From the Sector

A much more sustainable, cost effective and very flexible process for manufacturing critical fibres based on ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is being launched by the UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technologies (FET).

UHMWPE is prized in many industries due to its extraordinary properties. The fibre is, for example, ten times stronger than steel by weight, while exhibiting outstanding abrasion resistance, low friction and high impact strength. UHMWPE fibres are also chemically inert, resistant to most chemicals and UV light and do not absorb water. They maintain performance in a wide range of temperatures and despite their toughness are extremely lightweight.

As a result, they are unbeatable in demanding applications such as high-performance ropes in maritime industrial and rescue applications. In addition, they are invaluable in ballistic protection, cut-resistant clothing and high-performance sports gear – and increasingly in medical implants.

Biomedical market
“FET has supplied many extrusion systems to the biomedical market, most notably for the production of both resorbable and non-absorbable sutures,” says FET Managing Director Richard Slack. “In exploring what else we could do in assisting these customers, it became clear that there was a need for smaller quantities of UHMWPE fibres in bespoke sizes.”

“The current systems for manufacturing UHMWPE filament yarns are on a huge scale, with very complex processing routes,” adds Research and Development Manager Jonny Hunter. “This means the supply chain is currently very inflexible with minimal opportunity for new product development. These disadvantages have been fully addressed in the development of our new FET-500 series lab and small scale gel spinning system.”

Solvent extraction
A major FET innovation is the introduction of a patented batch system for solvent extraction exploiting supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2).

UHMWPE production, until now, has involved the use of large volumes of hazardous solvents such as dichloromethane (DCM) or hexane. The UHMWPE powder is mixed with mineral oil to form a gel which is subsequently extruded, cooled and solidified. The oil is then extracted from the fibres using DCM or hexane and the solid fibres are then drawn at high temperature to further align the polymer chains, resulting in final strong and tough fibres. Typically, it takes 10 kg of Hexane to extract 1 kg of oil. 

“Solvent reclamation using extraction baths and hot air drying chambers is not practical for the scale of our system,” explains FET’s Senior Material and Process Scientist Kris Kortsen. “The current baths employed can be up to 200 metres long and the waste volumes are considerable. Expertise is needed in dealing with such dangerous chemicals and overall the process has an immense environmental impact.

“CO2, by contrast, is a cheap and abundant sustainable solvent that is non-toxic, non-flammable and leaves no residue.” 

Closed loop
FET’s closed-loop system can achieve more than 95% solvent recovery without loss of performance, resulting in residue-free UHMWPE filament yarns via a vastly improved route in terms of both safety and logistics.

A further innovation is the highly modular drawing system based on heated godet rollers, enabling flexible temperature and drawing control for new product development and the ability to be expanded at any time to meet customer needs.

A comprehensive LCA study detailing the full savings potential is currently being prepared and will be published shortly.

“Having processed over 130 separate polymers in the development of our extrusion systems, we believe the FET-500 is a game changer,” concludes Richard Slack. “We believe there is a big gap in the market for smaller quantities of UHMWPE, and our first line is now fully operational at the FET Fibre Development Centre in Leeds. We look forward to demonstrating it and discussing its full potential with interested companies from around the world.”

Introducing PET fibers and filament yarns made solely from discard textile waste, lower carbon bio-fibers, and more, Indorama Ventures expands dejaTM portfolio to boost textile industry sustainability:
The company expands its fiber and filament yarn portfolio called dejaTM to boost sustainability. The goal is to actively drive circularity and decarbonization efforts in the global textile industry and to prepare for supporting the upcoming European Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

Three key offerings add to the company’s deja portfolio, addressing customers’ main sustainability challenges:

1. On-demand solutions for textile circularity, providing deja PET fibers and filament yarns made solely from enhanced recycled textile waste that was being discarded. Products available on customers’ request are high-tenacity yarns and cords for technical applications like airbags and seat belts, as well as fibers and filament yarns for lifestyle applications, such as apparel and home textiles. Customers interested to drive circularity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while keeping performance equal to standard solutions, are encouraged to request more information at enquiry.fibers@indorama.net.
2. deja Bio: Solutions to help customers reduce their carbon footprint. Thanks to its fully integrated, in-house PET supply chain, Indorama Ventures can deliver high-performing deja PET yarns out of Europe and Asia that have a substantially reduced carbon footprint. All of them comply with the accounting methodology of the ‘Together for Sustainability’ industry initiative.

Indorama Ventures takes a mass balance approach to increase the use of renewable sources, benefitting from eleven ISCC+ (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certified sites across its entire business, including PTA, PET chips, fibers, and technical fabrics. The mass balance approach is a chain-of-custody method that allows manufacturers to mix sustainable and conventional inputs like renewable and fossil-based materials in a shared production system, while still allocating the environmental benefits of the sustainable inputs to a portion of the output.

High-tenacity yarns and tire cord fabrics available in the bio-based deja portfolio allow for a progressive bio-content introduction into customers’ products. Customers can benefit from avoiding or simplifying qualification procedures and receive the same performance as from fossil solutions. Further, these products can be given new life through mechanical or enhanced recycling.

1. deja Enhanced: Products that give hard-to-recycle packaging and textile waste new life. In close collaboration with like-minded partners along the value chain, Indorama Ventures is also looking at ways to convert hard-to-recycle packaging into fibers and yarns through enhanced recycling. These solutions are readily available at similar level of performance as fossil solutions. In future, these products will also be supplied with flexible proportions of reprocessed textile feedstock to accommodate customers’ circular targets.
2. Customers and brand owners are invited to take a closer look at what the expanded deja™ fibers & yarns portfolio offers during Textiles Recycling Expo on June 4-5 in Brussels, booth no. 1825. As one of the leading events dedicated to textile recycling and circularity, this expo brings together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to shape the future of sustainable textiles.
3. Claire Mattelet, Global Sustainability Program Head for Indorama Ventures’ Fibers Business, says: With the expanded deja portfolio, we are turning ambition into action – empowering our customers to meet their circularity and decarbonization goals through innovative, high-performance PET fibers and yarns made from textile waste, bio-based inputs, and hard-to-recycle materials. This is how we shape the future of sustainable textiles without compromising on quality or performance.”
4. With most of the textile waste globally being incinerated or landfilled, the global fashion industry accounts for an estimated 3 to 8 percent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to recent reports1,2, the industry’s emissions are expected to increase by about 30 percent by 2030 if no further action is taken1. In response, Indorama Ventures has set a 2030 target of 40% of recycled and bio-based feedstock of its current commodity feedstock. Taking a leading role and collaborating along the entire value chain to drive sustainable practices in the man-made fibers industry is at the core of Indorama Ventures’ commitment to shaping the future of textiles.

Adaptable insulation elements can ensure that the heat transfer through the building envelope can be adjusted as required. This saves heating or cooling energy and therefore costs. Intelligent systems can regulate heat transfer according to the outside temperature and the need for heating or cooling in the interior. In the ReVaD project, the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) and their partners are developing adaptive building envelopes that can also use concrete components as structural thermal energy storage units for temperature control in buildings.

The research project is developing adaptable insulation elements based on the Knudsen effect. The Knudsen effect describes the change in the thermal conductivity of porous structures with the prevailing gas pressure in the pore space. If there is a vacuum in the pore space, the thermal conductivity is low; if the pressure increases, the thermal conductivity also increases. In order to use the principle in an adjustable insulation element, the highest possible switching factor between the two states is required. To achieve this, the pore system and gas pressure range must be optimally matched. In the adaptable insulation panel, the pore system consists of a spacer fabric that is being developed at the DITF. A key challenge here is the compressive strength of the filling core, which must only allow minimal deformation at a surface pressure of 10 N/cm2 imprinted by a fine vacuum.

The research team at the Technology Center Knitting Technique at DITF has developed the corresponding pressure-resistant structures. Their pore size will be optimized in the next steps by inserting textured yarns into the pole thread space. The basic thermal conductivity of the structure should be increased as little as possible. With the knitted structures in the panel, a switching factor, i.e. the ratio of maximum to minimum thermal conductivity achieved, of 5 has already been demonstrated. Current work involves optimizing the spacer structures and setting up a demonstrator.

In the joint project, the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Stuttgart is developing a thermochemical reactor component that enables precise and energy-efficient gas pressure adjustment in the vacuum insulation panel. Metal hydride-hydrogen reaction systems are used, which allow the gas pressure in the insulation panel to be set through temperature control.

The Institute for Building Energetics, Thermal Engineering and Energy Storage (IGTE) at the University of Stuttgart is investigating the integration possibilities of the panels in the wall composite using simulations and experiments. The thermal-energetic simulations make it possible to assess the energy-saving potential of the technology in different scenarios and under different boundary conditions. A demonstrator is used to test the adaptable thermal insulation in an application-oriented manner.

The ReVaD project (development of adaptable vacuum insulation elements for the needs-based adaptation of heat transfer in building envelopes and structures as well as the thermal activation of storage masses) is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy as part of joint industrial research (IGF) (FKZ: 22617 N).

BODICE, a contemporary Indian fashion label unveiled its much-anticipated collection as a runway show at the BODICE flagship store in New Delhi. Rooted in the idea of self-discovery, the collection embraces evolving identity through artisan-collaborations and intuitive design. The garments of this collection are made with fabrics using Bemberg™ yarn, which are produced in Surat and Varanasi, prominent textile centers in India.

The roots of this partnership between Bemberg™ and BODICE traces back to an inspiring journey that began in last November. Asahi Kasei invited BODICE’s founder & creative director, Ruchika Sachdeva, to Japan such as Kyoto, and Nobeoka city in Miyazaki prefecture where Bemberg plant is located. This immersive trip allowed her to gain a deeper understanding of not only the local craftmanship which has supported Japanese textile industry, but also Bemberg™’s heritage and its commitment to sustainability.

The next phase of the journey took Ruchika and BODICE’s team to two of India’s most renowned textile centers—Surat and Varanasi. In these bustling markets, they handpicked a curated selection of fabrics using Bemberg™ fiber.

Returning to the runway after a significant hiatus, BODICE’s latest collection is an ode to transformation—a narrative brought to life through an immersive experience that brings together textures, techniques, and silhouettes.

At the heart of the collection is a deep reverence for material and technique, drawing inspiration from Japan’s refined approach to craftsmanship. It features Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei, a regenerated cellulose fiber that resonates with BODICE’s commitment to sustainability and responsible design. BODICE’s signature brush-printing technique created with Jaipur’s block-printing artisans, adds depth and texture, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to innovation. The collection also embraces upcycling through colour-blocking techniques, where fabric scraps are repurposed into dynamic, structured silhouettes. With a focus on longevity and wearability, each piece is designed to stay relevant and be timeless, while making way for a more responsible approach to fashion.

Takeshi Iitaka, General Manger, Bemberg Division of Asahi Kasei Corporation, Japan says” Bemberg™ has been operating its business with an eye toward coexistence with the environment since 1931, and is committed to collaborating with partners whose business philosophy aligns with this. From that perspective, this collaboration with BODICE is aligned with our business philosophy, and we are extremely honored that so many people will be able to learn about this collaborative event between our two companies, two countries, two cultures. We believe this collection which has innovative way of using fabrics made from Bemberg™ yarn will be exciting for all. “

The showcase unfolds as a refined interplay of movement and form. Set to evocative sounds in a lush spring landscape, the presentation reflects the collection’s core theme—transformation, balance, and evolving identity.

Rieter has stood for pioneering innovation in textile technology for 230 years. Founded in 1795, the company has grown from a trading company to a global technology leader. With a clear focus on automation, digitization and sustainability, Rieter is shaping the future of yarn production and continues to set standards in the industry.

Rieter, a world leader in developing and manufacturing systems for yarn production with staple fibers, is celebrating its 230th anniversary this year – a history characterized by change, innovation and growth.

The Rieter success story began on April 15, 1795, when Johann Jacob Rieter founded the company J.J. Rieter & Cie. in Winterthur, Switzerland. Rieter started as a trading company for exotic spices and cotton, and on April 23, 1795, the first cotton bale had already arrived at the Waaghaus trading house on Marktgasse in Winterthur.

Initially involved in spinning mills and textile manufacturing, Rieter continued to develop over the 19th century and shifted its focus to building industrial machinery. Acquiring the buildings of the former Töss Abbey in Winterthur in 1833 was an important step. In addition to spinning mill machines, the company’s product line also included machines for winding, knitting, and weaving.

In 1891, Rieter converted into a stock company, which was a significant milestone in the company’s history. In the decades that followed, Rieter set new technological standards again and again. For example, the company was the first machine factory in Switzerland with electronic data processing and Rieter set up a modern laboratory for testing materials. It was joined by prototype workshops, a textile laboratory, and a test spinning mill to support further innovation.

Despite economic challenges, Rieter has always used times of crisis as an opportunity to increase its efficiency and hone its strategic focus. Along with its subsidiaries Accotex, Bräcker, Graf, Novibra, Suessen, SSM, and Temco, today Rieter is distinctive and well-known in the market. The company is a leader in spinning mill technology and contributes to sustainability in the textile value chain with state-of-the-art machines, systems, and components.

Rieter’s success is based not only on technological excellence, but above all on the people who drive the company forward. The approximately 4 800 employees worldwide are the company’s greatest asset. With their expertise, innovative spirit, and passion, they set new standards every day and play an active role in shaping Rieter’s future.

From Rieter’s perspective, the future of spinning mills is automated, digital, and intelligent. Research and development activities are being intensified – in both the areas of autonomous transport systems and collaborative robotics, as well as for ESSENTIAL, Rieter’s digital spinning mill platform. The goal is to fully automate the value creation process of spinning mills by 2027. This will enable spinning mills to reduce their yarn manufacturing costs and maximize their returns. Customers can then concentrate fully on their yarn business and rely on Rieter’s technology and know-how for their operations.

With 230 years of experience, strong innovative power, sustainable solutions and a global sales and service organization, Rieter looks to the future with confidence.

The next-generation card TC 30i has earned popularity in main textile markets by achieving proven results in real-world operating conditions – for cotton yarn and for man-made fibers. It is suitable for a uniquely broad range of applications, including fine count (with the TC 30Fi model) and recycling (with the TC 30Ri model). All orders from the last few months are now being installed, so that the TC 30i can demonstrate ist positive impact on productivity and quality at many more mills worldwide

The TC 30i is designed to maximize process efficiency and product quality for spinning. Due to its intelligent, self-optimizing functions it achieves consistent results from any raw material while reducing or eliminating the demand for operator intervention. The machine has already proven up to 40 % higher productivity in man-made fiber applications. In recent trials with cotton applications, customers in Indonesia and Türkiye have achieved outstanding results, too.

The T-GO automated gap optimizer improves quality by enabling the smallest and most precise carding gaps – far beyond anything possible with manual settings. Second, the TC 30i maximizes quality and productivity by increasing the number of active flats without sacrificing flexibility in the pre- and post-carding areas due to the larger cylinder diameter. And third, the TC 30i minimizes cotton waste because it features a new and highly precise mote knife at the first licker-in. Customers can automatically optimize and adjust the mote knife settings to meet their specific needs. Combined with the impact of our WASTECONTROL feature, this significantly reduces material waste.

Big benefits for Budi Texindo Prakarsa
Budi Texindo Prakarsa is a leading spinning mill based in Indonesia, specialized in the production of premium cotton yarn with an annual capacity of 80,000 spindles. In their recent trials with the TC 30i, they produced 100 % cotton yarn (Ne 20 to Ne 30) via ring-combed processes. Compared to the previous benchmark, productivity increased by up to 30 % with the same IPI quality level. At the same time, energy and air consumption per kilogram have been reduced.

Measurable advantages for Mem Tekstil
In Türkiye, Mem Tekstil is one of the largest integrated manufactures in the textile sector. Their products range from knitting, dyeing, rotation and digital printing to ring spinning, open-end spinning and vortex spinning. With Trützschler's TC 30i they produced a yarn (Ne 20) made from 100 % cotton soft waste via open-end (OE) spinning. Its engineers tested the TC 30i because they are considering upgrading older card models from a Swiss competitor. Our machine has increased productivity from 70 kilograms per hour to 160 kilograms per hour with the same or better quality. This shows once again that modernization can be worthwhile.

Super results for SAFTEKS
SAFTEKS is another Trützschler customer located in Türkiye. The company produces cotton yarns with a monthly production capacity of 2100 tons. It uses OE spinning to manufacture 100 % cotton yarn (Ne 20) from 40 % virgin cotton and 60 % cotton soft waste. Swapping its cards for the TC 30i made it possible for SAFTEKS to increase its output capacity from 70 tons per day to 85 tons per day. That is a productivity boost of more than 20 %, with the same level of quality.

Promising results for PT Dhanar Mas Concern in man-made fiber applications
PT Dhanar Mas Concern (Danar Mas) is an Indonesian company dedicated to the production of high-quality textile products. The company specializes in spinning yarns and manufacturing greige fabrics. They use our TC 30Si card, which is specially customized for man-made fibers. In recent trials with the TC 30Si, Danar Mas produced a ring carded polyester yarn (Ne 20 to Ne 30) and a viscose yarn (Ne 30 to Ne 40) via vortex spinning. In both applications, the next-generation card produced 125 kg/h of material at the same IPI quality level, up to 40 % more than the company produces with its current benchmark.

The 2nd edition of Best of Bangladesh in Europe is set to take place on April 17-18, 2025, at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. Organized by Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) and powered by PDS Limited, the event is held in association with The City Bank PLC, Bangladesh, and KDS Group, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

Visitors will have the chance to discover 50 leading companies across 8 industries, each presenting innovative solutions in sustainability, circularity, and transparency. Across the two days, the event will feature a grand opening ceremony, insightful panel discussions, dynamic exhibitions, and inspiring fashion shows, offering a comprehensive glimpse into Bangladesh’s evolving business landscape.

The event will also feature 40+ global speakers and expects to welcome over 1,500 participants, making it a landmark platform for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and partnership building.

Exhibitors: 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd, Brain Station 23, BJIT Group, Bondstein Technologies Ltd, City Bank PLC, Bangladesh, Centrotex Ltd, Cyclo, Delmas Apparels Pvt Ltd. Designer Fashion Ltd. Fakir Group, KDS Group, Knit Asia Ltd, Leatherina Pvt Ltd, Mapped In Bangladesh (MiB), Nourish Feeds Limited, Noize Jeans, Paddock's Jeans, Pacific Jeans Ltd, PDS Limited, Pacific Knitex Ltd. Paragon Group, Reverse Resource, Rising Group, Shin Shin Apparels Ltd, Shangu Tex Ltd. Turjo Tex Ltd, Tarango.

Source Fashion, Europe’s leading responsible sourcing show, opens next Tuesday 18th February, at Olympia London, welcoming buyers, retailers, and sourcing professionals from around the world. Running until 20th February 2025, the show will host hundreds of makers and manufacturers from over 20 key sourcing regions, including Turkey, Taiwan, Ethiopia, Egypt, China, India, the UK, France, Hong Kong, and Portugal.

With leading retailers and brands such as ASOS, Barbour, Boohoo, Flannels, Frasers Group, French Connection, GANT, Hawes & Curtis, Jaded London, John Lewis, Lipsy, Lucy & Yak, ME+EM, Marks & Spencer, Moss Bros, Mothercare, New Look, Next, Oliver Bonas, Primark, Saraha, Toast, The Very Group, Whistles, already pre-registered, Source Fashion is set to be a must-attend event for businesses looking to source responsibly and discover innovative solutions to industry challenges.

A Platform for Innovation and Sustainability
The three-day event goes beyond sourcing, offering a dynamic content programme across two dedicated stages: The Source Catwalk Stage and the Source Debates Stage.

Visitors can explore the latest trends and insights into responsible fashion with The Source Catwalk Show – taking place three times daily, showcasing curated womenswear looks built from exhibitors’ collections, highlighting trends such as Circus Play, Romance, Plant Power, and Hyper Tactile.

Exhibitor Highlights
Source Fashion will feature an impressive line-up of responsible manufacturers from around the globe with the spotlight on the UK, Egypt, India, and Portugal. Highlights include:

• Dee Kay Knitwear (UK) – A leading supplier of high-quality wholesale knitwear.
• YOKA YO (UK) - Helping take designs from initial concept through to final product development.
• The Natural Fibre Company (UK) – An award-winning yarn manufacturer working with rare breeds and natural fibres.
• National Weaving (UK) – Specialists in premium woven and printed labels, with a focus on sustainability The Fashion Incubator (Egypt) – A sustainable fashion manufacturer specialising in knit, woven, sportswear, and swimwear.
• Desert Crafts Design Studio (India) – A womenswear manufacturer focused on casual and resort wear.
• WonderRaw (Portugal) – Experts in luxury blanks and fully customised garments made from 100% organic cotton.

Headline Designer: Stuart Trevor
Scottish-born fashion designer Stuart Trevor, founder of All Saints and sustainability advocate, is set to headline the Source Catwalk. After years mentoring brands with a positive social and environmental impact, Trevor’s latest label, STUART TREVOR, focuses on sustainable fashion made from repurposed materials. Trevor set out to create the world’s most sustainable brand with a mission to make buying sustainable products easier, more fun and create non-destructive clothing from other peoples’ waste. His designs will take centre stage at the Source Catwalk, demonstrating how fashion can be both stylish and sustainable.

The Source Catwalk also offers a diverse and informative programme of conversations with thought leaders, retail case studies and challenging panel discussions. Now located on the balcony, presenting leading voices within ethical fashion.

• Source Debates – A new stage for this year, providing an opportunity to voice thoughts and get involved in the conversations - tackling the industry biggest questions and challenges, from sustainability and circularity to transparency and the future of fashion sourcing.

Speaker Highlights

Source Fashion’s comprehensive speaker programme will bring together industry leaders, sustainability experts, and fashion innovators. Key sessions include:

• ‘From Fast Fashion to Circularity’ (Source Catwalk, Tuesday, 11:30 AM) – A discussion on how brands can shift towards sustainable models while competing in the fast-fashion landscape, featuring leaders from Vivo Footwear, Neem London, YOU Underwear, and Johnston’s of Elgin.
• ‘A collaborative journey from farm to fashion’ (Source Catwalk, Tuesday, 1:30pm) - explores how The Natural Fibre Company and John Smedley have forged a groundbreaking partnership, transforming heritage craftsmanship and sustainable innovation into a powerful success story.
• ‘Tech and sustainability: why data holds the key for a greener future’ (Source Catwalk, Tuesday 2:10pm) - Linda Pimmeshofer from Insider Trends explores how data-driven innovation can revolutionise fashion’s fight against emissions, with global examples and a vision for a tech-enabled future
• ‘The Urgency of Transparency’ (Source Catwalk, Wednesday, 11:00 AM) – A fireside chat with Andrew Xeni, Founder of Nobody’s Child and Fabacus, on why transparency is critical in building consumer trust.
• ‘Ecosystem Thinking in Fashion: Redesigning for Regeneration’ (Source Catwalk, Wednesday, 2:10 PM) - Safia Minney MBE, Founder of Fashion Declares is joined by Dr Sri Ram, Founder - Bags of Ethics, Supreme Group, Matthias Knappe, Head of Unit, International Trade Centre (ITC) and Nick Reed, Founder, Neem London for to explore scaling circular practices, adopting regenerative models, and building stronger supply chain relationships to inspire action and meaningful change.
• ‘A Clothing Company That Doesn’t Produce Clothes’ (Source Catwalk, Wednesday, 1:30 PM) – Stuart Trevor in conversation about his upcycling-focused brand and the future of circular fashion.
• Designing tomorrow: Is speculative thinking the key to fashion retail's future? (Source Catwalk, Wednesday, 1:30 PM) - Geraldine Wharry, Fashion Futurist, Trend Atelier on speculative design.
• ‘Taking the Lead When Legislation Falls Short’ (Source Debates, Thursday, 11:00 AM) – This session, with Safia Minney MBE, looks at how businesses can drive sustainability initiatives beyond Government mandates.
• Can fashion brands embrace sustainability without the fear of being perfect? (Source Debates, Thursday, 11:30 AM) - Jonny Rowe and Joe Russell, Co-Founders, Land of Plenty look at encouraging small wins, while questioning the common fears surrounding building out sustainable practices and the role storytelling and branding to help overcome these.

As part of an ongoing collaboration, The International Trade Centre, under the UK Trade Partnerships Programme, will showcase ethical suppliers from Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tanzania, and Nepal, providing visitors with an exclusive look at sustainable sourcing options from these regions.

Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions recently hosted its highly anticipated Innovation and Technology Day at the Deltin Hotel in Daman by end of January 2025. The event attracted over 300 participants, including industry experts, partners, and stakeholders, who gathered to explore the latest advancements and trends in the manmade fibers industry in India.

Customer Event in Daman, India
The Innovation and Technology Day commenced with a warm welcome and introduction by Wolfgang Ernst, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions, and Debabrata Ghosh, Head of Sales at Oerlikon Textile India. They provided an overview of the Indian market and its challenges.

“The Indian textile industry, particularly the chemical fiber sector, is experiencing significant growth and transformation. This development is driven by increasing production capacities, strategic investments, and a shift in global consumption patterns”, said Ghosh. India's production of manmade fibers (MMF) is robust, with annual outputs of 4.8 million tons of Polyester Filament Yarn (PFY), 1.7 million tons of Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF), 0.7 million tons of viscose, 0.2 million tons of Polyamide 6 (PA 6), and 25 thousand tons of acrylic. Additionally, the country boasts substantial capacities for PET bottles and films, growing at rates of 7% and 15% per annum, respectively. The Indian market is witnessing significant expansions in PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) capacity, with major projects underway by Indian Oil Corporation, GAIL, MCPI, Reliance Industries, and the Adani-Indorama joint venture. These expansions are set to increase the PTA capacity from the current 6.296 million tons to over 14 million tons by 2030.

Market Dynamics and strategic investments
“The global consumption landscape is shifting towards India and emerging Asia, driven by rising incomes and changing demographics. By 2050, India and emerging Asia are expected to account for 30% of global consumption at purchasing-power parity (PPP), up from 12% in 1997. This shift underscores the growing importance of these regions in the global economic landscape”, Ghosh continuous. Significant investments are being made to enhance production capacities and integrate advanced technologies. Indian Oil Corporation, in a joint venture with MCPI, is establishing a 900 TPD continuous polymerization unit in Odisha, supported by substantial government subsidies. Similarly, the Adani Group, in partnership with Indorama, is entering the petrochemical sector with a $3 billion PTA plant in Maharashtra.

Challenges and Opportunities
Despite the positive outlook, the industry faces challenges such as ensuring cost efficiency, scalability, and the seamless integration of new technologies into existing production processes. However, the sector is optimistic about improving profitability, driven by favorable supply-demand dynamics and strategic investments. “The Indian textile and chemical fiber industry is poised for significant growth, supported by strategic investments, capacity expansions, and a favorable global consumption shift. These developments position India as a key player in the global textile market, driving towards a sustainable and prosperous future”, said Ernst.

After the introduction about the current market situation, the event continued with numerous technical presentations in which Oerlikon and its partners presented their technological and solution expertise along the textile value production chain “From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwovens”.

“To spin an excellent yarn, you need the prefect melt”, said Moderator André Wissenberg, Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Public Affairs at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions. How this can be produced using extrusion or continuous polycondensation technology was demonstrated by the keynote speakers Sven Streiber, Regional Sales Director at Oerlikon Barmag, Deepak Lokre, Head of Engineering at Oerlikon Textile India, and Matthias Schmitz, Head of Engineering Recycling Technology at BB Engineering (BBE).

The second session focused on Oerlikons technology partner for manmade fiber spinning mills. Presentations covered topics such as enhancing manmade fiber production with innovative air engineering, automatic handling solutions and quality inspections, as well as air texturizing solutions. Notable speakers included Praveen Kumar Singh, Managing Director of Luwa India, and Luca Lacitignola, Sales Director at Irico Gualchierani Handling (IGH), Simone Ducceschi, Sales & Project Manager at Thema Systems, as well as Ralf Morgenroth, Head of Engineering Textile Machinery at BBE.

The third session delved into solutions for producing the perfect fibers and yarns, with a focus on Oerlikon Barmag POY/DTY, FDY, IDY technologies as well as Oerlikon Neumag BCF and staple fiber line plants. Presentations were delivered by Philip Jungbecker, Head of R&D, and Guido Dresen, Regional Sales Director, both at Oerlikon Barmag, as well Chetan Bhagat, General Manager Sales, and Sameer Mehrotra, General Manager Service at Oerlikon Textile India. Ralf Morgenroth added further insights of the compact spinning solution VarioFil from BBE.

Environmentally friendly recycling solutions
The fourth session highlighted environmentally friendly recycling solutions, featuring insights from Sven Streiber and Sudipto Mandal, Sales and Marketing Manager at Oerlikon Textile India, and again Matthias Schmitz, BBE. They provided a detailed portfolio overview in the field of mechanical and chemical recycling. The new partnership between Oerlikon Barmag and Evonik was also presented to the audience. Finally, this was followed by a session on customer services and digital solutions, where Michael Ruebenhagen, Head of Global Service Sales and Ivan Gallo, Digital Solutions, both at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions discussed current upgrade and retrofit options, the Digital Academy, and the future of digitalization in manmade fiber spinning mills. Shared Kulkarnie, General Manager Service Sales & Workshops, as well as Chandru Gurbaxani, Digital Solutions, performed together with their German colleagues.

The event concluded with closing remarks again from Wolfgang Ernst, who provided a global market overview and outlook for 2025. Final remarks were given by Atul Vaidya, Managing Director of Oerlikon Textile India. Finaly the event ended with a gala evening with more than 500 participants featuring a fashion show, music, dancing, and excellent food, supported by Decathlon and Garden Vareli.

Uster FiberQ automated raw material management generated more than 2,000 laydowns in a year for Sagar, one of India’s leading spinners. The results delivered consistent yarn quality and optimized process efficiency – giving a payback period of three months.

Sagar is taking advantage of the new annual subscription format, which includes the software solution plus valuable advisory services from Uster expert technologists.

After one year using FiberQ, A.K. Saini, Chief General Manager Operations at Sagar Manufacturers Pvt. Ltd., reported: “We have seen better fiber utilization, significantly improved yarn quality consistency and elimination of seldom-occurring faults such as white specks and barré. The overall outstanding results convinced our management about the value of FiberQ and we confirmed the renewal of the subscription services of FiberQ and the 360Q platform.”

Sagar insists on consistently high standards in yarn quality and performance. The company wanted to go even further, by optimizing its manufacturing operations and achieving maximum fiber yield.

Sagar Manufacturers Pvt. is renowned for excellence, in both its home country of India and the global textile marketplace, as a producer and supplier of top-class cotton yarns and knitted greige fabric. Saini says: “Our strategic focus is on integrating advanced technology and eco-friendly practices, for creative solutions which drive excellence in manufacturing performance and ensure customer satisfaction.”

Before FiberQ, the company was already proud of the excellent raw material management processes in its spinning operation. It was a determination to improve still further in both production efficiency and consistent quality which led to the decision to implement the Uster FiberQ raw material management solution.

Sagar has always embraced new technologies – especially those focused on innovation and automation – and it was naturally one of the first adopters of the FiberQ raw material management solution. FiberQ combines advanced technology and textile expertise to automate many tasks previously done manually. So it became a very interesting value proposition for progressive spinners like Sagar. The automated, intelligent, reliable and easy-to-use system minimized manual efforts but also provided consistent results. Uster’s end-to-end solution also offers access to continuous improvements such as supplier statistics and fiber-to-yarn correlation, which will add even more value in future.

Impact on production
Sagar figures show that yarn realization has increased by 0.3% to 0.5% on average and it has eliminated the need for ‘cut and creel’ – a big advantage in terms of efficiency and fewer changes in production. During the year, FiberQ generated more than 2,000 laydowns for all production units in a very efficient, fast and easy way. Another plus was the easily accessible laydown history and the visibility of the impact of different cotton lots in use.

Customer feedback has also been strong. Sagar’s improved quality consistency was said to have resulted in better fabric appearance. And since Sagar can now provide customers with bigger yarn lot sizes with the same quality and color properties, they can produce larger, uniform batches of knitted and dyed fabrics and save manufacturing costs.

Advisory service benefits
FiberQ is not only a software solution. It comes with advisory services from expert Uster textile technologists. The FiberQ advisory services ensure there is always a textile engineer with mill experience and deep knowledge available to support the spinners. As well as taking care of all aspects of installation, there are periodic assessments to track quality status from fiber to yarn, which is a unique competence of Uster and a highly appreciated element of the service.

FiberQ is offered as a yearly subscription service. For the industry, the idea of subscribing to a software service for raw material management is quite new, although it has been established for many years in other fields.