From the Sector

Order intake was significantly higher than in the previous year at CHF 725.5 million (2023: CHF 541.8 million), representing an increase of 34%. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. An initial market recovery was visible compared with the previous year. As expected, the Rieter Group closed financial year 2024 with lower sales of CHF 859.1 million (2023: CHF 1 418.6 million) and thus remained 39% below the prior year. Despite significantly lower sales, an operating result (EBIT) of CHF 28.0 million (2023: CHF 104.8 million) and thus a solid EBIT margin of 3.3% (2023: 7.4%) was achieved.

Sales by division
The Machines & Systems Division posted sales of CHF 424.9 million, a decrease of 56% compared with the previous year (2023: CHF 965.0 million). In the Components Division, sales declined to CHF 247.6 million, down 7% from the same period of the previous year (2023: CHF 266.2 million). The After Sales Division reported sales of CHF 186.6 million, comparable to the previous year (2023: CHF 187.4 million).

Order backlog
At the end of 2024, the company had an order backlog of about CHF 530 million (December 31, 2023: CHF 650 million).

EBIT, net profit and free cash flow
Profit at the EBIT level in the year under review was CHF 28.0 million (2023: CHF 104.8 million), which represents an EBIT margin of 3.3% (2023: 7.4%). Despite significantly lower sales, a solid EBIT margin was achieved. This is mainly due to the consistent implementation of the measures set out in the “Next Level” performance program. Rieter closed the 2024 financial year with a net profit of CHF 10.4 million (2023: CHF 74.0 million).

Free cash flow amounted to CHF 14.1 million (2023: CHF 118.7 million). Net debt increased due to new lease liabilities in connection with the Campus in Winterthur to CHF 230.3 million (2023: CHF 191.2 million).

The equity ratio as of December 31, 2024, rose to 33.7%, mainly due to positive currency effects and lower net working capital (previous year’s reporting date 28.8%).

Dividend
The Board of Directors proposes to shareholders the distribution of a dividend of CHF 2.00 per share for 2024 based on the positive free cash flow of CHF 14.1 million and the improved equity ratio of 33.7%. This corresponds to a payout ratio of 85.8%.

Sustainability
Rieter has a clearly defined sustainability strategy that is closely linked to the Group strategy. Through the Science Based Targets initiative, Rieter made a commitment in 2024 to define company-wide emission reduction targets for the year 2040, which are consistent with scientifically-based net-zero goals.In the 2024 Annual Report, the report on non-financial matters shows the progress Rieter has made in the areas of environmental, social and corporate governance.

Outlook 2025
Rieter expects a challenging first half in 2025 with regard to sales volume and a stronger second half-year depending on the further market recovery. As a consequence, Rieter anticipates a sales volume at the previous year’s level for the full year 2025. Despite this exceptionally low sales level, Rieter anticipates a positive EBIT margin between 0% to 4% for the year 2025.

At this global gathering, major industry challenges such as digitalization, automation, new regulations, and the circular economy were addressed.

In 2025, Jeanologia celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of innovation in transforming the textile industry. The Spanish company commemorates this milestone with a pioneering event, the NextGen Summit, bringing together for the first time the world’s leading denim manufacturers under one roof. With a significant representation of global production, the summit has served as a platform to inspire, motivate, and empower the next generation of leaders from family-owned businesses in the denim industry, equipping them with the necessary tools to tackle future challenges with a sustainable, technological, and collaborative vision.

Held at Jeanologia’s headquarters in Valencia and other key textile industry locations in Spain, the event has been a pivotal meeting point where future leaders exchanged ideas and knowledge with brands and industry experts. For the first time, the sector’s leading companies gathered to discuss the industry's future, addressing key challenges such as sustainability, digitalization, and automation.

The NextGen Summit program included diverse formats designed to maximize learning and interaction, featuring inspirational talks where industry leaders shared their experience and vision, with a special focus on generational transition; interactive workshops exploring innovative solutions for industry challenges; and open debates fostering dialogue among key players in the sector.

One of the standout moments of the event was the keynote by Bart Sights, Head of Innovation at Levi’s, who inspired attendees with his disruptive vision and industry trajectory. From his early days working alongside his father as a supplier to his current role leading innovation at one of the most influential denim brands, Sights emphasized the importance of bringing bold ideas to the table. His message encouraged participants to embrace change and leverage new technologies to accelerate transformation.

Additionally, a visit to Mango’s headquarters was one of the most emotional and inspiring moments of the program, as it paid tribute to the memory of its founder, Isak Andic. During the visit, Andrés Fernández, Head of Sustainability & Sourcing, shared Mango’s vision, objectives, and action plans for sustainability, sparking a highly enriching discussion for both parties.

An inspiring session was also held at another major Spanish retailer, where participants not only gained insight into its strategic approach and vision for the future of the industry but also engaged in an open debate on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

A collaborative and digital future
Beyond learning, the NextGen Summit has been a catalyst for collaboration, creating a space where the industry can learn, share, and evolve together.
Through this event, young leaders have established lasting relationships and made concrete commitments to advance toward a more responsible and efficient model. The community formed at this summit will continue to stay connected and exchange ideas beyond the event itself, reinforcing Jeanologia’s mission to build a more collaborative and transparent textile ecosystem.

The Jakob Müller Group (JMG), a global leader in narrow fabric machinery, is pushing forward with the implementation of its JMG 2030 strategy. This strategy aims to solidify the company's market leadership, respond more agilely to the dynamic industry landscape, and align even more closely with customer needs. The current measures focus specifically on the company's core competencies and include, among other things, simplified corporate structures, adjustments and expansions of the product portfolio, a new acquisition, and targeted customer initiatives. With this, JMG strengthens its position in the market and lays the foundation for sustainable growth for the long-standing Swiss company.

The Swiss industrial landscape is changing – as is the global textile machinery industry, for which JMG manufactures machines and system solutions. As part of its JMG 2030 strategy, the world's leading machine manufacturer has now presented a series of measures designed to secure its market leadership and enable long-term growth.

JMG is investing specifically in strengthening customer focus and modernizing both its product portfolio and global internal processes. This includes the creation of innovative customer collaboration platforms, the expansion of the product portfolio in the volume segment, the optimization of the service offering, as well as the simplification of corporate and management structures.

Focus on core competencies and operational excellence
As part of its strategic realignment, JMG will increasingly focus on its core segments of Weaving, Label Production Systems, Warp Crochet Knitting, as well as Dyeing and Finishing. At the same time, the Winding & Making-up and Warping Systems segments at the JMG site in Schwelm, Germany, will be discontinued, with essential technologies and products being transferred to other areas. In addition, the Finishing segment will be relocated from Kadan, Czech Republic, to JMG’s sister company Benninger in Pune, India. These measures will lead to structural adjustments at the locations in Germany and the Czech Republic, where production will be gradually reduced.

"Even though these decisions were not easy for us, they are necessary to secure the future viability of the Jakob Müller Group. Our resources must be specifically directed where we see the greatest growth potential," says owner Stephan Bühler. Andreas Conzelmann, CEO of JMG, adds: "By focusing on our core segments, we are strengthening our innovative power and competitiveness – and ensuring that we can continue to offer our customers the best solutions in the future."

Unifying JMG’s brand identity and strengthening the global market position
COMEZ, the leading manufacturer of crochet and warp knitting machines in Italy, will be fully integrated into JMG and will operate under the name Jakob Müller Italy in the future. With investments in research and development – including the acquisition of MEI International, a renowned Italian manufacturer of label weaving machines – JMG will drive next-generation solutions and expand its product portfolio to include innovative air-jet technology. Further information regarding the acquisition of MEI will be provided in a separate announcement.

New Customer Center and Lab1887
Creating outstanding customer experiences is at the heart of the JMG 2030 strategy. The strategic investments in innovation and operational excellence enable JMG to offer state-of-the-art solutions, faster turnaround times, and an enhanced customer experience. A key element of this customer-centric approach is the opening of the new Customer Center and of the LAB1887 in Frick, Switzerland, in late summer 2025. This innovation factory serves as a development center where customers, together with JMG, can explore new technologies and develop novel applications for narrow fabrics.

At the recent Dhaka International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition (DTG), Jeanologia showcased its integrated ecosystem of technologies designed to drive automation, efficiency, and sustainability across the entire denim production process.

Jeanologia, a global leader in the development of sustainable technologies for the textile industry, wants to reinforcing Bangladesh’s position as the world’s leading denim manufacturer by offering cutting-edge solutions that transform the industry from fabric treatment to garment finishing.

With over 20 years of presence in Bangladesh, Jeanologia continues to be a strategic partner for the country’s leading manufacturers, supporting them in their transition toward a more eco-efficient and competitive industry. By integrating its fabric-to-garment finishing solutions, the company is accelerating the shift towards a new era of digital and sustainable denim production.

Since its founding, Jeanologia has been on a mission to transform the textile industry into a more ethical, sustainable, and efficient model. The company works closely with brands, retailers, and suppliers on this transformative journey, offering disruptive technologies, innovative software, and a new operational model. Their groundbreaking solutions, including laser technology, G2 ozone, Dancing Box, e-flow, H2Zero, and ColorBox, have redefinedgarment design and finishing standards, eliminating polluting processes and significantly reducing the use of water, energy, and chemicals. Thanks to these advancements, Jeanologia has saved millions of liters of water and eliminated harmful substances, turning its vision of a truly sustainable textile industry into reality.

G2 Dynamic: Fabric finishing
Jeanologia’s G2 Dynamic technology is revolutionizing fabric treatment and garment finishing by replacing highly polluting conventional processes with an eco-efficient ozone-based alternative. This solution significantly reduces the environmental impact of denim manufacturing by cutting water and chemical consumption by up to 95% and energy use by 80%.

Automated, digital, and sustainable garment finishing
Beyond fabric treatment, Jeanologia provides advanced garment finishing solutions that integrate automation, digitalization, and sustainability. These include Laser technology, a fully digital and automated system that replaces traditional manual and chemical-intensive processes, increasing precision and creativity while reducing environmental impact; G2 Indra, based on Airwash technology, this eco-efficient solution achieves authentic vintage and aged denim looks without using water or chemicals, reducing environmental impact while maintaining fabric integrity; e-Flow, a nanobubble technology that applies chemicals using minimal water, drastically reducing waste, and improving fabric performance; and H2 Zero, a water recycling system that enables zero discharge in the finishing process, making garment production more sustainable and resource-efficient.

“Our goal is to transform the denim industry by offering an end-to-end solution that enables a more responsible, automated, and sustainable production model. Bangladesh plays a key role in this transformation, and our technologies support the country’s leadership in the global market,” said Jean Pierre Inchauspe, Jeanologia’s Business Director in Asia.

Jakob Müller Group (JMG), a leader in narrow fabric weaving machinery, acquired 100% of the shares of MEI International, effective January 1, 2025. With a history spanning over 50 years, MEI is a renowned Italian manufacturer of wide label weaving machines. This strategic acquisition combines the strengths of two industry pioneers, creating a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for woven label production.

JMG, known for its high-quality rapier and air-jet weaving machines, expands its offerings with MEI’s specialized air-jet technology and broad product range. As part of this integration, JMG will discontinue its Müjet air-jet weaving machine, fully endorsing MEI's advanced air-jet technology, which will continue to be strengthened thanks to the mutual cooperation.

MEI will continue to operate as an independent company, retaining its location in Gallarate, Italy, with Paolo Mazzucchelli remaining as CEO. Both brands will maintain their separate market presence, leveraging their individual strengths to serve customers in a demanding market environment.

Key benefits of the acquisition:

• Comprehensive product portfolio: Customers gain access to a wider range of label weaving machines, catering to diverse production needs.
• Enhanced innovation: The combined expertise of JMG and MEI will accelerate the development of new products and services.
• Stronger financial foundation: The acquisition reinforces the financial strength of both companies, enabling increased investment in innovation and customer support.
• Continued customer focus: Existing sales and service structures of both companies will remain in place, ensuring continuity for customers.

“This acquisition is a significant step forward in our JMG 2030 strategy,” said Andreas Conzelmann, CEO of Jakob Müller Group. “I really appreciate the entire MEI team for their values, attitude, and spirit. Together, we can offer our customers an outstanding range of solutions and services, while continuing to provide the highest quality, productivity, and reliability they expect from both JMG and MEI.”

Paolo Mazzucchelli, CEO of MEI, added, “Joining forces with JMG is an exciting opportunity for MEI. This alliance will enable us to develop new products and services more quickly and professionally, ultimately benefiting our customers’ growth. We are committed to maintaining our separate sales forces to preserve the long-standing relationships we have built with our customers.”

Garment Tech Istanbul 2025, the comprehensive exhibition of the garment and ready-to-wear sector, will host global brands of sewing machines and the latest technologies. Manufacturers including Juki, Yuki, Brother, Dürkopp Adler, Pfaff Industrial, Pegasus, Siruba will exhibit hundreds of types of sewing machines such as industrial and household, automatic, zigzag, chain, overlock and interlock at Garment Tech Istanbul 2025.

During the 4-day exhibition, visitors will be able to experience the functionality of different sewing machines equipped with innovative designs, high efficiency and user-friendly features, get information from experts and discover industry trends.

Sewing Machine Sales to Gain Momentum
As of January-June 2024, Turkiye's sewing machine exports increased by 10.15% to USD 1.608 billion. Among these, the export volume of industrial sewing machines reached 2.28 million units. Among the largest markets, India, Vietnam, Pakistan and Brazil stand out, with exports to Pakistan in particular showing a huge increase of 160.46%. Turkiye's exports in Asia, Latin America and Africa showed strong growth, while its markets in Europe and North America declined slightly. Garment Tech Istanbul will significantly contribute to strengthening sales and international exports by increasing interest in Turkiye's sewing machinery sector.
The Garment Tech Istanbul; Garment, Embroidery Machines Spare Parts and Sub-Industry Exhibition, which will be held at the Istanbul Fair Center (IFM) between June 25-28, will increase interest in Turkiye's sewing machines sector and make a significant contribution to the strengthening of sales and international exports. Participating companies will have the opportunity to start new collaborations as well as increase brand awareness.

The sewing machine sector has evolved rapidly in recent years with many technological innovations. Digital and smart machines allow users to easily select sewing patterns, and adjust speed settings and automatic thread insertion, while automated sewing functions make things faster and more error-free. Automation systems in industrial machines make production processes more efficient. While machines run quieter thanks to electric motors, IoT technology enables remote monitoring of machines and more efficient management of maintenance processes.

The exhibition, where local and foreign manufacturers focusing on R&D and innovation will meet global buyers, will host industry professionals looking to implement new technologies and direct their investments. Company managers who want to produce flawless garments quickly and cost-effectively, increase their capacity and expand their machinery will be able to experience many sewing machine functions and direct their investments at Garment Tech Istanbul Exhibition.

Avgol, an Indorama Ventures company, celebrated the opening of its new high-speed, high-capacity flexible multiple beam nonwovens production line at its facility in Mocksville, NC. It represents the successful realization of a $100 million investment.

In addition to the new production line and as part of the investment, Avgol has installed a state-of-the-art 3-layer lamination line that further expands the company’s nonwoven composite capabilities. Engineered with precision temperature controls, high-speed bonding technology, and an integrated quality inspection system, this advanced machine efficiently fuses three layers to produce lightweight, durable composites with exceptional strength and consistency. Designed to meet the highest quality and performance standards, it reinforces Avgol's commitment to delivering top-tier products and setting new industry benchmarks in nonwoven composite manufacturing.

The inauguration of the new nonwovens production line and beginning to run commercial products is a pivotal step in Avgol’s strategic roadmap, setting the stage for advanced manufacturing capabilities and enhanced production efficiency.

Key highlights of the new production line include:

• Technology: The new line integrates the latest Reicofil manufacturing technology with bico capabilities, ensuring precision, speed, and superior quality control.
• Capacity: With enhanced high-loft production capabilities, Avgol is now better equipped to meet current and future market demands for hygiene products.
• Sustainability: Emphasizing environmental responsibility, the new facility integrates energy-efficient systems, reduced waste protocols, and innovative processes for manufacturing lightweight products.

Over the past 30 years, Monforts and its long-standing partner, Bengal Technology and Engineering, have realised over 100 fully integrated line installations in Bangladesh.

At the forthcoming Dhaka International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition (DTG), specialists will be on hand to provide expert advice on the wide range of services that are being provided by Monforts to the region’s dyeing and finishing sector.

The DTG takes place at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka from February 20-23 and will showcase the technologies of over 1,000 textile machinery brands and suppliers from 31 countries across its nine halls.

The successful 30-year partnership between Monforts and Bengal Technology and Engineering in Bangladesh has grown in parallel to the rapid rise of the nation’s textiles and apparel sector – from just a handful of manufacturers to over 6,000 factories today – and in particular, its growth into the world’s second largest exporter of readymade garments (RMGs).

Hoping to build on this success, the Bangladesh government has now initiated plans to achieve exports of RMGs worth $50 billion by as early as this year – and approaching $100 billion by 2030.

To realise this, however, the reinforcement of a textile manufacturing backbone will become increasingly crucial, and Monforts contributes to ensuring the Bangladesh industry continues to grow sustainably.

Monforts has completed the installation of a Baldwin TexCoat™ G4 digital spray unit at its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Mönchengladbach, Germany.

It has been successfully integrated into one of the two full-size Montex stenter lines at the ATC and is now available for full customer trials, especially for making full use of the latest advanced sustainable finishing chemistries supplied by Archroma.

BW Converting’s TexCoat G4 enables softeners, antimicrobials, durable water repellents, flame retardants and many other water-based chemicals to be precisely applied to textile surfaces, and in combination with industry-leading Montex stenters can reduce water, chemistry and energy consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional pad application processes.

Monforts is providing vital support to dyeing and finishing manufacturers in their development projects, successfully boosting the quality and performance of many new finished products while at the same time maximising productivity and resource utilisation

“Our ATC houses two full Montex stenter finishing lines engineered to accommodate an extremely diverse range of processes, in addition to a Thermex range for the continuous dyeing of denim and other woven fabrics, a full color kitchen and a number of lab-scale systems for smaller batch trials,” says Monforts Head of Sales for South-East Asia Hans Wroblowski. “It enables our customers to test their own textiles and technical fabrics under fully confidential, real production conditions and using the results from these trials we are also able to make recommendations for improving many fabric finishes.

“The new TexCoat installation will make an important contribution to what we can achieve and we are excited to be working together with Archroma and Baldwin to bring further transformative change to the dyeing and finishing space.”

“This partnership is already creating a buzz in the industry and we have several textile manufacturers lining up to take advantage of running production trials at the ATC,” adds Rick Stanford, vice-president of global business development for textiles at BW Converting. “Together we are in a position as never before to accelerate the pace of transformative change in the dyeing and finishing space that will result in significantly lower energy, chemicals and water consumption with increased productivity and higher quality.”

“With the extension of our long-standing partnership with Baldwin – now including the processing expertise and knowhow of Monforts – the development of new concepts for chemical functionalisation and coloration will be taken a step further,” says Michael Schuhmann, Global Market Segment Manager for Technical Textiles at Archroma Textile Effects. “Additionally, we can now demonstrate potential savings and performance levels under actual industrial conditions, providing mill partners with clear proof of efficiency without disrupting their production.”

Japanese computerized flat knitting technologist SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Indian sales representative Universal MEP Projects & Engineering Services, Ltd., will participate in the upcoming Garments Machinery Manufacturers & Suppliers Association (GMMSA) Expo India 2025 exhibition to be held in Ludhiana, India next month.

N.SVR®183
SHIMA SEIKI will be exhibiting its WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology whereby an item can be produced in one entire piece on the machine without linking or sewing. Its N.SVR®183 WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine produces WHOLEGARMENT® knitwear using every other needle in fine gauge. N.SVR®183 is equipped with the R2CARRIAGE® system and a compact, lightweight carriage for high productivity. Shown in 21G at the GMMSA Expo, N.SVR®183 is an ideal machine for flexible, entry-level WHOLEGARMENT® production, with the versatility to respond to fluctuating market demand.

N.SSR®112
Meanwhile the N.SSR®112 is a computerized flat knitting machine that offers leading technology in an economical yet reliable package. Featuring industry-leading innovations such as the R2CARRIAGE® that yields quicker carriage returns for greater efficiency, spring-type moveable sinker, DSCS® Digital Stitch Control System, stitch presser and takedown comb, Made-in-Japan quality, reliability and productivity, as well as user-friendliness and cost-performance combine to satisfy the high expectations of the world’s, and India’s, fashion industry. N.SSR®112 is even capable of WideGauge® knitting whereby a number of different gauges can be knit into a single garment.

SDS®-ONE APEX4 and APEXFiz®
SDS®-ONE APEX4 3D design system and APEXFiz® subscription-based design software support the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual samples are a digitized version of sample making that are accurate enough to be used effectively as prototypes, replacing physical sampling and consequently reducing time, cost and material that otherwise go to waste. When a design is approved for production, knitting data which is automatically generated can be converted easily to machine data, allowing smooth communication for digitally bridging the gap between design studio and factory. SDS®-ONE APEX4 and APEXFiz® help to realize sustainability while digitally transforming the fashion supply chain.