BTMA Highlights Cutting-Edge Textiles

The manufacture of surgical sutures, implanted directly into the human body, requires rigorous quality control to ensure safety, sterility, and reliable performance.

A 20-strong delegation of British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) companies will be present at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025 in Singapore, highlighting the increasingly advanced industries their technologies now serve.

Medical applications, for instance, are a key focus. The manufacture of surgical sutures, implanted directly into the human body, requires rigorous quality control to ensure safety, sterility, and reliable performance. Absorbable sutures use polymers like polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, or polydioxanone, while non-absorbable sutures are made from materials such as nylon, polyester, silk, or stainless steel. The UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) leads in fibre selection and production technologies for this sector and will demonstrate a novel supercritical CO2-based approach in Singapore. Other BTMA members—including Autofoam, James Heal, Roaches, Strayfield, Verivide, and Wira Instrumentation—will showcase automation and advanced fibre production control solutions.

In aerospace, automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) technologies allow precise deposition of carbon fibre tapes for lightweight yet strong components. AFP is ideal for complex geometries like fuselage sections and wing skins, while ATL suits larger, flatter surfaces. The UK’s Cygnet Texkimp will unveil a new technology supporting this sector, enabling production-scale prepreg tape slitting and early-stage process trials.

BTMA members are also advancing the production of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a material ten times stronger than steel by weight, used in medical implants and other high-performance applications. FET will introduce a small-scale, lab-to-industrial gel-spinning system that enables flexible, bespoke fibre production using a patented supercritical CO₂ extraction process.

Supporting the aerospace and renewable energy sectors, Airbond will showcase pneumatic yarn splicing technology for carbon and aramid fibres, ensuring efficient and strong fibre joins. BTMA members Garnett Controls, Roaches International, Slack & Parr, and Tatham will present further innovations for technical textiles and composites.

“High-value sectors like aerospace, defence, automotive, renewable energy, and medical textiles are rapidly growing, and UK collaboration with universities and research institutes is key to advancing these technologies,” said Jason Kent, CEO of BTMA. “Our members are exploring new approaches and technologies that are reshaping technical textiles and advanced fibres. Singapore will be an exciting showcase for this innovation.”

BTMA companies exhibiting at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025 include Airbond, Autofoam, AVA CAD/Cam, Cygnet Texkimp, Fibre Extrusion Technology, James Heal, MCL, Roaches, Saurer Fibrevision, SDC Enterprises, Sellers, Shelton Vision, Slack & Parr, Society of Dyers and Colourists, Strayfield, Tatham, The Textile Institute, Verivide, Vickers Oils, and Wira Instrumentation.

Founded in 1940, the British Textile Machinery Association promotes UK textile machinery manufacturers globally and bridges its members with diverse textile and high-tech industries.