From the Sector

As a leader in colour measurement and management solutions, Verivide will showcase its latest DigiEye imaging system at the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in Singapore from October 28-31.

This benefits from 100% LED illumination, improving the accuracy of colour assessments while supporting environmentally responsible practices in colour management.

Designed for efficiency and reliability, the DigiEye includes integrated dust filtration and a fully enclosed camera for added security. 

Unlike its predecessor, the new DigiEye no longer requires annual fluorescent lamp changes, thanks to its 100% LED light source. The system also includes software-integrated lighting controls and lighting geometry checking, enhancing its precision and ease of use. Additionally, it now has the ability to auto-capture images upon door closure, making it ideal for imaging multiple samples quickly and efficiently.

The new DigiEye offers significant upgrades, including a 67% larger imaging area and a 112% larger measurement area. Its drawer load rating has increased by 55%, and the LED light source lasts ten time longer than before. 

As part of the VeriVide ecosystem, the DigiEye integrates seamlessly with UltraView, VisionView and the VeriVide Portal, offering a comprehensive solution for all colour management needs. 

Abrasion and pilling testing 
Martindale testing needs little introduction to textile manufacturers, being well established as the industry standard for abrasion and pilling testing since its initial development and introduction by James Heal back in the 1940s.

For 2025, however, James Heal’s development team have taken a fresh look at this classic instrument and the result is the new Martindale Motion.
This redesigned nine-station Martindale instrument with individual lifting heads now offers the flexibility to run each station independently for carrying out different textile tests simultaneously.

Multiple textiles can be tested at the same time through to conclusion without intervention. Once set up, the Martindale Motion can be left running with the sample holders automatically lifting at the required evaluation points, freeing up the operator’s time to do other work without the need to return until the abrasion or pilling test is fully completed, including overnight.

Each sample is kept in-tact at the end point for evaluation and checking, reducing queries on grading and the potential need for re-testing. Further refinements include a new hinged access to change the self-aligning drive pins, allowing quick and safe switching between tests.

Designed and manufactured in the UK, the James Heal Martindale range has seen numerous updates, models and innovations over the years, such as touchscreen and user-friendly software, best-in-class safety features combined with the signature near silent running of this staple lab instrument. Added to this have been the introduction of the DurAbrasion multi-function testing machine, later followed by the market-leading evolution, the AquAbrasion wet abrasion tester launched in 2019.

The Martindale Motion, however, is now taking productivity and efficiency to a higher level than ever before.

Radio frequency drying
Total control of textile drying is meanwhile enabled with the advanced radio freqency (RF) technology of Strayfield, which has over 4,000 installations worldwide and provides solutions tailored to diverse textile applications such as cotton, wool, polyester, nylon, silk, acrylic and speciality blends.

Strayfield technology enables consistent quality, superior output and sustainability benefits through gentle and uniform drying, ensuring even results and moisture removal across entire batches and preserving fibre integrity, colour vibrancy and softness without yellowing or shrinkage.
Adaptive electrodes regulate power delivery according to product height and moisture, maximising efficiency and eliminating energy waste and unlike conventional rod systems, Strayfield’s full-area plates deliver consistent energy density for gentle drying without hotspots.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemicals company, reinforced its commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship by sponsoring the 12th Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition (LKYGBPC), hosted by Singapore Management University (SMU). 

The LKYGBPC, Asia’s largest university startup challenge focused on urban solutions and sustainability, drew more than 1,500 applications from six continents, with 57 finalists competing at the Grand Finals Week in Singapore. Ms. Catia Cesari, Managing Partner of Volta Circle, represented Indorama Ventures on the judging panel. Volta Circle, an investment platform within the Lohia single-family office, supports early-stage ventures driving innovation in green chemicals, advanced recycling, and waste management value chain. While operating independently, its mission complements Indorama Ventures’ broader sustainability strategy. 

Indorama Ventures also presented the “Future of Sustainable Materials Award”, recognizing university ventures with outstanding achievements in advanced fibers and polymers, bio-based feedstocks, advanced recycling, and circular economy solutions. The award supports early-stage startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or higher, with prizes of S$50,000 in the Beta track and S$75,000 in the Infinity track. Winners were evaluated on scientific merit, scalability, industrial validation potential, and impact on urban infrastructure and manufacturing. 

This year, Indorama Ventures recommended six finalists with innovations spanning AI-enabled materials discovery, low-emissions chemical scale-up, and bio-fabricated alternatives for hard-to-abate sectors. The winners of Indorama Ventures’ Future of Sustainable Materials Award were “Synmetabio”- a Shanghai-based biomaterial startup developing high performance biobased leather solutions (awarded S$75,000), and “Micromelt” – a UK-based deep tech startup who is advancing green closed-loop solutions for mixed plastics with microwave technology (awarded S$50,000). 

Mr. Yash Lohia, Executive President of Petchem and Chairman of the ESG Council, said, “At Indorama Ventures, sustainability drives our innovation strategy. We collaborate with startups to develop recycling technologies and bio-based materials that can scale from lab to industry, supporting the transition to a more circular economy. We recognize that startups hold the key to breakthrough solutions that provide a competitive edge. Through initiatives like the LKYGBPC, we connect entrepreneurial talent with our global platform to accelerate solutions that create long-term value for society and our business.” 

At the Grand Finals Week Dr. Anthony Watanabe, Chief Sustainability Officer at Indorama Ventures, joined CSO Conversations to explore how businesses can build climate resilience, harness digital governance, and mobilize capital for impact. He shared valuable insights on Indorama Ventures’ investments in advanced PET recycling, innovation process, bio-based feedstocks, and ESG achievements with prominent sustainability leaders during the roundtable discussions. 

SMU’s partnership with Indorama Ventures reflects a shared belief that scaling university-led innovation is essential to accelerate sustainability and circularity across borders. Through mentorship, funding, and ecosystem-building, Indorama Ventures continues to shape a future where materials are more innovative, more circular, and more sustainable.

FET is launching the FET-500 Series of gel spinning systems in a move that could revolutionise the research and development of UHMWPE fibres.

Fibre Extrusion Technology Ltd (FET) of Leeds, UK, has built a reputation in medical fibre extrusion technology and innovations, designing and delivering high-performance equipment for a range of precursor medical products, including bespoke extrusion systems for the production of both resorbable and non-absorbable sutures. FET’s equipment supports small-scale, adaptable production and rapid new product development.       

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for R&D of UHMWPE fibres. These fibres are prized in many industries due to their extraordinary properties. However, current production processes are complex and focused on the large-scale output of existing fibre grades. This rigid supply chain has stifled innovation in this untapped product market.

The FET-500 gel spinning systems will address this gap in the market. The FET-500 enables a flexible and consistent process, able to produce quality fibres with less than 100 grams of polymer, while avoiding the harsh processing chemicals that were historically associated with gel spinning. The key to unlocking this lab and pilot scale flexibility is the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a green solvent in a patent-pending process.

Gel spinning starts with extrusion, but the additional washing and drawing technology to produce finished yarn is critical to the overall performance characteristics. An example of the wide range of features and benefits can be shown in the Washing process, with Patent Pending technology using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide:

Extract carrier oil without using toxic, environmentally harmful chemicals such as Hexane and DCM.

• CO2 is green, cheap, abundant, and significantly safer to work with
• CO2 efficiently dissolves carrier oils without affecting the polymer yarn

Reduced operational costs

• 9-Vast reduction in solvent use (CO2 vs Hexane/DCM)
• Comprehensive oil recovery and recycling
• Zero solvent waste is generated, unlike the hexane route

Compact and efficient batch washing system

• Recipe controlled plug and play technology
• Scalable and adjustable to customer needs
• Carrier oil is recovered and fed back to the extrusion process
• 80% reduction in factory footprint vs hexane route

FET’s Fibre Development Centre is critical to the inception and success of the FET-500. Having this facility located in Leeds where the manufacturing takes place allows FET to offer a gateway to de-risk, develop and demonstrate the system’s capabilities. FET houses a full demonstration line of the FET-500 to allow customers, existing and new, to visit and experience the system operating from start to finish. They can also aid in developing new products and operating parameters through R&D trials, giving customers the confidence and knowledge to transfer a new product offering onto a production line.

By digitalising their supply chains, start-up Labwear Studios is able to manufacture fashion labels and garments in small quantities, thereby helping to combat overproduction in the fashion industry.

With as many as one in three garments left unsold on the peg, the fashion industry has a major sustainability issue. One reason is that clothing manufacturers often stipulate large minimum order quantities. While this enables them to reduce their unit costs, the result is overproduction and tons of waste.

Start-up Labwear Studios has found a better way to trim costs. “We’ve digitalised the old, inefficient supply chain,” explains ETH electrical engineer Michael Mangold, who founded the start-up together with Nicolas Schierle and Samuel Thoma. The three entrepreneurs have set up an online manufacturing platform where fashion labels can configure and commission production of their latest creations and then track each stage of the order process. The platform connects all the parties involved, streamlining supply chain logistics from initial design to finished garment. Thanks to digitalisation, Labwear Studios can produce clothing in quantities as small as 50 units and with a lead time of just six weeks.

The idea for the start-up was hatched at the Student Project House, a creative thinkspace and makerspace for ETH students. “The coaching and the community there showed me that being successful is much easier than you might think,” says company founder Mangold. 

Heberlein, a leading supplier of air interlacing and air texturing jets, aims to impress visitors at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025. Novel solutions will be presented, which will allow filament yarn producers to achieve special quality specifications and process optimization. These latest developments combine the most sophisticated technology with user convenience and savings potential. 

Data in the ‘Fibre Year 2024’ report confirms that synthetic fibres continue to outpace natural fibres, growing by 8.4% against 2.7% – and this upward trend is expected to continue. Man-made fibre hubs such as China (+8.8%) and India (+7.7%), and also Vietnam (+8.9%) show significant growth. Looking at the development of different synthetic materials, polyamide stands out, with a notable increase of 4.1%, underscoring its promising future. In the forefront of these developments are Swiss-made key components from Heberlein, delivering cutting-edge technology that powers quality and efficiency in polyamide yarn production.

DTY jets for demanding spinners and yarns 
Launched at ITMA 2023, the Heberlein APe series was expanded with new types of jets. The two additional jets are particularly suitable for polyamide with fine titers.

This DTY jet series sets new standards in yarn processing. Developed for the efficient processing of fine polyamide yarns with a particularly high number of knots (FP/m), the successful APe series is renowned for its unique performance of more than 200 knots per metre. Despite its outstanding performance, it is the smallest jet in its class – fitting anywhere and best suited wherever air savings and optimized production efficiency are required.

The APe series is also attracting interest from market players striving for sustainable production through various measures. Its capability for equal knot performance with reduced energy consumption delivers sustainability without compromise.

Air splicing: maximum control and minimum effort
Yarn splicers produce a tear-resistant, homogeneous splice of material without knots. All they need is compressed air. Heberlein's AirSplicers produce first-class splices for a wide range of applications for technical fibers where extreme strength characteristics are needed.

The new AirSplicer-Basix was designed for technical yarns – including aramid, glass, and carbon. The splicer offers maximum control and user-friendly operation. 

The sophisticated blow chamber design makes it easy to insert, splice and remove the yarn without any additional manual steps or the need for the user to activate further mechanisms.

The design of the AirSplicer-Basix is reduced to the essentials. Still, it performs convincingly and offers flexibility as one or more connection points can be created, depending on the material used and the desired splice strength.