Education & Training
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The Role TTNA Plays with Training
The Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Association (TTNA) is a national industry association representing the collective interests of the Australian Technical Textiles and Nonwoven industry.
There is little doubt that education and training play a significant role in assisting the technical textiles and nonwoven industry to meet the challenges faced by manufacturing. The TTNA looks closely at emerging needs in order that management and workforce skills match these changes in business operations and systems. For the future, the industry requires a rising number of skilled workers who are able to cover broad areas of employment with the support of flexible training. A responsive educational and training system is crucial to all manufacturing industry sectors, as is ongoing dialogue between industry and training providers. To this end, the TTNA participates in the Manufacturing Skills Australia Industry Advisory Committee (MSA-IAC) in order to contribute to the VET system for the betterment of the Australian technical textiles and nonwoven industry. In early 2006, a survey was undertaken of the TTN industry, as an example of the collaborative relationship between MSA and TTNA. Indeed, this survey has provided valuable knowledge of industry’s needs and hopefully, will be the impetus to fully utilise the VET system, including investigating ways by which prior knowledge and short courses can lead to accreditation so that workers can be adequately qualified.
Additionally, the TTNA has been able to provide training in areas that weren’t provided by the VET system by accessing support from the International Fibre Centre (IFC). The objective of the IFC is primarily to support and facilitate access to education and training programs relating to textile processing and manufacturing from fibre to fabric, for use by the Australian fibre and textile industry and Australian tertiary educational institutions, and to design, introduce and manage funding programs in relation to such education and training.
In this spirit, support from the IFC has enabled the TTNA to deliver a number of relevant short courses on specific themes such as “coating and laminating” and “test methods”. Another example is the successful collaboration with both RMIT and the IFC to deliver the European Nonwovens & Disposables Association (EDANA) nonwoven course twice in Melbourne. All aspects of nonwoven technology and production were covered in this comprehensive three day training. This successful event was also the catalyst behind the International Fibre Centre investing in a “home-grown” version that will be delivered at CSIRO during July 2006. Furthermore, IFC funding provided an opportunity for a number of industry personnel to train in product development at the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Centre at the University of North Carolina.
TTNA worked with the International Fibre Centre and the CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology to provide two workshops in the month of July 2006: Nonwovens Basics & Product Development Workshop
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- The Nonwovens Basics Program – Monday 17th July 2006: a comprehensive two-day training program covering nonwovens technologies and markets. It is aimed at personnel who purchase, use or specify nonwovens or those who are considering nonwovens applications. Topics will include raw material for nonwovens, web forming and bonding technologies, conversion and finishing technologies, test methods, applications and environmental issues.
- The Nonwovens Product Development Workshop – Tuesday – Thursday 18th-20th July 2006: a three-day intensive program with a combination of class work, lectures and hands on practice that covers the entire nonwoven product development process. In small teams, participants will develop a new product from design to product testing. They will learn to select the correct fibre and process combination to achieve the desired results. Participants will learn about all factors in fabric design for the medical, filtration, home furnishings, consumer and wipes markets including market need, product design, material selection, finishing, cost, performance testing. These two units are designed to educate nonwoven industry personnel and supply chain partners on nonwoven technologies and end-use applications. The second workshop expands upon the curriculum of the first and is aimed at personnel who work directly with nonwovens manufacturing.
Fibre, Yarn, Textile and Apparel Tests Course – 6th & 7th March 2006
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We had a great response to this course with 23 registrations. Attendees went away with a copy of all the presentations. If you would like to receive a copy of the presentations, please contact Lorraine at the TTNA management office on (03) 9866 6434. Fibre, Yarn, Textile and Apparel Tests Course – 6th & 7th March 2006: This was a two-day training course on the testing of fibre, yarns and textiles. The course was aimed at all groups of the TCF sector, addressing all application areas of technical, nonwoven and apparel textiles to provide attendees with the objective means to assess a product’s standard and quality. Click here for further details of this course. Mr Bob Lattie of SDL Atlas came to Melbourne specifically to lead this course. Among Bob’s many titles, he is Chair of the International Test Methods Committee as well as President of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists.
Bob was joined by the CSIRO TFT’s Manager of Consulting Services, Mr Dale Carroll. Dale is equally qualified in the field of testing with a background in research and development of textiles at CSIRO, product development at Huyck and managing the technical side of AWTA.
We had a great response to this course with 35 registrations. Attendees went away with a copy of all the presentations. If you would like to receive a copy of the presentations, please contact Lorraine at the TTNA management office on (03) 9866 6434.
Enquire here about any of the courses listed here or possible future courses – lorraine@ttna.com.au
Previous Training Events INDA/NCRC Nonwoven Product Development Workshop: In early in 2005, the TTNA once again offered four industry personnel the opportunity to train in the product development and manufacturing processes associated with technical and nonwoven textile production. This advanced course will take place in June 2005 at the headquarters of the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), based in North Carolina, USA, and be delivered by both INDA and the Nonwovens Cooperative Research Centre (NCRC). Funding from the International Fibre Centre (IFC) covers most of the successful applicants’ air fares and course fees.INDA (www.inda.org) and the NCRC (http://www.tx.ncsu.edu/ncrc/) are two organisations that offer a high standard of education that is not currently available in Australia. It is anticipated that the provision of this training will add value to the Victorian technical and nonwoven textile industry by providing relevant information and skills which will contribute to the sustainability and profitability of the industry.The successful applicants presented their findings on the course at the August 2005 Members’ Briefing/Annual General Meeting
Training in 2004
During 2004, the International Fibre Centre generously supported a number of initiatives with development funds. The outcome was our ability to offer members the opportunity to participate in three programs during 2004 which were specifically developed for our industry:
(b) The NCRC Nonwoven Product Development Workshop Program
(c) The Textile Finishes & Coatings Course
Bremen Student Placement Program
During the years 2003 and 2004, the University of Applied Sciences in Bremen Germany undertook an employment placement program for German Mechanical/Industrial Engineering students. Over ten students were available for placements of up to five months per year. The cost of employing a student was around A$300-350 per week which helped to cover accommodation costs.This program presented members with an opportunity to solve complex technical problems for little outlay as the students’ areas of expertise included logistics, design/construction, maintenance, programming, trials, waste/yield optimization, product cost calculation, computer programming, hydromechanics, material sciences, manufacturing and systems technology.Anyone wishing further details of the Bremen Student Placement programs should contact Dr. Rainer Hoffmann on: dr.rainer.hoffmann@t-online.de
Career Path Information
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