The major goal of our corporate policy is the satisfaction of our customers. In recent years we have noticed increasingly often that the specification of multi-axial fabrics does not follow clearly defined rules. As a result of repeated discussions with our customers as to how multi-axial fabrics can be unambiguously specified, the SAERTEX group intends to standardize the specification of fabrics. On July 18, 2011 all fabrics that are manufactured after this date will be specified and designated in accordance with international norm EN 13473.

Please note that this measure only means that the fabric specification, has been redesigned to meet EN 13473 norm. The fabrics themselves will be unchanged.

We believe that by adopting this approach we will clarify and simplify communication between us, and thereby improve our service to you our customers.

In the above norm the direction of production is placed as a 0° orientation on the X-axis of the coordinate system (see figure 1). All the threads that are oriented from the perspective of the coordinate system’s origin toward the positive range of Y-values are designated + while all the threads that are oriented toward the negative Y-values are designated – 

figure 1: specification according to EN 13473 norm

When it comes to the layer construction sequence the norm specifies that the first thread orientation is equivalent to the first layer of the layer construction. The quadraxial fabric shown in figure 1 would therefore be a –/+/90°/0° construction. The viewing angle applied to the entire construction is therefore from below.

The figure below shows the old specification of SAERTEX fabrics     which is not  valid any longer by July 18, 2011

figure 2: old fabric designation