From the Sector

Converting the most personal data—the genome—into an enduring artwork designed to be used, displayed, gifted, and passed on.

Lifeweave, an artist-run company at the intersection of genomics and textile craft, launches a service that turns DNA into Jacquard-woven artworks. DNA sequencing is performed at Broad Clinical Labs, a subsidiary of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and all data is safely stored on Terra.bio, a renowned platform for biomedical data management. Proprietary software completes the pipeline, bridging art, science, and technology.

Amid disposable images, screen-only experiences, and mass-produced objects, people seek physical artifacts with deep meaning. Lifeweave meets this moment with a distinctive concept: converting genetic codes into Jacquard-woven textiles, allowing everyone to craft unique pieces of art based on their DNA.

Customers can submit their orders on lifeweave.app, with two styles available: Mathesis (geometric), and Floral (botanical). Each customer will receive a saliva collection kit via mail and will return their sample using a prepaid mailer. Customers' genetic data is used only to create the artwork and is handled under safeguards that meet and, where appropriate, exceed legal standards; see lifeweave.app/legal Once sequencing is complete, Lifeweave weaves the customer’s artwork and ships it to their address. 

Each customer receives:

• A unique woven tapestry made from their DNA (queen-size: 82" × 62" / 208 x 157 cm; 3.3 lb / 1.5 kg; 95% cotton, 5% polyester)
• A digitally-traceable Certificate of Authenticity
• (Optional) Full raw-data download

Pattern details of the finished work derive from the customer’s genetic sequence, ensuring each artwork is one of a kind. Furthermore, each Lifeweave tapestry includes a woven 32-character hash code signature: a string of colored squares that serves as the unique ID for the genome represented in the tapestry. Every artwork is produced using ethically sourced yarns that meet YESS and OEKO-TEX standards.

DNA and textiles share an interesting property: their material structures do not serve as supports for information subsequently applied on top of them. This property distinguishes DNA and textiles from traditional media such as painting, photography, or writing. Structure and information, as much in textiles as in DNA, coincide. Lifeweave tapestries do not ‘represent’ information, like pigments or graphite on paper, but instead they embody and present it in a unique homology between form and content.

Ob auf Shirts oder Hoodies, Blusen oder Hosen: Drucke machen Textilien oft zu besonderen Hinguckern. Die Hochschule Niederrhein freut sich jetzt über eine bedeutende Erweiterung ihrer technischen Ausstattung im Bereich textile Drucktechnologien. Die Firmen Multiplot und Epson haben der Hochschule gemeinsam einen Textildrucker sowie einen EasySteam Dämpfer des italienischen Unternehmens Cibitex als Spende übergeben.
 
Damit können die Studierenden des Fachbereichs Textil- und Bekleidungstechnik ab sofort praktische Erfahrungen mit modernster Druck- und Veredelungstechnologie sammeln. Neben der Realisierung von Outfits für Abschlussarbeiten und Modeschauen im Designbereich können damit zukünftig auch technische Textilien veredelt werden. „Wir möchten mit dieser Spende einen aktiven Beitrag zur praxisnahen Ausbildung an einer der führenden textiltechnischen Hochschulen Deutschlands leisten“, erklärte Joachim Rees, Gründer und Geschäftsführer der Firma Multi-Plot Europe GmbH, bei der Übergabe der Geräte.
 
„Die neuen Maschinen eröffnen uns neue didaktische und technologische Möglichkeiten. Wir werden die Geräte nicht nur in der Lehre, sondern auch für Forschungsprojekte im Bereich nachhaltiger Textilproduktion und digitaler Druckprozesse einsetzen“, sagt Dr. Mathias Muth, Professor für Textile Drucktechnologien an der Hochschule Niederrhein. Die enge Zusammenarbeit mit Industriepartnern wie Multiplot und Epson stärke die Rolle der HSNR als moderne und anwendungsorientierte Hochschule.
 
Die Studierenden und Wissenschaftler:innen können mit dem neuen Epson-Drucker durch dessen hohe Druckgeschwindigkeit und Farbbrillanz professionelle Sublimationsdrucke – auch mit fluoreszierenden Farben – realisieren. „Dies ist ein Druckverfahren, bei dem Farben mittels Hitze und Druck in die Fasern übertragen werden“, so Mathias Muth. Dabei wird die spezielle Sublimationstinte durch Hitze in einen gasförmigen Zustand versetzt und dringt so in die Faser ein, anstatt nur auf der Oberfläche zu haften.
 
Der Dämpfer Cibitex EasySteam kommt bei dem bereits vorhandenen reaktiven Digitaldrucksystem für Baumwolle zum Einsatz: „Er sorgt für eine nachhaltige und qualitativ hochwertige Veredelung der bedruckten Stoffe durch Dampfbehandlung“, erklärt Mathias Muth. Es zeichnet sich durch einfache Bedienung aus und ermöglicht das Dämpfen von kleinen Mengen ohne Vorlauf – ideal für Arbeiten von Studierenden.

Eine konsequente Straffung von Berichts- und Meldepflichten für die KMU-dominierte Medizintechnik-Branche hat der Bundesverband Medizintechnologie (BVMed) in seiner Stellungnahme zur EU-Konsultation zur Vereinfachung der Verwaltung im Bereich des Umweltrechts („Simplification of administrative burdens in environmental legislation“) gefordert. 

„Wir müssen den administrativen Aufwand insbesondere für unsere kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen, die für 93 Prozent unserer Branche stehen, schnellstmöglich verringern. Insbesondere im Umwelt- und Medizinprodukte-Recht sind in den letzten Jahren überbordende Bürokratielasten aufgebaut worden, ohne dass sie einen Mehrwert für die Versorgung und Sicherheit der Patient:innen bringen“, so BVMed-Geschäftsführer und Vorstandsmitglied Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll.

In der BVMed-Stellungnahme begrüßt der BVMed das Ziel der Initiative der Europäischen Kommission, den Verwaltungsaufwand durch Umweltvorschriften in den Bereichen Kreislaufwirtschaft, Industrieemissionen und Abfallbewirtschaftung zu verringern. Aus Sicht des BVMed hemmen nach wie vor regulatorische und administrative Hindernisse das allgemeine Funktionieren des Binnenmarkts. „Oberste Priorität sollte die Sicherstellung der Gesundheitsversorgung in der EU sein. Diese sollte nicht durch überbordenden Verwaltungsaufwand gefährdet werden.“

Ein wichtiger Hebel zur Straffung von Berichterstattungs- und Meldepflichten könnte aus Sicht des deutschen Medizintechnik-Verbandes die Anhebung der allgemeinen KMU-Schwellenwerte sei. „Dies wäre eine vergleichsweise einfach umzusetzende Maßnahme, auch unter Berücksichtigung, dass die finanziellen Schwellenwerte seit der EU-weiten Festlegung inflationsbedingt immer strenger wurden“, heißt es in der BVMed-Stellungnahme. 

Als aktuelles Beispiel, bei dem sehr hoher Arbeitsaufwand entsteht, nennt der BVMed die Meldepflichten mach der Verordnung über entwaldungsfreie Lieferketten (EUDR). „Allgemein wäre ein ganzheitlicher Systemansatz anstatt vieler isolierter Einzelmaßnahmen wünschenswert, um den Aufwand im Rahmen der Gesetzesfolgenabschätzung zu reduzieren“, so der MedTech-Verband. 

Weitere konkrete Beispiele aus der BVMed-Stellungnahme:

• Der BVMed begrüßt die Abschaffung der SCIP-Datenbank („Stoffe mit besorgniserregenden Eigenschaften in Produkten“) nach der Abfallrahmenrichtlinie, da hier viel Aufwand ohne realen Nutzen entsteht.
• Der BVMed fordert eine konsequente Harmonisierung der „erweiterten Herstellerverantwortung“ (EPR) und Erleichterung der EPR-Berichterstattung.
• Der BVMed setzt sich außerdem für eine standardisierte und harmonisierte Abfrage von Nachhaltigkeitskriterien ein, um zu verhindern, dass jedes Krankenhaus, jede Region und jedes Land unterschiedliche Nachhaltigkeitsfragen an Lieferanten richten.

Weitere konkrete Vorschläge enthält das gemeinsame KMU-Positionspapier des BVMed mit dem Diagnostikaverband VDGH vom Juni 2025.

Auch in diesem Jahr präsentieren das Thüringische Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung e.V. und seine beiden Tochterunternehmen OMPG und Smartpolymer auf der Messe K, dem Branchentreff der Kunststoffindustrie in Düsseldorf, wieder innovative Produkte und Dienstleistungen. Darunter den mehrfach preisgekrönten Bio-Schmelzklebstoff Caremelt®, hochgefüllte Filamente für den Metall-3D-Druck oder carbonfaserverstärkte Tapes für anspruchsvollste Leichtbau-Anwendungen. 

Unidirektional verstärkte Tapes sind Schlüsselmaterialien für den effizienten und nachhaltigen Leichtbau. Sie ermöglichen es, Bauteile gezielt, ressourcenschonend und leistungsoptimiert herzustellen, indem Fasern exakt dort platziert werden, wo sie für die mechanische Belastung benötigt werden. Damit stehen maßgeschneiderte Halbzeuge für den Leichtbau zur Verfügung. Auf der K-Messe zeigt das TITK hierzu die Ergebnisse eines Forschungsprojekts: neue, trockene Schmalbandgelege auf Basis von 50K Carbonfaserrovings. Diese Tapes wurden mit angepassten Nähgarnen und einer verbesserten Thermofixierung produziert und in einem automatisierten, robotergestützten Tapelegeverfahren verarbeitet. 

Andere Exponate der TITK-Gruppe dokumentieren das zunehmende Interesse der Industrie am mehrfach ausgezeichneten Bio-Schmelzklebstoff Caremelt®. Er wurde zuletzt beispielsweise vom Branchenführer für Tierbestattungen, dem Unternehmen ROSENGARTEN aus Bad Bergen, oder der Firma Kneisz Design aus Weimar in die Produktion übernommen. Seit April und noch bis Mitte Oktober ist Caremelt® auch auf der Expo 2025 in Osaka (Japan) zu sehen. 

Als erster vollständig biobasierter und bioabbaubarer Schmelzklebstoff kommt er komplett ohne fossile Ressourcen aus und bietet die Möglichkeit, Produkte, die bereits nachhaltig hergestellt werden, nun vollständig umweltfreundlich zu gestalten. Gerade bei Klebstoff ist ein Recycling nahezu unmöglich. Umso wichtiger ist es, dass am Ende des Produktlebenszyklus kein Mikroplastik entsteht. Die potenziellen Anwendungsgebiete von Caremelt® sind sehr vielfältig. Sie reichen von der Verpackungs-, Hygiene- und Textilindustrie über die Automotive-Branche bis hin zur Schuh-, Holz-, und Möbelindustrie. Der Klebstoff ist CO2-neutral; weltweit verfügbare Ausgangsstoffe machen seine industrielle Herstellung kostengünstig. 

Auf ein anderes Einsatzgebiet zielen polymerbasierte Strahlungselemente für dielektrische Resonatorantennen. Diese sehr spezifischen Bauteile finden Verwendung in Antennen für lokale Breitbandsysteme der Industrie, Forst- und Landwirtschaft, für Sicherheitsdienste sowie für WLAN-Hotspots des Gebäudefunks und in Verkehrsmitteln. Das TITK forscht schon länger an diesen Polymerhalbzeugen und konnte erreichen, dass sie gegenüber konventionellen Produkten mit einer hohen Permittivität und niedrigem Dämpfungsverlust überzeugen. 

Das Ziel der Untersuchungen bestand in der Entwicklung dielektrisch gefüllter Polymer-substrate und -halbzeuge, die sich als Strahlungselemente zunächst in Hotspotantennen zwischen 2 bis 3,7 GHz und 5 bis 6 GHz aber auch bei höheren Frequenzen im 5G-Bereich verwenden lassen. Hierfür wurden Polymerkomposite mit keramischen Komponenten wie Titanaten mit hohem Füllgrad und Permittivität sowohl unter Einsatz klassischer Kunststoffverarbeitungsverfahren, wie Extrusion, Spritzguss und Formpressen, aber auch mittels additiver Fertigungstechnologie wie dem FFF-Verfahren (Fused Filament Fabrication) zu den Strahlungselementen verarbeitet. Die eingesetzten dielektrischen Polymerkomposite sind auch bei sehr hohen Füllgraden thermoplastisch verarbeitbar, so dass gegenüber kommerziellen Laminatverbunden ein größerer Permittivitätsbereich abgedeckt werden kann. 

Wie sich die Verarbeitungsprozesse für den Metall-3D-Druck nachhaltig und kreislauffähig gestalten lassen, hat das TITK gemeinsam mit dem ifw – Günther-Köhler-Institut für Fügetechnik und Werkstoffprüfung (Jena) und der GFE – Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Entwicklung (Schmalkalden) erforscht. Seit Juni ist das Projekt „kreislaufoptimierte Prozesskette für die additive Fertigung von metallischen Werkzeugkomponenten über Materialextrusion“ nun beendet, sodass in Düsseldorf konkrete Ergebnisse vorgestellt werden können. 

Das TITK produzierte Filamente für den FFF-Druck aus eigens entwickelten Blends, die einen Füllgrad von bis zu 90 Gewichtsprozent Metallpulver aufweisen. Nach dem Verdrucken der Filamente wird der Kunststoff erst über Lösungsmittel und dann thermisch entfernt. Nach dem anschließenden Sintern liegt ein dichtes, rein metallisches Bauteil vor. 

Konventionell verfügbare Filamente benötigen toxische oder brennbare Lösungsmittel zum Entbindern. Bei den am TITK entwickelten Endlosfäden können dagegen Wasser oder wasserbasierte Lösungsmittel vor dem Ofenprozess genutzt werden. Mit der Rückgewinnung des gelösten Binders und einer funktionsintegrierten Leichtbauweise leisten die Bauteile zudem noch einen Beitrag zur Ressourcenschonung. In einem Folgeprojekt sollen nun weitere Bindersysteme mit anderen Stahlsorten und auch keramischen Füllstoffen untersucht werden.

Members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery manufacturers association – will introduce a range of new developments at the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME textile machinery exhibition in Singapore from October 28-31, with the emphasis on sensor-based automation and resource savings.

“The push for automation, AI-driven production and digitalisation continues to accelerate as manufacturers seek to improve efficiency and reduce dependency on repetitive tasks for operatives,” says TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson. “Advanced automation enables predictive maintenance and real-time quality monitoring in fully integrated production systems and our members are already exploiting these technologies to help customers reduce downtime, improve efficiency and produce more sustainably.”

Single supplier
Under its trademarked slogan ‘Complete Process – One Supplier’, for example, ACG Kinna Automatic has pioneered the development of complete robotic lines for the production of pillows and duvets for the home furnishings sector – from the handling and opening of filling material and full line fabric feeding to sewing, digital quality control and packing.

Just a few years ago, such lines were seen by manufacturers as something exciting to perhaps consider for the future, but suddenly they have become essential to competing and surviving in today’s fast-moving industry.

“Automation has become a must for a number of reasons,” says ACG Kinna Marketing and Sales Manager Tomas Aspenskog. “Product traceability, flexibility and local production, in addition to new trade regulations, are now driving the market and given the challenge of finding skilled operators and constantly increasing costs, manufacturers are looking for simpler systems that will save on resources and boost productivity wherever possible.

“Our modular solutions enable customers to be more flexible and faster in adapting specific parts of a production line to meet new demands, and also to grow over time. There are also many benefits for manufacturers in dealing with only one project leader, contact person, supplier, freight handler and installation team.”

Industrial sewing
In Singapore, ACG Kinna Automatic will introduce the new Hector industrial sewing machine designed for the heavy duty circular and point stitching of filled textile components such as garden cushions, outdoor pillows and mattresses. Hector is already being employed by leading Swedish retailers including IKEA and JYSK in their manufacturing operations.

The Hector’s sewing arm is adjustable and can open up to accommodate thicker items under the needle and presser foot. It is available in three versions with sewing arms in lengths of 60, 100 and 120 centimetres.

Eltex EyETM
Another TMAS member, Eltex has made an important breakthrough on its EyETM tension monitoring system for the heat setting, tufting, warping and winding sectors, with the addition of electromagnetic brakes in combination with the latest advanced sensors. These enable tension variation to not only be detected, but automatically adjusted in real time during operation, rather than manually changed as previously.

The company’s ACT-R unit can further significantly reduce the selvedge yarn waste from the weft insertion systems of rapier weaving machines, while at the same time maintaining equal and steady tension across all pre-winders.

“Our ACT-R is a completely plug and play, stand-alone system and self synchronizes without any communication with the weaving machine,” explains Eltex Sales Engineer Michél Gamhov. “This is important, because many older weaving machines are still in operation worldwide, and the ACT-R enables instant improvements to be made without upgrading these machines in any way. We have achieved fantastic results for weavers working with recycled yarns who have been amazed at the difference in consistent quality and uninterrupted production that can be achieved.

“As everyone knows, the less waste you have the more you save in materials, labour, runtime and quality and we can help mills cut losses in many of these areas depending on the challenges they are facing. Many of our sensor-based systems are able to give older textile machines a new life and in Singapore we’re looking forward to talking to customers about the problems they face, because we believe there’s even more, we can do with our advanced technologies to make their existing machines more efficient.”

Svegea tubular components
The colarette machines of Svegea set the standard throughout Asia for the high speed production of tubular apparel components such as cuffs, collars and neck tapes and in Singapore the company will demonstrate its EC 50 and EC 200 with E-Drive II models, in addition to linked cutting systems.

“Our collarette machines are designed for long life-cycle durability and energy efficiency, reducing waste while providing high-quality binding,” says Svegea Managing Director Håkan Steene. “Our customers in Asia are increasingly looking to automation to improve efficiency and achieve cost savings and we address these needs by developing flexible machines that can be adapted to a wide range of customer requirements and combine high performance with user-friendly automation features.

Vandewiele know-how
Advanced weaving control is also the bedrock of business for Vandewiele Sweden AB, which supplies weft yarn feeding and tension control units for weaving looms to the majority of the leading weaving machine manufacturers, as well for retrofitting in working mills around the world and will present its latest X4 yarn feeders with integrated accessory displays at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024.

X4 feeders are available in three different versions – with an integrated tension display (TED), with integrated active tension control (ATC), or with quick release, which enables weft tension settings to be transferred from one machine to another, enabling a fast start-up the next time the same article is woven. The position of the S-Flex Tensioner is constantly monitored by an internal sensor – even if adjustment is made during power off.

Vandewiele Sweden has recently further strengthened its product portfolio with IRO Gaugepart modules which are applied to tufting looms for the carpet industry, to determine the appearance of a carpet in terms of feel and structure. All parts are now available to order from the www.iroonline.com e-commerce site.

“Our size and flexibility mean that we can offer bespoke customer solutions according to specific requests – something that many larger manufacturers have difficulty matching,” says Division Manager Tobias Sternfeldt. 

Spray technology
Finally, the automated Texcoat G4 finishing system of BW Converting has been a runaway success in the past few years and the company will announce an entirely new, but related technology shortly before the Singapore exhibition.

“TexCoat G4 spray technology was developed in Sweden from our off-set printing business and we initially focused on installing units in Europe and the USA,” explains the company’s Vice President of Global Business Development for Textiles Rick Stanford. “In the past two years, however, we have been very active in Asia, with 35 units sold – and many of these customers have been asking for technologies in related areas. We’ll be saying more very shortly.” 

After months of intensive planning and implementation, Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes (BSCCB) has successfully completed the expansion of its production capacities in Stezzano (Bergamo), Italy and Meitingen, Germany. The investments made have increased production capacity by around 50%. This extensive expansion enables BSCCB to meet the growing demand and increasing requirements of their automotive customers, particularly in the premium and luxury segments, where high brake performance is required.

At the SGL Carbon site in Meitingen, two new production halls with a total area of around 8,500 m² were constructed in just 14 months. At the Stezzano (Bergamo) site, the production areas in the existing buildings were expanded by around 4,000 m². At both sites, state-of-the-art production facilities with numerous modern systems were installed in a short period of time, enabling high-performance and efficient production. The entire process chain, from forming and machining to assembly, was expanded and optimized. 

The investments made both contribute to increasing capacity and improve process efficiency and quality. The degree of automation has been further increased, with conscious attention paid to maintaining the necessary flexibility and experience in the manufacturing process. "With the expansion of our production capacities in Stezzano and Meitingen, we are setting a decisive course for the future. We are making our production future-proof, thereby ensuring that we can reliably meet the demands and needs of our customers. The combination of proven technology and targeted innovations strengthens our position in the international market", explain Florian Hofner and Nicola Frambrosi, managing directors of Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes.

Over the years, BSCCB has steadily increased its supply of carbon-ceramic brake discs, becoming a key partner for premium and luxury automotive manufacturers, where high brake performance is essential. Carbon-ceramic technology is a distinctive feature of high-performance vehicles, offering a combination of exceptional braking performance and an exclusive design. Carbon-ceramic brake discs are valued for their lightweight construction, superior heat resistance and long lifespan.
 
Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes (BSCCB) is a 50%:50% Joint Venture of Brembo N.V. and SGL Carbon SE. BSCCB is active in designing, developing, manufacturing braking systems composed by discs made up of carbon ceramic material, installed on very high performance cars. Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic Brakes aims to be the worldwide leader in carbon ceramic brake systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The Joint Venture has two manufacturing plants, one located in Stezzano (Italy) and one in Meitingen (Germany).

The European Commission has opened an anti-dumping investigation into PET spunbond imports from China, following a complaint lodged by members of EDANA, the international association for nonwoven and related industries. 

EDANA welcomes this vital move by the European Commission to counter the influx of unfairly priced goods from Chinese exporters entering the EU market. Jacques Prigneaux, EDANA’s Director of Market Analysis & Economic Affairs, stressed the need for urgent trade defence measures, stating: “The EU PET spunbond sector is facing mounting pressure from Chinese manufacturers. Since 2021, Chinese producers have rapidly increased exports of PET spunbond to the EU and have taken over a significant share of the EU PET spunbond market at the expense of the EU industry. Accordingly, we look forward to the rapid registration of imports and the possibility of retroactive imposition of anti-dumping measures.” 

PET spunbond is a nonwoven material made from polyester filaments and is used as a carrier layer in bituminous membranes. The product is an essential input material for the EU’s building and construction sector in their efforts to accelerate housing renovation and clean energy roof construction in line with the EU’s green transition policies. 

According to the Complainants, the unfairly priced Chinese imports have caused material injury to their performance, which saw a significant decline. “This underlines the need for the European Commission to make use of its trade defence tools. EDANA stands ready to support the EU Commission during its investigation,” Prigneaux concluded.

Disruptor technology and a new ColorCut LCF520 roll-to-roll label cutter will be showcased at Labelexpo 2025 on the Plockmatic Group stand. Along with the LCF500 and a technology demonstration of a 4-bladed LCF840Di, designed to eliminate rotary flexi die-cutting, the digital system enables converters – both large and small – to save up to thousands of Euros per job order.   

Large, complex, high precision rotary flexi dies can cost thousands of euros for converters – and getting one from a third-party die manufacturer typically takes 1-2 days. But with Plockmatic Group’s ColorCut LCF range of all-in-one solutions for volume roll-to-roll production, new unique customer orders can be completed on the fly, for ultra short-run digital label production avoiding time-wasting flexi die-cutting. 

Based on the same chassis as the single-bladed ColorCut LCF500 launched earlier this year, the new Plockmatic LCF520 has two blades and unique, patented auto tracking automation to ensure highest cutting accuracy. 

A wide range of shapes and label sizes can be produced on the LCF family, which offers precise, powerful, and easily managed cut functions via its built-in control centre. It includes the added benefit to apply laminates when required using integrated lamination capabilities, along with a range of finishing options for labels, such as waste matrix removal and slitting for finished rolls.

In addition, at Labelexpo Plockmatic will have a prototype behind a screen for a new ColorCut label cutter LCF840Di with 4 heads. Important features include digital web tracking from the infeed table and automated waste removal. This new model is expected to be launched at the end of the year, with sales starting from Q1 2026.

This new model is expected to be launched at the end of the year, with sales starting from Q1 2026.

With a show theme of “Relax – Taking the Stress out of Digital Finishing”, Plockmatic Group’s stand at Labelexpo at Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from 16-19 September 2025 will host a wide range of label, cutting and finishing systems for label and flexible packaging markets. Other specific machines include the entry-level LC330 Automated label cutting machine, the Color Cut LC700 Pro for professional applications runs and the ColorCut LC6500 compact, on-demand digital sheet cutter, which is crossover product from labels into light packaging applications, POS and lightweight card projects, as well as kiss-cutting.

“The new LCF520 roll-to-roll label spotlighted at Labelexpo is the newest family member in our disruptor technology that will eliminate the need for rotary flexi die-cutting for converters,” said Terri Winstanley, Marketing Manager, Packaging & Labels, Plockmatic Group UK. “It has the potential to save hundreds of euros, sometimes thousands, per job order. Other benefits include web-to-print label applications in extremely short run, same day dispatch plus converters can save on space where conventional dies used to be stored.”

She added: “The showcasing of this ColorCut LCF520 digital label cutter at Labelexpo will mark another important milestone for Plockmatic Group, as will the prototype LCF840Di that will also be on our stand. We’re anticipating a lot of interest from visitors.”

Artificial intelligence has long been part of design – precise, efficient, omnipresent. At the same time, there is a growing desire for the handmade, for intuition and irregularity. It is exactly within this field of tension that the Heimtextil Trends 26/27 unfold: under the central theme of ‘Craft is a verb’, they show how high-tech, and craftsmanship are not contradictory, but open up new creative perspectives together.

Together with the founders of Alcova, Heimtextil presents a trend landscape in which craftsmanship and digital design methods merge. Tangible textures meet generative patterns, natural structures meet algorithmic precision. This does not create a contrast, but rather an interplay: where traditional craft techniques reach their limits, artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities. This gives rise to a new type of player: the techno-craftsman. He does not see digital tools as competition, but as an extension of his toolkit. Heimtextil Trends 26/27 thus address the current challenges of the creative industry: AI streamlines processes but raises questions about control and creative identity. The trends therefore focus on the lasting importance of craftsmanship – and how AI can meaningfully complement and support it. 

‘The Heimtextil Trends 26/27 illustrate how artificial intelligence will change the textile industry and, in combination with craftsmanship, opens up new perspectives. They provide the industry with impulses for sustainable production methods, innovative cooperation models and the development of future-proof business strategies,’ says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

Alcova is not just about material and aesthetic trends. Rather, the curators focus on an attitude towards the mindful use of AI in design – as a complement to human creativity and as a means of relief and inspiration. This perspective also shapes their work: ‘At Alcova, we are drawn to objects and processes that are unexpected, experimental, even a little unruly – yet somehow find their way into our homes,’ explains Valentina Ciuffi from Alcova. ‘What surrounds us each day should provoke, raise questions, and invite conversation. That's why our focus is on projects that anticipate trends rather than chase them,’ adds Joseph Grima from Alcova. 

Six key trends at a glance
Six key trends illustrate how this fusion of craftsmanship and technology is manifesting itself in concrete terms. They open up different perspectives on how AI and manual design will interact in the future.

1.    Re: media
Textiles that emerge from the interplay of digital design and handcraft: drawings are first transferred into digital renderings, then converted back into jacquards or hand-embroidered patterns. This results in works that reveal the tension between different media. Motifs inspired by glitches – broken aesthetics, pixelated colour gradients and digitally reworked hand drawings can be expected.

2.    Visible co-work
AI provides the designs, humans complete them: in these works, the boundaries between craftsmanship and code become blurred. The design is created using artificial intelligence and is completed through skilled craftsmanship. Examples include digitally embroidered linen, 3D knitted patchwork pieces and generative patterns on classic fabrics.

3.    Sensing nature
Nature is the original source of inspiration here. Its forms, rhythms and structures reveal a diversity that is waiting to be decoded. Digital tools take on the role of translators: the rough surface of the ocean is transformed into a textile grid, while the lichen patterns growing over rocks are turned into decorative motifs through algorithmic processing.

4.    A playful touch
At a time when design is characterised by functionality and optimisation, small decorative details are coming back into focus – not for practical reasons, but for pleasure. A ruffle on an otherwise minimalist curtain, a neon element on a natural-coloured linen blanket or an unexpectedly placed tassel: such gestures act as deliberate interruptions. They remind us that joy remains an essential part of design – and that textiles can also have humour.

5.    Crafted irregularity
Fabrics with knots, irregular dyeing, visible seams and asymmetrical finishes take centre stage. These materials do not hide the craftsmanship but emphasise it – as a conscious counterpoint to the flawless perfection of AI-assisted design.

6.    The uncanny valley
Technical elements such as wires, connections and coils are no longer hidden but deliberately displayed and showcased. They appear as visible details and draw the eye to the inner workings of the machine, rather than its flawless surface. This results in designs that reveal what is hidden – and, with their playful expression, unfold something strange, almost alien.

The colour palette of Heimtextil Trends 26/27
The colour palette ranges from down-to-earth tones to digital irritation: shades such as sand, clay, soot, olive and tree bark convey stability, materiality and connection. However, this natural calm is deliberately disrupted by sharp, synthetic accents such as acidic green, digital lilac and bright screen blue. These ‘glitches’ create tension and turn the colour scheme into a vibrant statement.

From 13 to 16 January 2026, the Heimtextil Trends 26/27 will be presented in an interactive format in the Trend Arena in Hall 6.1.

At the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME textile machinery exhibition in Singapore this October, Monforts will introduce the new VertiDry, a vertical dryer for use in combination with coating machines, padders or Monforts EcoApplicator units in the special finishing of technical textiles.

The fully contactless and energy optimised convection dryer is intended for use in combination with a stenter, either before or after it, depending on the specific application, for the essential pre-drying of sensitive fabrics, as well as after the coating of airbags, denim fabrics and glass-fibre substrates. Other envisaged applications include the finishing of sportswear, outerwear, carpets, geotextiles and tarpaulins.

The VertiDry can be integrated into both new and existing finishing lines. A single unit can accommodate approximately eight metres of fabric at any given time and multi-storey versions are also possible. This makes it very adaptable to finishing line configurations.

Power options
In addition, the VertiDry can be powered by all available heating sources, or combinations of heating sources depending on the most economic route for the individual mill. The unit is further equipped with an integrated exhaust air duct and can also be connected to a heat recovery system such as the Monforts Energy Tower.

Different nozzle types are available for the unit which will be supplied pre-erected for shortest installation times. 

“The new VertiDry has been designed in response to demands from the market for a space and energy saving vertical dryer to fulfil the demand in terms of CO2 reduction and the need to integrate into special processes, especially in the treatment of technical textiles,” says Monforts Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. “With its contactless drying it will help our customers to produce a wide range of high-quality, added value fabrics efficiently and economically.”