Role of fabric backer in PVC textiles

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Nothing ever works without a backing, not even artificial leather. Artificial leather or PVC leather is in reality PVC coated textiles. There are layers created to achieve the final product and a very essential layer is that of a fabric backer. Let’s talk about the crucial role a fabric backer plays in the final PVC leather product.

When it comes to PVC textiles, one crucial component that is not talked about often enough is the fabric backer. This is an unseen layer in the final product and plays a pivotal role in providing structure, strength, and durability to PVC leather, making it an indispensable element and an important step during artificial leather production.

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A PVC textile without a fabric backer would be like a ship without a sail, lacking the necessary support to be a strong piece of fabric to use on a variety of furniture pieces, footwear, automotive etc. The fabric backer is what transforms a flimsy and thin PVC sheet into a robust and strong material which is capable of withstanding rigorous use and maintaining its quality as time passes.

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One of the primary functions of a fabric backer is to add strength to the PVC textile. Without it, the fabric would simply lack the necessary strength and be susceptible to easy wear and tear along with other mechanical stresses. This is why we ensure that every product has a strong and durable backing.

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Moreover, a fabric backer can also enhance the dimensional stability of artificial leather. When combined with the PVC layer, it prevents the material from warping or getting distorted when it’s exposed to varying environmental conditions, such as temperature changes or exposure to moisture. Fabric backing ensures that the fabric maintains its intended shape and appearance, contributing to its longevity and visual appeal.

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Another significant benefit of a fabric backer is that it improves the overall look and feel and handling of PVC leather. By providing a smooth and consistent surface at the back, the fabric backer truly enhances the user’s experience and makes it easier to work with the fabric while installing and maintaining it.

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So, how is a fabric backer made?

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Much like any other material, the fabric backer is made via knitting and weaving. But when it comes to the final process of how it is added to create the final PVC leather product, the process is different.

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The process typically involves geling the PVC resin on an existing fabric backer and further processing it through big ovens to get the final, desired artificial leather. A strong bond is created between the layers of the PVC resin and fabric backer to ensure they merge well together to produce the final fabric. Going through intense heat in the ovens ensures that the fabric backer is effectively reinforced in the PVC resin.

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We do customize the thickness and composition of the fabric backer to meet specific performance requirements. We work closely with our global and domestic suppliers for R&D and fabric innovation to stay up to date with what’s best out there. Having a fabric backer to create the final artificial leather products adds to the characteristics of the fabric being fire-retardant, antimicrobial, and more. However, this is not a one-step process. For example most fabrics are generally made from polyester, but to achieve the desired fire-retardant specification we blend polyester with cotton.

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In conclusion, the fabric backer is a critical component that significantly enhances the performance, durability, and versatility of all PVC leather. Without it, it’s not possible to make high-quality, long-lasting artificial leather.

Published on
April 9, 2024
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More from Klassik

How to select the Best Products for Home Decor

The pandemic saw a considerable rise in home decor sales. Many families stuck in their homes decided to revamp, remodel and renovate their homes with new furniture and decor items. There was a time when people were actively searching for home renovation ideas, especially home renovation ideas on a budget. That led them to purchase anything that was pocket friendly and good to look at, without considering other factors like durability, quality, maintenance and the like.  

When it comes to modern-style furniture and giving your house a makeover, we suggest opting for PVC leather, or what’s popularly known as faux leather, PVC Vinyl and artificial leather. Artificial leather or faux leather provided by Klassik gives you a combination of aesthetics, durability, quality and safety. Here’s how:-


1. Our products are high in quality.


We use European machines from Matex and industry-leading quality management systems such as ISO and IATF to produce our artificial leather to ensure the best quality.



2. We offer variety.

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With a dedicated design team and R&D team, we offer a wide range of printed designs, colors and embossed textures in our artificial leather or faux leather. All of which can be used for a variety of applications.



3. Our products are easy to maintain and highly durable.


A clean cloth with a light soap is all it takes to clean our PVC leather cloth and the extensive finishing coats we put on our PVC leather cloth make it long-lasting, and an investment in your home decor.



4. Our products are ideal for both indoor and outdoor furniture.


Whether you are looking for home decor and interior design for indoor or outdoor furniture, we’ve got you. Our PVC leather cloth is stain resistant - so you can let your little one play on it stress-free and throw a party without worrying about spilling food and drinks. It is also prepared for certain degrees of sunlight and moisture exposure that prevent our PVC leather cloth from fading when left outside on a terrace or balcony. We have a special range of products on which we apply specific finishes that have UV rays resistance and anti-bacterial properties.



5. Our products are safe.


One of the most important qualities of our artificial leather or faux leather is that it is also flame resistant. Safety is of utmost importance and comes before aesthetics and design. The finish that we apply on our PVC leather cloth can help delay the spread of fire or can help the fire self-extinguish and burn for a restricted amount of time and length. To ensure this, every product goes through rigorous burn tests and we also adhere to all the International norms such as CRIB 5, BS 5852, CRIB 0 & 1, NFPA 260, CAL TB 117 etc. for extra safety.

Being faux leather suppliers in India, we ensure every step is taken towards only providing the best to our patrons. Whether you are looking at the interiors of a living room, modern furniture for a bedroom or even outdoor furniture design, faux leather or artificial leather is the way to go. It’s also the more sustainable option.

Our wide range of artificial leather options allows you to discover unique home decor ideas and add a modern touch to your furniture. Explore all our artificial leather designs here to see our product range.

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Company culture at Klassik

We at Klassik, function as a team but also as a family. When it comes to running a large business with employees from various backgrounds and strata, we believe it is essential to find ways to create bonds that make working together a smooth and seamless process. Keeping our employees happy and satisfied is a big part of our company ethos and culture.

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Apart from the regular check-ins to ensure everything is running smoothly, we also host company events that help blow off steam and create a lively, healthy environment. However, these events or activities, as we call them, are not only aimed at leisure but have certain wellness aspects to them.  

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One of the activities, which we find extremely beneficial, is the Health Camp. Many people in India do not have easy access to quality healthcare. We want our employees to be healthy and happy as they work hard to make our brand what it is. A Health Camp is conducted on a yearly basis to identify any undetected health issues that our employees might be suffering from. Furthermore, we take proactive steps to ensure the treatment of any health concern, if detected. We want to work towards a healthier future and ensure our employees’ utmost comfort and well-being.

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Another event, which is popular amongst all employees, is the Cricket Tournament. Cricket is one of the most beloved sports in India and who doesn’t love some friendly competition to distract themselves from the stress of work with an enjoyable game. We host the Cricket Tournament twice a year - during Summer and Winter, which gives our employees something to look forward to as a much-needed break from their daily routines. This event is a big team-building activity in which more and more employees seem eager to participate. Apart from promoting teamwork, playing a sport is also a great way to build physical fitness, further boosting endurance and stamina.

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International Yoga Day is observed yearly on 21st June, and we at Klassik conduct a yoga session for our employees every year. Yoga is an activity that not only boosts physical health but also mental well-being. It is important for us to ensure that our employees are looked after physically and mentally. The yoga session aims to reduce mental stress, increase energy levels and improve physical fitness as well as flexibility. Healthy employees, as it turns out, are happy employees.  

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Getting our employees together to participate in activities other than work is a great way to create a positive work culture and environment. We take the health and wellness of our employees very seriously. Most people might not have access to medical attention or have time to take a break from daily routines with yoga sessions and cricket matches but we want to ensure they receive all the attention they need.

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While keeping all customers and clients happy is a major priority for any business, one must not forget about keeping the hardworking employees happy too.

Our Journey in the Automotive Industry

Klassik has been successfully supplying PVC leathercloth and foam laminated textiles to automotive OEMs and the aftermarket for replacement seat covers since 2001. We have been doing so through direct supply as well as technical collaborations.

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Our journey in this industry has seen substantial growth over all these years.

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We started by producing for the local market, which is also known as the replacement market. The replacement market is where one would go to purchase new PVC Leatherseat covers or get new covers made in the occurrence of damage, needing a different color or other such instances.

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Starting from there, we gradually went on to supply to major automotive OEMs (or original equipment manufacturers). The growth has been fulfilling.

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As we grew further, we started supplying PVC Vinyl to major global brands for various automotive requirements. However, working with brands across the globe has been a completely different experience for us as a company. For starters, different countries require different variations - we supply PVC Vinyl to the USA. PVC leathercloth to the UK and PVC leather or Rexine to India. Then, getting approval from an automotive company is a long and technical process. It’s not only about successfully achieving the price target of the brand but we also need to get cleared by their styling and technical teams. We often work closely with the styling teams and engineering teams to match the approved grains and colors, as well as the stringent technical requirements of automotive interiors.

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Not only that, the requirements for these automotive brands are extremely extensive as their list includes specific features such as high strength, durability, stain resistance, anti-squeak, UV resistance, cold crack resistance, and Low VOC to name a few.

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As a company, we have global approval for some of the car models, and our material has to perform in all kinds of weather conditions and situations.

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To ensure that our products and our company meet all these needs successfully we have a focused production process. Our technical capabilities allow us to tick-mark every requirement that our clients have without any concern. We have invested in top-quality machines that allow us to make the product in various widths such as 140 cm, 150 cm and 158 cm, giving us an edge. We recently received the IATF 16949:2016 certification, which is specific to the automotive industry.

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We supply a wide range of PVC Vinyl, PVC Leathercloth and PVC leather products to automotive companies which include materials for automotive seats, interior and door trims, gearboxes, tool kit pouches or covers, along with hood toney covers or trunk covers.

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Apart from all the essential requirements we receive from our clients we also hugely focus on durability and style. A car is a very special possession for anyone and why shouldn’t it be every bit long-lasting and stylish? Your mode of transport should also be comfortable and the PVC leather ensures that the seats don’t get too hot unlike real leather or tear up like fabric and make your journey smooth. PVC leather is also easier to clean in comparison to the rest and hence, easier to maintain. Anything that lasts long is deemed as a good investment and for us, that is PVC leather or artificial leather products. And since many brands locally and globally are seeing a shift towards being sustainable and environmentally friendly, real leather is being used less and less, giving way to artificial leather or PVC leather.

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You can explore our entire automotive collection here