The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech University, USA, has opened a state-of-the-art fabric laboratory research into nonwoven technologies.

The $1.5 million, 4,000-square-foot facility, named the Nonwovens and Advanced Materials Laboratory, was paid for with contributions of $1 million from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for the machinery, and $125,000 from Lubbock Economic Development Alliance.

"The opening of this unique manufacturing and research facility is another big step forward for TIEHH and for Texas Tech," said Kent Hance, chancellor of Texas Tech University System.

The new lab's air conditioning and humidification system, contoured needlezone needlepunching technology and thermal bonding capability is intended to enable faster, more focused research into nonwoven technologies.

Texas Tech University now is the only academic facility in the U.S. to have contoured needlezone nonwoven technology, said Ron Kendall, director of TIEHH.

"This technology has been used successfully to develop products such as our nonwoven decontamination wipe, Fibertect," said Kendall.

Seshadri Ramkumar, associate professor, lab manager and Fibertect creator, said the new nonwoven facility will help TIEHH to continue top-quality research into protective fabrics and other nonwoven materials.