From the Sector

Mehr als 40 Teilnehmer aus Deutschland und Österreich trafen sich am 4. und 5. September 2024 in Chemnitz zur 107. Aussprache der 3-Zylinder-/Rotorspinnereien, der 111. Aussprache der Webereien und zum Fachtreffen der Textilveredler sowie der Hersteller von Technischen Textilien und Nonwoven. Ein breit angelegtes Vortragsprogramm und interessante Führungen durch die Chemnitzer Institute und Forschungseinrichtungen sowie die TU Chemnitz informierten die Teilnehmenden zum aktuellen Stand in Sachen Digitalisierung und Transformation der Branche.
 
Am ersten Tag stand die Vorstellung der Arbeit des Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Smarte Kreisläufe am STFI auf der Agenda, sowie Fachreferate und ein Workshop zur praxisorientierten Digitalisierung durch die Branchen-Expertin Christine Fiedler (SmartFabs). Daran schlossen sich Impulsvorträge zum europäischen AddTex ERASMUS+ Projekt durch Iris Schlomski (IVGT), zur Lernplattform „Textiltrainer“ der TU Chemnitz durch Dr. André Matthes und eine Diskussionsrunde über Anforderungen an zukünftige Ausbildungssysteme mit Prof. Dr. Hardy Müller (Westsächsische Hochschule) an. Den fachlichen Abschluss bildete der Besuch des Ausbildungszentrum Polygrafie, wo dessen Leiter Andreas Knauer das Ausbildungsformat vorstellte.
 
Am zweiten Tag fand die Veranstaltung in den Räumen der Professur Textile Technologien der Technischen Universität Chemnitz statt. Regine Schrank vom Institut FIR der RWTH-Aachen referierte zum Thema „Einwählen in das Internet der Textilien“ und brachte den Zuhörern die Methoden zur Transformation textiler Wertschöpfungsnetzwerke näher. Cornelia Juds und Claus Kreutzberg präsentierten anhand mehrerer Praxisbeispiele aus Textilunternehmen innovative ERP-Lösungen für die Branche. Den Abschluss des Vormittags bildete Sybille Castens mit der Vorstellung ihrer Erfindung des V-Loom, einem neuartigen und patentierten Textilmaschinensystem, das den herkömmlichen Webprozess wörtlich auf den Kopf stellt und innovative Möglichkeiten des Schussmaterials ermöglicht. Den Abschluss der Veranstaltung bildeten Führungen durch das Technologiezentrum des Lehrstuhls Strukturleichtbau und Kunststofftechnik sowie den Forschungs- und Produktionshallen des Lehrstuhls Textile Technologien.
 
Vor dem Hintergrund, dass in den kommenden fünf Jahren 30 % der Mitarbeiter - die sogenannten Baby-Boomer - in den Betrieben in den Ruhestand gehen, ist es geboten, Wissen in den Unternehmen zu erhalten, das sonst verloren gehen könnte. Gleichzeitig müssen aufgrund des demographischen Wandels Tätigkeiten künftig von weniger Mitarbeitern bewerkstelligt werden. Da nach der Baby-Boomer-Generation immer weniger Kinder geboren wurden, stehen in den kommenden Jahren entsprechend weniger Fachkräfte zur Verfügung. Stichworte, die in dem Zusammenhang genannt wurden: der digitale Zwilling als Voraussetzung für den Digitalen Produktpass (DPP), Chatbot, Co-Pilot, mit deren Hilfe Arbeiten erleichtert bzw. beschleunigt werden können, für die Branche hilfreiche Plattformen wie Tapio, SPOTworx, sowie als ERP-Lösungen Inteos und Canias.
 
Die Vorstellung des CO2-Tools mit anonymisierten Echtdaten aus Textilbetrieben durch Dr. Alfred Virnich (IVGT) und die Anforderungen an zukünftige Schnittstellen und Datenbanken für Umwelt, Energie sowie die Anforderungen an den digitalen Produktpass, die Lieferkettentransparenzverordnung und weitere EU-Verordnungen werden in Kürze in einem Webinar nachgeholt. Die Teilnehmer des Betriebsleitergesprächs wurden deshalb zu einem Webinar am 27. September eingeladen. Darüber hinaus können sich Interessierte bei Stefan Schmidt, IVGT per E-Mail melden.
 
In der KW 50 wird es die dritte Veranstaltung der Serie IVGT-Textile-Connection in Aachen geben. Auf der Agenda stehen dann praxisorientierte Fachvorträge zum Digitalen Produktpass, Schnittstellen in der textilen Kette sowie Diskussionsrunden, Besichtigungen und Präsentationen im Innovation & Learning Center Aachen, dem DWI – Leibnitz-Institut für Interaktive Materialien und dem TFI-Institut für Bodensysteme an der RWTH Aachen.

The sixth edition of Texhibition Istanbul from 11 to 13 September 2024 will once again bring together all components of the textile industry and offer an overview of all product groups in the textile preliminary stage: from woven goods to knitwear, from yarns and denim to artificial leather and textile accessories.

Texhibition Istanbul Fabric and Textile Accessories Fair, organised by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), is following on from this year's March event with the upcoming edition.

Highlights:

• Over 500 exhibitors will be presenting a wide range of products such as woven fabrics, knitwear, denim, accessories, artificial leather and yarns covering 35,000 square metres
• Over 25,000 trade visitors are expected from more than 100 countries, including the European Union, Great Britain, the USA, North Africa and the Middle East
• Yarn Hall completes the range of the preliminary stage and has firmly established itself at Texhibition with 41 exhibitors
• BlueBlackDenim showcases Türkiye's leading 25 denim manufacturers and inspires with creative denim installations
• Texhibition Trend Areas: The trend areas are created by combination of quality and creative themes of fabrics, yarns, denims and accessory products from the participants
• Texhibition Art Events: digital art, accessoires and yarn installations

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) has achieved ISCC+ certification for three of its fiber manufacturing sites. In addition to one already ISCC+ certified fiber plant, this marks a significant milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to sustainability and circular economy practices. Across its entire business, a total of nine Indorama Ventures sites are now ISCC+ certified, offering a diverse range of sustainable products, including PTA, PET chips, fibers, and fabrics.

The newly certified high-performance fiber portfolio will serve customers who require technical yarns such as in the Mobility, Tire cords, Airbags, Industrial or Mechanical Rubber Goods sector. The new offerings include:

• Mass balanced (M.B.) polyamides PA6.6 and PA4.6 from the company’s sites in Obernburg (Germany) and Pizzighettone (Italy). Developed in collaboration with key partners, these products match the performance of standard polyamide yarns while reducing GHG emissions by approximately 55% at the polymer level.
• Bio-based high-tenacity PA4.10 (M.B.) yarn made in Obernburg (Germany) for tire and specialties applications. This 100% bio-content polymer, produced from bio-based Sebacic Acid and bio-based Di-Amino Butane (DAB) component via mass balancing, supports significant GHG emissions reduction due to the innovative raw material.
• Recycled PET yarns and tire cord fabric from Indorama Ventures’ site in Kaiping (China). These yarns and fabrics made from 100% recycled PET, represent the company’s efforts to drive the evolution towards circular practices and lower carbon products.

ISCC+ Certification
The ISCC+ (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) is a globally recognized standard for the sustainable production of biomass, and bio-based products, including recycled content. This certification ensures that materials are sourced and processed responsibly, reducing the environmental impact and promoting a circular economy.

The Teijin Group companies Teijin Carbon America, Renegade Materials and Teijin Aramid will participate in CAMX. the largest, most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America, in San Diego, USA. At the TEIJIN booth, visitors can explore innovative composite solutions and learn about the comprehensive technical support and provided services.

Teijin's diverse network of materials companies excels across various fields, ranging from high-performance carbon and aramid fibers to cutting-edge industrial textiles and revolutionary, cost-effective prepreg composite solutions. The shared commitment to quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility unites Teijin in their mission to deliver eco-friendly solutions across multiple industries and applications, including pressure vessels, aerospace, and both defense and commercial aircraft construction.

Teijin’s dedication to acquiring appropriate certifications for sustainable production and product development underscores the high level of commitment to lead in this field. In the past years, Teijin has continuously striven to minimize their carbon footprint and global impact, while also supporting customers on their own sustainability journeys. This year, Teijin Aramid achieved the EcoVadis Gold Medal recognition, placing the company in the top 5% of all companies across all industries globally and in the top 3% of all man-made fiber manufacturers worldwide.

Teijin Carbon has been awarded the ISCC Plus certification for its production in Germany and Japan and is on track to receive the same certification in the U.S. in the coming months. This accreditation allows the Teijin Carbon Group to prove to its customers sustainable products that contribute to a circular economy. Teijin Carbon is diligently working toward establishing new sustainability standards, promoting ecological innovations, and fostering partnerships for a more sustainable world.

Teijin is looking forward to engaging with customers and partners at CAMX 2024 in San Diego to discuss innovative ideas for the circular economy and recycling processes.

Teijin Carbon is one of the world's leading manufacturers of Tenax™ carbon fibers and carbon fiber-based materials, with production sites in the US, Germany, Japan and Vietnam. Teijin Carbon develops solutions for the aerospace, automotive, energy, electronics and sporting goods industries using high-performance technologies in an international environment. They work closely with their partners to create a fully circular value chain. The goal to make Teijin’s products net CO₂-free by 2050 aligns with the commitment to global society to find solutions and take action to combat it.

As a manufacturer of intermediate materials in the US, Renegade Materials is known for its product expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction. Renegade Materials distinguishes itself by merging cutting-edge materials science with advanced prepreg manufacturing and testing equipment, all meticulously controlled by rigorous quality management systems. Renegade is steadfast in their commitment to the development and largescale production of advanced, multi-functional materials that offer engineered solutions to the current composite design, usage and affordability initiatives in the aerospace industry.

Teijin Aramid is a global leader in high-performance aramid fiber, a subsidiary of the global Teijin Group. Specializing in high-performance aramid fibers, their materials are used in automotive and aerospace industries, ballistic protection and more.

AZL Aachen GmbH announces the launch of a new Joint Partner Project focusing on the further growth potential and technology developments for composite propellers in the field of air mobility and for composite rotors for small to medium-sized wind energy systems.

The nine-month consortial industry project will investigate current and future composite applications for propellers and rotors and their requirements, provide technological insights and develop new product concepts and evaluate them in terms of economic efficiency.

The project aims to address the growing demand for efficient, powerful and compact composite propellers and rotors for the growing markets of air mobility and decentralised power generation. Although the application, manufacturing and material technologies for propellers and rotors made of composite materials have proven to be technically mature, they have so far mainly been used in the high-performance sector for large propeller aircrafts and large wind turbines. Due to the increasing interest in efficient electric propulsion system in the field of air mobility, e.g. air taxis or parcel delivery drones, as well as for decentralised energy generation with the help of small/medium-sized wind energy systems, a rising demand for these components and their production volumes are expected.

AZL will bring together experts along the entire value chain in the project to analyse current and future product concepts. During the project, the participating companies will gain a comprehensive understanding of composite propeller and rotor technology. The project team will carry out a detailed screening of current and future technologies, investigate different materials and processes for the production of propellers and rotors and elaborate design options as well as analyse and evaluate them in terms of technological and cost-effective criteria.

Interested companies can join the project consortium until the Kick-Off on September 18th, 2024.

Im Rahmen ihrer Kooperation produzieren Naïf und VEOCEL™ ökologisch verantwortungsvolle Feuchttücher für Babys und Kinder. Die Feuchttücher werden aus holzbasierten VEOCEL™ Fasern hergestellt, enthalten pflegende und natürliche Inhaltsstoffe wie zum Beispiel Aloe Vera und sind ohne Zusatz von Alkohol oder Parfum.

Wenn es um Feuchttücher geht, beinhaltet ein Großteil der Produkte auf Erdöl basierte, synthetische Fasern. Naïf Feuchttücher hingegen sind plastikfrei und bestehen aus cellulosischen VEOCEL™ Fasern, die aus dem natürlichen Rohstoff Holz gewonnen werden. Das dabei verwendete Holz ist zertifiziert und stammt aus nachhaltig bewirtschafteten Wäldern. Die Herstellung der VEOCEL™ Fasern erfolgt in einem umweltschonenden Produktionsprozess mit geringen ökologischen Auswirkungen – dies gelingt dank Emissionsrückgewinnungs- und -aufbereitungssystemen sowie kontinuierlichen Bemühungen zur Reduzierung der Kohlenstoffemissionen.

Das Unternehmen Naïf wurde mit dem Ziel gegründet, Pflegeprodukte zu entwickeln, die der Haut von Babys und Kindern das geben, was sie braucht: Inhaltsstoffe bester Qualität, ohne Chemie und unnötige Zusatzstoffe. Mit dem Einsatz von VEOCEL™ Fasern will Naïf auch einen Wandel in der Industrie anstoßen und beweisen, dass es umweltfreundliche Wege gibt, Hautpflegeprodukte für Kinder herzustellen.

Trützschler and the Indian company Gimatex have a long relationship that began in 2006. Gimatex has used Trützschler’s IDF in direct spinning and are now using it to turn textile waste into ring yarn.

Gimatex Industries Pvt. Ltd. operates fully integrated facilities with ginning, spinning, recycling, weaving and processing units in Hinganghat, within India’s cotton-growing region of Vidarbha. It also runs a fabric processing unit in Dholka, near Ahmedabad. Together, Trützschler and Gimatex are working in close collaboration with the shared aim of extending that long history far into the future.

Trützschler’s Integrated Draw Frame (IDF) technology is at the heart of this collaboration. Gimatex is using these solutions to produce high-quality yarn. In particular, IDF enables Gimatex to produce yarns from a wide variety of raw materials – from 100 percent cotton through to polyester, recycled fibers and blends of various different inputs.

Gimatex mainly uses Trützschler IDF to manufacture rotor yarns in a direct spinning process. Direct spinning means shortening the spinning process by eliminating draw frame passages. Fiber slivers are fed directly from the card into the integrated drafting passage. This direct spinning concept uses less electricity and less space than conventional draw frame passages, which helps Gimatex to cut costs while increasing output volumes – with no compromise in quality. Most often, IDF technology is used for rotor and vortex spinning. However, the team at Gimatex is now also one of the first spinning mills in India to develop a special IDF process for producing traditional and recycled ring yarn. This allows the company to leverage the same setup it uses for open-end yarn. The ring yarn produced in this unusual way is mostly coarser varieties and recycling blends for cotton / spandex (lycra) products, with Ne 10s and Ne 16s. The yarn goes through a blow room into a TC 15 card with IDF, before entering a Trützschler TD 10 draw frame, a speed frame and a ring frame.

INDA, The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry recently attended the 2024 NCSL Legislative Summit hosted in Louisville, Kentucky the week of August 5th. Wes Fisher, Director of Government Affairs, and Sean Grossnickle, Government Affairs Specialist, engaged with hundreds of state legislators and their staff, international delegates, and summit attendees in INDA’s booth. Attendees were eager to learn more about flushability, the California Collection Study, the ins and outs of the nonwovens industry, and, among other policies, state legislation on wipes. This year marked the first time in recent years that INDA has exhibited at the event.

The annual NCSL Legislative Summit hosts one of the nation’s largest and most influential gathering of state legislators, staff, corporations, government agencies, and trade associations. State and national media publications cover the event, disseminating news and stories across the country.

Lohia Corp Limited (LCL) announced two milestones that mark their expansion in the global market.

The company has acquired J.J. Jenkins Inc., specialized in machine manufacturing for high-tech industries, through their US subsidiary, Leesona Corp, a pioneer in winding machines. This acquisition aligns with their strategic vision to expand their specialty yarns and tapes portfolio in medical and defence applications.

In addition, LCL has formed a strategic Joint Venture with Italy's O.M.G.M. sas, leading to the creation of OMGM Extrusiontechnik Srl. With LCL holding the majority stake. This JV represents a diversification of their product portfolio, introducing solutions in Extrusion and Winding systems for a variety of technical applications.

Gunold GmbH, a company specialized in embroidery thread, introduces a change in management. With Aileen and Kevin Gunold taking over the management on April 1, 2024, the company is now being run by the fourth generation of the Gunold family. Christoph Gunold, who managed the company for almost three decades, is delighted that his children are continuing the family business.

Kevin Gunold, with a degree in Business Administration and Law, shares his experience from the automotive industry, while Aileen Gunold, who studied International Business Administration and gained extensive experience in corporate and marketing consulting, contributes her expertise in strategic and operational areas such as business development and customer experience management.

The Gunold GmbH, which is preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary, relies on the pillars of reliability and 24/7 online ordering options. For long-term competitiveness, it is also crucial to make the business models sustainable in terms of environmental and social aspects. Digitization is an important key to securing the future of the company.