According to the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry:
Everyone has ridden in some type of transportation . . . automobile, plane, train or bus. You are surrounded by nonwoven fabrics every single time. Whether it’s a cabin air filter, seat trim, floor mats or a trunk liner, they are all made from nonwovens. Nonwovens offer many advantages in the automotive/transportation market. Here are a couple of examples.
Automotive Carpets. Nonwovens are used for the primary and secondary backings in automotive carpets. They offer excellent moldability and the durability demanded by today’s drivers.
Take a look at the trunk liner in your car. They, too, are made from nonwovens. Durable, easily molded and lightweight, they fit stylishly into the trunk area, protecting it from normal wear and tear.
Nonwovens are also used to reinforce tires. They extend the life of the tire, provide strength and durability, and are lightweight and cost-effective. Tire reinforcements offer better handling (by giving the tires a sturdier structure) and fewer instances of flat spotting of tires.
Where else can nonwovens be found in the automotive/transportation market?
Examples of Nonwovens in Automotive/Transportation
- A, B, C column padding
- Acoustic/thermal insulation
- Anti-rattle pads
- Backing for tufted carpeting
- Battery separators
- Boat furnishings
- Boats
- Bodywork parts
- Car mats
- Carpets/carpet reinforcement
- Console/storage box linings
- Covering for molded seats, seat belts, seat belt anchorage
- Covering material, padding for sun visors
- Dash insulators
- Decorative fabric
- Door lower coverings
- Door panel trim
- Door trim facing fabrics, pads, reinforcements
- Exterior wheel-well acoustic materials
- Filters (air cleaning, cabin air, carburetor, oil)
- Headliner backings, covering, facings, reinforcements, substrates
- Headrest covers
- Hood liner facings
- Instrument panel trim
- Insulation materials
- Lift gate coverings
- Load floors for SUVs/station wagons
- Loudspeaker cover, housing
- Molded fuel tanks, trunk liners
- Muffler wraps
- Package tray covering
- Polyurethane coated backing
- Rear shelf cover fabrics, panels
- Reinforcements for trunk liners
- Saloon roof
- Seat back fabrics
- seat bolster fabrics
- Seat construction reinforcements
- Seat slip agents
- Seat trim
- Sound-proofing
- Sunroof
- Throw mats
- Tire reinforcement
- Toe kick fabrics
- Transmission tunnel
- Trunk floor covering, reinforcements
- Trunk liners, trim
- Upholstery backing
- Vinyl backing for seat covers
- Vinyl roof
- Window frames
