Wrap yourself in a thin blanket and ... become invisible, or buy a weightless windbreaker that will warm you in cold weather and cool you down in hot weather. Until recently, such fabrics seemed to be an invention of science fiction writers. However, many of the innovative textile finds have already gone beyond the laboratories and are actively used in the production of quite affordable goods.
Graphene windbreaker from VOLLEBAK: more than just a jacket
Twins Nick and Steve Tidball, founders of Vollebak, recognized as one of the most innovative brands in manufacturing sportswear in the world. The guys themselves are actively involved in sports and it is not surprising that they pay increased attention to technologies, many of which can be called “breakthrough” without exaggeration.
A prime example Graphene Jacket is one of the latest experiments of the brand.
If you take the thinnest layer of graphite, say, one layer of carbon atoms stacked in the shape of a hexagon, you get an ultra strong and flexible material - graphene. To understand the uniqueness of the material, it is worth noting that Andre Game and Konstantin Novoselov received the Nobel Prize in 2010 for the creation of graphene! Scientists say that if you cover a spider's web with a thin layer of graphene, it will be able to catch it ... an airplane. It is a pity that it is not easy to verify this statement ...
Vollebak brand team used space material to create a reversible sports jacket, which attracted loyal customers of the brand to test. The company called the project to create a windbreaker "Part jacket, part science experiment", and in fact, this is a real scientific study, since the properties of graphene are not fully understood. Perhaps the material should be used to create other sports ammunition.
What is already known about graphene? It accumulates and retains heat, is completely waterproof, is able to maintain comfortable humidity in hot weather, while the fabric has a bactericidal effect, that is, it is able to neutralize the activity of bacteria that develop in conditions of heat and humidity. Yes, it is important for those who are actively involved in sports - there can be no smell in such a windbreaker. Unnecessary "flavors" magic cloth also neutralizes.
As the creators of the magical jacket joke, “Unfortunately, it cannot protect you from bullets yet. But patience! We're working on that too!"
Material that will make you invisible
How do you like the idea of creating a material that literally merges with the surrounding reality, due to which the object wrapped in it becomes completely invisible? Incredibly, however, the innovative development of the Russian company Rostec will appear on the market in the near future.
Rostec began developing a new material for military purposes, but as the research progressed, the company began to admit that the use of fabric is also possible in the wearable technology segment.
“We are talking about a unique technology that could radically change the way we design and manufacture clothing. The material will undoubtedly be in demand where a fabric is needed that can withstand difficult climatic conditions, such as critically low or high temperatures,” said Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Yevtukhov.
Of course, it is too early to talk about the creation fancy fabric, and to achieve the final result, considerable investments will be required - about 150 million dollars. However, the first experimental samples already exist.
Eco friendly alternative faux leather
The increasingly widespread phenomenon of people abandoning animal products and products in the production of which our smaller brothers suffer, leads to intensive development in the field of creating new materials. However, artificial materials do not always mean a more careful attitude to nature, because their production is chemistry that negatively affects the environment. And the problem of finding a compromise between the creation of artificial material and the preservation of the ecosystem is acute.
Lenzing and Covestro, leaders in the development and production of innovative fibers, have combined their experience and knowledge to create a special eco-material that is designed for sewing shoes.
On the one hand, Lenzing and Lyocell fabric are a modern alternative to cotton, which is made from wood waste. It takes six times less water to produce fully biodegradable fabric than to produce the same amount of cotton material.
“The industry needs eco-solutions. This trend is supported and developed by consumers who are increasingly responsible for the quality of the goods they tend to buy. Sustainable development, which has a minimal impact on nature, is no longer just a wish, but a necessity that is required from the manufacturer and the consumer himself. In this context, Lyocell is increasingly sought after by leading shoe manufacturers,” comments Birgit Schnetzlinger, Global Managing Director of Lenzing.
On the other hand, Covestro introduced the innovative material Insqin, a new type of polyurethane material that does not use toxic elements in the production and reduces water consumption by 95%. This is an innovative material that provides complete environmental friendliness in the production of shoes.
Down with cellulite!
Producers of innovative materials care not only about preserving the environment - of course, they cannot ignore the segment of the audience that is obsessed with finding technologies to preserve their beauty and youth.
NUREL, a global giant in the production of synthetic fibers, has introduced an innovative nylon fabric that "promises" to control and prevent the appearance of the treacherous and so hated "orange peel" on the thighs, that is, cellulite. New fabric was named Novarel Slim.
Novarel Slim is not just a fabric. This is a kind of fiber sandwich impregnated with active substances, including retinol, aloe vera, caffeine, vitamin E and fatty acids. Under the influence of heat that comes from the body, the tissue begins to actively supply substances to the skin, helping it get rid of the unwanted effect. Tests showed that after a month and a half of wearing tight fabric trousers, the skin smoothed out by 17%.
The Russian company "Adventum Technologies" creates "smart" intellectual materials with desired properties.
New technologies are changing our lives and things around us. Spaceships plow the expanses of the universe, smartphones with access to all the knowledge of mankind are in your pockets, robot dogs are sold in the store ... Even clothes have acquired intelligence! "Smart" things protect from heavy rain, allowing the body to breathe, do not burn or get dirty. The secret is in the tissues. And they are made not somewhere in a foreign country, but here - in the Tula region.
Until recently, technologies and equipment for the production of high-tech fabrics belonged exclusively to the world's largest companies and chemical concerns. The situation changed in 2015, when the Texttime Group of Companies launched a joint project in Russia with manufacturers of textiles for workwear - the British Carrington and Concordia from Belgium. Today, the Adventum Technologies joint venture in the town of Uzlovaya near Tula produces fabrics that have no analogues in Russia.
"Constructor" from layers
In the manufacture of fabrics, Adventum Technologies uses the principle of a constructor, combining any types of textiles with any membranes and coatings in one product. The parts of the construction set – base, membrane, cover, mesh lining, fleece, protective print – form a kind of “sandwich”, to which a second, third, fourth layer or even half a layer is added.
If necessary, the material can be processed using calenders - heated rollers rotating under pressure. Calendering gives the upper fabric extra density, thereby keeping the insulation inside. In addition, this treatment makes the surface smoother, which contributes to better adhesion to the coating.
The capabilities of Adventum Technologies allow the production of "smart" multilayer multifunctional materials with desired properties. For example, the material for the oil and gas sector protects at the same time from fire, wind, snow, water and even oil - it simply drains without being absorbed into clothing. At the same time, the fabric retains "breathing" properties, which means that in such a jacket it will be warm and dry.
The customer can choose a combination appearance, weave and composition of the fabric, the degree of water and air permeability, as well as additional properties acquired through impregnations - antibacterial, oil-, oil- and / or water-repellent, "easy care", etc.
Fabric examples:
- multilayer with lamination and coatings, with improved heat-shielding properties, duplicated with microfleece, fleece, knitwear, mesh
- ultra light and flexible
- high-strength using PA 6.6 (Cordura), PE (Oxford) threads for backpacks, tents, awnings
- with multispectral camouflage (visual, IR spectrum)
- flame retardant fabrics, including those coated or laminated
The plant uses the latest equipment of German, Swiss and Japanese production. Technological processes are controlled by Siemens, Yaskawa and Mitsubishi automation. The qualifications of the personnel correspond to the state of the art: the employees of Adventum Technologies were trained by the best specialists Concordia Textiles and Carrington Workwear.
Technology Secrets
The Adventum Technologies plant is focused on the rarest technological processes for Russia: coating (coating) and impregnation (finishing), lamination (bonding), dyeing of ultra-light, heavy and synthetic heat-resistant fabrics, giving fire-retardant properties to textiles. Let's consider them in more detail.
1. Coatings and impregnations
State-of-the-art coating and finishing line creates fabrics with a high degree adhesion (the ability of materials to stick together with each other) and guaranteed application stability. This applies to both high-tech organic coatings and finishes, monochrome patterns and textures (logos, anti-slip dot coating).
The All in One technology allows several processes to be carried out simultaneously, for example, water-repellent impregnation is applied to one side of the fabric, and a polymer coating is applied to the other.
Clear Organic is a process for obtaining environmentally friendly polymer coatings. Coatings are created on the basis of organic compounds, which are then removed. As a result of the process, the material acquires breathable properties.
2. Lamination
Lamination is carried out using Hot Melt technology - a method of supplying hot glue that allows you to connect any materials to each other. The glue is distributed over the fabric pointwise, and the size of the “droplets”, their frequency and temperature are selected for each product.
The glue is applied to the fabric by means of Gravure Roll - a metal shaft with recesses of different sizes located at different distances. Bitmap "gluing" is again selected individually. The glue applied in this way does not affect the removal of body fumes and the mass of the finished product, providing a 100% reliable connection.
The innovative ZERO-Tension fabric tension system allows you to create membrane elastic materials, for example, a three-layer Soft Shell, consisting of an elastic top fabric, membrane and fleece. Fabrics of different elasticity are fed to the "gluing" with the same tension, so that even the most delicate materials retain their properties.
3. Coloring
Synthetic fabrics are dyed using the Jigger machine. All process parameters are controlled automatically. This provides a deep uniform coloring, as well as the possibility of painting in any color according to the sample or pantone (numbered standardized color matching system). Jigger works with aramid (Kevlar, etc.) and dense fabrics made of synthetic fibers with a density of 130 to 700 g/m².
For dyeing light and delicate fabrics with a density of 30 g / m², Overflow Jet and Aero Jet machines are used.
The advanced technologies applied at Adventum Technologies make it possible to ensure that the dyed fabrics do not wash out and do not shed.
4. Proban flame retardant technology
A special pride of the plant in Uzlovaya is the Proban technological line for imparting fire resistance to cotton and blended fabrics. Equipment for a multi-stage process covers an area of 3 thousand square meters. m; dyeing, washing and drying lines, automatic dosing station and ammonia chamber are only a small part of it.
How does the technology work? Molecules of refractory chemicals - non-combustible polymers - are introduced into the core of the fibers of the fabric, as a result of which the textile acquires fire-retardant properties. Proban-treated material is harmless to humans. This is confirmed by the Oeko-Tex class 2 certificate, which allows the use of the fabric for children's sleeping clothes and linen.
Adventum Technologies is the only company licensed to produce woven and knitted materials using Proban technology in Russia and the countries of the Customs Union (EAEU).
Testing in the laboratory
Each batch of fabrics is checked in the plant's laboratory for compliance with domestic and international standards, the company's and the customer's own requirements. Control is carried out at all stages of production. The tests are carried out on equipment unique for Russia, which allows evaluating materials for water resistance, vapor permeability, including porous, non-porous and combined membranes, shrinkage, abrasion, fire resistance and many other factors.
Ready for more
Since its launch, Adventum Technologies has seriously increased its capacity and today it is ready to cope with the largest orders. For example, the production capacity of the impregnating line is 18 million running meters per year, the coloring line is 2.5 million.
Regardless of the batch size, the manufacturer guarantees the specified product quality.
The rapid development of technology has not bypassed the production of clothing. The possibilities of fabrics that only yesterday seemed fantastic - changing color, keeping cold, supporting electricity - already exist, although they are not yet available for mass production. Look At Me chose 7 fabrics of the future and asked London College of Fashion student Natalya Gosteva to comment on their perspectives and shortcomings.
Built-in LEDs
Studio XO offers consumers bright things, in the design of which electronic microgadgets are used. For example, recently the designers of "digital punk" (as they call themselves) created a swimsuit with a huge number of LEDs, which in appearance strongly resemble Swarovski crystals. They glow with multi-colored lights, refract light to the beat of the music, or simply “blink” in different colors as desired by the designer-adjuster who regulates the operation of the gadget.
So far, Studio XO products are in demand mainly among pop stars. So, in 2011, the guys from The Black Eyed Peas actively used them. Whether such clothes will be the property of the masses is difficult to say. Creative director of XO Nancy Tilbury believes in success: "Our things are still an event in the world of fashion, not technology." According to co-founder Benjamin Meils, such clothes are ideal for parties, especially when there is no time for long gatherings and buying new dresses.
Implanted microcapsules
with paraffin
American company Outlast Technologies created a material that is a capsule with paraffin in the form of microballoons, which can be safely implanted directly into nylon threads or other polyester fibers. When, for example, a dress with this substance is in a room heated to 20 ° C, the paraffin in the balls turns into a liquid. And when the temperature drops, for example, to -20 ° C, they harden and release heat for several hours.
polymer under the microscope
As a result, you can get not only warm, but also light jackets., dress or sweater. True, so far the technology has not received wide application: new material expensive and goes from solid to liquid and back too slowly. In order for these clothes to really warm, they must be heavy, but then the whole point of the idea is lost. The developers, however, claim that sooner or later they will finalize the polymer. Initially, it is assumed that the military will use such high-tech clothing.
Natalya Gosteva
As for "useful" technologies, among them there are many different directions to choose from. Firstly, it is microencapsulation - when microcapsules with useful substances (herbal extracts, moisturizing ingredients, etc.) which, when worn, penetrate the body through the skin. Secondly, fabrics equipped with microsensors that read information about the pulse, pressure, temperature and monitor the state of the wearer and the environment. Thirdly, fabrics "for the lazy" - do not require ironing, protecting against ultraviolet rays, viruses, bacteria and harmful impurities, equipped with anti-allergic or repellent protection. The same materials that store heat or cold.
In fact, such technologies are already being used with might and main, but mostly not in high fashion. Innovations come to us from the side of sportswear and overalls, even military uniforms. Catwalk fashion now lives at too high speeds: when you need to make 6 collections a year, there is hardly time for laborious collaboration with engineers or chemists to create new materials or technologies. In addition, such experiments are difficult to replicate on the fly. But in fact, there are quite a few geek enthusiasts who, for their own pleasure, create innovative fashion crafts on their knees. If you wish, it will not be difficult to find instructions on the Internet and create yourself, say, a T-shirt with LEDs.
HEI yarn with customizable properties
Advanced Fabric Technologies back in 2011 announced the creation of a new yarn technology called HEI, which will allow the production of fabrics with any properties. The fabric, which was originally created for the military, will also be useful for athletes, as it has anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties. Plus, this fabric is able to conduct electricity: many will like that charging for gadgets is always with them. But when the technology becomes widespread, as usual, the military will be the first to get access to the technology.
Printing on a 3D printer
In March of this year, one of the most famous models world Dita Von Teese appeared in public in a dress printed on a 3D printer based on a sketch by designer Michael Schmidt.
Fragment of a dress printed on a 3D printer
It is made of hardened powdered nylon. The material is practical: it does not hinder movements, looks futuristic, can be used after processing to print other dresses on a home 3D printer. If such material is massive, clothes will no longer need to be bought - it is enough to purchase a sketch and print it at home.
Natalya Gosteva
London College of Fashion student
In short, I think it's worth sharing materials into visually spectacular and useful. Among the first, 3D printing seems to me to be the most promising. On the one hand, it provides great opportunities for creating the most unusual forms, which can stimulate the creation of some new types of clothing. On the other hand, the very principle of interaction between the brand and the consumer will change. What if everyone could download a design and print out a pair of glasses or shoes, just like we download movies and music now? Perhaps not far off is the controversy about pirated downloads of designer items.
Australian company Arctic Heat produces clothes that contain a special environmentally friendly gel that can accumulate cold. Before going out on a hot day, you just need to put a T-shirt or hat with gel in the freezer and wait until it cools down thoroughly.
Athlete wearing Arctic Heat vest
After that, clothing with frozen gel will cool the body, passing a strictly metered amount of cold to the skin. Such products can save from the heat for several hours. The developers claim that if you hold the Arctic Heat vest in ice water for 5-10 minutes, it will remain cold for about one hour. True, such technological clothing is not cheap - a T-shirt, for example, is offered for $220.
Wires woven into fabric
The German company Novonic has developed a unique the technology of weaving thin wires into the fabric, which heat up if current is passed through them. It works like this: went outside, pressed the button on the jacket or vest, and the clothes will heat up to the selected temperature.
Vest with built-in wires
Permissible maximum - + 42 degrees Celsius. To make it all work, inside the vest there is a battery with a capacity of 2200 mAh and with a safe voltage of 7.4 V. It weighs only 200 g, so on a typical winter jacket no one will feel the difference. One battery charge allows you to heat the jacket six times, and each time it will keep the temperature for 20 minutes. The creators are also very proud that their clothes can be washed in a conventional washing machine.
self repair material
American scientists Marek Urban and Biswajit Ghose created a sufficiently strong and elastic material that can independently repair the resulting damage.
Works only under concentrated UV light
The basis is polyurethane - a very simple and cheap synthetic polymer. In order for it to restore itself, oxetane and chitosan are added to it. To start the process, you just need to direct a concentrated ultraviolet beam onto the fabric.
Natalya Gosteva
London College of Fashion student
In addition to the technology itself, it is interesting that how they can influence existing consumption patterns, production cycles, etc. For example, people can buy one smart fabric dress or t-shirt, and then only upload more and more prints, colors, special effects, or order custom-tailored shirts. according to individual measurements, taken with a special 3D scanner.
With the introduction modern technologies may new professions will also appear - for example, a video print artist or a fashion engineer. The concept of luxury will also change. The new suite can be any incredible beauty outfits equipped with the most sophisticated built-in technology and iridescent video patterns. Or maybe such technologies will become so easily replicable that “new luxury”, on the contrary, will be exclusively hand-sewn from natural fabrics, since such a method of production will become a real chic and rarity (which, in general, has happened now) .
The main thing is that the suit sits
Designers team up with chemists to create new fabrics for the clothes of the future
For any weather
In the famous science fiction film Back to the Future, the protagonist, having moved many years ahead, got a jacket that could dry itself, clean it and adjust it to size. But already now in Japan there are prototypes of clothes that have a much wider functionality.
Clothing is becoming more multifunctional, wires and nanofibers are sewn into the fabric
- In particular, it is about technological novelty, which is presented at the Tokyo exhibition Micromachine/MEMS exhibition . Fancy clothing designed by a Japanese research team Life Beans . New wardrobe items - a women's dress or a men's formal suit - can serve as an air conditioner or, conversely, a heating battery for the body.
In fact, as experts say, the clothes of the next decade should become a real gadget, which, of course, is based on nanotechnology. When a person is cold, the nanofibers, when activated, will give the user warmth, and in hot weather, on the contrary, absorb it, giving coolness. In addition, the suit will become a complex device that can collect data, record it and transmit it to other devices.
- It is quite possible that a jacket sleeve held to the ear will replace a mobile phone, and a handkerchief will become a memory card. Plus, clothes will be able to register physical activity And mental condition people to transfer this data to a computer so that it analyzes the information and gives advice on how to improve your well-being.
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Instead of washing
Today, a group of scientists from the University of Dartmouth is working on the creation of "living" clothes that clean themselves of dirt, just like in a science fiction movie. The threads of such clothes, as conceived by scientists, should be inhabited by colonies of special bacteria. The duty of some of them will be to eliminate sweat and substances with a strong smell, others - to protect clothes from water or damage.
- It remains unknown how long microorganisms can live in tissues. Apparently, after a few months, when food supplies run out, the vital activity of the bacteria will stop. This is another problem to be solved. Some bacteria, apparently, will be able to feed on human excreta, while others will have to supply nutrients from time to time.
Nano socks and nano tie
- I think many people dream of miracle socks that absorb bad smell. Socks with the addition of silver, saving from the smell, were invented by the scientist Vladimir Rudenov. His socks, as he himself claims, are not made of ordinary threads, but of a nanofiber containing silver particles. According to the research of the discoverer, silver not only has disinfecting properties, it also reduces the sweating of your feet and prevents the spread of unpleasant odors. A trial batch of socks was launched in 2008 as an exclusive for athletes.
High technologies are increasingly coming to the rescue in solving everyday issues. Soon no one will be surprised by waterproof shirts and trousers made from nanomaterials. For example, Coca-Cola can be safely poured directly into chest pocket, and during the day drink it from a straw.
- Fashion designers are already ready for a new fashion for high-tech materials. Shirts, ties and trousers made using nanotechnology could take over the office wear market, experts say.
Shirts made from fabric Nano-tex , look and feel on the body like ordinary cotton or silk (depending on the material), but at the same time they are absolutely waterproof, that is, water flows down them like over an umbrella.
- Sociological surveys show that modern buyers are happy to buy clothes made from high-tech materials. For example, last year, 58% of Americans and 33% of American women chose clothing made from dust-proof materials, according to the NPD Group. Approximately one in four bought models made of waterproof fabric, and 37% - with protection from dirt.
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smart clothes
According to some forecasts, the clothes of the future will be able to monitor the well-being of the wearer. Sensatex, a developer of textiles with integrated electronic circuits, has announced the release of a beta version of a T-shirt SmartShirt System.
The invention of the company will be able to transfer data about human health to computers or special devices. With wireless technology ZigBee T-shirt will send information about heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, etc. Not without nanotechnology - clothing for data transmission uses a fiber mesh embedded in the fabric. As a result, the T-shirt can be easily washed without fear of damaging expensive material.
- “Breathe deeply - you are excited” - we will hear such words in the future not only from the doctor, but also from our own shirt. In Canada, experts presented a new development - "smart" clothes can analyze the emotional state of their owner and try to help him cope with stress.
Sensors sewn into the fabric monitor the main parameters of the body, which reflect stress - temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. Using the Internet connection of the smartphone, the device goes online to compare the monitoring results with the database, and then downloads the corresponding current emotional state owner of music, pictures and words.
Get on the charger
The clothing of the future will evolve in all directions. Scientists have already developed an electrically conductive material that can be sewn in the form of threads into ordinary fabric. It is quite possible to recharge a mobile phone or player from it.
- An idea used by a team of researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) under the guidance of professor Zhong Lin Wang, is based on the principle of an ionistor (supercapacitor).
This device is capable of storing energy and serving as a power source. It compares favorably with the usual batteries - in particular, high efficiency and fast recharging with the ability to recharge it almost indefinitely.
Previously, Prof. Wang's team developed nanogenerators that can also be sewn into clothing and excite voltage in wires. This happens under the influence of the piezoelectric effect, which occurs from the beating of the heart, the sound of human steps or from a light breeze.
- In addition to the technical component, the clothes of the future may also have a cosmetic one. . There is even such a thing as "cosmetic textile" . This is a tissue that contains microcapsules with cosmetic substances (to moisturize the skin, to absorb unpleasant odors, with vitamins or active substances for weight loss). In Japan, jeans that moisturize the skin have recently appeared, and in France, the company Variance manufactures bras Hydrabra with special removable pads that are impregnated with a moisturizing lotion (the lotion contains brown algae extract Padina Pavonica , known for their firming, moisturizing and toning properties); tights are produced with the same extract Beautiva , moisturizing the skin, relaxing muscles or with a slimming effect; For some time now, special tights and socks have been known to help regulate blood pressure in the legs, as well as giving the effect of micro-massage to combat cellulite.
Currently, the industry is actively developing in all directions, and new technologies give an additional impetus to its development. Their use allows us to optimize work processes and makes our life more comfortable.
Light industry
To tasks light industry includes the introduction of the achievements of scientific and technological progress in the field of clothing, leather goods and other industries.
For successful competition with Chinese firms, the rapid exchange of information data is very important. One company often has many departments located at large distances from each other. The corporate information system is an open integrated mechanism for automating all the company's work processes at all levels. It allows you to exchange data within the structure and interact with providers. Also, this system warns of all kinds of problems in production and the current state of affairs.
3D construction
For several years, developments have been underway on three-dimensional computer design of clothing. Special programs allow you to perform spatial modeling aimed at creating "poured" wardrobe items. All construction parameters are edited and saved for future use. The three-dimensional design method is highly accurate and it is obvious that it is the future.
Electronic meters
One of the new technologies in light industry is electronic meters. They are designed for remote measurement of client parameters. This makes the job much easier. In addition, both parties save their time, which is very important in the modern rhythm of life.
The leather goods and clothing industries began to use computer-aided design for automatic fabric cutting. This allows you to quickly and accurately simulate the necessary things. Such a system has become an integral part of clothing and footwear enterprises. It improves the quality of product fit, reduces the complexity of routine processes and speeds up the process of creating new models.
Modern materials
New materials have unique characteristics. For example, recently microfiber has become very popular. It has the following advantages:
- strength;
- air tightness;
- distribution of static electricity;
- resistance to light and chemicals.
It is also used for the production of children's clothing, as its qualities are comparable to natural fabrics.
A new technology for the manufacture of artificial fibers has become widespread in the textile industry. Materials made of polyamide repel moisture and absorb fat, but they are durable and wear-resistant. Viscose fabrics made of high modulus fiber have good hygienic properties. They are smooth, lightweight and attractive.
Another innovation is the production of textiles based on nanomaterials. Such fabrics have the following properties:
- thermal conductivity;
- dirt repellent;
- water resistance;
- ability to conduct electricity.
food industry
Consumers are now spoiled and make extremely high demands on the quality of products. This forces manufacturers to use the latest technology in Food Industry and constantly improve the existing ones.
cryofreeze
It is a modern and delicate way to preserve food. According to the method, cryogenic gases in the liquid phase (carbon dioxide and nitrogen) are used for freezing. The temperature in the chamber during the process itself is -70 degrees. At such values, the intercellular structures of the product are not destroyed, and it does not lose its taste. "Shock" freezing allows you to store food much longer.
Cryogenic plants are compact, so they save working space. Also, their use reduces energy costs.
Artificial smoking
This method dramatically simplifies the production of smoked products, and smokehouses become completely unnecessary. Smoked liquids with spices are added to meat raw materials. Next, the product is exposed to a high voltage electric field in order to speed up the impregnation process. The duration of the procedure is only a few minutes.
Alimentary fiber
They are added to food to change the chemical properties and structure. For example, cellulose is used to make pasta and bakery products. Pectin is a part of jams, jelly and marmalade. The gum is suitable for making ice cream and yogurt.
The addition of dietary fiber is in demand because it helps to increase the yield of the finished product and reduce its cost.
Enzymes and microbes
Special bacteria are grown in laboratories that accelerate enzymatic processes and delay the development of pathogenic microorganisms. Such bacteria are useful for the human body, as they stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. This new technology has found massive application in the dairy industry. Dairy products are enriched with prebiotic and probiotic substances.
Enzymes are added not only to milk, but also to meat. This is done in order to suppress the development of putrefactive processes and improve its consistency. Strong and coarse muscle fibers soften, and the degree of digestibility of the product increases. This technology is especially relevant in the production of semi-finished products and hams.
Bactofugation
This is a method of processing milk using a sealed centrifuge, which is the removal of microorganisms from milk by centrifugation at a pasteurization temperature. This effective method reduction of spores in milk. It has been widely used in cheese making to purify milk from butyric bacteria that cause cheese defects.
Sonication
Recent developments allow the use of ultrasonic vibration for meat processing. Before that, it must be frozen. The duration of contact with ultrasound depends on the properties and size of the product. After the experiments, it was found that processing even for ten minutes significantly increases the tenderness of the meat.
Shock wave treatment
Shock waves have a mechanical effect on the products and contribute to the softening of muscle tissue. In addition, after this, the fermentation processes are accelerated.
The meat package is immersed in a special vessel and subjected to shock waves propagating through an incompressible fluid.
The equipment has already been used in practice, but developments are still underway to improve the installation.
IT technologies to improve the quality of products
The meat industry is actively using new technologies such as radiation physics. Installations with ionizing radiation have a pronounced bactericidal effect and improve the condition of the meat. Destroying pathogenic microflora, they make products of high quality and safe. It should be noted that this also reduces the heat treatment time.
This method allows you to store products for a long time without the use of preservatives. The essence of the method is to sterilize the product and package separately, followed by filling the package with the product and sealing it under sterile conditions.
speed control
The German company Bizerba has created a unique installation - the labeler GLM-levo. Its functions include full control of the processes of weighing, marking and labeling packages. The device promptly detects all kinds of errors and defects.
Energy Saving Technologies
Energy conservation is a priority at the present time due to the shortage of energy resources and environmental problems. New technologies are aimed at obtaining a higher efficiency of fuel and energy resources.
This is a popular automated control system that can be implemented in residential buildings and offices. It uses special sensors and controllers that monitor the presence of people in the room. Depending on this, the power supply is turned on and off. This function can reduce power consumption by about 40%.
One of the latest innovations in space heating is film electric heaters. They are an infrared system located between the decor and the ceiling ceiling. Between the plastic films are multilayer resistors that carry out heating. The heat flow is evenly distributed throughout the room.
Main advantages:
- ease of installation;
- environmental friendliness;
- economy.
Heat accumulators
They are a great alternative to electric heaters. Heat accumulators accumulate heat at night and give it evenly throughout the day. This option is great for those places where there are zone tariffs for electricity.
Advantages:
- universality (there are many devices that differ in power);
- high quality and modernity (new materials, attractive design);
- fire safety (the outer shell practically does not heat up);
- profitability;
- reliability;
- convenience.
These lighting devices are simply indispensable in the field of energy saving, because they are strong, durable and provide high light output. LED lamps consume 20 times less energy than conventional incandescent lamps. They are resistant to low temperatures so they can even be used outdoors.
"Passive" houses
This energy-saving technology is still mainly used in the industry of European countries. A feature of the structures is the use of passive energy saving methods. More than 4,000 such houses have already been built in Germany. Energy costs for heating in such housing are minimized. Here are the basic building principles:
- thermal insulation (external and internal);
- use of heat pumps;
- installing batteries for use alternative sources energy;
- automated control systems for technical devices.
In Russia, the construction of "passive" houses has not yet received development due to their relative high cost.
For northwestern and central Russia, there is a good cost-effective and environmental solution. This is the purchase of wind turbines for domestic use. The price of such an installation is about 60-80 thousand rubles, but it pays for itself in a couple of years of operation. In addition, it must be borne in mind that electricity tariffs are constantly rising, so the purchase will be even more profitable. In order not to overpay, it is better to choose a Russian or Chinese model instead of European counterparts. Now wind turbines are already actively used in farms.
In the future, there will be many more new technologies in industry that will radically change our world. In addition, the introduction of innovations will avoid significant financial and economic costs.
