From the Sector

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation. 

With a degree in Production Polymer Engineering from the University of Minho, Mario Jorge Machado brings extensive industrial experience and a strong commitment to innovation, competitiveness and sustainable transformation. 

Upon his re-election, Mario Jorge Machado said:
“My priority for this new mandate is clear: to strengthen the competitiveness of our industry, ensure that the same rules apply to all products sold in Europe, and support our companies through the green and digital transition. Europe must decarbonise its industry, not deindustrialise it.” 

Three priorities for the new mandate

1. Competitiveness as the foundation
Mario Jorge Machado has made clear that competitiveness must be the starting point for any successful industrial policy. In his recent Brussels address, he stressed that without competitiveness there can be no investment, no innovation, no sustainability and no strategic autonomy. He will therefore continue to push for a stronger business environment for textile companies, with support for investment in automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, skills and innovation, especially for SMEs. 

2. A genuine level playing field
A second key priority is to ensure that the same rules apply to everything sold in Europe, not only to what is made in Europe. Mario Jorge Machado has repeatedly called for stronger market surveillance, better border enforcement and more effective control of imports sold through digital platforms, so that European companies are not put at a disadvantage against products that bypass EU safety, environmental and consumer rules. EURATEX will continue to advocate for equal enforcement, fair competition and a market where compliance is rewarded. 

3. Supporting industry through the transition
Mario Jorge Machado also wants to ensure that the green and digital transition strengthens European industry rather than weakening it. He has underlined that sustainability must become a source of competitiveness, not a burden, and that companies need realistic rules, affordable energy, workable implementation and targeted support to adapt successfully. He has also stressed the importance of stimulating demand for sustainable European-made textiles, including through public procurement and transparency tools that are feasible for companies. 

Presidency Team
The General Assembly also confirmed the composition of the EURATEX Presidency Team, which will support the President in steering the organisation’s strategic direction:

• Mr. Franz Peter Falke, T+M, Germany
• Ms. Barbara Cimmino, Confindustria Moda, Italy
• Mr. Ismail Kolunsag, IHKIB, Türkiye 
• Mr. Grégory Marchand, UIT, France 

The project valorises single-use auxiliary waste such as vacuum bags, films and technical fabrics for applications in the automotive, technical textile and urban furniture sectors.

The companies Solteco, Birziplastik, Faperin and Industrias Alegre, together with the technology centres AIMPLAS, Eurecat, Tecnalia and Leartiker, are participating in this research initiative funded by CDTI and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The composite materials industry has experienced significant growth in sectors such as aerospace, railway, naval and renewable energy, thanks to its ability to provide lightweight, strong and durable solutions. However, these processes generate substantial amounts of plastic waste, especially single-use auxiliary materials such as vacuum bags, release films and absorbent fabrics. These materials are essential to ensure the quality of manufacturing processes, but after use they usually end up in landfill or are incinerated due to the difficulty of recycling them.

The IMPLICIT project addresses this challenge through the development of multimodal recycling strategies that combine mechanical, physical and chemical technologies to recover these materials with the highest possible purity and enable their industrial reuse. The aim is to generate new recycled raw materials that can be used in high value-added applications, such as automotive components, technical textiles and urban furniture elements.

Funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology and Innovation (CDTI), with the support of European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding, IMPLICIT proposes a paradigm shift by transforming this waste into new resources, in line with European circular economy goals.

The initiative brings together a consortium of eight entities representing different links in the plastics value chain. Participating companies include Solteco (project leader), Birziplastik, Faperin and Industrias Alegre, together with the technology centres AIMPLAS (technical leader), Eurecat, Tecnalia and Leartiker. In addition, the project has been promoted thanks to AEMAC, the Spanish Composite Materials Association, and Airbus, which collaborates as a strategic partner by providing real waste generated from aerospace manufacturing processes.

Pau Manclús, Chemical Recycling Researcher at AIMPLAS, stated that “IMPLICIT represents a decisive step towards sustainability in the composites industry by addressing the recycling of auxiliary materials, which have historically been excluded from valorisation strategies. Thanks to collaboration between companies, technology centres and industry associations, the project demonstrates that it is possible to transform complex waste into useful resources, closing the life cycle of these materials and helping to reduce the environmental impact of key industrial sectors.”

This collaboration makes it possible to tackle the challenge from a comprehensive perspective, from waste collection and treatment to the validation of new products in real applications, thus addressing one of the industry’s main environmental challenges: the management of difficult-to-recycle waste.

Industrial Validation and New Market Opportunities
One of the project’s key pillars is the validation of recycled materials through real industrial demonstrators. In this regard, the recovered materials will be transformed into new products such as technical automotive parts, profiles for urban furniture and multifilaments for technical textiles.

Furthermore, the project envisages the creation of new business opportunities linked to advanced recycling and sustainable manufacturing, thereby helping to strengthen industrial competitiveness.

From a technical perspective, IMPLICIT develops a multimodal recycling approach for materials mainly manufactured with thermoplastic polymers such as PA, PET, PE and PP. This approach integrates mechanical recycling processes (shredding, separation and extrusion), physical recycling based on selective dissolution, and chemical recycling technologies such as solvolysis to remove thermoset resins and recover high-value monomers and oligomers.

The project also addresses key challenges such as waste heterogeneity and resin contamination through advanced decontamination, compounding and additive formulation processes aimed at improving the mechanical properties of recycled materials and ensuring their industrial viability.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analyses will make it possible to evaluate the environmental, economic and functional impact of the developed solutions, facilitating decision-making based on sustainability criteria.

IMPLICIT, reference number CPP2023-010867, is funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology and Innovation (CDTI), as well as by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the 2024 public-private collaboration projects programme.

In the production of technical textiles, customised products in small batches with ever-shorter life cycles represent an ongoing trend. In order to contribute to the development and production of such future products, one must not only possess production expertise but also a reliable, stable, and transparent production chain. Small and medium-sized manufacturers also face similar requirements in terms of tracking and tracing. At STFI, research was conducted into how a tracking and tracing system should best be designed for adaptable processes with flexible, order-based staff and machine allocation, for both modern and existing machinery, and how this can be adapted. 

Based on this research, the researchers developed a tracking and tracing assistance system utilising technologies from the fields of the Industrial Internet of Things, mobile computing, wireless communication and graphical low-code programming. This was built upon existing, established open-source software technologies. The aim of the research project was to support the manufacture of textiles and semi-finished textile products through a flexible, adaptive tracking and tracing assistance system for order management. 

The assistance system enables automated production registration via radio-based personnel and optical machine registration. In addition to structured user guidance during familiarisation with new process steps, order picking can be precisely tracked using a scanning glove and location technology. Material detection at the manufacturing workstation is also camera-based, combined with sensor-based and smartphone-supported process monitoring. Furthermore, the underlying model-based low-code technology ensures flexible adaptability of the entire system. 

Together with other development highlights from the STFI, the research project “Adaptive Tracking and Tracing System” was selected as a successful collaboration – Implemented with the company update texware GmbH, Kulmbach – and will be presented at the BMWE’s Innovationstag Mittelstand. 

The nonwovens industry has officially crowned its new winners. Today at the opening of INDEX™ 2026, five companies were honoured with the INDEX™ Awards, the industry’s highest accolade for technical excellence and forward-thinking design. 

From high-speed machinery to breakthroughs in molecular chemistry, this year's winners were selected for their ability to merge top-tier performance with the urgent requirements of a circular economy. 

Category: Nonwoven roll goods 
Winner: Lenzing - LENZING™ Dualwipe 
LENZING™ Dualwipe is a high-performance cleaning wipe crafted from regenerated cellulose using LENZING™ Nonwovens Technology. Its innovative dual-surface design integrates abrasion and absorbency in a single material, enabling efficient cleaning without relying on fossil-based synthetic materials, binders, or chemical additives. One side features a mechanically active surface for scrubbing away dirt, grease, and residues, while the other offers a soft, highly absorbent surface for liquid uptake and surface finishing. Designed for industrial, professional, and household applications, LENZING™ Dualwipe is compatible with existing converting and processing infrastructure, facilitating rapid adoption. 

Category: Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens - Single-use application 
Corman - Organyc brand "Personalized Protection" Light Incontinence Pads 
Corman’s new light incontinence pads deliver personalized protection through three key innovations. The Smart-Cotton™ cover with a citric acid buffer maintains an ideal skin pH of 5.5, reducing irritation. The patented Cotton-Balanced Absorbent Core channels liquid to superabsorbent polymers that lock in moisture and expand toward the body for superior leak protection. Natural odor control uses an organic ingredient to bind ammonia and slow odor formation, eliminating odor instead of masking it. Clinically proven, the pads address the three main concerns of light incontinence: leaks, odor, and skin irritation.

Category: Finished products made from, or incorporating nonwovens - Durable application 
Winner: Confitex Technology - Reusable Nonwoven Bed Pads 
This new Confitex technology has enabled the world’s first machine-washable and tumble-dryable nonwoven bed pads, opening a significant new application for nonwoven materials. Using a proprietary fibre-stabilisation bonding technique, the innovation allows absorbent nonwoven structures to withstand more than 30 machine wash and tumble-dry cycles while maintaining performance. The fully nonwoven construction combines a fast-wicking top sheet with a highly absorbent core capable of holding over two litres of liquid. In addition, a bonded frame structure prevents leakage across the entire surface, including the edges, addressing a common weakness of stitched textile bed pads. 

Category: Raw materials or components (e.g.polymer,fibre, binder, film, tape) of special relevance to the nonwovens and related converted products industry 
Winner: Bostik - Kizen™ Miles 9.0 
Bostik - Kizen™ Miles 9.0 Bostik’s latest innovation, Kizen™ Miles 9.0, is the first adhesive designed for disposable hygiene article construction, that offers the unique feature of debonding on demand: when exposed to a specific chemical key, combined with controlled temperature and mechanical stress, the adhesive allows clean, rapid separation of plastic components in minutes. This process keeps the adhesive material on the substrate, preventing contamination for cleaner, more efficient hygiene article recycling. But during the lifetime of the hygiene article, this new material, based on up to 75% renewable materials, delivers exceptional bonding across a wide range of substrates—including PP, PE, and PLA—while maintaining stable performance over time and under wet conditions. 

Category: Innovation in machinery of special relevance to the nonwovens industry 
Winner: ZUIKO – Recloseable Baby Diaper Converting Machine 
ZUIKO - Converting machine for recloseable baby diapers 
ZUIKO has developed a converting line to produce adjustable pull on pant diapers that address the challenge of achieving a secure fit around a baby’s waist and legs while maintaining softness and stretchability. The design of such a diaper combines the adjustability of open diapers with the stretch characteristics of pant diapers. Unlike conventional pant diapers, which are processed symmetrically, ZUIKO’s recloseable diapers are asymmetric, requiring a precise, glue-less attachment process during folding. Central to the production is ZUIKO’s patented “Stretch Re-pitch Drum™,” which regulates elastic tension and product spacing, allowing panel folding in line with the machine’s flow. This system enables the production of over 700 diapers per minute without the need for multiple folding units.

• Pidigi S.p.A. of Verona and a German subsidiary acquire key assets of Sympatex by way of an asset deal  
• 21 jobs and all four apprenticeship positions will be retained at the Unterföhring site 
• Transaction creates significant operational and economic synergies 

In the insolvency proceedings concerning the assets of the Munich-based textile company Sympatex Technologies GmbH, insolvency administrator Axel W. Bierbach of the law firm Müller-Heydenreich Bierbach & Kollegen (Munich) has found a viable solution for the continuation of business operations. The operating business is to be taken over by Pidigi S.p.A. of Verona by way of an asset deal effective June 1, 2026. Pidigi is an owner-managed, internationally active Italian supplier and innovation partner to the footwear, leather goods, and apparel industries, with a market presence spanning more than 70 years. Pidigi develops and markets high-quality materials and sustainable components for industrial applications.  

As part of the asset deal, Pidigi and a German subsidiary are acquiring the core assets of Sympatex and intend to continue business operations under the Sympatex brand. At the Unterföhring site near Munich, 21 jobs and the apprenticeships of all four trainees will be retained. The international locations in France, China, and Hong Kong, as well as the Korean sales office, are also to be continued. As part of the structural realignment, 25 employees at the Unterföhring site will receive notices of termination for operational reasons in the course of May, effective at the end of August. 

To mitigate the economic consequences for the affected employees, a reconciliation of interests and a social plan have been agreed upon. Around 20 employees have already left the company on their own initiative during the preliminary insolvency proceedings. With the transfer of business operations to Pidigi, future operational responsibilities will also be reorganized. Kim Scholze, who took over Sympatex as sole managing director during an extremely challenging phase and guided the company through the insolvency proceedings, will leave the company upon completion of the transaction. 

Basis secured for the continuation of operations at the Unterföhring site 
Insolvency administrator Bierbach described it as particularly encouraging that Sympatex’s Unterföhring site will be retained, thereby laying a crucial foundation for the sustainable continuation of business operations in Germany. He expressly thanked Kim Scholze, the entire workforce, and the works council for their dedication over the past few months. “Under difficult circumstances, Sympatex’s employees and managing director have contributed with a high degree of professionalism, great commitment, and remarkable loyalty to maintaining stable business operations and laying the groundwork for this investor solution,” Bierbach stated. Business operations have been able to continue in full during the three and a half months since the insolvency filing at the end of January 2026.  

“The past few months have demanded an enormous amount from Sympatex’s employees. This makes me all the more filled with respect for how professionally, loyally, and dedicatedly the teams worldwide have supported business operations, customer relationships and key projects during this phase. The fact that an investor solution for the technology, brand, and core business areas has now been achieved is a significant shared success. My special thanks go to all employees, partners, and customers who have supported Sympatex during this time with trust, dedication, and resilience,” said Kim Scholze.  

From the perspective of insolvency administrator Bierbach, Pidigi’s entry has created a viable future for the company. “Given the challenging market environment, which is subject to significant competitive and cost pressures, and Sympatex’s unique corporate history, finding a suitable buyer for Sympatex was a very demanding task. I am all the more pleased that we were able to secure an ideal investor in Pidigi, a company that knows this highly specialized market well and has itself been successfully rooted in the footwear and apparel industry for many decades. Pidigi has a clear vision for and brings excellent operational capabilities as well as deep industry expertise to secure and sustainably develop Sympatex’s international market presence, technological know-how, and established customer relationships,” the insolvency administrator said.

Pidigi has been working with Sympatex for several decades and, as a long-standing distributor in the footwear segment in Italy, possesses comprehensive market knowledge as well as a strong international network in the footwear and apparel industry. In addition, there is a long-standing partnership in the field of tape production. The Italian family-owned business uses Sympatex laminates and membranes, which Pidigi incorporates into its footwear and apparel products. 
This creates significant operational and economic synergy potential throughout the value chain.  

Strong foundation for continued growth and new market opportunities 
For Dr. Giorgio De Gara, owner and managing director of Pidigi, the transaction marks a milestone in the family business’s continued development. “The acquisition of Sympatex is an important strategic step for us, building on a long-standing and trusting partnership. We have known the company, its technologies and the people behind them for many years and are delighted to now welcome Sympatex as part of the Pidigi family. Together, we aim to further develop Sympatex’s international business in a targeted manner – from performance laminates and tapes for footwear applications to technical solutions for the public sector, workwear and apparel markets. By combining Sympatex’s technological expertise with Pidigi’s global market presence and operational strength, we are creating a strong foundation for further growth and new market opportunities. It is important to us to preserve Sympatex’s valuable technological know-how and the Unterföhring site, and to offer employees long-term prospects”, Dr. De Gara said. 

The structured investor sale process was supported by an experienced team of advisers. On the M&A side, the insolvency administrator was advised by Dr. Wieselhuber & Partner (W&P). Led by Dr. Hubertus Bartelheimer, M&A specialists Ante Jelavic and Thomas Müller oversaw the entire transaction process. Legal advice to the insolvency administrator was provided by Taylor Wessing Germany, led by Dr. Hendrik Boss and Lisa K. Iwersen, LL.M. (Stellenbosch). 

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.

Klopman, TDV Industries and 4F Knits: three brands delivering best-in-class woven and knit textile solutions for workwear, protectivewear and military applications. At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt (21– 24 April), the Group will showcase a new generation of protective and performance textile fabrics, combining advanced fibre technologies, certified safety and enhanced wearer comfort to meet the evolving demands of a high-performance-driven market. 
 
At the exhibition, the Group will introduce an optimised and highly advanced range of flame-retardant fabric solutions, covering both woven and knit technologies and designed to address the highest standards of heat and flame protection across professional end-uses. 

The woven fabric portfolio, engineered with advanced fibre blends combining aramid and modacrylic fibres, delivers permanent flame protection and outstanding mechanical resistance, maintaining performance after more than 50 industrial wash cycles. Iconic ranges such as K-Flame PRO and K-Flame XTRA are complemented by K-Flame PRO Flex and Securit Flex fabrics featuring XLANCE® fibre, offering over 20% elongation for enhanced stretch and freedom of movement without compromising safety. 

In parallel, the Group’s inherent flame-retardant knit fabric portfolio — including piqué, jersey, fleece and polar fleece — is designed to ensure permanent thermal and flame protection while optimising comfort, breathability and durability. Available in versatile constructions such as jersey, providing softness and flexibility, piqué delivering structure and long-lasting performance, fleece providing warmth, breathability and excellent comfort, and polar fleece offering warmth, quick moisture management and a soft and voluminous hand feel. These solutions extend inherent FR protection to a wide range of garment applications. 

Inherent FR fabrics are fully certified for multi-risk protection, covering heat and flame exposure, welding risks, electrostatic discharge and molten metal splash. The integration of sustainable fibres such as VISCOSE FR further reinforces the Group’s commitment to responsible innovation. 

A standout innovation within the range is the new MEGAFLEX R-PES, marking the next generation of treated flame-retardant stretch and Greenwear™ fabrics. Developed with a recycled polyester blend and a PFAS-free Hydrogreen water-repellent finish, MEGAFLEX R-PES reflects the Group’s continued focus on sustainable textiles. 

By bringing together the complementary expertise of Klopman, TDV Industries and 4F Knits, the Group represents a reliable and long-term partner for customers worldwide. The shared portfolio combines technical excellence, regulatory compliance and continuous innovation. 
 
“Innovation in protective fabrics means translating technology into real protection for people at work.” says Amaury Sartorius, Group Commercial Director & Klopman Managing Director “At Techtextil, we showcase our PPE solutions built on advanced textile engineering, certified performance and strong application expertise, reinforcing our role as a trusted partner in high-performance protection.” 
 
With its presence at Techtextil 2026, the Group reaffirms its promise to the market: beyond fabrics, delivering solutions that protect, perform and endure. 

With Tacnera®, Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) is presenting a new technology for silicone foam dressings used in advanced wound care. Unlike classic silicone adhesive layers, Tacnera® is a highly-developed, intelligently-engineered system that combines polyurethane foam, a proprietary coating technology and gentle silicone gel. Tacnera® therefore solves a key problem for premium foam dressings: the dilemma between reliable adhesion and the risk of skim trauma during dressing changes. This gives brand manufacturers, distributors and regional suppliers of advanced wound care products a clear competitive advantage in the premium segment. The globally active nonwovens manufacturer will be welcoming visitors to Stand D42 at EWMA in Bremen from May 6 – 8.

Foam dressings with particularly gentle silicones often do not adhere firmly enough, while stronger silicones increase the risk of skin trauma and tissue damage. This “adhesion-trauma dilemma” reduces both patient comfort and clinical confidence, and limits market differentiation options in the premium segment. Tacnera® resolves this dilemma.

Two silicones in a single wound dressing: adhesion exactly where it is needed
Foam dressings based on Tacnera® technology enable a combination of two silicones with different properties in a single foam dressing. While one type of silicone coating ensures strong edge adhesion for reliable fixation, a second, particularly gentle coating in the ultra-soft island zone protects sensitive skin structures and newly-formed tissue. This is achieved by a precisely-engineered foam and a wave-patterned coating designed to specifically improve contouring, flexibility and exudate management. 

User-friendly and reliable
The result is a foam dressing that reliably stays in place even when used on wounds in hard-to-heal locations, while also ensuring gentle and painless removal. The dressing delivers a consistent performance, thereby supporting both the quality of care and the confidence of users and patients. The technology therefore generates new opportunities for brand manufacturers, distributors and regional suppliers to position themselves in the advanced wound care premium segment. 

“Foam dressings based on the innovative Tacnera® technology have a fundamentally new, systemic approach: they combine secure fixation, gentle removal, reliable functioning and commercial viability in a single product,” commented Dr. Oliver Heneric, SVP Division Healthcare at Freudenberg Performance Materials.

Faster to market: economic benefits for customers 
In addition to the functional advantages, customers also enjoy clear economic benefits: engineering high-performance silicone-based foam dressings usually entails long development times, specialized know-how and a high technical risk. Tacnera®-based foam dressings are a production-ready, high-performance and ready-to-sell solution, so customers can enter the market faster and reduce development costs. Marketing authorization in Europe is expected in summer 2026.

Sports shoes made from algae, leggings made from mushrooms, filtering (diesel) oil from water, 4D textiles, recyclable, sustainable and featuring AI – this is what the ITA Group is presenting at three individual stands run by ITA Aachen, ITA Augsburg gGmbH and ITA Technologietransfer GmbH on the joint stand of Elmatex in hall 12.0 D05.

ITA Aachen embraces the concept of sustainability and, through its exhibits, presents solutions to specific contemporary challenges:

1. 4D-printed textiles
   4D textiles are textile structures capable of selectively altering their shape or function over time. The ‘fourth dimension’ refers to their response to external stimuli such as temperature, humidity, light or electrical impulses. These are typically based on active materials such as shape-memory polymers, shape-memory alloys or hygroscopic fibres, which are integrated into textile structures. Their role lies in the development of adaptive, functional systems: from climate-regulating clothing and textile-based actuators in soft robotics to self-deploying or medical applications. 4D textiles transform textiles from passive flat structures into responsive, intelligent systems.
2. AlgaeTex sports shoe
   Algae have immense potential as a bio-based raw material to replace petroleum in synthetic textiles: they grow rapidly and can absorb carbon dioxide more efficiently than other bio-based raw materials derived from land plants. Furthermore, their cultivation requires less land – including land unsuitable for other crops – and avoids the use of pesticides. The use of algae as a renewable resource for the production of biopolymers and textiles circumvents the challenges of competing with low fuel prices by creating higher-value applications. In this way, the German textile industry can act as a catalyst for the shift away from fossil fuels towards a bioeconomy in which algae represent an important source of biomass.
   
   The AlgaeTex project demonstrates that the production of thermoplastic biopolymers from algae for textile applications is technically feasible. These novel biopolymers are melt-spun and processed into high-quality textiles that are of significance to the sporting goods industry, such as knitted shoe uppers or T-shirts. 
3. Visionary Agrotextiles
   Agrotextiles are of particular importance for specialised crops such as strawberries, lettuce and kohlrabi, as they have a significant influence on growing conditions. For instance, they can raise soil temperature, channel water to the plants and protect seedlings from external influences, particularly during early growth stages. Agrotextiles consist almost exclusively of petrochemically produced polymers that are not biodegradable. This demonstrator therefore showcases a carded fleece made from biodegradable polymers, which is used to bring forward the harvest in strawberry fields. In the same crop but serving a different purpose, a monofilament net is on display; its deep red colour and a coating of ultra-fine silicate particles serve to protect the plants from invasive insect species.
4. Bionic Oil Adsorber
   On various biological surfaces, oil is adsorbed from the water’s surface and transported along floating leaves.
   ITA postdoctoral researcher Dr Leonie Beek has transferred this effect to a technical textile using her Bionic Oil Adsorber (BOA), which, at maturity level 4, can remove up to 4 litres of diesel per hour from the water.
   
   The BOA differs from technical solutions in that the oil-water separation takes place without external energy and without toxic substances. The work on the BOA has been recognised with the Bionics Award – only in German available - and the Paul Schlack Prize.
5. BioPEtex – A PE-based, solution-dyed and sustainable T-shirt made from organic raw materials
   In the multi-billion-pound fibre market, fossil-based polyesters (PES) dominate the clothing sector, accounting for 52% of the market. Unfortunately, PET, the most commonly used PES, cannot be produced on an industrial scale as 100% bio-based material, unlike polyethylene (PE). Bio-based PE (bioPE), a drop-in polymer derived from fermented starches or sugars, has properties identical to those of fossil-based PE and is easily recyclable. It is also more cost-effective than other biopolymers used in fibres and can be processed at lower temperatures, which saves energy. Solution-dyed bioPE offers significant environmental benefits: it consumes 50% less energy and water than conventional dyeing processes and emits 60% less CO2.
   
   Life cycle assessments (LCA) predict that PE could significantly reduce the textile industry’s ecological footprint, with solution-dyed bio-PE further enhancing this reduction. Furthermore, PE textiles are IR-transparent and thus provide passive cooling for the body.
   
   Despite these advantages, PE is not yet used in the clothing industry. Preliminary research findings from the ITA suggest that PE can be processed into spun, dyed filaments and knitted fabrics with promising textures. The T-shirt on display is spun and dyed and features an elastic surface made from bio-based raw materials. A bio-based elastic finish enhances the T-shirt, which is made from a single source and is thermomechanically recyclable. Contact: Mathias.Ortega@ita.rwth-aachen.de
6. FungalFibers – Leggings
   Against a backdrop of limited resources such as oil, water and arable land, as well as increasing environmental degradation and potential for conflict, there is significant social and commercial interest in providing competitive, socially and environmentally sustainable alternative raw materials for the textile industry. The aim of this project is to develop a completely new process chain for the production of bio-based, vegan textiles from chitosan fibres (filament and staple fibre yarns).
   
   Chitosan is chemically closely related to chitin, the second most abundant substance in nature after cellulose. It occurs naturally in a variety of sources: in insects, crab and shellfish shells, and as a structural component of the cell walls of all fungi. Chitin can therefore be obtained from by-products of crab meat production, insect protein or fungal biomass waste from industrial processes. Chitosan, in turn, can be easily produced from chitin through deacetylation. Contact: Leonie.Beek@ita.rwth-aachen.de.
   
   ITA Group will be presenting the latest developments in sustainable textile products and production processes at Techtextil 2026, taking place from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt am Main. The exhibits from ITA Augsburg gGmbH and ITA Technologietransfer GmbH will be on display at the Elmatex joint stand in Hall 12.0, Booth D05.

ITA Group will showcase various approaches to mechanical and thermo-mechanical recycling, addressing potential applications in the textile, materials and automotive industries. ITA Augsburg gGmbH, which specialises in mechanical textile recycling, will present innovations in the fields of composites, mechanical textile recycling and artificial intelligence in production. These include sound and thermal insulation panels from the “IsoTex” project, a towel from the “EcoYarn” recycling project, and the “ColoSens” demonstrator, an AI-based solution for automated colour recognition of fibres in the recycling process.

ITA Technologietransfer GmbH demonstrates thermo-mechanical recycling using numerous examples within the Fabric2Fabric cycle. Using a 3D-printed car seat demonstrator as an example, the recyclable filament yarns are incorporated into a seat cover.

In addition, ITA Technologietransfer GmbH is showcasing its patented ‘Textile Anchor’ concept, an innovative anchoring system designed to protect and secure structures in geotechnical environments such as mountains, in the ground and underwater, as well as for use in building construction. The textile anchor offers an ultra-lightweight solution with high flexibility and optimal adaptability, and is manufactured from extremely durable or biodegradable and sustainable textiles.

At ITA Group’s ‘shared booth’, ITA Technologietransfer GmbH will be providing information on innovations from various industrial partners:

• technofibres s.a. from Luxembourg offers solution-dyed PET and sustainable trPET filament yarns with a wide range of matting levels, filament cross-sections and packaging options for bespoke solutions, even in the smallest batch sizes, making it unique in Europe.
• Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. from Japan offers Xarec™, a syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS) fibre for use in fabrics and nonwovens. The advantages of this semi-crystalline high-performance material, which acquires its syndiotactic structure through the polymerisation of polystyrene and a metallocene catalyst, are demonstrated in nonwoven samples for the filtration sector in comparison with conventional materials.
• The Swedish company Luma Wire Tech AB is an innovative specialist in fine wires, with expertise in advanced plating. Each wire, ranging from 4 to 300 microns and produced from tungsten, molybdenum, or other advanced materials, is tailored to meet each customer’s specific needs— available either uncoated or with high-performance coatings of gold, silver, palladium, or other.

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) will be exhibiting once again at Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, which runs from April 21 – 24. Techtextil attracts major international companies at the cutting edge of technology, which are seeking innovative solutions to technical challenges, so this event represents an ideal opportunity to demonstrate FET’s strength in helping customers achieve their goals.

FET is an acknowledged leader in laboratory and pilot melt spinning equipment for a vast range of applications. These include precursor materials used in high value technical textiles, sportswear, medical devices and specialised novel fibres from exotic and difficult to process polymers. 

Where melt spinning solutions are not suitable, FET provides a viable alternative with pilot and small scale production wet spinning systems. In addition, FET has also recently launched its FET-500 Series of gel spinning systems. These systems have the potential to revolutionise the research and development of UHMWPE fibres, with significant savings in cost, footprint and environmental factors.

As part of the launch of the FET-500 series, FET’s Senior Scientist Dr Kristoffer Kortsen will be a speaker at the Techtextil Forum on Wednesday 22 April. All visitors are invited to come along and find out more about FET’s new process exploiting super-critical fluids. To date, FET has successfully processed over 130 different polymer types in multifilament, monofilament and nonwoven formats, collaborating with specialist companies worldwide to promote greater sustainability through innovative manufacturing processes.

FET’s Fibre Development Centre further enhances this service, allowing clients to trial their own products in an ideal environment. Resident equipment in the Fibre Development Centre reflects the wide range of fibre extrusion and other systems offered by FET to clients worldwide and will enable continued growth of the company through innovation.  

Managing Director Richard Slack and his technical team will be in attendance on the stand. Slack commented. “We have now exhibited at over 10 Techtextil exhibitions around the world and we again look forward to meeting customers face-to-face to discuss their fibre technology requirements.”