB, Advanced Energy Industries Inc., Sulzer Ltd., IHI HAUZER Techno Coating B.V., Applied Materials Inc., Richter Precision Inc., Denton Vacuum LLC, PLATIT AG, OC Oerlikon Corporation AG, Plasma Quest Limited, and Kurt J. Lesker Company. Nowadays, these companies are unveiling novel products, entering into collaborations, and signing acquisition agreements to cater to the needs of existing and potential clients.

Globally, the Asia-Pacific region was the dominant user of PVD components and processes in the preceding years, and it is expected to retain its dominance in the upcoming years. This can be primarily credited to the surging adoption of flash and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) in Japan, India, and China. Additionally, the booming semiconductor industry, on account of the growing penetration of smartphones and laptops, will also propel the use of PVD technology in the region.  

Thus, the rapid shift toward solar energy and the widescale integration of semiconductors in vehicles will fuel the adoption of PVD components in the foreseeable future. 

Read More

How Is Construction Sector Reducing Waste through 3D Printing Technology?

The construction sector generates a considerable amount of waste, owing to which they are using 3D printing for construction as the technology utilizes the exact volume of material required to print the structure, thereby mitigating the generation of large volumes of waste. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the construction industry in the U.S. generated 600,330 tons of debris in 2018. Further, the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) states that India generates approximately 150 million construction and demolition debris waste every year. 

Thus, the increasing awareness among construction companies about the necessity of reducing construction waste, owing to the rising consciousness regarding environmental degradation, is expected to propel the 3D printing construction market growth during the forecast period (2021–2030). According to P&S Intelligence, the market generated ~$15 million revenue in 2020. In recent years, the advent of sand 3D printing and metal and robotic arm extruders technologies has led to the development of new construction methods, as such technologies that facilitate the creation of complex and unusual designs and shapes.

At present, construction companies are using metals, composites, and concrete to create 3D structures. Construction firms use these materials in extraction and powder bonding methods to develop complex and intricate designs. In the coming years, the extrusion method will be preferred over the power bonding method, due to the increasing construction of building and expanding infrastructure sectors. This method allows for the usage of conventional construction materials, such as cement, clay, concrete, and geopolymers, in on-site construction applications. 

The end use segment of the 3D printing construction market is bifurcated into infrastructure and building. Under this segment, the building category is expected to display the faster growth during the forecast period, due to the expanding construction industry in developing nations and the increasing need for affordable housing. Moreover, the burgeoning demand for high-performance and complex designs that can be conveniently transformed to life will also contribute to the growth of this category worldwide.

In recent years, companies, such as Xtreee, Mx3D, Contour Crafting, Yingchuang Building Technique (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cybe construction, and Beijing Huashang Luhai Technology, have increased their presence in developing countries to reach out to a greater number of customers. For instance, Yingchuang Building Technique (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. printed the office of the Dubai Municipality in February 2021. This office is the first 32-printed commercial building and it is mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Globally, the Asia-Pacific 3D printing construction market generated the highest revenue in 2020, and it is expected to demonstrate the fastest growth in the forecast years. This can be credited to the soaring number of buildings being constructed through sustainable methods, increasing number of manufacturing units, and rising research and development (R&D) activities. Additionally, the strong presence of numerous construction companies also contributes to the market growth in the region. Among APAC countries, Japan and China hold immense growth potential for emerging technologies such as 3D printing for construction.

Thus, the surging focus of construction companies on reducing waste and increasing availability of technologically advanced construction methods will accelerate the adoption of 3D printing technology in the construction sector. 

Read More