From the Sector

As global demand accelerates for lighter, stronger and more sustainable technical textiles, the machinery and testing technologies behind their manufacture are evolving at pace. 

At the Techtextil and Texprocess exhibitions in Frankfurt this April, eight members of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) will demonstrate how advanced engineering continues to shape the performance, precision and resource efficiency of advanced fibre and fabric production.

From the careful handling of ultra-high value yarns to the forensic inspection of finished fabrics, the exhibiting BTMA members collectively represent a complete chain of innovation across processing, monitoring and quality assurance.

“Techtextil provides an ideal global platform to demonstrate the depth and diversity of British textile machinery expertise,” says BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “From fibre extrusion and yarn handling to advanced inspection and testing, our members are delivering technologies that not only enhance performance but also support more sustainable and economically efficient manufacturing. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Frankfurt and to strengthening international partnerships across the technical textiles value chain.”

Airbond
Airbond will highlight the latest advances in its pioneering pneumatic splicing technology. Invented by the company in the 1960s, pneumatic splicing has become indispensable not only in conventional textiles but also in the production of carbon and aramid components for aerospace, automotive and wind power applications. By intermingling individual filaments to create joints that are flatter and stronger than knots, the technology safeguards both performance and material value. Airbond’s latest patented splicers are 3D printed, making them lighter and stronger while enabling the processing of yarns up to 16,000 tex – far beyond the 1,200 tex capacity typical of most splicing systems. In sectors where technical yarns represent a major cost component, such resource efficiency delivers immediate economic and sustainability benefits.

Ascotex
Process stability at high speeds is equally dependent on precision yarn guidance. Ascotex will present its extensive portfolio of ceramic and hard-chromed yarn guides, tensioning devices, yarn break detectors, sensors, cutters and threading tools. In modern spinning and winding environments, where yarn velocities continue to rise and tolerances tighten, the surface over which a yarn travels becomes critical. Ascotex ceramic yarn guides, manufactured from high-grade technical ceramics, offer exceptional hardness and wear resistance, preserving geometry over extended production cycles. Their ultra-smooth surface finish minimises friction, heat build-up and abrasion, protecting filament integrity and ensuring uniform winding density and package formation. The result is enhanced downstream efficiency, reduced maintenance frequency and a quietly decisive contribution to overall production reliability.

Dent Instrumentation
Reliability in yarn monitoring is the focus of Dent Instrumentation. Its contactless yarn sensors have become a de facto industry standard, recognised for accuracy and durability and widely adopted under both Dent and OEM machine builder brands. Operating effectively at speeds from as low as 3 m/min to 8,000 m/min, with adaptable detection response tailored to individual requirements, the sensors are engineered for ‘fit and forget’ performance. Encapsulated in epoxy resin for protection against spin finish, oil, wax and water, and incorporating a unique optical compensation system to minimise cleaning, they deliver dependable performance across filament, elastomeric and staple fibre processes. Applications range from high speed POY and FDY winding and DTY processing with wrap detection, to ring, open end and friction spinning as well as creel and glass fibre twisting operations.

FET
Innovation in polymer processing will be showcased by Fibre Extrusion Technologies (FET). Working in close collaboration with customers, FET has developed more than 70 bespoke multifilament, monofilament and nonwoven polymer solutions for niche applications, supported by custom-designed extrusion, spunbond and meltblown systems. Its latest breakthrough addresses the manufacture of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a material prized for being up to ten times stronger than steel by weight and increasingly specified in medical implants and other demanding applications. Conventional UHMWPE production is typically large scale and complex, limiting development flexibility. FET’s industrialised lab and small scale gel spinning system, incorporating a patented batch solvent extraction process using supercritical CO2, enables the cost-effective production of smaller, bespoke quantities. As Managing Director Richard Slack explains, the system responds directly to demand from biomedical customers for tailored fibre sizes without the constraints of large-scale infrastructure.

James Heal
Testing and verification remain central to technical textile performance. James Heal will present the latest additions to its Performance Testing collection. The AirPro air permeability tester offers flexible standards compliance, comprehensive reporting and interchangeable test heads for woven, knitted and nonwoven applications. The HydroView hydrostatic head tester measures water penetration for materials used in medical, geotextile and nonwoven sectors as well as protective apparel and outdoor applications. With TruRain, water repellency testing has been redesigned to dramatically reduce wastewater and energy consumption. Meanwhile, the newly introduced Martindale Motion reimagines the industry-standard abrasion and pilling tester first developed by James Heal in the 1940s. The nine-station instrument allows independent operation of each head, enabling multiple tests to run simultaneously and automatically, including overnight, significantly improving laboratory productivity.

SDC Enterprises
Supporting standardised testing procedures, SDC Enterprises specialises in premium consumables engineered for BS, EN and ISO colour fastness and physical performance testing. Its range of colour fastness consumables, adjacent fabrics and verification materials ensures consistent, traceable and standards-compliant assessment of abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, light fastness and visual appearance. With full batch traceability, certificates of conformity and a global distribution network, SDC Enterprises underpins quality assurance programmes that protect both manufacturers and brand reputations.

Shelton Vision
Advanced fabric inspection technology will be demonstrated by Shelton Vision. Its latest WebSpector automated inspection system builds on established expertise in plain fabric monitoring with patent-pending image processing techniques capable of recognising and adapting to complex patterns, even where fabrics are subject to shear, stretch and local distortion. By compensating for real-time deformation and delivering a clean, analysable image at high speeds, WebSpector enables reliable fault detection across applications ranging from automotive interiors and one-piece woven airbags to performance wear, upholstery, sunscreen fabrics and carbon fibre composites.

VeriVide
Colour management, an increasingly critical parameter in technical textiles, will be the focus of VeriVide at Texprocess. Its systems are widely used in the assessment of automotive and aerospace interior materials, safety components and medical textiles. The latest DigiEye imaging system features 100 per cent LED illumination, integrated dust filtration and a fully enclosed camera, enhancing both accuracy and environmental performance. With software-integrated lighting controls, automated image capture and significantly expanded imaging and measurement areas, the new DigiEye streamlines high-volume colour assessment while eliminating the need for annual fluorescent lamp changes and extending light source longevity tenfold.

Asahi Kasei Advance will present its portfolio of high-performance nonwovens, flame-retardant fabrics, and advanced textile and fiber solutions designed for various industries during its first-ever exhibition at Techtextil 2026. Techtextil is the leading international trade show for technical textiles and nonwovens, taking place from April 21-24, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany. Asahi Kasei Advance will highlight 14 brands, with special focus on four key materials.

Advanced Flame Protection: LASTAN™
LASTAN™ is a non-mineral flame-retardant fabric made by air baking a special acrylic fiber at 200–300°C. Featuring a limited oxygen index (LOI) of 47.5-50, it is characterized by high flame resistance and good electrical insulation, and a special coating process allows the material to disperse sparks generated during welding or cutting operations, thereby suppressing ignition. This allows the material to provide effective protection against flames and particle exposure from venting gases. With these excellent characteristics, LASTAN™ has been used for many years as an optimal material for failure prevention and safety in various industries.

Durable and Recyclable 3D Spacer Fabric: Cubit™
The 3D warp knitted fabric Cubit™ is the ideal material for applications that require durability, breathability, ease of care, and enhanced support and comfort. With front and back surfaces made of PET, it is available in types using connecting threads made of PTT, PET or Nylon. The all PET monomaterial type provides an easy-to-recycle alternative to polyurethane foam in applications for the health care, furniture, or automotive industry.

Nonwovens for Hygiene and Cleaning Solutions: Bemliese™
Bemliese™ is a cellulose continuous filament nonwoven sheet made from cotton linter. It becomes especially soft after moistening and drapes well over any surface it contacts with less abrasion. Its exceptional moisture absorption and retention make it a suitable material for hygienic applications and cosmetic applications like face and eye masks. In a dry state, Bemliese™ leaves virtually little lint, scratches, or chemical residues on the surfaces it contacts, making it a material suitable for cleaning equipment in industrial, laboratory, or medical environments where contamination must be minimized. TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium NV has certified the material’s biodegradability in soil, water and marine environment, as well as for industrial and home composting.

Binder-Free Versatility: ELTAS™
ELTAS™ is a versatile spunbond nonwoven material available in various types made of polyamide, polyester, or polypropylene. All three materials feature binder-free webs and are available in ultra-thin low-weight grades. These spunbond binder free nonwoven fabrics feature filament evenness, air permeability, and edge fray resistance. ELTAS™ grades are used across a wide range of applications, including hygiene products, consumer and household items, automotive components, filtration, agriculture, housing materials, and other applications such as tea bags, and cable wrapping solutions. 

With the European Commission’s decision to provisionally apply the EU–Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement, a process spanning more than 25 years now moves decisively into its implementation phase.

25 European business associations, representing a broad range of industries across the European Union, fully support this critical and long-anticipated step. The recent ratifications by Argentina and Uruguay further confirm the shared commitment to bringing this strategic partnership fully into force.

A Turning Point for European Competitiveness
The economic case for the EU–Mercosur Free Trade Agreement is clear and compelling. According to the European Commission’s own estimates, once fully implemented, the Agreement will:

• Increase EU exports to Mercosur by nearly 40%
• Generate €48.7 billion in additional annual exports
• Deliver €77.6 billion in annual EU GDP gains by 2040

These gains translate into expanded market access for European companies, strengthened transatlantic value chains, and new growth opportunities in a market of more than 270 million consumers. After years of delay, provisional application now allows European businesses to compete on more equal footing and to secure a first-mover advantage in a key strategic region.

From Political Agreement to Practical Delivery
While the provisional application marks a decisive breakthrough, effective and swift operationalisation is now essential. European companies require clarity, predictability and timely implementation of tariff reductions, customs facilitation, and regulatory cooperation provisions.

In recent years, the cost of postponement has been significant. European businesses were estimated to lose €3 billion in exports for every month the Agreement remained stalled. Since the Agreement was initially expected to enter into force in 2021, the cumulative missed GDP gains have reached approximately €291 billion.

In an increasingly fragmented and competitive global landscape, the EU cannot afford further delays in turning trade agreements into tangible economic results.

A Strategic Partnership for Growth, Diversification and Sustainability
The EU–Mercosur Agreement strengthens Europe’s trade diversification at a time of geopolitical uncertainty. It improves access to essential inputs and raw materials, enhances supply chain resilience, and reinforces the EU’s position as a global standard-setter.

The Agreement is modern, balanced and rules-based. It eliminates the vast majority of tariffs, reduces non-tariff barriers, and includes binding commitments on sustainability, labour rights and environmental protection.

European businesses stand ready to invest, expand and deepen cooperation with Mercosur partners. With provisional application now underway, it is essential to maintain momentum and ensure full ratification and smooth implementation across all parties.

After 25 years of negotiations, Europe must now ensure that this partnership delivers in practice.

Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. (STFI) has been supporting companies in developing marketable innovations for over 30 years. With a clear focus on sustainability, the environment, health and protection, the STFI offers future-oriented research, textile testing for tailor-made solutions and certification of personal protective equipment. At Techtextil 2026, the institute will present ideas for the textile circular economy and showcase solutions for healthy and safe living.  

Highlights at Techtextil 2026: 
Sound booth – an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of the trade fair 
Chemical recycling of mixed textile fractions produces textile residues that are currently not used as raw materials but are thermally recycled or disposed of. To enable further recycling, STFI is working with Refresh Global to investigate efficient treatment and processing methods for reusing these textile residues. These can be used in sound-absorbing design products, such as acoustic walls or furniture. Nonwoven forming processes are particularly suitable for processing these textile residues. At STFI, the recyclates are mechanically processed on pilot plants on a laboratory or semi-industrial scale before being laid into a non-woven fabric and consolidated. Through appropriate finishing, a visually matching top layer can also be integrated directly onto the nonwoven fabric. The finished nonwoven fabrics are processed into sound-absorbing design products by the project's industrial partner. 
 
Sports belt based on modulated medium frequencies for mobile applications for postnatal muscle building of the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles 
A team of companies and research institutions has developed a novel smart textile for stimulating and strengthening the deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles using modulated medium frequencies (EMA), specifically for mobile use during and after childbirth. To this end, a textile belt was designed using knitting technology that covers the abdomen, thighs and buttocks and integrates electrodes at the relevant muscle zones. The electrodes are washable and fixed in the belt system, and the belt adapts to the user's decreasing body circumference thanks to its textile construction. The miniaturised, battery-powered control unit is attached to the belt and can be operated via a removable remote control. The system is easy to put on, comfortable, intuitive to use and does not restrict freedom of movement. This makes it particularly suitable for home use and everyday postnatal recovery.  
 
Protective trousers protect against stab and cut injuries and attacks by wild boar. 
In forestry and hunting in particular, workers are exposed to high risks of impact injuries resulting from attacks by wild boar. Conventional protective clothing often only offers protection against stab or cut injuries. The STFI has therefore developed a textile concept that adds impact protection to the existing level of protection, thus increasing the overall protection of users in practical working environments. In  tests, the impact of a blow was reduced by up to 20 per cent. We present an example of trousers in which the special impact protection fabric has been incorporated. Depending on requirements, the impact protection elements can also be designed to be recyclable. Specially woven hinges also increase the comfort of the work trousers.  

MC4 – Optimising recycling cycles for carbon and glass fibre composites 
High-performance fibre materials made of carbon and glass have a significant ecological footprint, and not just because of their energy-intensive production. High waste volumes in the manufacturing process and the reuse of raw materials at the end of the product life cycle offer enormous recycling potential for the future. MC4 (Multi-level Circular Process Chain for Carbon and Glass Fibre Composites) is a European project to promote circular approaches for carbon and glass fibre composites. These materials are indispensable in many technical applications due to their light weight and high mechanical properties. The project consortium is working until March 2025 to make the European value chains for carbon and glass fibres more ecologically and economically efficient and will present the development work carried out at the STFI stand as well as at its own stand and show what is technically feasible using selected demonstrators. 

Stratasys Ltd. has earned a Gold Medal from EcoVadis for sustainability, placing the company in the top 5% of 150,000 organizations evaluated globally, improving its status from last year’s Silver rating. Being at the highest level of ESG performance helps strengthen our value proposition to customers and their sustainable goals.

EcoVadis is a leading provider of business sustainability ratings, evaluating companies across four key areas: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

“Through our Mindful Manufacturing™ commitment, we’re building the evidence-based, data-driven responsible business practices that our customers and strategic stakeholders increasingly expect from a future-ready manufacturing partner,” said Rosa Coblens, Vice President, Sustainability and Communications, Stratasys. “Earning the EcoVadis Gold Medal and ranking in the top 5% globally is an important recognition of the hard and dedicated work our global teams have done to strengthen sustainability infrastructures across the company.”

Stratasys’ improved rating reflects sustainability excellence, maturity of management systems, and continued progress across enterprise sustainability practices, including reporting emissions across the value chain (Scope 3), increased supplier engagement on ESG, ongoing research on product environmental impacts through Life Cycle Analyses (LCAs), and third party limited assurance processes for carbon reporting.
As a leading 3D printing business partner for future-ready manufacturing enterprises, Stratasys helps customers scale production of parts while supporting more efficient, optimized, and responsible manufacturing.

Suominen Chief People and Communications Officer (CPCO) Minna Rouru has announced her decision to leave Suominen to take on a role in another company. She will leave Suominen at the latest on August 26, 2026. The CPCO succession process has been initiated and will be announced in due course.

“I would like to warmly thank Minna for her significant contribution to Suominen’s transformation. Her expertise, commitment, and positive mindset have been instrumental in advancing our cultural change and strengthening our organization. I wish Minna all success in her next professional projects,” says Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO of Suominen.