METS

METS 2012 has been a sensational landmark trade show as they celebrated their 25th consecutive annual show dedicated to the global marine leisure industry. METS started back in 1988 with little over 100 exhibitors and has built steadily year by year into the world’s biggest and best attended marine equipment trade show. As the leading product showcase, it has been the launch pad for many, many innovations, a place to spot emerging trends and – above all – see the world’s leading marine products. It is also renowned for networking opportunities that extend beyond show hours.

We were there visiting clients and searching for new opportunities. It was nice to see the new collection of sailcloth with Dyneema® by Contender and to see the new contacts Benvenuti made in the market. Armare also started a new giant project in marine, all good signs that show the resilience of the market in a time of financial crisis. Companies keep growing and new business opportunities arise.  In this high tech business where to stand still is to regress it is paramount that we remember that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. As a young dynamic company which can lean on years of experience in the market from within but also via our network we have an excellent view on the steps to undertake to get out of this crisis on top. And we love to share this view with you!

New Products

The Egyptians were the first to document the tools for rope making but ropes have been around in one form or another for approximately 28.000 years. Ropes where of great importance in the construction of the pyramids, they used them to pull and lift the giant blocks to build them, with this in mind take a look at the properties of Dyneema® and imagine the possibilities of a rope that is 15 times stronger than steel. Dyneema® lifting slings are lighter and let you lift larger. Working faster, safer and more cost efficient with Dyneema®. Pick a property and think about how Dyneema can make a difference in your organization. If you have any questions about what Dyneema® can mean for you, we love to investigate new opportunities and help you with the build of your world wonder!

The history of the development of high tech fibers for ropes that has led up to the discovery of Dyneema® is one of innovation and progress, reducing costs and stimulating growth. This is progress… EuroFibers keeps on looking for new possibilities and products to ensure progress. For this Marcel Alberts travelled to China this year to research new products and to ensure that we can keep on offering the latest in high tech fiber solutions to the market. With new products and new ideas he returned to Holland to set out the course for 2013. With a stronger focus on high tech solutions EuroFibers will be able to give your business the edge it deserves in the next year and the years to come. As history has shown us, a changing world asks for an open mind and an eye for new opportunities. Do you want to learn more about the new products that are coming? Please contact us; let us know your dreams and we will explore the options together.

After about a year and a half of helping out on a project basis we decided it would be better to tighten the bond a bit, and that I should come to work for EuroFibers on a more regular basis. Completely new to the market, with only minor experience with high performance fibers from my days as a salesman in outdoor equipment and no experience with Dyneema® I started helping out a couple of weeks before the Techtextil convention in Frankfurt, May 2011. This felt a bit like running before you can walk but Marcel and Jan taught me well and I survived. Not only had I learned a lot but I also had a good time. With my head spinning fro all the new information and a couple of beers we drank with the Belgium stand holders, (thanks guys see you next year!) I came back to the hotel and realised that this was an industry unlike any other I had ever seen, and that I liked it, I liked it a lot.

Getting to know the industry has thought me a couple of things so far, the most important one being: quality is king, getting to know our costumers this is what they all have in common. The focus in the market is on quality and research. Furthermore openness and honesty count here more than in other markets and trust is the basis for all good business. In the short time that EuroFibers exists. EuroFibers has earned the trust of a lot of new companies and is helping out existing clients with the development of new products. Our focus lies with the development of your business, because helping to grow your business helps to grow ours.

I will be blogging regularly about my job on our website. I will be talking about the latest developments in the market and about my experience as a newcomer in this industry. With Dyneema® being used in products ranging from bulletproof vests to sewing threads all over the world and even out of this world in space, there will be plenty of stories to tell. But it is not only the products; it is the different people as well.

As innovation partner of DSM Dyneema EuroFibers is now seeking new participants to commercialize the latest innovation for Dyneema®. This patent pending combination of cotton with a negligible percentage of Dyneema® more than doubles the abrasion resistance of cotton. Besides the increase in abrasion resistance, also the tensile strength and tear resistance have improved significantly.

An open invitation for open innovation

Cotton mills, denim producers, knitters and weavers of cotton products and consumer brands are invited to contact EuroFibers if they are interested to participate in this open innovation project. If both parties see a match for working together, EuroFibers will share available knowledge regarding the invention and supply samples but does not require the partners to reveal their trade secrets.

Stronger and more durable cotton fabrics

EuroFibers is an innovative supplier of High Performance Fibers to the European textile industry and premium distributor of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. The company constantly seeks new opportunities that push the boundaries of applications with Dyneema® and need your help.

“We know the high performance fiber market very well and have good knowledge of the shortcomings of 100 % cotton fabrics in technical application.” Marcel Alberts, Managing Director of EuroFibers, comments. “Because of the strong value proposition of the invention we are confident that a large part of the cotton industry can benefit from it. We now want to forge strong partnerships with cotton processing companies and their customers who can take advantage from stronger and more durable cotton fabrics to make this a marketplace success story.”

Solid reputation

Dyneema® has already built up a solid reputation as the material of choice in bullet resistant vests, high protective textiles and marine applications. “We now can open a whole new market segment where denim, work wear and gloves are the obvious first applications to look at. I am sure there is much more out there, the clue is to find the right partners.” says Jan Kriele, Business Development Manager of EuroFibers.

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Dyneema® is a registered trademark of Royal DSM N.V. Kevlar® and Nomex® are registered trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company  Twaron® and Technora® are registered trademarks of Teijin Aramid B.V. Zylon® is a registered trademark of Toyobo Co., Ltd. Vectran® is a registered trademark of Kuraray Co., Ltd.

DSM Dyneema has formed a partnership with EuroFibers BV in which they become a Premium Distribution Partner for UHMWPE fiber manufactured by DSM Dyneema. The new agreement becomes effective April 1st 2011 and

is specific to Scandinavia, Denmark, United Kingdom, Benelux, France, Italy, Greece and the Iberian Peninsula.

EuroFibers will play an active role in developing new and servicing existing markets for fiber from DSM Dyneema. They will offer an increased level of fiber enhancing capabilities as well as continued technical service and application development support. Next to that, EuroFibers will be assigned with the responsibility to supply UHMWPE fiber from DSM Dyneema to a selected number of existing customers currently supplied by DSM Dyneema.

The partnership marks the next step in DSM Dyneema’s continued commitment to supply and service the European textile industry with sustainable and high performance fiber solutions.

“With this strategic partnership we are able to streamline the supply of flat and twisted UHMWPE fiber manufactured by DSM Dyneema to existing and potentially new customers,” says Edwin Grootendorst, Regional Manager EMEA at DSM Dyneema. “Through the partnership the service level for these customers will be raised, meaning shorter lead-times, more flexibility and simply higher attention focused on helping our customer’s businesses grow and develop further.”

“This is an exciting step forward for all the customers and potential customers of UHMWPE from DSM Dyneema in the area and we are thrilled that EuroFibers plays such as a key role,” says Marcel Alberts, Managing Director of EuroFibers, who previously spent 7 years as a sales and marketing manager with DSM Dyneema. “They will benefit from enhanced customer and technical support through our distribution network overall providing easier access to flat, twisted and assembled products.”

Signing Ceremony DSM Dyneema and EuroFibers