From the Sector

Effective from January 1, 2026, Volker Gingter, has been appointed the new Managing Director of A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and will steer the fortunes of the leading dyeing and finishing technology company going forward.

Gunnar Meyer stepped down as Managing Director on December 31, 2025, and will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until his well-earned retirement in July 2026.

Mr Gingter started his career as an electrician in 1997 at Sucker-Müller-Hacoba, also headquartered in Mönchengladbach, and first joined Monforts in 2000 as an inhouse commissioning engineer. Between 2010 and 2013 he worked at Esprit on a new European warehouse before rejoining Monforts as Engineering Service Manager. He became Head of the Service Department in 2020 and in 2025 also took charge of the Spare Parts Department.

He is now looking forward to meeting the worldwide Monforts network of customers and suppliers personally at the forthcoming Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt.

“Today’s volatile worldwide market situation will be a challenge, but I am ready to navigate Monforts through this demanding time,” he said. “The Techtextil exhibition serves as an excellent platform for networking and meeting with key players and provides a great opportunity to meet many customers and potential new ones. Keeping good relationships with customers is essential and it is our aim to fulfil their expectations when investing in our products.”

A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1884 and today is a leading supplier of textile dyeing and finishing machines as well as coating devices. The company is a market leader in stenters, continuous dyeing ranges, sanforising ranges and special executions for denim and for the finishing of technical textiles.

X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy”) and SGL Carbon LLC (“SGL”) have signed a 10-year framework agreement to provide graphite for the deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (“SMR”). 

Graphite Production for Long Mott Generating Station (Dow, Texas)
SGL has been awarded an initial three-year contract valued at around 100 mUSD to supply medium grain-graphite supply for X-energy’s first commercial project, a proposed four-unit
Xe-100 plant in partnership with Dow, Inc. in Seadrift, Texas. Graphite production on graphite reactor components has started, and SGL will supply components within three years for a total value of around 100 mUSD.

Capacity Reservation for Cascade Advanced Energy Facility (Energy Northwest, Washington State)
X-energy and SGL have also signed an agreement to reserve capacity and develop production readiness for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility with Energy Northwest in Washington state. Cascade is a planned 12-unit Xe-100 plant, and the first of several proposed Amazon and X-energy projects targeting at least five gigawatts of new nuclear energy by 2039.Graphite production is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.

SGL has a long history in supplying graphite into nuclear applications. The product and service portfolio covers graphite components for the reactor core but also material for nuclear fuel production. X-energy and SGL Carbon are long-standing partners, with collaboration dating back to 2015 to advance the development and qualification of graphite for commercial use in the Xe-100. To explore further opportunities for collaboration on future X-energy projects, Andreas Klein, CEO of SGL Carbon, met with J. Clay Sell the CEO of X-energy this week at their Maryland headquarters.

Andreas Klein, CEO of SGL Carbon, explains: "X-energy is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of small, modular, high-performance nuclear reactors for energy generation.
X-energy has done groundbreaking work in recent years and is now entering the implementation phase with its first projects with Dow and other well-known customers. We are proud to be part of this success story and to contribute to a long-term and successful partnership. This is a first milestone in the development of new applications for our products."

“Scaling new nuclear requires partners who know how to execute and have done so time and again in the world’s most demanding industries,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “SGL brings decades of innovation in aerospace, automotive, energy, and semiconductor applications, and we are thrilled to bring that depth of experience into the new nuclear sector.”

About X-energy Reactor Company, LLC 
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC, is a leading developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel technology for clean energy generation that is redefining the nuclear energy industry through its development of safer and more efficient advanced small modular nuclear reactors and proprietary fuel to deliver reliable, zero-carbon and affordable energy to people around the world. X-energy’s simplified, modular, and intrinsically safe SMR design expands applications and markets for deployment of nuclear technology and drives enhanced safety, lower cost and faster construction timelines when compared with other SMRs and conventional nuclear. 

Conventional sports textiles made from petroleum-based synthetic fibres are to be replaced in the future by sustainable, bio-based, cooling textiles. Polyethylene, previously used mainly in the packaging industry, is thus qualified for use in textiles and, as a bio-based drop-in solution, offers a cost-effective, sustainable alternative for the future.

TECNARO (Ilsfeld/Germany), BB Engineering (Remscheid/Germany), FALKE (Schmallenberg/Germany) and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University have developed textiles from bio-based polyethylene (bioPE) in the bioPEtex project of the BIOTEXFUTURE Innovation Space.

TECNARO develops the bio-based PE compounds and handles their dyeing. ITA is concentrating on the process development for melt spinning (partially-oriented yarn, POY) and false-twist texturing (draw-textured yarn, DTY) of the bioPE yarns. BB Engineering implements the false-twist texturing on an industrial scale, and FALKE is developing the final T-shirt, which will be treated with a bio-based finish for improved elasticity.

The successful creation of a first T-shirt from the yarns developed in this project underscores their promising characteristics. This represents a key milestone and forms the basis for investigating potential market readiness in subsequent phases. Above all, the white BioPE T-shirt impresses with its pleasantly cool and soft touch. However, additional development, characterisation, and optimisation steps are necessary to make a market introduction possible.

Lenzing AG has once again been recognized by the global nonprofit organization CDP for its transparent reporting performance in the areas of climate change, forests, and water security. This places Lenzing among only 23 companies worldwide that made it on the “Corporate A List” across all three categories in 2025 – out of more than 22,000 companies that disclosed their environmental data. For Lenzing, this marks the fourth time the company has achieved this prestigious triple‑“A” rating.

CDP operates the world’s largest environmental database, aligns with global disclosure standards such as TCFD, and is considered the gold standard in environmental reporting. Its ratings serve as an important decision-making tool for investors and business partners and reaffirm Lenzing’s leading role in corporate sustainability.

Lenzing sets ambitious sustainability goals within the framework of its strategic pillars and in its defined core areas such as decarbonization, sustainable raw material procurement, and responsible use of water. For example, Lenzing ensures that it only sources wood and fiber pulp from sustainable sources, makes optimal use of its raw materials, continuously improves its energy efficiency, and invests in renewables.

Returning to Olympia National from 8–10 February 2026, Scoop continues to celebrate the very best in international fashion discovery with a standout focus on French design. As the show marks its 15th anniversary, this curated French edit reinforces Scoop’s reputation as the UK’s most design-led and thoughtfully curated fashion platform, offering buyers access to collections defined by identity, quality and enduring appeal. 

Renowned for its effortless sophistication, attention to detail and deep-rooted design heritage, French fashion brings a distinctive voice to the February 2026 edition. This season’s French designers have been hand-selected by Founder and Curator Karen Radley for their ability to balance timeless elegance with modern sensibility, delivering collections that feel both relevant and refined for today’s international retail landscape.

Among the French designers exhibiting this season are Botej, Inoui Editions, Ines De La Fressange, Pret Pour Partir, Absolut, Les Tricots De Lea, Mesdemoiselle Paris, Edward Achour, Requins, Sacre Coeur, Majestic, Gas Bijoux, Fancy Palas, Humility and Mat De Misaine. Spanning ready-to-wear, knitwear, accessories and jewellery, the lineup reflects the breadth and depth of contemporary French design, united by a shared commitment to craftsmanship, material quality and understated style.

This refined French presence sits seamlessly within Scoop’s wider international offering, which continues to champion a carefully balanced mix of established names and emerging talent. Each season, the show’s discerning curation ensures that every collection brings a clear point of view, enabling buyers to discover designers that transcend trend cycles and offer long-term commercial value.

Karen Radley, Founder and Curator of Scoop, comments, “French design has an innate ability to feel timeless yet modern, refined yet effortless. The designers we are presenting this season perfectly embody those qualities. Each designer brings a strong sense of identity and craftsmanship, which is exactly what our buyers are seeking. This French edit adds a beautiful layer of depth and elegance to the February show.”

Set against Scoop’s signature gallery-like environment and the season’s Whimsical theme, the February 2026 edition promises an immersive buying experience designed to inspire creativity and encourage meaningful discovery. Alongside its French focus, the show will also present a carefully curated mix of British and global designers, reinforcing Scoop’s position as a truly international destination for fashion buyers.

As Scoop celebrates 15 years at the forefront of fashion curation, the February 2026 edition stands as a confident expression of its global vision. With its refined French designer showcase, the show continues to offer buyers a sophisticated and inspiring perspective on contemporary fashion, where craftsmanship, creativity and individuality remain paramount.

Scientifically, color is the visual perception of light reflected by objects: some wavelengths are absorbed, others reflected, and our brain interprets them as color. Yet its role goes far beyond science, it is deeply connected to emotions. It is precisely this emotional dimension that Iluna Group explores. 

For the Spring/Summer 2027 collection, the brand chose to focus on the three primary colors — Yellow, Blue, and Red — as symbols of origin, energy, and identity: 

• Yellow: the light that opens the day, fresh and clean, an energy that sparks the right idea and guides you toward who you choose to be. It translates into luminous transparencies and romantic details, a contemporary ray that captures the eye without overwhelming it.  
• Blue: depth, breath, and mental space—a slow rhythm that invites listening and reflection. It becomes a soft, almost liquid texture, essential and modern, capable of instilling balance Yellow and calm without dimming vitality.  
• Red: impulse and presence, the courage to reveal oneself without filters. It vibrates through dynamic structures and sensual florals, creating space and inviting the wearer to live every moment with contemporary intensity.  

The collection is a true journey through the colors of the soul, where every lace and every shade becomes a new story on the skin of those who wear it.
But if color becomes identity, the unique expertise and creativity of Iluna Group allow lace to break free from its boundaries, from its limitations and seasonality, carrying it directly toward the company’s vision. 

In this context, lace is no longer just a technical and recognizable product: in the hands of ILUNA Group, it transforms, elevates itself, and transcends its traditional limits. Here, expertise becomes essential, knowledge and creativity merge to generate unexpected visual and tactile effects, redefining the very identity of lace. 

• Pre-dyed viscose for multicolor yarns capable of creating refined Moiré effects for all over applications, designed for a versatile use ranging from fashion to lingerie, up to interpretations dedicated to beachwear.  
• Material experimentation aimed at creating flocking made with Silk, cotton and linen, where texture and surface engage in a natural, sensorial dialogue.   

 Since 2018 Iluna Group has been GRS certified for its sustainable Green Label range. A collection that proposes a new responsible approach towards the environment and people, combining innovation, aesthetics, and quality at 360°. From the polymer to the finished lace, Iluna is able to guarantee full control and total traceability of the entire production chain, measuring the company’s sustainability growth through the Higgs Index. 

Ontex Group NV, a leading international developer and producer of personal care solutions, announces that, further to the announcement on December 11, 2025 regarding CEO succession, the Board has decided to accelerate Laurent Nielly’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer to January 13, 2026. This acceleration reflects the Board’s confidence in Nielly’s readiness to assume Ontex’s leadership, enabling him to take ownership of the 2026 plan from the outset of the financial year. Gustavo Calvo Paz will remain with Ontex through the end of January to ensure a seamless transition.

Under Nielly’s leadership a review of all strategic options will be undertaken to identify additional opportunities to further drive profitable growth and unlock the inherent value in Ontex. The review will cover all levers available to enhance the company’s performance, including business portfolio, operational footprint and route to market, with a clear goal to improve cash generation and return on investment. A Strategy Committee of the Board of Directors will be established to accelerate the review, facilitate decision-making and ensure careful oversight over the execution of Ontex’s medium- and long-term plans.

To strengthen the Board following the resignation of Jesper Hojer, the Board has co-opted Lorenzo Grabau as a non-executive director and will submit his ratification at the next shareholders’ meeting. Grabau brings extensive capital markets and strategic transformation expertise that will be invaluable as Ontex continues to execute its strategic and value creation agenda. Grabau has considerable experience as director and chair of, and senior advisor to, various listed and non-listed companies. He served as President and CEO of Kinnevik AB, a Swedish listed investment company. Prior to that, he was a Partner at Goldman Sachs.

Kornit Konnections is officially accepting speaker proposals and partner interest for what is set to be one of the most influential digital apparel industry gathering. 
 
Konnections 2026 is an immersive, invitation-driven community event bringing together brands, retailers, manufacturers, printers, technology leaders, analysts, and investors to shape the next chapter of the apparel economy. Building on the momentum of Evolve – the largest virtual apparel conference to date – Konnections 2026 will set new benchmarks for in-person engagement, insight, and industry alignment.
 
A Vibrant Community – Shaping What’s Next
According to industry reports, the apparel industry is at a critical inflection point. Legacy, forecast-led models are no longer able to keep pace with the volatility, culture shifts, regulatory pressures, and inventory risk. Konnections 2026 is where the industry comes together to align on what replaces them. Not a trade show. Not a vendor pitch – Konnections is a working community rapidly defining the future of apparel. Konnections 2026 serves as the immersion and launch platform for the new Apparel Economy – a forward-looking body of thought leadership, operational insight, and strategic frameworks designed to support long-term industry growth.

Call Speakers
Konnections is currently seeking respected industry voices and practitioners with deep expertise across the apparel ecosystem, including:

• Apparel and Retail Leadership
• Supply Chain and Manufacturing Strategy
• Regulatory, Public Policy and Sustainability
• Inventory, Demand Planning, and Margin Protection
• AI, Robotics, Automation and Advanced Manufacturing
• Print-on-Demand and Promotional Products
• Business Strategy, Consulting, and Industry Research

Speakers should bring real-world insight, emerging perspectives, and a willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with peers who are actively shaping the industry. 
 
Call for Partners
Konnections 2026 will feature an exceptional Solutions Showcase, developed in collaboration with more than 30 best-in-class partners delivering new products, innovations, and immersive experiences never seen in the apparel industry. While the Showcase is more than 50% full and participation is highly selective, Konnections is currently seeking submissions. Only partners capable of delivering state-of-the-art solutions, forward-thinking applications, and meaningful customer experiences will be chosen.

In a major step towards strengthening Tamil Nadu’s leadership in the global technical textiles value chain, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Textiles and Guidance Tamil Nadu, Government of Tamil Nadu on 25th November 2025 in Coimbatore to launch Techtextil India Summit scheduled from 26 – 27 November 2026 at CODISSIA, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. 

The MoU formalises the launch of the Tamil Nadu edition of Techtextil India Summit, which will be held in Coimbatore every alternate year beginning 2026. The shared objective is to create a knowledge hub for exchanging expert and technical knowledge in the segment, given its vast growth potential. 

Under this long-term partnership, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India will anchor the next phase of growth for India’s technical textiles sector by conceptualising, curating and delivering five editions of Techtextil India Summit in Tamil Nadu over the coming decades. As the country’s foremost B2B exhibition on technical textiles, nonwovens and composites – and part of the globally acclaimed Techtextil brand – the collaboration brings one of the world’s most influential platforms closer to India’s largest textile and apparel hub. 

The MoU was signed on 25th November 2025 with the Department of Textiles and Guidance Tamil Nadu, Government of Tamil Nadu in the august presence of Thiru. M K Stalin, Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and The TN Rising Investment Summit.

Expressing her thoughts at the ceremony, Smt R Lalitha, IAS, Director of Textiles, Department of Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu stated: “Tamil Nadu has a well-established textile base, and this collaboration with Messe Frankfurt India will further enable the State to assume a leading position in the technical textiles sector and broaden industry linkages. With appropriate support and knowledge exchange, entrepreneurs and manufacturers can engage with advanced technical textile innovations, adopt global best practices, and reinforce Tamil Nadu’s standing as a hub for high-value, cutting-edge functional textile solutions

Reflecting on the occasion, Mr Winston Pereira, Executive Director, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd remarked: “We are truly honoured that the Department of Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu, has granted us the opportunity to contribute to the State’s technical textiles growth journey. It is equally encouraging to witness the State’s proactive efforts in building a strong foundation for technical textiles through supportive schemes and infrastructure development. We are confident that, with the right knowledge and global linkages, this dynamic State can evolve from its established strengths in spinning and knitwear into high-value technical textiles, thereby creating a robust pipeline for future investments. Introducing our globally recognised brand, Techtextil, in Coimbatore will position Tamil Nadu as a focal point for global industry dialogue. We are immensely proud of this milestone and look forward to working closely with the Department of Textiles, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Guidance Tamil Nadu to further drive industry participation.”

With the state’s policy-level support, the initiative is expected to strengthen industry-academia linkages, attract international stakeholders, unlock new opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and advance Tamil Nadu’s leadership in the high-growth technical textiles segment. The first two editions of the show will be hosted in a high-level confex format in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, setting the foundation for a full-scale trade fair from the third edition. 

The Coimbatore edition of Techtextil India Summit will not only provide a global platform for innovation and collaboration but also receive strong policy-level support from the Government of Tamil Nadu. The initiative aims to engage key textile stakeholders across the State including MSMEs, research institutions, universities and sectoral agencies such as SIDCO, TIDCO, TANSIDCO, SITRA, PSG Tech, and Anna University.

Techtextil India and Techtextil India Summit are a part of Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network which covers the entire textile value chain, right from research, development, yarns, fabrics, clothing, fashion, contract manufacturing, home and household textiles to technical textiles, processing and cleaning technologies, while simultaneously connecting over 500,000 industry participants worldwide through trade fairs, networks and news formats. 

Numerous Italian textile machinery companies will be attending the upcoming Colombiatex, the premier trade fair for the Colombian textile supply chain, held in Medellin from January 27 to 29, 2026. This year’s edition further confirms the strong bond between local textile manufacturers and Italian technology providers.

Despite a contraction in demand from the Colombian textile sector during 2024, the South American country remains one of the region’s key markets for textile machinery manufacturers. The most recent data indicates a sharp trend reversal: in the first half of 2025, Italian sales in Colombia reached 6 million euros, marking a +48% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. Should this growth rate remain steady, the value of Italian exports could approach the record levels seen in 2022 (18 million euros).

“The Colombian textile and clothing industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, supported by a technological upgrading in which Italian machinery has often played a leading role,” comments Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT. “For many of our companies, Colombiatex remains an essential event on the international trade fair calendar to strengthen the partnership with Colombian textile firms.”

Following many past editions, ICE – Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), will once again organize a national Italian Pavilion in the Pabellon Amarillo for 2026. A total of 22 Italian companies will be present within the pavilion: Ugolini Srl, Lonati Spa, Plm Impianti Srl, 3G Dosing Automation Srl, Santoni Spa, Laip Srl, Salvadè Srl, Cubotex Srl, BTSR International Spa, Reggiani Macchine Spa, Monti-Mac Srl, Ratti Luino Srl, Tonello Srl, Itema Spa, Noseda Srl, Kairos Engineering Srl, MCS Officina Meccanica Spa, LGL Electronics Spa, Waternext Spa, Lafer Spa, Fadis Spa, FICIT Srl. The strength of Italian participation is reaffirmed by all the ACIMIT member companies that will exhibit in individual stands or through their local agents, including: Brazzoli Srl, Color Service Srl, Martex Srl, Monti Antonio Spa, Morgan Tecnica Spa.