From the Sector

With 12 exhibiting countries and regions so far confirmed, Cinte Techtextil China is poised to present a dynamic industry platform, bridging the gap between Asian and Western markets. From 3 to 5 September in Shanghai, the fair will feature a full spectrum of technical textiles and nonwovens for 12 application areas, with a key highlight being 2025’s debut product category and zone – the Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zone. Meanwhile, domestic and international exhibitors with automotive applications can be found across the fairground, with the segment drawing strong interest globally. Also featuring a range of innovators in the reputable European and German Zones, the fair’s International Hall (W5) will offer valuable expertise and opportunities to trade visitors from China, Asia and beyond.

A strong combination of global exhibitors has already confirmed their participation this year, coming from Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the UK, the US, and Vietnam. With the additional textile chemicals and dyes product category launched at the fair, new business avenues have been opened for renowned companies such as CHT Germany GmbH (Germany), Michelman Inc (USA), and more, who will convene at the debut Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zone. The new category is suitable for a range of textile applications, such as for sports & leisure, safety & protection, industrial protection, construction and more.

European and German Zones to showcase continent’s industry excellence
With Europe’s production of technical textiles and nonwovens largely returning to pre-pandemic levels, the vast Asian market represented at Cinte Techtextil China has attracted leading companies to showcase their quality, high-tech products in the European and German Zones.

In addition to well-known returning brands, such as EMS-GRILTECH, Graf + Cie, Monosuisse, and Swisstulle from Switzerland, and Fibre Extrusion Technology from the UK, several new exhibitors are set to make their mark in the European Zone. 

Across the hall, the German Zone will also welcome a strong array of members, including Autefa Solutions, Mahlo, Reifenhauser Heinsberg, and many more, such as Brueckner Textile Technologies, Lindauer DORNIER or Wetekam Group (new).

Highlighted exhibitors featuring automotive textile solutions
Harnessing market demand, Cinte Techtextil China will feature a raft of global Mobiltech exhibitors, including Eastex Industrial Science And Technology and Oriental Industries from China, Picanol from Belgium, Rowa Group from Germany, and more.

The fair’s product categories cover 12 application areas, which comprehensively span a full range of potential uses in modern technical textiles and nonwovens. These categories also cover the entire industry, from upstream technology and raw materials providers to finished fabrics, chemicals and other solutions. This scope of product groups and application areas ensures that the fair is an effective business platform for the entire industry.

Cinte Techtextil China will be held from 3 – 5 September 2025.
The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) will showcase packaging materials combining high performance protection, CO2 emission reduction and waste prevention at Fachpack 2025 in Nuremberg, Germany, from September 23-25. Evolon® packaging solutions offered by Freudenberg are particularly suited for packaging automotive components with sensitive surfaces. 

Evolon® packaging materials provide superior surface protection for a wide range of automotive parts, including molded plastics and painted elements. The high-end textiles make an important contribution to the quality goals of OEMs and tier suppliers by preventing damage to transported parts and lowering rejection rates.

Recycled content and low CO2 footprint
Evolon® textiles have a small carbon footprint because their manufacturing process uses low-CO2 energy, and the fabrics are lightweight and reusable. Furthermore, Evolon® packaging materials are made of up to 85% recycled content. “By replacing virgin raw materials with recycled content, we’ve been able to cut the carbon footprint of our fabric production by 35%. We are actively exploring the possibility of manufacturing Evolon® using 100% recycled content to drive CO₂ emissions down even further,” explains Jean-François Kerhault, Director Global Sales & Marketing General Industry at Freudenberg Performance Materials. 

Although Evolon® fabrics are lightweight – from 80gsm to 300gsm – they nevertheless still provide the high mechanical strength properties required for automotive packaging applications. This conserves raw materials and reduces the weight of transported loads. In particular, the new Evolon® Ultra Force is approximately 50% lighter than PVC-based materials with similar high mechanical strength, while containing a minimum 50% recycled content and no PVC.

Waste prevention
Evolon® materials play an important role in decreasing waste when it comes to transporting automotive parts. Above all, the high-end materials provide superior surface performance which directly reduces scrap of transported parts. 
In addition, packaging waste is also prevented because Evolon® technical packaging textiles are designed for reusable packaging containers. Single-use packaging is avoided. Moreover, Evolon® packaging material lasts for the entire production cycle of a car model.

New Directors Bring Industry, Innovation and Leadership Experience to Advance Syensqo’s Evolution to a Specialty Chemicals Company.
 
SYENSQO SA announced the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Arnold and Augusto Di Donfrancesco as new members of its Board of Directors, effective July 17, 2025. 
They replace Matti Lievonen and Nadine Leslie who are stepping down from the Board to pursue other opportunities.
 
Dr. Cynthia Arnold brings more than 30 years of global leadership experience in technology and innovation within the materials and chemicals sectors. She previously served as Chief Technology Officer at Valspar Corporation and held senior roles at Sun Chemical, Eastman Chemical and General Electric. With extensive public company board experience, Dr. Arnold currently serves as an independent director on the boards of Cabot Corporation, Milliken & Company and Fluence Energy. She holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from the University of California,Berkeley.
 
Augusto Di Donfrancesco held key leadership roles in research & innovation, operations and transformation during a more than 35-year career at Solvay. As President of Solvay’s Specialty Polymers Global Business Unit, he led a period of significant organic growth, doubling net sales through customer-centric innovation. He was also a member of the Solvay Executive Leadership Team where he led group-wide strategic programs. Mr. Di Donfrancesco’s deep sector knowledge and track record in operational excellence and capital allocation will further reinforce Syensqo’s ongoing growth and transformation objectives. Mr. Di Donfrancesco holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Pisa University. 
 
Rosemary Thorne, Chair of the Board of Directors, said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our gratitude to Matti and Nadine for their contributions to the Board during Syensqo’s formative period as an independent public company. As part of our Board succession planning, we are focused on maintaining the right mix of skills and expertise and are thrilled to welcome Cynthia and Augusto, who are proven leaders of the highest caliber and are poised to contribute their significant leadership, technology, innovation and operational experience to the Board. We look forward to benefiting from their respective knowledge and insights as we continue to focus on delivering shareholder value.”
 
“We are delighted to welcome Cynthia and Augusto to our Board,” said Dr. Ilham Kadri, Chief Executive Officer of Syensqo. “Their perspectives will be invaluable as we continue to prioritize innovation and operational excellence to capitalize on the meaningful long-term growth and value creation opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with them.” 
 
Dr. Arnold said, “Syensqo’s commitment to scientific excellence and sustainability resonates deeply with me. I am excited to contribute to the Board’s work to advance innovation and operational performance, and to help shape the Company’s continued success in a rapidly evolving global landscape.” 

 
“I am honored to join Syensqo’s Board during this important period in the Company’s evolution to a Specialty Chemicals Company” said Mr. Di Donfrancesco. “Having spent my career driving transformation, innovation and growth within the specialty chemicals sector, I look forward to working with my fellow directors and the management team to help accelerate growth and unleash Syensqo’s potential.”

With its latest Joint Partner Project titled “Thermoplastic Pressure Vessel Production – Benchmarking of Design-for-Manufacturing Strategies to Optimize Material Efficiency and Cost,” AZL Aachen GmbH invites companies from across the pressure vessel and composite value chains to collaborate on the next step in sustainable high-pressure storage solutions.

Unlocking the Full Potential of Thermoplastic Composites
Thermoplastic composites are widely recognized for their potential to reduce processing times, offer alternative recycling routes, and improve design flexibility. Yet, when traditional thermoset vessel designs are simply transferred to thermoplastic manufacturing, cost and efficiency often fall short of competitiveness. The aim of this project is to rethink vessel design and production holistically – aligning thermoplastic material properties with optimized design- and manufacturing strategies to unlock their full economic and technological potential.

Collaborative Engineering for Scalable Solutions
Conducted as a Joint Partner Project, the initiative brings together companies with shared interests to co-finance and co-shape the project. The AZL Engineering Team will analyse current technologies, develop new design concepts for hydrogen and CNG vessels, and benchmark the resulting configurations in terms of weight, cost, recyclability and production KPIs. The consortium of participating companies will get access to simulation results, concept layouts, and comparative evaluations based on a unified framework.

Experience and Exchange Built In
The JPP format provides a platform not only for technical development, but also for strategic networking. Each partner can contribute input, benefit from consolidated expertise, and gain early access to the results. With more than a decade of experience managing such initiatives, AZL ensures a structured and result-driven collaboration.
The project will start on July 16th, 2025. All participants are invited to engage in an interactive Kick-off Meeting to define key priorities and present their internal perspectives. 

Ontex Group NV, a leading international developer and producer of personal care solutions, is advancing its sustainability journey with the introduction of bio-based superabsorbent polymers (bioSAP) in its diapers, with an initial rollout in selected Moltex Pure and Nature products. This new material will gradually and incrementally replace virgin fossil-based plastic SAP in the core absorbent component, helping lower the carbon footprint of the product while maintaining performance. 

SAP (superabsorbent polymer) is essential to diaper performance yet is traditionally made from fossil-based plastic. It is also one of the most carbon-intensive components in hygiene products. The bioSAP now being introduced has a 15% to 25% lower carbon footprint than conventional SAP, with a promising outlook as the technology continues to evolve. By embracing innovations like bioSAP, Ontex is advancing its long-term goal of reducing environmental impact through sustainable solutions. 

Reducing impact through smarter material choices 
Ontex’s Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions are largely driven by raw materials, which account for approximately 80% of the total footprint across sourcing, production, and end-of-life waste treatment. Materials such as SAP and plastic nonwovens represent about half of these emissions. 

The shift to bioSAP is a strategic move towards achieving Ontex’s SBTi-validated target to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030. While it is initially rolled out to selected products under the Moltex Pure and Nature brand, Ontex’s baby diaper brand available in retailers and online across Europe, the development also lays the groundwork for broader application. This includes future products and offerings for retail partners. 

BioSAP: a step forward, with an eye on circularity 
The conventional SAP available in the market is currently not recyclable or industrially compostable. However, Ontex views biodegradable SAP as a key enabler for multiple circular solutions in the future. The company continues to monitor innovation in this area closely, while remaining realistic about current limitations.

The Global Electronics Association, based in Illinois, announces the release of IPC-8911, Requirements for Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Applications. This first-of-its-kind global standard establishes a clear framework for classifying, designating, and qualifying conductive yarns—helping to address longstanding challenges in supply chain communication, product testing, and material selection within the growing e-textiles industry. The Global Electronics Association retains the IPC brand for the industry’s standards and certification programs, which are vital to ensure product reliability and consistency. 
 
Developed by the IPC Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Test Methods Task Group, IPC-8911 defines key yarn categories, introduces a standardized designation system, and includes qualification and conformance requirements tailored to conductive yarns. The standard is supported by eight new IPC-TM-650 Test Methods, designed to evaluate performance characteristics such as conductivity, mechanical durability, and resistance to environmental and chemical exposures.

By clearly defining the performance characteristics and communication protocols for conductive yarns, IPC-8911 supports faster product development, more consistent sourcing, and improved reliability for all e-textiles product applications, from consumer to medical to aerospace and defense.
 
The release of IPC-8911 marks a critical step in advancing e-textile integration—establishing conductive yarns as true electronic building blocks while supporting better collaboration between yarn suppliers, product developers, and OEMs and brands.

The task group included global experts from both textile and electronics sectors, with leadership from Joe Geiger of Bally Ribbon Mills and Sahar Rostami of Meta.
 
“This standard gives manufacturers tools to know what to ask for when ordering yarns and helps yarn suppliers understand the electrical needs their products must meet,” said Geiger. “It brings clarity to the entire process—acting almost like a recipe for building reliable e-textile systems.”
 
Rostami added, “IPC-8911 eliminates the guesswork. It gives developers, researchers, and engineers a common framework and accelerates R&D by reducing the need to reinvent the wheel when selecting and testing conductive yarns.”

AZL Aachen GmbH, a leading engineering partner for lightweight technologies, is initiating a new cross-industry collaboration titled “High Value Composite Applications – A Joint Market and Technology Study on Opportunities for Fiber-Reinforced Plastics in Space & Defence Applications.” The project brings together international companies to explore and quantify the potential of fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) in two of the most dynamic innovation markets: space and defence. 

Shaping Emerging Markets with Composites 
The demand for high-performance, lightweight, and modular components is accelerating rapidly in both sectors. With more than 50,000 satellites projected in orbit by 2035 and significant defence investments being implemented across Europe and beyond, the relevance of scalable composite-based structures has never been greater. This Joint Partner Project (JPP) aims to provide participants with a consolidated market and technology roadmap, combining deep technical insights with actionable strategic data.  

A Proven Collaboration Format 
The project will be executed as a Joint Partner Project – a pre-competitive, cost-shared initiative moderated and conducted by AZL. This format allows companies from across the value chain to jointly define focus topics, benefit from AZL’s expertise in market and technology analysis, and contribute their own perspectives throughout the process. Having coordinated over 15 such industry projects with more than 200 participating companies, AZL offers proven processes for delivering structured outcomes and fostering effective exchange between partners. 

Kick-off and Participation 
The project will begin with a Kick-off Meeting on July 15th, 2025. All participating companies will have the opportunity to introduce their organizations, share their expectations, and help define the specific scope of the study. This setting fosters transparency, engagement, and cross-industry insights. Companies interested in participating are invited to request the detailed project description and schedule an individual consultation with AZL’s industrial services team:

Contact
Philipp Fröhlig 
Head of Industrial Services 
Email: philipp.froehlig@azl-aachen-gmbh.de 
Telefon: +49 241 475 735 14 

In a constantly evolving fashion landscape, where aesthetics meets awareness and luxury evolves beyond simple beauty, where materials are called to embody wellbeing, responsibility and versatility, Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei stands as a rare material: precious in its origin, essential to the experience.

Rare because it is produced exclusively by Asahi Kasei in Japan through a highly specialized, and closed-loop process. Rare because it originates from cotton linters — a natural derived pre-consumer material — and accounts for only 0.02% of global fiber production. Rare because it offers a one-of-a-kind aesthetic, sensorial and functional identity, recognized and valued by designers and brands worldwide.

But Bemberg™ is not simply rare — IT IS A FIBER TO LIVE. Its true value unfolds through experience: worn, touched, and explored across diverse lifestyles and when the occasion arises. With its silky softness, fluid drape, luminous appearance, moisture management and skin-friendly comfort, Bemberg™ offers an unparalleled sense of wellbeing to the wearer — ensuring freshness in summer, warmth in winter (especially when blended with other fibers), and a constant feeling of ease, elegance and comfort. This is why Bemberg™ represents not only a technical fiber, but a true partner for those who seek comfort in motion, sophistication in simplicity, and responsible elegance in every moment.

Born 94 years ago in Japan by Asahi Kasei, Bemberg™ has evolved far beyond its origins, becoming a versatile material for multiple categories and hybrid wardrobes: from high-end outerwear to intimate apparel, from fluid knitwear to athleisure and lifestyle collections. Whether in luxury tailoring, couture surfaces, performance wear or modern ceremonial dressing, Bemberg™ elevates each garment through its distinctive touch and graceful adaptability. It is a fiber that opens new creative doors, allowing designers to build collections where design, innovation and responsibility coexist harmoniously. As fashion enters a new era of fluid silhouettes, sensorial materials, and conscious luxury, Bemberg™ offers an exclusive creative platform for brands that seek not just beauty, but meaning and elevated values.

In addition, Bemberg™ carries a prestigious heritage rooted in circular economy values. Produced exclusively in Japan from cotton linters — a natural, pre-consumer material — Bemberg™ embodies a unique form of RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION. Regenerated cellulose obtained from the manufacturing process of cottonseed oil through a closed-loop process ensures transparency and traceability, delivering certified sustainability credentials, including RCS, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, ISO 14001, and biodegradability certification (OK biodegradable MARINE certification by TÜV Austria).

At the heart of Bemberg™’s journey is a collaborative network of European partners: spinners, weavers, knitters, and finishers. Partnerships that are essential to ACTIVATE the values and the potential of the fiber, transforming it into high-end fabrics that respond to the needs of a contemporary, conscious and sophisticated wardrobe. Bemberg™ IS NOT SIMPLY  meant to be WORN, but  to be  LIVED.  

At Milano Unica, Première Vision, A Fabric Affair NYC and Feel The Yarn, Bemberg™ partners present their latest developments for Fall/Winter 2026-2027 — a collective journey where smart fiber, design, and craftsmanship converge to redefine the future of premium fashion.

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act (H.R. 2269). The WIPPES Act, which creates national standards for “Do Not Flush” labeling for non-flushable wipes, passed out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in December of 2023, and today it cleared the House floor in a voice vote. The Senate version of the bill (S. 1092) advanced out of the Senate Science, Commerce, and Energy Committee.

This bipartisan legislation is intended to address the growing problem of sewer system clogs caused by improper disposal of consumer wipes that are not intended to be disposed of in toilets. This federal solution is the result of a years-long industry collaboration with wastewater operators, which has resulted in the passage of similar legislation in seven states. The WIPPES Act will create a national standard based on existing state laws to ensure non-flushable wipes will carry prominent “Do Not Flush” labeling on packaging.

“INDA has championed this legislation for the past two years, and we are encouraged to see it pass out of the House for the consecutive Congress. With the Senate Commerce Committee having advanced the Senate version of the bill last month, we now have more momentum behind this legislation than ever. We extend our thanks to the bill sponsors, our industry and wastewater partners, and INDA members as we take another step forward to make “Do Not Flush” labeling nationwide,” said Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs.

The WIPPES Act lead sponsors in the House are Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Representative Kevin Mullin (D-CA), and the bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).

Dr. Roshan Paul, Ph.D., has been awarded with two Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Awards 2025, for his contributions as an Editor of the Cellulose journal on 29 May 2025. 

With the "Editorial Contribution Award", Springer Nature recognises his meticulous assessment of submissions and rigorous management of the peer review process, safeguarding the scientific accuracy of the published record. 

Springer Nature also pays tribute to Dr. Paul with the "Author Service Award", by recognising his exceptional service in improving the author experience and ensuring the peer review process is efficient, constructive and fair. 

Roshan Paul works as Senior Programme Manager and Platform Leader of the Smart Finishing Group at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University.

Dr Ritu Dhand, Chief Scientific Officer at Springer Nature comments:
We are proud to recognise Dr Paul's remarkable contributions through the Editor of Distinction Awards. By rewarding him, we acknowledge the vital role he plays in managing the peer review process. We greatly appreciate the time and expertise he dedicates to helping authors improve their manuscripts. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to the advancement of scientific research.