From the Sector

In response to unprecedented market demand, BW Converting, a member of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association, will provide details about its new Baldwin TexChroma digital spray dyeing system at ITMA Asia + CITME in Singapore from October 28-31.

“We are excited to launch TexChroma because spray dyeing is the future and many of our customers are already seeing the benefits,” says Yiannis Vasilonikolos, BW Converting Sales Leader for Textiles, who has many years’ experience in textile dyeing technology. “We have conducted successful trials of TexChroma with pigment, reactive, acid and disperse dyes on both cotton and synthetic fibres.”

From production data to date, TexChroma can achieve savings in energy, dyes and chemicals of more than 30% compared to conventional continuous pad batch dyeing using steam, and up to 50% compared to exhaust reactive dyeing. 

It also benefits from an advanced technology enabling reactive dyestuffs and alkali fixation chemicals to be mixed just seconds before spray application, in order to completely eliminate any ‘tailing and listing’– uneven dye application or colour variations.

The TexCoat® G4 Legacy
The introduction of TexChroma follows the runaway success of BW Converting’s Texcoat G4 finishing system in the past few years.

“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 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 a similar technology for the dyeing process.” 

The first TexChroma will be installed at the plant of a very well-known Italian continuous dyer which is part of a larger textile manufacturing group, in order for it to be fully industrially tested before going into series production.

“Our first customer is close by our facility in Sweden, has the practical dyehouse skills we can learn from, and is a satisfied TexCoat G4 customer,” Stanford says. “We believe a major benefit of TexChroma will be in eliminating much rework which is common in dyehouses, but we’ve been very cautious about providing details on TexChroma too early. The dyeing process is unforgiving, and we must get it right the first time. The market has been ready for quite some time. And now, so are we.”

TMAS members in Singapore
In further new developments from TMAS members at the Singapore show, Kinna Automatic will provide details of its complete robotic lines for the production of pillows and duvets for the home furnishings sector and introduce the new Hector industrial sewing machine designed for the heavy duty circular and point stitching of filled textile components.

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.

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 as for retrofitting in working mills around the world The company will present its latest X4 yarn feeders with integrated accessory displays and has recently further strengthened its product portfolio with IRO Gaugepart modules. These are applied to tufting looms to determine the appearance of a carpet in terms of feel and structure.

Finally, 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.

The countdown for submissions has begun. Until 15 December 2025, companies can enter their developments for the Techtextil Innovation Award and the Texprocess Innovation Award. Those selected by the distinguished juries benefit from international visibility as well as from the reputation and reach of the two leading trade fairs. From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil and Texprocess bring together the global industries in Frankfurt. The presentation of the Innovation Awards and the showcasing of the winning ideas is among the most prominent highlights.

The industry is evolving at a rapid pace – from new advances in technical textiles and nonwovens to forward-looking manufacturing and processing technologies. Current developments such as the use of AI, sustainable approaches and new production methods are creating additional opportunities for innovation. Especially in times of recession, tariffs and restrained investment, these impulses take on particular significance. They open up new opportunities in numerous fields, ranging from mobility and medicine to apparel. The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards provide international visibility for the best ideas.

The innovations are driving progress in numerous industries. In 2024, the award winners presented recyclable fibre composites for aviation, self-cooling textiles for façades and measurement methods for body scans based on 4D scanning. Whether in mobility, construction, medicine or apparel – textile and technological innovations are creating new opportunities for progress.

Categories Techtextil Innovation Award 2026

• New Concept
• New Material
• New Application
• New Product
• New Chemicals & Dyes
• New Recycled Materials & Recycling Technologies
• New Production Technology, Digitalisation & AI Solutions

Submit application: https://solutions.techtextil.com/

Categories Texprocess Innovation Award 2026

• Economic quality (cost minimisation, time and process optimisation, automation)
• Ecological quality (climate protection, energy efficiency, sustainability, recycling, circularity)
• Digitalisation + AI
• Innovation for quality improvement

Submit application: https://solutions.texprocess.com/

Information on participation
The submission deadline for all applications for the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards 2026 is 15 December 2025. All companies, institutes, universities, polytechnics and individuals are eligible to apply. Participation is free of charge. Submitted developments must have been on the market for less than two years or be shortly before the market launch. From mid-December 2025, two experienced international expert juries examine all submitted products in detail and evaluate them according to criteria such as degree of innovation, market potential, sustainability, choice of materials and technical quality. The winning companies are formally and prominently presented on the first day of the trade fair, 21 April 2026, in Frankfurt am Main.