Technical textiles are used in many areas today: for protective wear or industrial materials, e.g., in the chemical and food industries; in fire, heat, and cold protection; in the production of medical items; and in research and development, to name only a few. Safety concerns and functional aspects take top priority in these cases. Comfort also plays a role in protective wear.

The processing of technical textiles requires great care. Protective wear, for example, usually consists of layers of different materials. Its manufacture involves a much more complex material mix than the production of conventional garments. These layers have different properties, structures, and thicknesses. Depending on the protection requirements, protective wear may consist of conventional materials such as cotton or leather or of technical textiles such as Tyvek or Kevlar or combinations thereof. The processing, especially when incorporating many layers, is frequently problematic. Only when all parameters such as needle, thread, material, and machine are carefully coordinated a flawless and high-quality final product can be achieved.