From the Sector

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) is unveiling a new 100 percent synthetic wetlaid nonwoven product line made in Germany. The new materials can be manufactured from various types of polymer-based fibers, including ultra-fine micro-fibers, and are designed for use in filtration applications as well as other industrial applications.

Customers in the filtration business can use Freudenberg’s new fully synthetic wetlaid nonwovens in both liquid and air filtration. Applications include reverse osmosis membrane support, support for nanofibers or PTFE membranes as well as oil filtration media. The new materials are suited to use in the building & construction industry or the composites industry.
For filtration applications, the new fully synthetic wetlaid nonwovens are marketed under the Filtura® brand.

Versatile and flexible manufacturing
Freudenberg’s fully synthetic wetlaid nonwovens can be made of polyester, polyolefin, polyamide and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), using staple fibers of up to 12mm fiber length and microfibers as fine as 0.04dtex. In terms of weight, the product range spans weights of between 8g/m² and 250g/m². Freudenberg’s flexible wetlaid manufacturing line has the capability to combine various thermal and chemical bonding technologies. The materials have high precision in weight and thickness as well as a defined pore size and high porosity.

Wetlaid capabilities for various applications
In addition to its fully synthetic range, Freudenberg can also incorporate glass fibers, viscose and cellulose. General industry applications for Freudenberg wetlaid nonwovens are surfacing veils for glass-fiber reinforced plastics, compostable desiccant bags, battery separators, acoustics, heatshields, and apparel applications such as embroidery substrates.

As of March 1, 2024, Dr. Denis Hinz will become new Head of SGL Carbon's Carbon Fibers Business Unit. The previous Head, Roland Nowicki, will leave SGL Carbon on May 31, 2024 at his own request to pursue new professional challenges. He will be available to the company as a consultant until his leaving date to support a smooth transition.

Roland Nowicki took over as Head of Carbon Fibers in November 2020 and has successfully driven forward the realignment of the business unit over the past three years.  

Dr. Denis Hinz has been with SGL Carbon for more than six years and has held various management positions during this time, including Head of Operations of the Fuel Cell Components division and Managing Director of SGL Fuel Cell Components GmbH in Meitingen since December 1, 2021. The graduate engineer from the Technical University of Munich is an experienced manager who is well networked within SGL Carbon and has closely followed the development of Carbon Fibers in recent years.

Eastman announces a partnership with Patagonia to address textile waste.

The outdoor apparel company teamed up with Eastman to recycle 8,000 pounds of pre- and post-consumer clothing waste, which Eastman processed through its molecular recycling technology. The process involves breaking down Patagonia’s unusable apparel into molecular building blocks that Eastman can use to make new fibers.

"We know apparel waste is a major problem, and consumers increasingly want better, more sustainable solutions when their most loved clothing reaches the end of its life," said Natalie Banakis, materials innovation engineer for Patagonia.

"Our collaborations show the world what’s possible when it comes to sustainability,” said Carolina Sister Cohn, global marketing lead for Eastman textiles. “We have the technology to make the textiles industry circular, and we know it requires collaboration with innovative brands to make circular fashion possible. This is only the beginning, and we look forward to more collaborations throughout 2024."

Die ERWO Holding, Obergesellschaft der Südwolle Group, sowie die Hoftex Group AG, eine mittelständisch strukturierte Gruppe von Unternehmen der Textilindustrie, haben die Berufung von Manuela Spörl (51) zur neuen CEO mit Wirkung vom 1. März 2024 bekanntgegeben. Sie folgt in dieser Funktion auf Klaus Steger, der, wie bereits im vergangenen Jahr angekündigt, planmäßig aus dem Vorstand beider Unternehmen ausscheidet. Zeitgleich mit dem Führungswechsel an der Spitze beider Unternehmen übernimmt Daniel Köster (44) das Amt des CFO von Manuela Spörl. Der Vorstand von ERWO Holding und Hoftex Group besteht mit Manuela Spörl und Daniel Köster künftig aus zwei Personen.

Die studierte Diplom-Betriebswirtin Manuela Spörl ist bereits seit dem Jahr 2000 für die Hoftex Group tätig. Ihre berufliche Laufbahn begann sie im Bereich Konzern-Controlling, 2012 wurde sie zur Referentin des Vorstandes ernannt. 2015 wurde ihr Prokura erteilt, es folgten schließlich die Schritte zur CFO der Hoftex Group 2020 und zur CFO der ERWO-Gruppe 2022.

Der Finanzexperte und studierte Diplom-Kaufmann Daniel Köster wurde bereits im vergangenen November in den Vorstand von ERWO Holding und Hoftex Group berufen. Köster verfügt über langjährige Erfahrung in Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Steuern und Controlling und fungierte zuletzt seit Ende 2019 als Group CFO beim niedersächsischen Familienunternehmen Stiebel Eltron, wo er in dieser Funktion auch Mitglied der Geschäftsleitung war.

Künftig wird sich Klaus Steger verstärkt um seine Aufgaben innerhalb der International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) kümmern, zu deren Präsidenten er im Mai 2023 gewählt wurde. Seine Amtszeit in diesem Verband geht bis 2026.

Highlights Q4 2023 (compared with Q4 2022)

• Revenue in constant currencies up 4% on higher volumes and pricing (reported revenue -3%)
• Operating income improved to €214 million (2022: €103 million)
• Adjusted operating income at €221 million (2022: €126 million); ROS at 8.7% (2022: 4.8%); €244 million before €23 million negative impact from hyperinflation accounting
• Net cash from operating activities positive €574 million (2022: €291 million)

Highlights full-year 2023 (compared with full-year 2022)

• Revenue in constant currencies up 5% driven by pricing (reported revenue -2%)
• Operating income improved to €1,029 million (2022: €708 million)
• Adjusted operating income at €1,074 million (2022: €789 million), despite €77 million adverse
• currency effects from translation; ROS at 10.1% (2022: 7.3%)
• Adjusted EBITDA at €1,429 million (2022: €1,157 million), despite €92 million adverse currency
• effects from translation
• Net cash from operating activities positive €1,126 million (2022: €263 million)
• Net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio improved to 2.7 (2022: 3.8)
• Final dividend proposed of €1.54 per share (2022: €1.54)

Outlook mid-term
For the mid-term, AkzoNobel aims to expand profitability to deliver an adjusted EBITDA margin of above 16% and a return on investment between 16% and 19%, underpinned by organic growth and industrial excellence. The company aims to lower its leverage to around 2 times in the mid-term, while remaining committed to retaining a strong investment grade credit rating.

SGL Carbon SE is currently evaluating various strategic options for the Business Unit Carbon Fibers (CF). These include a possible partial or complete divestment of the Business Unit. In a first step, potential interested parties shall be approached with the general data of the Business Unit to determine their interest in an acquisition. If there is sufficient interest, a structured transaction process will be carried out in a second step. Overall, a share of sales amounting to around € 179.6 million after nine months in 2023 (9M 2022: € 269.0 million) is therefore under review. The CF sales share corresponded to 21.9% of SGL Carbon's consolidated sales after nine months in 2023 (9M 2022: 31.5%). Adjusted EBITDA of the Business Unit excluding the result from joint ventures amounted to minus € 10,9 million after nine months in 2023 (9M 2022: € 27,9 million). Despite the operating loss of CF after nine months in 2023, SGL Carbon maintains its guidance for fiscal year 2023. This shows the positive development of the three other business units and the resilience of SGL Carbon's business model.

Carbon Fibers manufactures textile, acrylic and carbon fibers as well as composite materials at seven locations in Europe and North America. Following the temporary drop in demand for carbon fibers from the important wind industry market, the Business Unit's sales and earnings fell significantly in the course of fiscal year 2023. Due to the importance of the wind industry for the European Green Deal, SGL Carbon and many experts assumed that the wind industry recovers quickly. Unfortunately, this is currently not the case. Even if demand picks up, the company assumes that Carbon Fibers will need additional resources to remain competitive in the international market environment and to exploit market opportunities in the best possible way. Against this background, SGL Carbon is reviewing all possibilities to support a positive further development of the Carbon Fibers Business Unit.

Die Moritz Hendel & Söhne GmbH produziert die überwiegend per Fachhandel in Deutschland und Europa vertriebenen Dessous-Marken Dacapo und Format. Das 70 Mitarbeitende umfassende Traditionsunternehmen am Standort Oelsnitz/Vogtland und mit einer Niederlassung in Plana (CZ) wurde Mitte Februar an die PB Holding GmbH verkauft.

Vorstand der in Chemnitz ansässigen Premium Bodywear AG Frank K. Markert leitet seit 2002 bereits ein mittelständisches Modeunternehmen mit internationalen Herrenwäschemarken. Die beiden eigenständigen Firmen kooperieren in vielen Bereichen und streben an, Synergiepotential zu heben, um den Herausforderungen der internationalen Märkte begegnen zu können.

Die langjährigen Prokuristinnen, Jeannette Kraus, Katrin Neumann und Carolin Nößke, sind gemeinsam mit Frank K. Markert Gesellschafter/innen der PB Holding GmbH und bleiben darüber hinaus in ihren Verantwortungsbereichen in der Moritz Hendel & Söhne GmbH tätig. Die gesamte Belegschaft wird übernommen.

Archroma Textile Effects expands the digital textile design and production system (CAD/CAM) Pointcarre with its entire portfolio of 5,760 colors.

Pointcarre Textile Software enables fashion, home furnishing and technical textiles designers to create accurate digital samples, streamline the fabric weaving, knitting and printing processes, and produce realistic presentations of their collections.

Incorporating the Archroma color portfolio into this workflow will allow designers to bring their ideas to life with greater speed and accuracy. They will not only have access to a vast searchable library of Archroma colors, but they will also be better able to produce the exact color they need at the factory.

All of the Archroma color references can be formulated with dyes that meet leading international eco-standards and the brand customer’s desired sustainability profile.

To support customers to optimize the potential of the new color library, Pointcarre is offering new interactive e-learning modules on its Academy training platform, as well as assistance in several languages.

Eltex of Sweden, a pioneer in the adoption of electronic sensors by the weaving machinery industry, is marking its 60th anniversary this month.

The electronic detection of broken or missing weft yarns during production was the problem Eltex founders Åke Rydborn and Ragnar Henriksson set out to solve with the development of the world’s first electronic weft-stop-motion. Its potential was recognised on its introduction at the 1963 ITMA exhibition in Hannover, Germany, leading to the foundation of the company in a modest 12-square-metre workshop in Älmhult, Sweden, in February 1964.

By 1968 the company was operating from a modern 3,000-square-metre plant and beginning to establish a global presence, introducing the first all-in-one printed circuit board (PCB) for its sensor systems in 1971. As exports increased, further Eltex operations were established in the USA and Ireland and the company expanded its product range including energy control devices, temperature and humidity loggers, food handling safety systems, and military grade battery chargers. Further textile milestones in parallel to advances in weaving technology included optical arrival detectors for air-jet weaving machines at the beginning of the 1980s, and the QTV system for warp preparation, which introduced digital stop-motion control to the industry at the start of the 1990s. In 2009, the company branched out into carpet tufting, first with the CoTS clamp-on tube sensor for tufting machines, followed by the Compact sensor for tufting machines in 2013. In 2019 the Compact II further cemented the company’s position in this sector.

Newly developed Eltex EyETM and ACT-R
Most recently, Eltex has launched the Eltex EyETM system for the monitoring of yarn tension on warp beams. Not only does it eliminate problems when warping, but also in the subsequent weaving or tufting processes. Eltex EyETM monitors the yarn tension on all positions in real-time and a minimum and maximum allowable tension value can be set. If any yarn’s tension falls outside these values the operator can be warned or the machine stopped.

The Eltex ACT and ACT-R units meanwhile go beyond yarn tension monitoring to actually control yarn tension. This extends the application range greatly. The plug and play system automatically compensates for any differences in yarn tension that arise, for example from irregularities in yarn packages.

Eltex has been owned by Brian Hicks, Seamus O’Dwyer and Jonathan Bell since 2007, following a management buy-out and the subsequent formation of Eltex Global Holdings in Ireland. Today, its head office, Eltex of Sweden AB, is in Osby, Sweden where it provides research and development, administration and global sales for the group. Eltex Manufacturing in Ireland is now the group’s primary production facility and Eltex US, Inc. provides sales and service for North America.

In the first partnership of its kind, AlphaTauri has joined with the governing body for world motorsport, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), to become their official clothing partner.

Over this significant three-year partnership, AlphaTauri will equip all FIA staff with clothing and accessories, redefining how style and convenience intertwine with the world of motorsport. AlphaTauri will also be the official partner of the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony that is held once a year to honour the champions from every major branch of motorsports in a star-studded event. This strategic collaboration aligns two organisations that are deeply committed to innovation.

The partnership between FIA and AlphaTauri represents a fusion of automotive technology, high fashion, and the pursuit of excellence. It will transform the way FIA staff experience their roles while ensuring they maintain a distinctive and stylish presence.