From the Sector

Mimaki launched the Print Different podcast, designed to bring fresh insights, stories, and conversations from the world of digital printing.

The first episode - “Sustainability in Textile Printing” – marks the beginning of a series dedicated to exploring trending topics in digital print: from innovation and sustainability to customer success stories and the future of our industry.

The Mimaki podcast series will be available exclusively on the new Mimaki EMEA YouTube channel – a hub for product overviews, tutorials, customer stories, and more - and on Spotify. 

OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers in the field of electric powertrains are under increasing pressure to improve performance, efficiency, and scalability of their drive systems. One key enabler now reaching industrial mass-production: composite-based rotor sleeves. These lightweight, high-performance components offer significant advantages in terms of mechanical containment of rotor components to achieve more efficient designs for high-speed rotation – especially in demanding automotive, aerospace and industrial applications. 

Following nine months of collaborative research, a consortium of 15 leading companies – Arkema Group, Covenstro Deutschland AG, DOMO Engineering Plastics Europe S.p.A., Hexcel Composites SASU, Huntsman Advanced Materials, Hutchinson SA CRI, Kümpers GmbH, LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH, Maru Hachi Corporation, Rassini Supensiones S.A. de C.V., Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH, Swancore Netherlands B.V., Syensqo, Toray Carbon Fibres Europe S.A., Toyota Motor Europe N.V./S.A.  – has completed a comprehensive analysis and benchmarking project led by AZL Aachen GmbH. The project systematically analysed the state of the art, compared materials, design strategies, and processing methods for rotor sleeves made from thermoset and thermoplastic carbon fibre composites. The result is a comprehensive market and technology analysis, documented in a 384-page final report – and ready to be implemented into cooperations.  

To support OEMs and motor developers in leveraging these findings, AZL is now hosting a dedicated web meeting – designed specifically to demonstrate the practical relevance, supply chain maturity, and technology details of composite rotor sleeves for electric drives. Participation is free of charge. 

The event will provide a strategic overview of the technology’s capabilities and will highlight the concrete potential for integration into series production. It starts with an introduction to the current state of the technology and its role in enabling the next generation of electric motors. AZL will then present the consolidated results from the project’s work packages. Key insights include comparisons of rotor sleeve designs (press-fit vs. direct-wound), material classes (thermoplastic and thermoset carbon composites), mechanical and thermal performance benchmarks and production KPIs.  

In the second part of the meeting, participants will get the opportunity to meet the consortium behind the recently finished project – from composite material suppliers and machine manufacturers to rotor sleeve producers. Each partner will briefly pitch their unique expertise and offerings, helping OEMs identify reliable contacts for implementation projects.  

Fabian Köster, Development Engineer Composites at Schunk Kohlenstofftechnik GmbH, explains: “As a technology leader and high-volume manufacturer in the field of rotor sleeves, Schunk considers it essential to actively shape innovation. Our participation in the AZL project reflects our strong belief that future viability and competitiveness can only be secured through early involvement in technological developments. The AZL info event offers OEMs and partners across the entire value chain a valuable opportunity to exchange insights on the current state of rotor sleeve technologies, explore emerging trends, and collaboratively develop solutions for tomorrow’s challenges.”  

For OEMs, this event provides not only an update on emerging technology, it also offers direct access to a ready-to-engage partner network. It also marks the official launch of a follow-up experimental project. 

This follow-up initiative will shift from theoretical analysis to experimental validation. Its goal is to benchmark the performance of different material and process combinations under real-world production and operating conditions. 

The follow project includes four work packages. The first work package will define the production concepts and materials to be tested experimentally, including the design of test methods and auxiliary equipment for press fit operations. The second work package is targeting a production process consisting of separate winding and press fitting on the rotor. It includes manufacturing of sleeves using wet winding, towpreg winding and thermoplastic tape winding. Strength testing of the sleeves will consider different prestress levels, while also the quality of the laminate will be evaluated. The third work package will do the same, but in this case for a process, directly winding on the rotor. Evaluation will also include high temperature testing and long-term durability. Finally in the fourth work package all process and strength test results will be evaluated on cost, quality, and performance, leading to benchmarking of various materials, and clear recommendations for cost efficient rotor sleeves. 

The web meeting, hosted on September 25th, is open to OEMs, motor developers, innovation managers, and system integrators seeking to accelerate their next electric powertrain generation. A registration link will be provided for all interested participants. Contact Philipp Fröhlig (philipp.froehlig@azl-aachen-gmbh.de) for a registration link.

ITMA ASIA + CITME end of October in Singapore will see a strong participation of around 70 VDMA member companies. They will cover nearly all different machinery chapters along the textile value chain including spinning and man-made fibres, nonwovens, weaving, braiding, knitting & warp knitting, finishing & dyeing as well as technologies for textile recycling and processing of recycled material. VDMA initiated a German Pavilion with two group stands (spinning in hall 4 and finishing in hall 7) with a total of 30 exhibitors.

Dr. Janpeter Horn, Chairman of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association and Managing Director of August Herzog Maschinenfabrik explains: “The main topics of the VDMA members are efficiency, automation, digitalisation and sustainability. The companies continue to strive for innovative and sustainable solutions with low environmental impact to reduce production costs, without compromising on the high quality of European machinery that customers rightly expect. This is expressed in the common slogan “Experience Leading Technology”. Even in challenging economic times, customers can rely on the VDMA members as dependable partners who stand for continuity, reliability and long-term support”.

Dr. Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery adds: “Our members are looking forward to coming back with ITMA ASIA to Singapore after 20 years. With its central location and seamless travel options, Singapore is the perfect location for reaching customers from one of the world's fastest-growing regions for textile and garment production.”

In general, Asia has been the number one production location for textiles and clothing in the world and will retain this position for a long time to come. So, it is no surprise that Asia is the most important sales market for the VDMA member companies. Almost half of German exports of textile machinery and accessories are shipped to Asia. In addition, numerous German textile machinery companies are producing locally with facilities e.g. in China, India and Vietnam.

Although German exports of textile machinery and accessories to Asia declined sharply in 2024, they stabilised overall in the first half of 2025. Deliveries to China, Uzbekistan and Pakistan even showed encouraging growth between January and June. It is hoped that this may be an indication of a more general upturn in global demand for machinery.

The CHT Group, a global specialist in textile chemistry and dyes, is looking forward to participating in the PERFORMANCE DAYS Functional Fabric Fair in Munich on October 29 and 30, 2025. The focus will be on innovative dyeing processes and functional finishes that specifically improve textile properties.

PIGMENTURA by CHT – The innovative, pigment-based dyeing process uses no water for soaping and rinsing and does not require energy-intensive heating of the process water. As a result, water consumption in the dyeing process can be reduced by up to 96 %. This technology was awarded the German Federal Ecodesign Award in the Product category in 2024 - a result of the successful collaboration between Inditex and CHT.

ECOPRINT by CHT – The water-based textile printing system with reactive and pigment inks meets the highest sustainability standards and has been awarded the C2C Certified Material Health Certificate™. It actively contributes to converting linear production processes into circular systems and promoting the textile circular economy.

TUBINGAL® RISE – The softener is made from recycled end-of-life silicones and consists of over 60 % recycled silicone waste and emulsifiers from renewable raw materials. 

ARRISTAN rAIR – The sustainable hydrophilic finish is made from recycled PET flakes and ensures optimum moisture regulation, fast drying and excellent dirt repellency. ARRISTAN rAIR is ideal for finishing recycled yarns and fabrics, which can then be recycled again - an important contribution to the textile circular economy.

As a foundation-owned company, CHT is committed to a comprehensive sustainability agenda. Our products are designed and manufactured according to strict standards, with a focus on using bio-based, biodegradable and recycled materials to support a circular economy.

Der Bundesverband Medizintechnologie (BVMed) fordert anlässlich der „State of the Union“-Rede von EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen einen stärkeren Fokus auf Gesundheitsversorgung, Gesundheitswirtschaft und Medizintechnologien als Teil der Lösung. So fehle es in den Zollverhandlungen mit den USA nach wie vor an Ausnahmeregelungen für Medizinprodukte, um die medizinische Versorgung nicht zu gefährden. „Es ist richtig, einen Schwerpunkt auf die Stärkung des Wirtschaftsstandorts Europa zu legen. Dafür muss die Medizintechnik als Leitbranche aber stärker einbezogen werden. Wir müssen den Innovationstransfer beschleunigen, KMU unterstützen, Bürokratie abbauen und die EU-Medizinprodukte-Verordnung (MDR) rasch verbessern“, kommentiert BVMed-Geschäftsführer und Vorstandsmitglied Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll die Rede vor dem Europaparlament.

Medizintechnologien sind für Patient:innen und die Gesundheitssysteme unverzichtbar: Diagnose, Behandlung und Genesung hängen in hohem Maße von ihnen ab. Der Sektor ist auch ein wichtiger Motor für die wirtschaftliche Stärke und industrielle Widerstandsfähigkeit Europas. 

Die Forderungen des deutschen MedTech-Verbandes im Einzelnen:

• Medizinprodukte müssen von jeglichen Handelszöllen oder Ausfuhrbeschränkungen ausgenommen werden, so wie es bislang aus humanitären Gründen gute Praxis war. Die EU muss mit den USA ein „Zero for Zero“-Zollabkommen zum Medizintechnik-Bereich verhandeln, um Patient:innen zu schützen und den Zugang zu lebenswichtigen Gesundheitslösungen zu erhalten. Denn: Medizintechnologien sind von komplexen globalen Lieferketten und fortschrittlichen Materialwissenschaften abhängig. Einige Geräte erfordern bis zu tausend Komponenten aus verschiedenen Regionen, beispielsweise Patient:innen-Überwachungssysteme, Dialysesysteme, In-vitro-Diagnostikgeräte oder Magnetresonanztomographen. Rohstoffe und Halbfertigteile werden häufig zwischen internationalen Produktionsstätten transportiert, um dort einer speziellen Verarbeitung unterzogen zu werden. Zölle und weitere Handelsbeschränkungen stören diese komplexen Prozesse und schaden der Medizintechnikbranche in vielerlei Hinsicht.
• Der BVMed unterstützt die Ankündigung der EU-Kommission, gezielte Maßnahmen zu ergreifen, um die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der europäischen Industrie zu stärken und dabei einen speziellen Fokus auf KMU zu legen. Dafür benötigen wir gezielte Maßnahmen zur Entlastung kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen, etwa bei MDR-Zertifizierungsgebühren. Wir müssen KMU-Belange in europäischen Gesetzgebungsverfahren systematisch berücksichtigen. Denn: Der Mittelstand spielt in der MedTech-Branche eine tragende Rolle: Rund 93 Prozent der MedTech-Unternehmen sind KMU. Der BVMed hat gemeinsam mit dem Diagnostika-Verband VDGH im Sommer 2025 ein detailliertes Positionspapier zur besseren KMU-Unterstützung vorgelegt.
• Der BVMed unterstützt das Vorhaben der EU-Kommission, die MDR zu evaluieren und zu verbessern. Gleichzeitig sollten kurzfristige untergesetzliche Maßnahmen umgesetzt werden, um die Bürokratielast zu reduzieren, ohne die Sicherheit oder Leistungsfähigkeit der Produkte und die Sicherheit von Patient:innen zu beeinflussen. Dazu gehört die unbegrenzte Gültigkeit von MDR-Zertifikaten auf Basis des in die MDR integrierten Lebenszyklusansatzes. Vorschläge zur Verbesserung der MDR und der IVDR (In-vitro-Diagnostika-Verordnung) hat der BVMed in einem gemeinsamen Whitepaper mit dem VDGH bereits 2023 vorgelegt.
• Der BVMed begrüßt, dass ein Schwerpunkt der EU-Lifescience-Strategie auf der Reform des regulatorischen Rahmens liegt. Ein moderner, innovationsfreundlicher und effizienter Rechtsrahmen ist für die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der europäischen Medizintechnik-Branche von großer Bedeutung. Zu einer strukturellen Reform gehören aus BVMed-Sicht:
  o    Die Vereinfachung der Genehmigungsverfahren.
  o    Die Förderung von risikobasierten Ansätzen.
  o    Die Sicherstellung eines zeitnahen Zugangs der Patient:innen zu innovativen Technologien.
  o    Der Abbau von unnötigem Verwaltungsaufwand.
  o    Die Unterstützung von kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen (KMU).

Dr. Marc-Pierre Möll: „Europa steht in einem harten Wettbewerb um Investitionen und Top-Talente. Um Innovationen hier zu entwickeln, benötigen wir international wettbewerbsfähige Rahmenbedingungen. Gesundheitsversorgung und die Stärkung der Medizintechnik als Leitwirtschaft müssen deshalb auf EU-Ebene im Fokus bleiben. Dazu gehört ein besonderer Blick auf die Unterstützung von KMU “

Teijin Carbon has published Sustainability Report 2024, sending a strong signal for climate-friendly innovation. From CO2-reduced high-performance fibers to digital product passports, the company’s advanced materials help transform entire industries. 

Teijin Carbon, a global leader in high-performance carbon fiber materials, announced the release of its first sustainability report. Guided by the purpose “Pioneering solutions together for a healthy planet” the report outlines the company’s strategic actions to advance climate protection, the circular economy and social responsibility across its global operations.

The report highlights Teijin Carbon’s role in enabling sustainable transformation in key industries such as aerospace, industry, civil engineering, marine, defense, energy and sports. Among the most notable achievements are the launch of Tenax Next™, a new product line offering up to 35 percent CO2 reduction compared to conventional carbon fibers, and the introduction of a digital product passport (DPP) to ensure full transparency and traceability throughout the product lifecycle.

“Our carbon fibers empower lighter, more-durable, and energy-efficient designs – making a direct contribution to decarbonization,” says Tetsuya Ito, General Manager of the Teijin Carbon Business Group. “Together with our partners, we are setting new standards for responsible high-performance materials.”

Sustainability is deeply embedded at the group level. Akimoto Uchikawa, President and CEO of the Teijin Group, emphasizes: “Through our work at Teijin, we strive to ensure that every innovation meets the needs of today and respects the world of tomorrow. Working towards a circular, sustainable economy is key to doing both.”

The report follows the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and includes validated key performance indicators (KPIs) on CO2 emissions, water and energy usage, waste management, and social and ethical standards. Teijin Carbon is certified under ISCC PLUS, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and ISO 45001, underscoring its commitment to transparency and continuous improvement.

Nach dem gelungenen Auftakt im März 2025 mit mehr als 100 Ausstellern und 200 Speakern, kehrt die Circular Valley Convention (CVC) im kommenden Jahr zurück: Am 11. und 12. März 2026 verwandeln sich Düsseldorf und das Areal Böhler erneut in einen Treffpunkt für Entscheidungsträger und zirkuläre Vordenker aus Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft, Politik und Gesellschaft, die den Wandel hin zur Circular Economy aktiv gestalten.

Mit BASF, Bayer, Evonik und Henkel engagieren sich vier globale Konzerne als Co-Gastgeber für das internationale Leitevent der Circular Economy. Gemeinsam mit zahlreichen anderen bestätigten Partnern, setzen die vier Weltmarktführer ein Zeichen für branchen- und sektorübergreifende Kooperation und eine zirkuläre Art zu wirtschaften.

BASF, Bayer, Evonik und Henkel bringen sich als Pioniere im Bereich Kreislaufwirtschaft als Co-Gastgeber in das Konzept der Convention mit ein, sowohl mit eigener Aussteller-Standfläche und anschaulichen Best-Practice-Beispielen im Rahmen der Expo-Area, als auch mit relevantem Content und hochkarätigen Speakern auf den Konferenzbühnen.

„Die Kreislaufwirtschaft ist der Schlüssel zu einer nachhaltigen Zukunft, und bei Bayer engagieren wir uns aktiv dafür, innovative Lösungen zu entwickeln, die sowohl Ressourcen schonen als auch den ökologischen Fußabdruck minimieren. Die Circular Valley Convention 2026 bietet eine wertvolle Gelegenheit, mit anderen Vordenkern zusammenzukommen, um gemeinsam neue Ansätze zu erkunden und die Transformation hin zu einer zirkulären Wirtschaft aktiv voranzutreiben. Nur durch Zusammenarbeit und den Austausch von Best Practices können wir die Herausforderungen der Zukunft meistern“, so Dr. Holger Weintritt, Leiter Pharmaceuticals Product Supply, Bayer AG.

Frank Meyer, CSVP R&D & Sustainability Henkel Consumer Brands ergänzt: „Die Circular Valley Convention ist eine einzigartige Plattform, um Ideen, Talente und Branchen miteinander zu verbinden – Dimensionen, die für Henkel von strategischer Bedeutung sind. Durch die Vernetzung von Wissenschaft, Industrie und Partnern entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette können wir skalierbare Lösungen vorantreiben, die die Kreislaufwirtschaft, nachhaltiges Wachstum und eine dauerhafte Wirkung fördern.“
 
Conference, Expo & Event bringen konkrete Lösungen für die Circular Economy
Die Circular Valley Convention überzeugt mit einem innovativen Mix: Eine hochkarätig besetzte Fachkonferenz, eine praxisorientierte Expo sowie exklusive Networking-Angebote schaffen Raum für Dialog, Inspiration und konkrete Kooperationen. Im Mittelpunkt stehen lösungsorientierte Ansätze für zirkuläre Wertschöpfung, branchenübergreifende Zusammenarbeit und Innovation entlang des gesamten Produktlebenszyklus – von Design und Materialeinsatz über digitale Anwendungen bis hin zu Recyclingtechnologien.
 
Anmeldung als Aussteller ab jetzt möglich 
Unternehmen, Start-ups, Forschungseinrichtungen und NGOs, die ihre Lösungen für die Circular Economy in der Expo-Area oder auf der Konferenzbühne auf der CVC 2026 präsentieren möchten, können sich ab sofort als Aussteller oder Partner anmelden.

Before Széchenyi’s Chain Bridge opened in 1849, there were two cities on the Danube: Buda and Pest. For much of the year, the great river was a barrier that kept people, businesses, and ideas apart. The bridge changed everything. It physically connected the two sides to create something new and stronger: Budapest. 

EDANA's OUTLOOK™ conference serves the same purpose. It connects not two, but multiple sides of the industry, bringing together professionals across the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors. 

With over 400 participants already confirmed from 173 companies, the event is set to be a unique platform for networking and business development. Alongside 18 exhibitors -with only two exhibition spaces still available- delegates will also benefit from 23 dedicated meeting rooms, creating the perfect setting for more private and focused discussions with clients and suppliers. 

This year’s OUTLOOK™ programme brings together 20 international speakers, two evening cocktail receptions, and plenty of opportunities to connect with peers from across the sector. 

The agenda features three keynote addresses: Ambassador Ivo H. Daalder will reflect on shifting global alliances and their impact on international business; McKinsey & Company will present the latest insights into grocery retail trends and consumer behaviour; and Roover Consulting will explore how artificial intelligence can be applied to innovation and product development. 

Alongside these highlights, the conference will cover market developments, sustainability, financing opportunities, and consumer dynamics in absorbent hygiene products and wipes – just two weeks to go.

At the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in Singapore, specialists from a 20-strong delegation of British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) companies will be on hand to discuss some of the highly advanced industries they are now actively supporting.

The manufacture of medical sutures, for example, is a very specialised process and because these items are implanted directly into the human body, every stage of production is tightly controlled to ensure safety, sterility and reliable performance.

Absorbable sutures are usually made from polymers that degrade safely within the body, such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid or polydioxanone, while non-absorbable sutures use durable materials like nylon, polypropylene, polyester, silk or even stainless steel. All of these must be of medical grade and fully biocompatible.

The UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) is a world leader in both the fibre selection and production technologies behind this industry and in Singapore will highlight a groundbreaking new parallel technology for the medical sector based on supercritical CO2. Further developments in the field of automation and control in advanced fibre production will be highlighted by BTMA members including Autofoam, James Heal, Roaches, Strayfield, Verivide and Wira Instrumentation.

AFP and ATL
From the micro to the macro, sophisticated aerospace technologies such as automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) meanwhile involve the precise placement of carbon fibre tapes or tows on a mould surface, which are then cured to form lightweight yet strong components. 
AFP allows for complex geometries by steering individual tows, making it ideal for fuselage sections, wing skins and other curved structures. ATL, on the other hand, is more efficient for larger, flatter surfaces such as wing covers or stabilisers, where wider tapes can be laid down at high speed with minimal gaps or overlaps. Together, these technologies significantly reduce material waste, improve repeatability and deliver structural performance beyond what traditional hand lay-up methods can achieve.

The UK’s Cygnet Texkimp has developed a new technology to greatly assist this industry which will be unveiled in Singapore.

Collaboration
“High value industries such as aerospace, defence, renewable energy, automotive and the medical sector are areas of high growth and opportunity and an important factor underpinning the success of our companies here is the strong collaboration between industry and the many universities and institutes in the UK,” says BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Machine builders can also be important in driving material developments as well as technologies.”

UHMWPE
A good example of this is the flexible new process for manufacturing ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) that will be introduced in Singapore by FET.

UHMWPE is prized in many industries due to its extraordinary properties, being for example, ten times stronger than steel by weight. It is increasingly used in medical implants, but the current systems for manufacturing it are on a huge scale, with very complex processing routes.

This restricts the opportunity for new product development – a disadvantage that is fully addressed with FET’s series lab and small scale gel spinning system, which is already industrialised.

“We have supplied many extrusion systems to the biomedical market and in exploring what else we could do for the same customers it became clear that there was a need for smaller quantities of UHMWPE fibres in bespoke sizes.” explains FET Managing Director Richard Slack. “We believe our introduction of a patented batch system for solvent extraction exploiting supercritical CO2 is a game changer.”

Early stage development
Cygnet Texkimp has meanwhile just introduced a next-generation, production-scale prepreg tape slitting machine at its UK Innovation Centre in Northwich.

This enables organisations to trial the slitting of continuous thermoset, thermoplastic and ceramic prepreg tapes for AFP and AFL processes in real-world conditions using their own materials or those produced on Cygnet Texkimp’s in-house R&D prepreg machines on the machine. The technology can slit tapes at speeds of up to 60 metres per minute, subject to the input material.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer partners the opportunity to engage with us at an early stage in process development, to test out their concepts, explore machine parameters, assess output quality and validate performance with support from our expert team,” says Graeme Jones, wide web product director at Cygnet Texkimp.

Splicing portfolio
Also providing back up services to the aerospace industry is Airbond, with splicing technologies which ensure resource efficiency in the processing of extremely expensive carbon and aramid fibres. Pneumatic yarn splicing is a process established in the textile industry for joining yarns and works by intermingling individual filaments closely together, to make joint which are stronger and flatter than knots.

“We are continuing to find new partners in the wind turbine, hydrogen and aerospace industries and are doing a lot of developmental work with research institutes and universities,” says technical director Carwyn Webb. “This is leading to us expanding our portfolio and we are currently working on systems for carbon tape splicing, for example, as well as an automated system for full weaving beams.”

Further developments for the technical textiles and composites sectors will be showcased by BTMA members including Garnett Controls, Roaches International, Slack & Parr and Tatham.

Spirit of openness
“Many BTMA members are currently developing new technologies, either in-house or increasingly through joint projects, and we have much to reveal in Singapore,” says Jason Kent in conclusion. “There’s a new spirit of openness and adventurous interaction in the UK right now – especially in the fields of advanced fibres and technical textiles – which is very encouraging for the future.”

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc., a leader in spider silk technology, is appointed Kenneth Le as Managing Director of its wholly owned recombinant spider silk production subsidiary, Prodigy Silk Ltd.
 
Le has been an integral leader in The Company’s Southeast Asian operations for many years, overseeing the expansion of its specialized spider silk rearing and production systems. Under his guidance, Kraig Labs and Prodigy Silk have grown from pilot-scale operations to full-scale commercial rearing centers that continue to set records for spider silk production.
 
Le brings extensive management experience, operational oversight, and team development expertise. His leadership has been instrumental in creating the foundation for Prodigy Silk’s current production successes, ensuring that the Company's advanced biotechnology is translated into reliable and sustainable silk output.
 
"Ken has been at the center of our growth story in Southeast Asia. His ability to combine operational expertise with a deep understanding of our recombinant spider silk technology makes him the ideal choice to lead Prodigy Silk," said Kim Thompson, Founder and CEO of Kraig Labs. "With Ken at the helm, we expect Prodigy Silk to accelerate production, expand capacity, and deliver on the tremendous promise of our technology."
 
As Managing Director, Le will continue to strengthen Prodigy Silk's production capabilities, optimize rearing operations, strengthen our integration with production partners, and drive forward the Company's mission of bringing recombinant spider silk to global markets.
 
"I am honored to take on this new role and to continue building on the successes we've achieved," said Le. "We have an extraordinary team, a proven technology, and the momentum to make spider silk a scalable and commercially viable super material. I look forward to leading Prodigy Silk into this next phase of growth."
 
Kraig Labs' believes Le's leadership will continue to accelerate the pace of innovation and production, positioning Prodigy Silk as the cornerstone of its commercial spider silk operations in Southeast Asia.