#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2021-03-18

Hyosung advanced materials supplies airbags to Amazon’s self-driving cars

Hyosung Advanced Materials is set to supply its OPW (One-Piece Woven) airbags to Amazon’s fully autonomous vehicle ‘robotaxi’. GST Global GmbH (GST), Hyosung Advanced Materials’ subsidiary specializing in the production of airbags, announced recently that it would supply new-generation OPW airbags to robotaxis made by Zoox Inc.(Zoox) via the global automotive systems provider ZF Friedrichshafen AG from 2022.

Robotaxi, which was unveiled in December last year by Amazon's self-driving car startup Zoox, is the first fully autonomous vehicle with a shape of a box. Such a design is frequently used in purpose-built vehicles (PBVs), which offer various interior spaces according to the diverse usage purposes. Airbags to be installed in PBVs thus require unique design that ensures extensibility accommodating flexible use of spaces. Hyosung Advanced Materials is the first supplier of airbags to fully autonomous PBVs.

In particular, ‘safety’ is a key factor in the new sector of fully autonomous driving. Airbags of self-driving cars should be designed in three dimensions so that it may protect that passengers with a more diverse and freer postures than in traditional vehicles. In a robotaxi, new generation OPW airbags manufactured by GST are mounted on all four-seats, face-to-face symmetrical seating configuration. An entirely different concept from conventional airbags was applied to the robotaxi airbags as they are deployed from the ceiling and at 90 degrees to protect passengers who may opt for diverse space layouts inside the vehicle.

Based on decades of experience, GST has been working with customers to develop new safety solutions through continuous innovation. This capability enabled the company to achieve swift development and production that meet the new mobility trends, including the advancement of self-driving, and respond flexibly to the requirements of new-generation airbags to be mounted in purpose-based vehicles (PBVs). This is why GST is favored by customers like Amazon.

Hyosung Advanced Materials CEO Jungmo Hwang said, “Our material technology provides users with ‘safety’ and ‘comfort.’”, “Based on GST's excellent product development capacity and OPW airbag manufacturing technology, we will continue to roll out innovative products that meet the increasingly diverse needs of users in the era of new mobility.”

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

ITM 2026 makes happy participants with its international and qualified visitor profile

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious meeting points of the textile machinery sector, attracted attention in its first three days, particularly with its diverse international visitor numbers. Industry professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to closely examine the latest technology machines and solutions displayed in operation. Thousands of visitors from approximately 100 countries, primarily Egypt, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, met at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center for new investment and cooperation opportunities.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.