Gelvenor Textiles awarded most innovative with world-first product

NATIONAL awards officially recognising innovation and excellence in Advanced Manufacturing were made for the first time in South Africa at the African Additive Manufacturing & Composites Show held in PE in November.

The National Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Awards, hosted by the DT and the national Composites Cluster, were opened to all companies operating in the advanced manufacturing field, including 3D printing, robotics, automation, AI, laser cutting and etching, CNC machining, software, big data, IOT and composites. 

Gold, Silver and Special Mention Awards were made to 25 organisations in six categories.

The Composities Floating Trophy for displaying innovation went to Gelvenor’s award-winning cut-resistant composite textile developed to form the base of truck tarpaulins.

Composites Cluster MD, Andy Radford, said the awards would play a key role in advancing the country’s advanced manufacturing agenda.

“As we push to consolidate and develop our manufacturing strategy, it is essential that as a collective, government and private sector stakeholders identify, promote and reward innovation in the advanced manufacturing and composites industry.”

Gelvenor Textiles’ solution, a global first, uses high tenacity steel threads sewn into the tarpaulins covering delivery trucks. This is then coated with PVC, making the tarpaulin virtually impenetrable from thieves trying to cut through the tarpaulin.

Gelvenor put forward their cut-resistant composite textile developed to form the base of truck tarpaulins. Every year, the trucking industry faces massive losses from cargo theft due to tarpaulins being cut to steal the goods inside. Gelvenor’s multi-layered fabric is designed for safety at base level, incorporating angled steel fibre to ensure that the tarpaulin is resistant to horizontal or vertical slashes or cuts.

“This notable achievement has spurred Gelvenor to continue developing advanced textiles with innovation designed into the fabrics at a fibre level. We would like to thank everyone involved in the African Advanced Manufacturing and Composites show,” said Dicky Coetzee, Gelvenor CEO.

As a leading textile manufacturer and fabric engineering company, Gelvenor Textiles has been an industry innovator since 1965. Products include a variety of aeronautical textiles, industrial fabrics, protective workwear, technical apparel and high performance outdoor textile fabrics.