From the Sector

In times of rising cost pressure and growing quality demands, textile producers worldwide are searching for solutions that combine precision, efficiency, and sustainability. With its latest innovation, the Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, Mahlo once again demonstrates how to improve technology to meet today’s challenges.

For decades, Mahlo has set the benchmark in automatic weft straightening. The new Orthopac RVMC-20 plus continues this tradition, building on the trusted Orthopac RVMC-15 while introducing a decisive technological step forward: double scanning with AI-supported control systems.

The concept relies on two detection units – one at the fabric inlet and one at the outlet. At the inlet, so-called Feed Forward Control analyzes distortions before they even reach the straightening rollers, ensuring precise positioning from the first centimeter. At the outlet, Closed Loop Control continuously monitors the result and applies AI-based corrections in real time. This dual approach enables the system to cope even with highly variable distortions at high production speeds. The outcome is reliably straight fabric, less waste, and consistent premium quality.

Innovation without Replacement
A key feature of the RVMC-20 plus lies not only in its precision but also in its retrofit capability. Instead of requiring manufacturers to purchase an entirely new machine, Mahlo has designed the scanning module so that existing Orthopac RVMC-15 systems can be upgraded with minimal effort. By simply adding a second scanning unit, the older equipment is effectively transformed into an RVMC-15 plus – giving customers access to the latest technology without the cost of a full replacement.

The benefits of this approach are clear: upgraded machines deliver higher precision and more consistent results, while reducing waste and saving valuable raw materials. At the same time, extending the service life of existing equipment lowers capital expenditure and supports a more sustainable use of resources. In an industry facing both economic and ecological pressures, this combination of efficiency and responsibility represents a strong competitive advantage.

A Global Opportunity
With thousands of Orthopac systems already in use worldwide, the RVMC-20 plus offers a compelling proposition to textile manufacturers across markets. Every installed RVMC-15 now presents an opportunity for modernization. For customers, this means a reliable path toward improved quality and cost efficiency. For Mahlo, it strengthens the company’s position as a long-standing partner to the textile industry.

Textile Factory 7.0 – the vision of a networked, emission-free industrial park of the future for the city of Mönchengladbach is becoming reality. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has approved funding for the project.

The aim of the project is to establish a technology and development centre in Mönchengladbach and thus develop an industrial park of the future. Instead of considering individual technologies in isolation, Textile Factory 7.0 combines energy efficiency, AI/robotics and biotechnology in a single functional textile real-world laboratory under the close cooperation of industry and research.

The project will make a decisive contribution to sustainably increasing the attractiveness and productivity of regional textile production: the T7 Factory will create new jobs and strengthen innovative textile research at the location.

The kick-off will take place as a networking event on 19 March 2026. Industry players will then work on common issues relating to the future topics of the T7 Factory: on-demand manufacturing, microfactory engineering, digital textiles and biosphere. The ITA's technical experts will be available as contact persons for the topics of microfactory engineering and digital textiles. If you are interested in cooperation or insights into the progress of the project, you can register here.

The project partners are the ITA – Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University, the Research Institute for Textiles and Clothing at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, the Association of the North-West German Textile and Clothing Industry, the Association of the Rhenish Textile and Clothing Industry, the Textile Academy NRW and Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach GmbH.

The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB. This step strengthens Lenzing’s position as a leading provider of sustainable, wood based specialty fibers and expands its innovation pipeline with a highly scalable, patent protected technology platform. The transaction is executed through the issuance of new shares. 

TreeToTextile represents the next major technological leap in cellulosic fiber production – following the development of viscose in the early 20th century and Lenzing’s own Lyocell technology in the 1990s. The process offers a significantly improved sustainability profile, attractive cost advantages, and broad applicability across textile and nonwoven markets. With the majority acquisition, Lenzing underscores its commitment to consistently advancing its premiumization strategy and further expanding its leadership position in the global specialty fiber market. 

“TreeToTextile is among the world’s most advanced next generation fiber technologies and represents the most promising development on the market. Since our initial investment in 2025, the collaboration between the innovative TreeToTextile team and Lenzing’s fiber experts has enabled significant technological progress. We are fully committed to the joint scale up and commercialization. H&M Group, Inter IKEA Group, and Stora Enso, will continue to support this path as minority shareholders, contributing valuable market and consumer perspectives,” says Georg Kasperkovitz, COO of Lenzing Group. LSCS Invest also reaffirms its confidence in the joint technology platform through its long standing commitment since the foundation of the company and continued role as a shareholder. 

“Innovation at industrial scale requires time, expertise, and strong partnerships. Lenzing Group’s increased ownership is a clear endorsement of our technology and our ambition to become a major player in the global fiber market,” says Dr. Roxana Barbieru, CEO of TreeToTextile. 

The transaction enables an accelerated scaling of the new technology. Lenzing plans a significant increase in production output at the existing demonstration plant in Nymölla, Sweden, as well as the preparation of the first industrial scale facility. In addition, the company expects operational synergies from an even closer collaboration.

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp participats at JEC World 2026, featuring a significantly expanded presence and an enhanced offering for the global composites industry.

Building on previous successes, the Alliance members will be at the core of a newly renamed and enlarged Bio-Materials Village in Hall 5. The village has grown by more than 30%, expanding from 250 m² to 333 m², and will feature 14 Alliance members and partners representing the full natural fibre composite value chain from fibre cultivation and processing through to semi-finished materials, resins, and industrial applications.

This year’s village welcomes several new members, including Norafin, which brings advanced technical nonwoven expertise using flax and hemp fibres, and innovative start-up Biofibix developing next-generation bio-based composite solutions. Another new participant is GreenPoxy by Sicomin, a leading supplier of bio-based epoxy resins that complement natural fibre reinforcement systems and enable lower-impact composite structures.

Innovations Showcase
The Bio-Materials Village will highlight several award-winning and shortlisted developments, including exhibits from JEC Innovation Award winners and finalists.

Bcomp has received the Automotive & Road Transportation Parts Award for its series-production exterior flax composite components developed for BMW, demonstrating the scalability and performance of flax reinforcements in demanding automotive applications. 

Safilin will also present its collaboration with Stratiforme on the Ecotrain project, showcasing the successful integration of natural fibre composites into rail interiors, delivering weight reduction, improved environmental performance, and industrial feasibility.

Biofibix, shortlisted among the 20 finalists of the 2026 JEC Startup Booster, will present its proprietary reinforcement technology designed to overcome one of the key challenges of natural fibre composites : structural consistency. Biofibix develops flax-based reinforcement systems that combine controlled fibre orientation with thermoplastic and thermoset compatibility, enabling improved mechanical performance and process reliability. 

Visitors will also discover the Ssuchy-Next project, an initiative focused on wind energy applications. The project explores the use of hemp-based composite solutions for a 12.6 m wind turbine blade, combining optimized fibre architecture, bio-sourced materials, and industrial manufacturing processes. Ssuchy-Next demonstrates how natural fibres can contribute to reduced carbon footprint, improved vibration damping, and end-of-life advantages, while meeting the mechanical and durability requirements of the wind energy sector.

Additional cutting-edge innovations on display will be showcased by other Alliance members and partners that include BComp, Circular Structures, DEMGY, Depestele, Ecotechnilin, Emanuel Lang Flax Composites, Flaxco, Libeco, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale, Norafin, Safilin, Terre de Lin Technique, and many more. 

Industry Conference 
As part of the JEC Composite Exchange programme, Alliance experts will organize a round-table discussion on Wednesday 11 March at 2:00 pm Agora 5, titled:

“From Data to Applications: How Environmental and Technical Flax-Linen & Hemp Data Help Build Industrial Solutions.” The discussion will highlight how environmental metrics and technical performance data are essential tools for designers, engineers, and manufacturers in accelerating the adoption of natural fibre composites, while exploring the latest technical advances in flax-linen and hemp composites, their environmental performance, and the strategic pathways supporting the industrial deployment of bio-based composites in Europe.

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. As well on the focus of high-profile speakers: Cotton quality and testing methods 

Raw cotton from different areas of production varies considerably in terms of fibre properties, thus directly influencing how well cotton can be spun into yarn and how textiles behave in further processing. Innovative testing methods enable assessing each bale reliably and reproducibly according to defined quality parameters. The aim is to make cotton qualities comparable, as this is a key prerequisite for global trade, pricing and reliable supply chains. Quality and quality testing are the historical focus of the Bremen conference. 

Real comparability on focus 
Various methods for testing cotton include High Volume Instrument Testing (such as Uster HVI) as a common method for instrumental cotton classification for price deter-mination and bale composition; Uster AFIS for testing the length, fineness, neps, etc. of individual fibres and the Mesdan Contest as a thermomechanical method for deter-mining the tendency of cotton to stick together. 

Mourad Krifa from Kent State University (USA) has been conducting research in the characterisation of cotton fibres for decades, focusing on length distribution. In his presentation he will introduce reliable statistical and software-based tools that help cotton growers, biotechnologists and processors to better analyse and utilise fibre distributions. 

Dr Müge Ekizoğlu, İzmir Commodity Exchange (ICE), is going to present the certified storage and classification system for Turkish cotton based on instrumental classification using High Volume Instruments. As one of the leading cotton-growing and producing countries, objective quality assessment for export and international standards is crucial for the Türkiye. 

Deninson Lima, ABRAPA Brazil, will present the results of a study on the measurement uncertainties determined for HVI devices used in Brazil. Based on the GUM standard, significant sources of uncertainty such as instrument design, environmental conditions, sample preparation and operator influence were analysed. The study quantified three repeatability, reproducibility and possible distortions and emphasises the importance of regular calibrations, quality controls and systematic uncertainty budgeting. 

Gabriele Salvinelli, Mesdan, Italy, will present the Contest S series testing equipment. These super automated systems measure the stickiness of raw cotton, which can mess up spinning machines and may lead to higher maintenance effort as well as lower quality. Since standardised environmental conditions are often not fully complied with in practice, the study examines the extended humidity range in which reliable measurement results are possible and provides users with practical recommendations.

UNITEX is expanding its capacity by a further 36,000 tons per year with a new filament yarn production plant. Once again, the Vietnamese company is relying on solutions from Barmag. UNITEX is a subsidiary of Century Corporation and a leading Vietnamese supplier of high-quality specialty yarns and recycled DTY.

What makes it special is that the plant, which was inaugurated in Trang Bang at the end of January, is completely digitalized using Barmag's atmos.io digitalization platform. This means that the entire material flow is digitally recorded and networked, and each individual package is individualized and documented with its personal characteristics. With the help of artificial intelligence, deviations in production are detected at an early stage so that operators can react immediately. Corrections in the material flow can be made in real time. The laboratory, which is digitally integrated into the process, safeguards interventions in the material flow. As a result, atmos.io increases efficiency on the shop floor and enhances process quality – and thus product quality as well. “With the atmos.io digitalization platform, we create a holistic solution that unifies the entire production process. This not only enables us to achieve consistently high overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), but also supports fast, well-informed decision-making and flexible adaptation to individual customer environments,” says UNITEX CEO Jack Dang, explaining his decision to choose atmos.io..

Extensive third-party automation is also seamlessly integrated into atmos.io. “atmos.io is the platform for the smart factory. We don't stop at connecting our scope of supply, as that would not help our customers. Our aim is comprehensive tracking from the melt to the stored package,” explains Jörg Groß, Lead of Digital Product Development. The Remscheid-based plant manufacturer and solution provider for manmade fiber production supplied the hardware for all process stages, from chip preparation to extrusion, spinning, and texturing, including utilities. 

Dibella is increasing its demand for Cotton made in Africa (CmiA)–verified cotton by 9% compared to the previous year (825 tonnes), reaching a total of 900 tonnes in 2026. This underscores the company’s strategic objective to continuously support the cultivation of sustainable fibers. 

By supporting CmiA cotton, Dibella makes a measurable contribution to greater sustainability along the textile value chain. CmiA stands for more resource-efficient cotton cultivation: reliance on natural rainfall instead of irrigation, the exclusion of hazardous pesticides, and low greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the initiative strengthens the economic resilience of smallholder farms in Sub-Saharan Africa. A key impact of CmiA lies in its social effect: through training programs on efficient agriculture, occupational safety, and gender equality, incomes are stabilized and living conditions sustainably improved. In addition, education, health, and infrastructure projects in the growing regions are financed. 

“Increasing our CmiA cotton volume is far more than just a number for us,” emphasizes Michaela Gnass, CSR Manager at Dibella. “It represents tangible improvements on the ground—for farming families, for environmental standards, and for more responsible textile production. The annual increase in the use of CmiA fibers in our supply chain is part of our sustainability strategy. As a provider of contract textiles, we see it as our duty to take responsibility and not merely to source materials.” 

Dibella uses Cotton made in Africa cotton in accordance with a mass balance approach. This enables the company to efficiently integrate sustainable cotton into existing production processes while systematically increasing demand for CmiA cotton. This creates an important lever for anchoring more sustainable cultivation methods in the market over the long term. In addition to the mass balance system, Cotton made in Africa also offers full traceability from the origin of the cotton to the finished product.

Fibers made from bio-based plastics reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and promote the circular economy. The covalent bonding of flame-retardant additives can open the way for these fibers to enter the mass market.

The recent fire disaster in Switzerland has revealed how crucial the use of flame-retardant materials is in construction materials, insulation, and many other everyday objects. Textiles with flame-retardant properties fulfill a particularly important function here, as they are used in considerable quantities - not only in building materials, but also in safety and protective clothing, in vehicle interiors, and in home furnishings such as carpets and upholstered furniture.

Flame-retardant compounds have been used for synthetic fibers for decades. Inorganic, brominated, or organophosphorus compounds, which are particularly used in polyester fibers, have proven to be highly effective. Phosphorus compounds are slightly less harmful to the environment when released and are therefore often the first choice. Their effectiveness is based on the fact that they form a protective carbonization layer and intercept radicals, which reduces the flammability of the material. The release of toxic gases and further heat development is limited.

For several years now, there has been a shift in the use of synthetic fibers toward bio-based fibers. Although their market share is still small compared to established synthetic fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene, they are growing steadily. Bio-based fibers are gaining in importance because they reduce the demand for fossil raw materials. At the same time, their use supports the circular economy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Persistent and effective flame retardancy in bio-based fibers that is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly could give bio-based textiles a boost in innovation and contribute to significant market expansion. This is where the DITF's “Polymers and Fiber Composites” research team comes in with the development of a flame-retardant, bio-based plastic called polyethylene furanoate (PEF). PEF is similar in many properties to the widely used polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but unlike PET, it is made from bio-based monomers. While PEF is already technologically advanced and on its way to the mass market, it currently lacks flame retardancy, which would enable its widespread use in the textile sector.

At the DITF, PEF is not only synthesized in in-house reactors. Extensive test series have also been conducted to evaluate the suitability of various phosphorus-based flame retardants in different concentrations. Two things are important to the researchers here: First, the flame retardant should be covalently bound to the polymer molecules to prevent bleeding. This is crucial for long-term fire protection of fibers because of their small diameter and high specific surface area. Second, the concentration of flame retardant should be as low as possible while still providing the best possible effect. Despite their good fire protection properties, all common additives share that they are potentially harmful to health and, when released into the environment, are difficult to degrade because they are chemically stable. In Denkendorf, they have not only succeeded in meeting these requirements. They have also been able to increase the molecular weight of the synthesized polymers by solid state polymerization to spin fibers with higher strength.

Further thermal and rheological investigations of the polymers with different flame-retardant concentrations identified the most suitable variant for the spinning process. In addition to the PEF variant containing five grams of phosphorus per kilogram of polymer in the form of copolymerized organophosphorus compounds, a flame retardant-free PEF reference was spun. The fibers obtained in the spinning laboratory were processed into textile fabrics, which were subjected to fire tests. The flame-retardant knitted fabrics showed significantly reduced flammability. The DITF will continue to study in flame-retardant, bio-based PEF fibers.

• The companies UBE and ZIKNES, the University of Valencia, and the AIMPLAS Plastics Technology Centre are collaborating on this project, funded by IVACE+i Innovation with support from ERDF funds.
• Applications include packaging, agricultural covers, automotive components and large-scale 3D demonstrators.
• Collaboration with Sea2See ensures the supply of recovered nets from Ghana and strengthens the project’s circular value chain.

The abandonment of fishing nets in seas and oceans is one of the most persistent environmental problems. In response to this situation, the REDES4VALUE project works to recover and recycle disused fishing nets, transforming them into new sustainable, high value-added products such as recycled nylon, films for packaging and agricultural covers, automotive components, and large-format parts produced by additive manufacturing. These developments are achieved through innovative mechanical and chemical recycling processes, combined with reactive extrusion technologies.

This initiative, funded by the Valencian Institute of Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) and ERDF funds, brings together a consortium formed by AIMPLAS (Plastics Technology Centre), UBE, ZIKNES and the University of Valencia. Their shared objective is to close the life cycle of polyamides and reduce marine pollution through innovative, industry-ready solutions.

Although many nets are made of polyethylene or polypropylene, the project focuses on polyamide nets, a material with great potential for chemical recycling. Its molecular structure allows the recovery of monomers such as caprolactam, enabling the production of new polyamides with properties virtually identical to those of virgin materials.

‘We are achieving optimised conditions for depolymerising fishing nets and recovering monomers with purities above 95% in some laboratory-scale streams, and over 80% at pilot scale”. This will allow us to repolymerise and obtain new polyamides with quality equivalent to virgin material,’ explains Nairim Torrealba, a researcher in Chemical Recycling at AIMPLAS.

Recycled polyamides are intended for sectors such as packaging, agriculture, automotive and 3D printing. Companies such as UBE are already analysing their commercialisation and ZIKNES is adapting its equipment to validate large-format parts. Initial applications include packaging films, agricultural covers, automotive components and large-scale 3D demonstrators.

‘These materials have immediate industrial applications and a clear sustainability advantage over conventional polyamides. These solutions not only reduce dependence on virgin raw materials, but also open up new opportunities for industry in terms of sustainability and the circular economy,’ said Torrealba.

Disruptive technology and international collaboration
REDES4VALUE is advancing in processes such as hydrothermal depolymerisation, ionic liquid-assisted solvolysis and reactive extrusion, as well as comprehensive life cycle and feasibility assessments. One of the main challenges of the project is the treatment of highly degraded nets with a high presence of impurities, but the results are very promising.

Collaboration with the Sea2See brand has ensured access to fishing nets recovered in Ghana since 2019 and has been key to structuring the project’s circular value chain from the waste source. ‘Without this supply of material, it would not be possible to move forward. The nets that arrive from Ghana are essential for validating the processes and obtaining real results,’ said Torrealba.

Consortium and next steps
The project involves AIMPLAS, which is responsible for chemical recycling tasks, UBE for scaling and repolymerisation, ZIKNES for 3D printing validation, and the MATS group at the University of Valencia (MATS-UV) for solvolysis and kinetics studies. ‘Our goal is to consolidate a chemical recycling line that can be applied to complex waste and demonstrate that it is a real and necessary solution,’ concluded Torrealba.

This initiative is funded by the Valencian Institute of Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i), through the Strategic Cooperation Projects programme in its 2024 call for proposals, with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Shareholders' Nomination Board of Suominen Corporation proposes to the Annual General Meeting 2026 that the number of Board members will be decreased from seven to six.

The Nomination Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Andreas Ahlström, Gail Ciccione, Nina Linander, Maija Joutsenkoski and Laura Remes would be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors and that Ville Vuori would be elected as a new member of the Board of Directors.

Out of the current Board members, Björn Borgman, is not available as a candidate for the Board of Directors. Additionally, the current Chairman of the Board, Charles Héaulmé, has decided to step out from the Board of Directors due to his role as the President & CEO of the Company. 

Ville Vuori (b. 1973, B.Sc. (Mech. Eng.), eMBA, Finnish citizen) currently acts as the Chairman of the Boards of Incap Oyj and Aspocomp Oyj. Prior to that, he served as the CEO of Kemppi Oy and Incap Oyj. Ville Vuori’s CV is attached to this stock exchange release. The proposed current members of the Board of Directors are presented on the company website www.suominen.fi.

All candidates have given their consent to the election. All candidates are independent of the company. The candidates are also independent of Suominen’s significant shareholders, with the exceptions of Andreas Ahlström who acts currently as the CEO of Ahlström Invest B.V. and Maija Joutsenkoski who acts as the Investment Director at A. Ahlström Corporation. The largest shareholder of Suominen Corporation, Ahlstrom Capital B.V., belongs to the same group of companies as Ahlström Invest B.V. and A. Ahlström Corporation.

The Nomination Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that Ville Vuori would be elected as the Chair of the Board of Directors.

With regard to the election procedure for the members of the Board of Directors, the Nomination Board recommends that the shareholders take a position on the proposal as a whole at the Annual General Meeting. In preparing its proposals the Nomination Board, in addition to ensuring that individual board member candidates possess the required competences, has determined that the proposed Board of Directors as a whole has the best possible expertise for the company and that the composition of the Board of Directors meets the other requirements of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code for listed companies.

Proposal on the Board remuneration
The Nomination Board proposes that the remuneration of the Board of Directors remains unchanged and would be as follows: the Chair would be paid an annual fee of EUR 74,000, the Deputy Chair an annual fee of EUR 45,000 and other Board members an annual fee of EUR 35,000. The Nomination Board also proposes that the additional fee paid to the Chair of the Audit Committee would remain unchanged and be EUR 10,000.

Further, the Nomination Board proposes that the fees payable for each Board and Committee meeting would remain unchanged and be as follows: EUR 500 for each meeting held in the home country of the respective member, EUR 1,000 for each meeting held elsewhere than in the home country of the respective member and EUR 500 for each meeting attended by telephone or other electronic means. No fee is paid for decisions made without convening a meeting.

75% of the annual fees is paid in cash and 25% in Suominen Corporation’s shares. The shares will be transferred out of the own shares held by the company by the decision of the Board of Directors within two weeks from the date on which the interim report of January–March 2026 of the company is published.

Compensation for expenses will be paid in accordance with the company's valid travel policy.

The composition of the Nomination Board
The members of the Nomination Board, as of September 2, 2025, are Jyrki Vainionpää (President & CEO of A. Ahlström Corporation) as a member appointed by Ahlstrom Capital B.V., Mikael Etola (CEO of Etola-Yhtiöt) as a member appointed by Etola Group Oy and Ville Vuori (Board Professional) as a member appointed by Oy Etra Invest Ab. Charles Héaulmé, Chair of Suominen’s Board of Directors, serves as the fourth member of the Nomination Board.

Jyrki Vainionpää acts as the Chair of the Nomination Board. 

All of the proposals made by the Nomination Board were unanimous, except that Charles Héaulmé and Ville Vuori abstained from participating in the decision making relating to the Nomination Board’s proposal for the Chair of the Board.

The Board of Directors of Suominen Corporation will include the proposals submitted by the Nomination Board to the Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Suominen which will be published at a later date. The Annual General Meeting of Suominen Corporation is scheduled to be held on April 15, 2026.