8 March 2016

Coats, the world's leading industrial thread manufacturer, is launching Synergex, a range of advanced composite fibres which can be processed into fabric form and then used to mould strong, but lightweight, parts for industries including automotive and aerospace.

Synergex has high levels of hybrid fibre integrity and performance. It can be processed into fabric form using many technologies including commingling and twisting. The carbon and nylon commingled yarn delivers a perfect balance between strength, weight, performance and also recyclability. The composite fibres can be embroidered directly into complex shapes and the final composite parts can be metal pressed.

Rajiv Sharma, Global CEO, Industrial, Coats, said: 'This is a ground breaking new product range which will revolutionise composite technology across a wide range of industries. Our pioneering thread and yarn expertise has created an innovative product that can accelerate current manufacturing processes. It provides a simple solution for complex forms.'

The Synergex range has been developed by Coats Speciality using its state of the art carbon room at its Sevier site in North Carolina, US. It is dedicated to developing high performance composite constructions. From carbon processing units to aramid converting lines and fibreglass processing equipment, it is able to commingle and twist carbon fibres and various thermoplastic fibres. This enables the manufacture of flexible thermoplastic prepegs which produce advanced thermoplastic parts for the wind, automotive, aerospace and sporting goods sectors.

Coats recently announced its partnership with Elemental Group Ltd in the creation and development of the forthcoming Rp1's sports car wheel arch which features Synergex. The wheel arch is made in four steps. The carbon fibre and nylon are woven together to create a single commingled yarn. The yarn is then embroidered into shape using a Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) preforming process. Once the shape is precisely stitched, it is then placed in the machine mould and pressed to form the wheel arch. The parts can be finished to a high standard without the need to use resins or autoclave.

The TFP process using Coats commingled yarns will be demonstrated at JEC World, the international composite industry show, held in Paris, Tuesday 8 March to Thursday 10 March. Coats Speciality is at stand K81 in Hall 6.

Peter Kent, Composites Director, Elemental, said: Choosing a material for the Rp1's wheel arch presented a few challenges as it had to be lightweight, extremely robust and flexible to achieve the complex shape of the part. The properties of Synergex ticked all the boxes.'

ENDS

To download a high resolution image go to: www.coats.com/imagelibrary

For more information contact:
Kristina Blissett, Head of Communications kristina.blissett@coats.com
T +44 (0)208 210 5084, M +44 (0)7714 539887

Notes to Editors

About Coats

Coats is the world's leading industrial thread manufacturer and a major player in the Americas textile crafts market. At home in more than 60 countries, Coats employs 19,000 people across six continents. Revenues in 2015 were US$1.5bn.

Coats' pioneering history and innovative culture ensure the company leads the way around the world: providing complementary and value added products and services to the apparel and footwear industries; applying innovative techniques to develop high technology Speciality threads and yarns in areas such as automotive and fibre optics; and extending the crafts offer into new markets and online.

Headquartered in the UK, Coats has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange. To find out more about Coats visit www.coats.com.

  • Each year we make enough thread to go into 8 billion pair of jeans - that's one for every person on the planet!
  • Every month Coats produces enough thread to stretch all the way to the sun
  • More than 450 million pairs of shoes are made every year using Coats' thread
  • More than 100 million car airbags are made using Coats' Speciality thread every year
  • In 1879 Thomas Edison used Coats' thread in his experiments to invent the light bulb
  • We're experts in colour, last year we dyed thread and yarn in more than 150,000 different colours for our customers
  • Our Red Heart knitting and crochet yarn brand has been named 'America's Most Recommended' by the Women's Choice Award
  • Our flame retardant Speciality threads can withstand temperatures as high as 1,000 degrees Celsius
  • Coats is the second largest supplier of zips to global brands

Coats Group plc issued this content on 08 March 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 08 March 2016 09:40:19 UTC

Original Document: http://www.coats.com/index.asp?pageid=214&newsid=100