From the Sector

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition.

The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

“At its core, this deal removes or reduces tariffs on the vast majority of clothing and home textiles, with duties of around 8-12% on Indian exports to the UK effectively eliminated,” he explains. “This gives Indian manufacturers significantly improved price competitiveness in one of the world’s most valuable consumer markets.”

For the BTMA’s manufacturers of textile machinery it also has strategically important benefits, he adds. 

“India is one of the world’s largest textile producers and continues to invest heavily in modernising its mills – from spinning and weaving through to finishing. Improved trade terms, including reduced tariffs and clearer market access conditions, make it easier for UK machinery suppliers to compete in this expanding market.”

The official launch of the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition will take place on May 8th at the India ITME Centre in Mumbai, and businesses and media interested in attending should contact the BTMA’s Janette Hunter via info@ btma.org.uk.

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Back in the UK, the BTMA has launched the Future Leaders Committee (FLC) aimed at high-potential, mid-career professionals within its member companies.

The FLC programme is being structured to develop leadership, governance and strategic capability through formal training and enable its members to gain exposure to industry-wide challenges and opportunities, while acting as an advisory committee providing fresh perspectives and future-focused insight to the organisation.

In further support to companies, the BTMA Industry Placement Bursary Scheme is designed to support member companies in taking on student placement graduates and apprentices, while strengthening the future skills pipeline of the textile machinery and services sector. 

The new Curious about Textiles short course has meanwhile been developed to support new BTMA member company entrants as well as a refresher to others in this vibrant sector of the industry.
 
“We need to ensure we are doing enough to support the future of the industry, not just commercially, but in terms of people, skills and leadership,” Jason Kent concludes. “The course is now fully developed and has been curated directly from the expertise of our members. We’ll be running a two-day pilot in early June at the BTMA offices in Manchester and then rolling it out more broadly to our membership in the autumn. It’s heavily subsidised by BTMA, so participation for our member organisations is very affordable. Please contact us directly for further information and let’s work together to support the exciting future for UK-made textile technologies.”

The shareholders of Autoneum Holding Ltd approved all motions proposed by the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting. For the 2025 financial year, a total distribution of CHF 3.20 per share was approved. 

A total of 205 shareholders attended the Annual General Meeting of Autoneum Holding Ltd in Winterthur. Overall, 62.09 percent of the share capital was represented either by shareholders present or by the independent proxy. 

In his address, Chairman of the Board of Directors Hans Peter Schwald also referred to Autoneum’s 15 year anniversary: “Over this period, Autoneum has successfully established itself as a global market and technology leader, expanded its presence in Asia, continuously developed its portfolio, strengthened vertical integration and at the same time built a strong, distinct corporate culture.” 

CEO Eelco Spoelder outlined the key developments of the 2025 financial year and stated: 
“While the automotive industry has recently made many negative headlines, Autoneum has developed positively. Thanks to our clear strategy, broad customer base, dedicated employees, and the high powertrain independence of our products and technologies, we are confident about the future.” 

The shareholders approved the 2025 Annual Report, including the consolidated and standalone financial statements. They also approved the Board of Directors’ proposal to distribute a total of CHF 3.20 per registered share for the 2025 financial year, reflecting the positive consolidated result. As of May 5, 2026, a dividend of CHF 1.60 per share will be paid, less 35 percent Swiss withholding tax, as well as a withholding tax exempt repayment from capital contribution reserves of CHF 1.60 per share. 

Hans Peter Schwald will remain Chairman of the Board of Directors. The shareholders re elected Liane Hirner, Norbert Indlekofer, Martin Klöti, Michael Pieper and Oliver Streuli as members of the Board of Directors for a further term of office. Yanni von Roy Jiang, a member of the Board of Directors and of the Strategy and Sustainability Committee since 2025, did not stand for re election. Hans Peter Schwald commented: “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to sincerely thank Yanni von Roy Jiang for her commitment and valuable contributions. With her international experience and strategic foresight, she has significantly enriched the work of our Board. We wish her all the very best for the future.” 

The shareholders re elected Hans Peter Schwald, Norbert Indlekofer and Oliver Streuli to the Compensation Committee. KPMG AG, Zurich, will continue as statutory auditors for another year, and Ulrich B. Mayer was again confirmed as the independent proxy for a further term. 

The shareholders granted discharge to all members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee with more than 99.35 percent of the votes cast. The advisory votes on the 2025 Compensation Report and the Corporate Responsibility Report received approval ratings of 86.62 percent and 95.53 percent respectively. The proposals on the maximum compensation of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for the 2027 financial year were also approved by a large majority.

In the end, what matters is the result: a filter that performs reliably, a membrane that remains stable in storm conditions, a composite material with precisely defined properties. But the path to achieving this is demanding. In the production of technical textiles, numerous parameters interact – and even the smallest deviations can have major consequences. 

This very challenge shaped this year’s Techtextil. Many of the exhibiting companies face the daily task of producing complex materials while maintaining consistently high quality standards. It requires a finely tuned interplay of fibers, coatings, temperature, moisture, and tension. Whether it is protective textiles, technical filters, or carbon applications: precision is not an option, but a prerequisite. And monitoring these parameters is the key to success. 

Perfect Alignment for Woven Fabrics  
Companies such as Frenzelit, Freudenberg, Friedola, Getzner, Juta, Sattler, Swisstulle, and Toray demonstrated at the trade fair just how diverse the applications of classic woven fabrics can be. At the same time, it became clear that even the slightest distortion errors can lead to functional failure and therefore waste. Mahlo’s Orthopac systems ensure that fabrics remain perfectly aligned throughout these processes – continuously, reliably, and often unnoticed in the background. 

Consistent Quality in Nonwovens 
Nonwovens are no less complex. Manufacturers such as Alkegen (Gutsche), Dyneema, Filz Fulda, Freudenberg, Johns Manville, Lenzing, Norafin, Polyvlies, Pont Aurell, Tenowo, and TWE represent materials with a wide range of properties used in hygiene products, vehicles, filters, and medical applications. 

What matters most here is one thing above all: basis weight. Even minor deviations can determine whether a product meets the required specifications or not. With Qualiscan QMS, this crucial parameter is monitored continuously – and adjusted immediately when necessary. This ensures consistent quality, even at high production speeds. 

Coatings Under Full Control 
Another key topic at Techtextil was coatings. Multi-layer materials, complex constructions, and precisely defined properties are what characterize modern technical textiles. But the more complex a material becomes, the more sensitive it is to fluctuations in the process. 

This is where Mahlo sensors provide decisive insights: they detect early on when coatings become too thick or too thin, enabling immediate corrective action. Errors do not only become visible at the end – they are prevented from being produced in the first place. 

Moisture and Temperature: Invisible but Essential 
The same applies to moisture. It is invisible, but crucial for many processes. Whether in nonwovens, felts, or drying processes, precise control saves energy, stabilizes operations, and ensures product quality. IR and microwave sensors provide the necessary real-time data.
For sensitive materials such as prepregs or thermally stabilized fabrics, temperature control becomes essential. Systems such as Optipac and Ecopac ensure that materials are processed exactly within the required temperature ranges. 

Global leader in sustainable packaging, Smurfit Westrock, hosted a “Barrier Day Open House” on April 15 at its production facility in Ibi (Alicante), Spain, in collaboration with machine manufacturer Reifenhäuser Blown Film. A large international group of customers and industry experts gathered to experience the latest generation of Reifenhäuser EVO Ultra Die Heads in a live customer operation. 

The highlight was the output of over 1,000 kg/h for barrier applications, delivering films with outstanding properties, including a profile accuracy of better than ±3 % 2σ at a thickness of 70 μm. To ensure the film’s outstanding tolerance even at extreme throughput rates, the line combines the new EVO Ultra Die Head with the perfectly matched internal bubble cooling system EVO Cool and market-leading Kdesign cooling ring technology. In addition, Smurfit utilizes the proven Reifenhäuser Ultra Flat System, which ensures perfectly flat film for easy further processing. 

“The results of the new EVO 7-layer blown film line with the EVO Ultra Die 7 have exceeded our expectations,” says Pascual Martínez Pérez, Managing Director of Smurfit Westrock Spain. “No other supplier achieves the nominal outputs we have achieved.”

With the new line, Smurfit Westrock now operates a total of three Reifenhäuser blown film lines at this location, further expanding its capacity. At the same time, the new generation of die heads sets new benchmarks in productivity without compromising quality or stability. 

Bernd Reifenhäuser, CEO of the Reifenhäuser Group, adds: “The real competitive edge is about more than technology. It’s what we’ve built together over seven years – trust, partnership, and measurable results. Every major step we’ve taken in this partnership started with one question: What creates the greatest value for Smurfit Westrock? Today’s demonstration is a perfect example.” 

On the new blown film line, put into production at the beginning of 2026, Smurfit Westrock produces seven-layer films with barrier properties which are used, among other applications, for so-called bag-in-box packaging. This type of packaging consists of a sturdy cardboard box containing a plastic bag filled with liquid. A spout allows the beverage to be dispensed and prevents oxygen from entering – just like the 100% oxygen barrier of the plastic film. 

In addition to maximum performance and first-class film quality, the new production line offers a high degree of flexibility. If required, production can be quickly switched from seven-layer film to five- or three-layer film. Despite the large geometry and high volume of the die head, fast changeover times are ensured thanks to its particularly maintenance-friendly design. 

The live demonstration was accompanied by a series of expert presentations on the production of barrier films and packaging. The presentations addressed the specific challenges of barrier applications and highlighted the advantages of the new Reifenhäuser Ultra Die Head generation.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., a world leader in spider silk technology, announced that it has begun processing nearly 1.8 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoons into finished reeled silk.

In early April, the Company announced that it had exceeded 1.3 metric tons of cocoon production in March, setting a new production record. Since that announcement, Kraig Labs is now confirming that it produced an additional half ton of cocoons (approximately) that were not included in the in the March report. This brings the Company’s total available cocoon inventory to nearly 1.8 metric tons. The attached image represents less than 4% of the total cocoon production.

Kraig Labs has now initiated the reeling process, converting this inventory into finished reeled silk. This work is currently underway at one of the Company’s production partners and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Upon completion of this processing phase, Kraig Labs expects to hold the largest inventory of recombinant spider silk in its history. To the Company’s knowledge, this volume also represents the largest single supply of recombinant spider silk ever to exist.

The finished reeled silk will shortly be available for processing, including twisting into yarns and integration into textile and technical material applications. Kraig Labs plans to make these materials available to targeted markets, including luxury fashion, performance textiles, and industrial applications.

Senior management is currently in Asia overseeing these operations. During this visit, leadership is working directly with production staff to monitor the reeling process, evaluate facility performance, and coordinate with supply chain partners. Management is also advancing the implementation of the Company’s aggressive scale-up strategy. This plan is designed to continue rapidly increasing production output in the months ahead.

“The execution we are seeing across our operations is tracking exactly as we expected,” said Kim Thompson, Founder and CEO of Kraig Labs. “That is a direct result of the considerable groundwork our team has completed over the last three years to put our production infrastructure in place and fine tune our processes in the field. What we are seeing now is preparation translating into consistent, scalable output.”

The Company leadership in biomaterials was recently spotlighted on the cover of the March 2026 issue of National Geographic, highlighting the growing importance and predominance of our work in scaling spider silk production.