From the Sector

INDEX™26, the World’s Leading Nonwovens Exhibition, will take place from 19 to 22 May 2026 at PALEXPO in Geneva. With 600 exhibitors expected, INDEX™26 represents the entire value chain of the industry, from raw materials, machinery, producers of nonwovens, components to converters.

This year’s event highlights a clear trend toward high-performance lightweight materials emerging from an increasingly integrated global supply chain. From breakthroughs in engineering to innovations in raw materials, the focus remains firmly on enhancing efficiency and sustainability without compromising quality.

One of the most eagerly awaited unveilings is the introduction of RF6 technology from Reifenhäuser Reicofil. This latest generation of spunmelt production is poised to set new global standards by delivering higher throughput for the finest fibres while enabling user-friendly, low-maintenance operation.

Magnera, created from the merger of Berry and Glatfelter, will present breathable backsheet solutions with a basis weight reduced to just 8 g/m². These are combined with an ultra-soft, thin nonwoven fabric of 10 g/m² to create the lightest breathable solution to date for printed baby and adult backsheets. Magnera will also showcase its Supersoft ATB (Air-Through Bonded) fabric for backsheet applications, which reduces material consumption, lowers freight costs, and shortens delivery times without compromising comfort or quality. Supersoft combines exceptional softness with reliable technical performance, offering enhanced results through optimized thickness reduction.

In the field of raw materials, the Austrian company Borealis is introducing a new polypropylene (PP) grade for spunbond nonwovens based on its Nextension technology. This enables manufacturers to replace complex multi-layer structures with recyclable mono-material designs. Borealis HG485FB improves nonwoven production through its wide processing window and excellent spinning performance, allowing processors to push the boundaries in optimizing web properties, coverage, and strength. 

A.Celli presents its standalone VoluMAX³ line, a high-speed system for 3D embossing and perforation. A.Celli's E-Wind non-stop unwinding, inline cutting, and winding machine has been combined with the leading embossing roller from German exhibitor Saueressig. The result is a flexible, maintenance-friendly system that guarantees maximum precision, quality, and speed in the production of sophisticated surface effects at speeds of up to 600 metres per minute.

Meanwhile, Wisdom Greentech is pushing the boundaries of softness with the world’s first nonwoven material made from 0.4-denier fibres. Featuring a skin-contact layer of 100% cotton, this product is manufactured without chemical binders or ultrasonic bonding. Thanks to a patented process and Trützschler’s dual carding technology, materials finer than silk are created. Trützschler, a specialist in nonwoven technologies, has supplied Wisdom Greentech with four ATB systems to date and will also be exhibiting in Geneva this May.

Seminar programme
Structured around three critical pillars, the seminar programme provides attendees with the insights necessary to navigate an increasingly complex industrial environment. 

Strategic Market Intelligence: At the heart of the programme is an exploration of the trends shaping the global market. Drawing on EDANA’s exclusive industry intelligence, these sessions provide a data-driven overview of the dynamics redefining sectors from hygiene and wipes to filtration and construction. In an era where consumer expectations are rapidly evolving, these insights highlight how the imperative of sustainability has moved from a trend to a core business driver across the entire value chain.

Sustainability and Regulatory Resilience: As the industry faces mounting pressure to enhance resource efficiency, the programme dedicates significant focus to the dual challenges of carbon footprint reduction and end-of-life solutions. Experts will examine how to address environmental concerns while balancing the nuances of regional policies and consumer behaviors. Complementing this is an in-depth analysis of the regulatory landscape, providing manufacturers with a roadmap for aligning their operations with upcoming environmental standards and product safety requirements. This ensures that participants remain both compliant and competitive in a rapidly shifting legislative climate.

Innovation in Specialized Sectors: Beyond the broader market, sessions exploring key trends in the global Filtration sector will spotlight breakthrough applications in high-growth fields. The Geosynthetics session will challenge traditional Western construction methods, comparing them with the rapid infrastructure growth seen in regions like China to showcase how geosynthetics can revitalize modern civil engineering. Simultaneously, the Mobility seminar will position nonwovens as essential enablers for the next generation of transportation. From the lightweighting needs of electromobility to the acoustic and filtration requirements of autonomous vehicles, these sessions illustrate how versatile nonwoven materials are meeting the demands for sustainable, high-tech transportation.

A research team at Fudan University in Shanghai has successfully built complex electronic circuits inside thin, flexible fibers. This breakthrough, referred to as a fiber chip, allows fabrics to process information like a computer while remaining soft enough to be stretched, twisted, and woven into everyday clothing.

The development could transform industries like brain-computer interfaces — which allow the brain to communicate directly with external devices — as well as high-tech textiles and virtual reality.

Typically, computer chips are flat and rigid, built on stiff materials like silicon. And because fibers are curved and have very little surface area, it has been difficult to fit enough electronic parts onto them to make them useful. To solve this, the Fudan University team moved away from just using the surface of the fiber. Instead, they designed a multilayered spiral architecture, essentially building several layers of circuitry inside the fiber to use all the available internal space.

The team's experiments show that a fiber chip only 1 millimeter long can hold 10,000 transistors — the tiny switches that process data in electronics. This gives it the same processing power as a chip used in a heart pacemaker. If the fiber is extended to 1 meter, it could hold millions of transistors, reaching the power levels of a standard desktop computer processor.

The research, which challenges the traditional way computer chips are made, was published in the journal Nature.

For decades, scientists have added basic functions to fibers, such as the ability to store energy or sense touch. However, these smart fabrics usually had to be plugged into bulky, rigid computer chips in order to function. This made the clothing stiff and uncomfortable. The new fiber chip eliminates that need, allowing the fabric to think and act autonomously.

Our fabrication method is highly compatible with the current tools used in the chip industry, said Chen Peining, a researcher at Fudan University's Institute of Fiber Materials and Devices. We have already achieved a way to mass-produce these fiber chips.

The technology has significant implications for healthcare. In the BCI field, current systems use stiff electrodes that must be wired to external computers. The fiber chip could allow for a closed-loop system — where sensing, data processing, and medical stimulation all happen within a single, soft fiber.

Professor Peng Huisheng, a co-author of the study, noted that these fibers are as thin as 50 micrometers — thinner than a human hair — and as flexible as brain tissue. This makes them safer and more effective in the treatment of neurological diseases.

In the world of virtual reality, the technology could lead to smarter tactile gloves. Current VR gloves often use clunky hardware that makes them feel unnatural.

Smart tactile gloves made with fiber chips are indistinguishable from ordinary fabric, Chen said. They can sense and simulate the feel of different objects, which could be used by surgeons to 'feel' the hardness of tissue during a remote robotic surgery.

Avery Dennison, a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions, announced its exclusive partnership with 1. FSV Mainz 05 (also known as Mainz 05) to enhance fan engagement through heat transfer embellishments, creating customizable and personalized team jerseys.

The partnership marks Avery Dennison’s expansion into German soccer, providing fans the unique opportunity to showcase their creativity and support through bespoke embellished merchandise.

Avery Dennison’s Embelex™ solution portfolio, renowned for its innovative options for personalization in the global sports apparel market, will play a pivotal role in the partnership. Two interactive fanzone touchscreens featuring bonders equipped with an Accurate Alignment Projector System (AAPS) have been installed at the MEWA Arena, home of Mainz 05. Fans can personalize their jerseys in minutes with the name, number or customized message of their choosing, turning matchday shopping into an event as memorable as the game itself.

Sergio Shmilovitch, VP/GM Embelex, Avery Dennison, says: “Fans are demanding more creative and expressive ways to show their loyalty, elevating customization to the top of the league. This partnership is exciting on a number of fronts. By harnessing our global expertise in delivering high-quality branding and customization solutions, Mainz 05 is able to pursue new revenue opportunities while enabling fans to express their dedication and passion in their own unique way.”

Thomas Bohner, head of merchandise, 1. FSV Mainz 05, adds: “Partnering with Avery Dennison as our official name and number partner represents a significant step forward for Mainz 05. We're bringing the same world-class quality used by elite sports organizations globally to our supporters, while pioneering in-venue customization technology in German soccer. This is about giving our fans what they’ve been asking for: instant, professional-quality customization that turns every jersey into something truly their own. It's innovation that strengthens supporter loyalty while creating new opportunities for the club.”

In addition to its work with Mainz 05, Avery Dennison has established an impressive portfolio collaborating with leading soccer leagues across the globe, such as the English Premier League, LALIGA, Liga Portugal and MLS, as well as Spanish and European powerhouse Real Madrid. Partnerships include US sports teams, such as the NFL 2025 championship-winning Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Collaborations also extend to the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, as well the NHL and MLB.

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.

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.

adidas announced preliminary results for the fourth quarter of 2025. In Q4, currency-neutral revenues for the adidas brand increased 11%. Including Yeezy sales in the prior year (2024: around € 50 million), currency-neutral revenues increased 10%. In euro terms, revenues reached € 6,076 million in the quarter (2024: € 5,965 million). The company’s gross margin improved 1.0 percentage points to 50.8% (2024: 49.8%), while operating profit more than doubled to € 164 million (2024: € 57 million).

Based on preliminary unaudited numbers for the full year of 2025, currency-neutral revenues for the adidas brand increased 13% for the second consecutive year, driven by double-digit growth in all markets and channels. Including Yeezy sales in the prior year (2024: around € 650 million), currency-neutral revenues increased 10%. In euro terms, revenues reached a record level of € 24,811 million (2024: € 23,683 million), despite a negative currency translation impact of more than € 1 billion. The company’s gross margin improved 0.8 percentage points to 51.6% in 2025 (2024: 50.8%), despite the negative impacts from unfavorable currency developments and higher tariffs. Full-year operating profit increased by more than € 700 million to € 2,056 million (2024: € 1,337 million). The operating margin improved 2.6 percentage points to 8.3% in 2025 (2024: 5.6%).

Given the strong brand momentum, the company’s robust fundamentals, its healthy balance sheet and strong cash flow generation, as well as Management’s confidence in the future development of adidas, the adidas Executive Board has, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, decided to launch a share buyback. Starting in early February, the company plans to buy back shares worth up to € 1 billion in 2026. The share buyback will be financed through the company’s anticipated strong cash flow generation in 2026. adidas intends to cancel the repurchased shares.

adidas will publish its final set of financial results for 2025, issue financial guidance for 2026, and provide an update on its future capital allocation plans on March 4, 2026.

adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden:
“I am again very proud what our people have achieved. Driving double-digit growth in the fourth quarter despite all the external turbulence, and more than doubling our operating profit in the quarter made the year end very well and made 2025 much better than we had planned and expected when the year started.

The double-digit growth in all markets and all channels is of course very pleasing, but even more important is that this is quality growth. Our markets have been very good at managing that the right product in the right amount has been sold in their markets and that we have managed to keep full-price sell-throughs high and discounts under control. The gross margin of 51.6% (without Yeezy) is historically high and underlines this performance and the strength of our brand.

Our mission is to do everything we can to serve and please the consumer, the athlete and our retail partners. To do that we need to be as close as we can to the markets. We want to be a global brand with a local mindset.

We are lucky to be in an industry that sells consumer products for many segments. We sell products for sport, comfort, lifestyle and fashion. We are very confident that all these segments will continue to grow all over the world and we are also very confident that we will continue to take market share.

Our confidence in adidas future top- and bottom-line growth and cash flow generation is also the reason why we now have decided to launch a share buyback. We will buy back shares up to € 1 billion this year. We will come back with our detailed numbers for 2025, our financial guidance for 2026 and our future capital allocation plans at the beginning of March.

Now we look forward to great Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Italy starting next week and we continue to prepare for a fantastic FIFA World Cup in the summer.

These are great events that I think the world needs. Sports and global sport events bring people from all over the world together. We need that now!”

Alar Silk Road New Materials and ANDRITZ have successfully commissioned three spunlace lines in crosslapped configuration at Alar’s facility in Aral City, Xinjiang, China.

The new lines strengthen Alar’s capacity to produce high-quality nonwovens and support the development of a more resource-efficient and sustainable ecosystem for the region’s hygiene and medical industries.

The neXline spunlace lines from ANDRITZ process viscose and/or cotton fibers to produce nonwoven fabrics that meet stringent quality requirements for hygiene and medical end uses. The lines deliver excellent web uniformity, strong tensile properties, and high production rates, enabling Alar to meet the growing market demand. The latest Profile™ crosslappers help reduce operating costs by ensuring even fiber distribution. 

ANDRITZ will continue to support Alar in further advancing its operations. The two companies plan to deepen their cooperation in innovation, digitalization, and energy efficiency to implement Alar’s goals and contribute to sustainable industrial development in the Xinjiang region.

Alar Silk Road New Materials Co., Ltd., based in Aral City, Xinjiang, is a leading producer of high quality nonwovens for hygiene, medical, and care applications. Using the region’s rich cotton resources, the company develops advanced materials supported by strong technological capabilities. Alar also drives innovation in renewable raw materials, converting resources such as reed into high value pulp, which supports circular economy goals. Through continuous collaboration and technological development, the company is building a modern, internationally competitive industrial base.

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University has launched a new demonstrator for an open and secure data space in the textile industry at the Digital Innovation Centre Europe (DICE). For the first time, the demonstrator shows directly and clearly how companies can share their data securely with each other without the need for a central platform. Data exchange is based on shared, freely usable technical foundations.

The participating companies thus share important information about materials, processes or supply chains directly. This increases transparency and helps, for example, with sustainability assessments, traceability or compliance with legal requirements. At the same time, companies retain control over their data at all times.

What is new and special is that, for the first time, the data room can be experienced in practice – not just as a concept on paper. Using real data and real processes, the demonstrator shows how secure data exchange works in the textile industry.

Companies can see directly how information flows between businesses without having to submit it to a central platform. This makes it clear that getting started with modern data rooms is easier, more secure and more cost-effective than many expect.

ITA developed and implemented the demonstrator from a technical perspective. It provides the textile production environments, supplies the technical expertise and ensures that the demonstrator works with real industrial applications.

The demonstrator is publicly accessible at DICE and can be used in workshops, guided tours or company visits. The technological components are already suitable for industrial use and serve as a starting point for companies to launch their own data room projects.

BTMA member Alchemie Technology, the pioneer of precision jet dyeing solutions based in Cambridge, UK, is partnering with Acatel, the Portuguese leader in sustainable textile manufacturing.

The two companies will work together to validate and optimise Alchemie’s Endeavour system for knitted cellulosic fabrics. 

Endeavour enables dye houses to eliminate energy and CO2 emissions by up to 85%, achieve chemistry savings of up to 30%, and reduce water usage by up to 95% compared to traditional methods. The proprietary liquid application solution combines a large droplet size and high droplet velocity to deliver unrivalled penetration and precision into a textile fabric. 

R&D programme
As part of the collaboration, Alchemie and Acatel will run a twelve-month R&D programme to prepare the technology for large-scale manufacturing and demonstrate how the fully electric, non-contact dyeing process can replace conventional dyeing routes.

The partnership will operate from the Acatel Innovation Hub in northern Portugal, with the industrial expertise, manufacturing infrastructure and focus on innovation necessary to accelerate the adoption of this next-generation textile technology. 

Through the platform, Alchemie will advance the commercial readiness of its low-carbon digital dyeing system tailored for knitted cellulosic fabrics based on cotton, lyocell, linen, hemp and wool blends.
“Transforming one of the world’s most resource-intensive industrial processes requires resilience, vision and innovation,” says Dr Alan Hudd, founder and CEO of Alchemie Technology. “Being part of the Acatel Innovation Hub represents exactly the kind of partnership needed to scale sustainable textile solutions globally.”

Acatel has been a leader in sustainable textile processes since 1985, combining advanced technology with a strong environmental commitment. By leveraging Acatel’s innovation ecosystem, the partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of next-generation dyeing solutions and highlight the role of the Acatel Innovation Hub in bringing scalable, sustainable innovations to industry.

“Acatel’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship aligns perfectly with Alchemie’s mission,” says Tércio Pinto, member of the board at Acatel “With this collaboration we are empowering textile producers to redefine responsible manufacturing.”
 
Première Vision
To mark the partnership, Alchemie and Acatel will be exhibiting side-by-side at Première Vision in Paris from February 3-5, where visitors will be able to directly assess the touch and feel of fabrics processed with the technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how Endeavour technology can deliver substantial sustainability and efficiency gains.

“This development is great news to kick off 2026,” said BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Textile dyeing is a significant polluter and Alchemie’s digital technologies, developed here in the UK and now to be further commercialised within Europe, promise to archive a dramatic reduction in energy consumption while eliminating contaminated wastewater emissions, which will be a major boost for the industry.”

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.