May 12, 2022 – Westlake Global Compounds France and Griffine Enduction – part of Cotting Group – have announced a sales and distribution partnership to introduce Calligram™, a new innovative synthetic leather, in the European market.
Calligram™ is an exclusive coated fabric process, an alternative to natural leather, intended for the automotive interior, luxury goods and furniture as well as other markets using imitation leather upholstery.
Calligram™ fits with three top market trends: customization, smart surfaces, and sustainability.
Calligram™ is particularly capable of presenting embossed and debossed patterns on the same surface, which can be colored on demand, with a very high precision by digital printing. These particularities can only be obtained with the pending patented Calligram™ process, differentiating from known processes for coated fabrics. The manufacturing method, which has been patented by Westlake, allows for customization to meet the demand for limited manufacturing series. Calligram™‘s low-temperature manufacturing process enables use of high-quality textiles such as 3D-textile and other temperature-sensitive fabrics.
Calligram™ coated fabrics can also be backlit, a feature of high interest for automotive interiors.
Calligram™ is a sustainable solution, using bio-based and recycled components, minimizing waste with a made-to-size process.
Cotting Group, Master of Coated Fabrics since 1947, will facilitate the commercialization in Europe of Calligram™ made by Westlake Compounds France starting in 2023.
This project has been supported by the French Government as part of France Relance.