Toray’s Nylon Primeflex Now Available Worldwide

June 4, 2020

Long-Awaited Increase In Yarn Capacity Increases International Supply

Tokyo, Japan, June 4, 2020 – Toray Industries, Inc., has announced a supply chain breakthrough that will make its Nylon Primeflex fabric available to the worldwide market.

Since its introduction five years ago, Nylon Primeflex has been an under-the-radar favorite for certain Toray customers in the Japanese market. Small yarn capacity meant low production quantities, so available inventory was quickly purchased.

Now, however, manufacturers around the world will have access to the 4-way stretch, abrasion resistance and smooth, quiet hand-feel of Nylon Primeflex.

The fabric itself is an improved stretch nylon that employs a bicomponent construction, blending two different types of nylon polymer in a single yarn. In addition, the new version uses a partially bio-based nylon, keeping the 20-year-old Primeflex line up-to-date with consumer preferences.

Toray engineers made a series of remarkable technological breakthroughs to develop the new Primeflex:

• The bicomponent structural nylon fiber bonds two nylon polymers with different performance characteristics into a single thread. The result is a hybrid yarn that possess both stretchability and soft feel, both critical elements for the sports and athleisure markets.
• Stretch and stretch recovery issues that used to limit nylon have been overcome by the bicomponent structure, even for the warp yarns in woven fabrics. This allows the fabric to fit the contours of a body in motion, but also to recover from stretching to its original shape.

• Toray engineers also developed a new texturizing process to solve capacity limitations and enable sales to both the European and North American markets. The new fiber will lend itself to future development applications like waterproof moisture permeability.

The performance, stretch and sustainability properties of the new Primeflex make it a logical choice for use in down products like jackets and vests, along with mid-layers, athleisure, and sports/casual wear designed for the outdoors.

These latest advances in high-performance, sustainable production are more steps forward in Toray’s pursuit of materials development and diverse applications for its new Primeflex in the domestic and international markets.

ABOUT TORAY

Toray Industries, Inc., founded in 1926, is an integrated chemical industry group developing its businesses in 27 countries and regions worldwide. Its consolidated revenues for fiscal 2018 (ended March 31, 2019) totaled 2,388,848 million yen ($21,521 million). In addition to the fibers & textiles created at the time of its establishment, Toray has gone on to create cutting-edge, high value-added products including films, fine chemicals, plastic resins, electronics & information-related products, as well as carbon fiber composite materials, pharmaceutical and medical products, and products for the water treatment and environmental fields.

In 2018 Toray formulated the “Toray Group Sustainability Vision”, which integrates the Toray Group Initiatives and the Quantitative Targets for Fiscal 2030 for realizing the World as Envisioned by the Toray Group in 2050.

For more information on Toray, please visit the company’s website at http://www.toray.com

About Toray International

Established in 1986 to serve as the trading arm of the Toray Group, Toray International handles a wide range of products and services, from materials to end-user consumer goods, by drawing on the experience and know-how accumulated and built over the years through global trading business and business offices located in Japan and abroad.

Toray International America is the North American subsidiary of the Toray International. We have delivered technologies and advanced materials that provide solutions addressing the balance between development and sustainability.

For more information on Toray International, please visit the company’s website at http://www.toray-intl.com/