RALEIGH & BELMONT, N.C. — May 19, 2026 — A new workforce development initiative, the TextileREADY Education and Training Program, is now available to support the evolving needs of the textile industry by building a pipeline of skilled, industry‑ready professionals.

Powered by TextilesUSA, a collaborative digital platform hosted by the N.C. State University Wilson College of Textiles, designed to connect education and industry, the TextileREADY learning management system is a joint collaboration between the Wilson College of Textiles and Gaston College’s Textile Technology Center. The program delivers a flexible, on‑demand digital training platform that equips workers with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s textile and advanced materials sector.

TextileREADY builds on the long-standing history of both the Gaston College Textile Technology Center and N.C. State’s Zeis Textiles Extension in supporting industry through textile testing, product development, and prototyping services. This foundation of applied, industry-facing expertise ensures the training platform is grounded in real-world manufacturing needs and current industry practices.

In addition, the program leverages Gaston College’s established pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, which support advanced manufacturing workforce development, as well as dual enrollment opportunities and K–12 outreach initiatives led by both institutions. Together, these efforts create a comprehensive talent pipeline—from early exposure and education through career entry and advancement aligned with industry demand.

The program emphasizes rapid skill acquisition, providing a direct and accessible pathway into the industry through high‑quality training aligned with workforce demands. Designed to complement company onboarding processes, TextileREADY supports both new employees and individuals transitioning into careers in textiles and advanced materials, while helping employers strengthen and sustain their talent pipelines.

The platform includes 21 industry‑informed training modules, offered as individual courses, guided learning pathways, or fully customizable training tracks tailored to specific company needs. Developed in direct response to industry feedback, course offerings span professional development and soft skills, foundational technical topics such as textile and knitting fundamentals, and essential areas including industrial safety.

Participants earn industry‑aligned credentials that reflect current manufacturing and textile standards, ensuring immediate applicability in the workplace. TextileREADY is also in the process of applying for a nationally recognized designation training program, further enhancing its value for both employers and participants.

While current offerings focus on foundational and intermediate skills, future modules will expand to include advanced textile topics, including advanced materials and emerging technologies, with planned collaboration from additional academic and research institutions. TextileREADY is currently available in Spanish and can be adapted to support additional languages.

“Gaston College is proud to partner with N.C. State’s Wilson College of Textiles through the TextileREADY program to help strengthen and grow the advanced fibers and textile workforce,” said Dr. John Hauser, President of Gaston College. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, workforce development, and creating meaningful pathways for students into high-demand, high-impact careers. Together, we are not only preparing students for the future, we are helping shape the future of this industry in North Carolina and beyond.”

“The TextileREADY partnership will power advanced manufacturing and produce innovative, career-ready technical textile workers – future managers and leaders for our state and world,” said David Hinks, Dean of N.C. State Wilson College of Textiles. “It is a brilliant example of the transformative impact academic-industry partnerships can have on students’ lives through flexible, applied learning and lifetime career support.”

“The TextileREADY platform represents a major step forward in addressing workforce needs by making industry‑relevant training more accessible than ever,” said Davis Warlick, COO, Parkdale Mills. “By combining academic expertise with hands-on industry insight, TextileREADY is helping prepare a stronger, more future‑ready manufacturing workforce.”

TextilesUSA collaborators will continue to expand nationwide through partnerships with academic, research, industry, trade, and private-sector textile training organizations to further develop and enhance the TextileREADY program course offerings. The TextileREADY Digital Training Platform is available now, offering immediate access to courses designed to enhance technical knowledge, safety preparedness, and professional growth across the textile industry.

For a full listing of courses and to register, visit: https://www.textilesusa.org

Posted: May 19, 2026

Source: Gaston College

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany  — May 11, 2026 — KARL MAYER will once again showcase itself as a strong partner to the Turkish textile industry at ITM in Istanbul from June 9 to 13. At Booth 303 A in Hall 3 of the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center, the industry leader will exhibit solutions for warp knitting, warp preparation, and technical textiles – tailored to a challenging economic environment.

With market-relevant innovations, KARL MAYER is assisting its customers in weathering the current phase and making a successful fresh start afterward. Among the trade show highlights are:

• A performance demonstration of the HKS 4-M EL ECO, a versatile production machine at a competitive price
• A textile innovation show to promote new products and business areas
• An overview of current developments in the warp knitting industry
• Efficient warp preparation solutions for denim and home textiles, presented via video,
• A multimedia display of modern warp knitting machines with weft insertion with
• technological upgrades for apparel and home textiles.

KARL MAYER looks forward to engaging in in-depth discussions with customers and partners.

“Right now, it’s especially important to stay broadly informed and break new ground with the right support,” says Bastian Fritsch, Senior Sales Manager for Türkiye at KARL MAYER. In addition to numerous Turkish customers, he expects many visitors from Egypt – a sign of the growing shift in the textile value chain.

HKS 4-M EL ECO – tailored for dynamic markets

The HKS 4-M EL ECO impresses with its high efficiency, great flexibility, and attractive price-performance ratio. It is designed to respond quickly to changing demand trends and produce popular items with exceptional efficiency – all at a cost that aligns economically with customers’ business needs.

The international fashion industry, in particular, values the machine’s ability to respond quickly to new styles and fabrics.

At the ITM presentation, the HKS 4-M EL ECO produces a trendy outerwear item with a distinctive textured surface. The crepe-on-crepe effect is created by a crinkled fabric ground and textile strips with a crumpled look that appear to be appliquéd.

Textile innovations for the Turkish market

A versatile textile show presents inspiring new products in the areas of tricot, lace, and fabrics with weft insertion that are highly relevant to the Turkish market. Highlights include:

• Velour, corduroy, and plain fabrics for furniture upholstery, as well as terry Warp Knits produced on tricot machines
• Eye-catching curtains and apparel items from the latest TM WEFT – featuring expanded pattern options thanks to upgraded weft-repeat, Multi Speed and additional weft ends
• Open mesh curtain solutions from the HKS 3-M EL PLUS
• Lightweight performance fabrics for sports and athleisure from HKS 2-SE, optionally offering high UV protection solely due to their dense textile structure; a sun-protective jacket was unveiled in April 2026 at “Performance Apparel on Stage”
• Fashion and apparel items made from TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal fibers with Micro Technology
• Shade nets produced efficiently on the new RS 2 Net, which generated significant interest at Techtextil 2026
• Eyelash-Lace with 4-way stretch – a true innovation from a TEXTRONIC® Multibar Jacquard Raschel machine; its performance features include a figure-hugging fit, freedom of movement, a perfect fit, and a unique tear resistance
• Selected Technical Textiles for the Turkish market.

At KARL MAYER’s new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen, the new net machine, a lace raschel machine, and a wide range of tricot machines are available for testing, innovation projects, and the implementation of new ideas.

Efficient warping technology and indigo dyeing technology

The focus of KARL MAYER’s warp preparation solutions at ITM 2026 is on the PROWARP® and the MULTI-MATIC. Both machines are firmly established in the Turkish market and set the standard: the universal sectional warping machine PROWARP as well as the versatile warp sampling machine MULTI-MATIC.

The PRODYE® is an effective indigo dyeing system designed for slasher and rope dyeing.

The PRODYE®-S impresses with:

• A darker indigo shade using only eight dyeing boxes and significantly reduced dye bath volume
• Savings of up to 20% of hydrosulfite and caustic soda – thanks to a highly efficient indigo circulation system and a closed design of dyeing vats
• high weaving efficiency through consistently precise yarn tension control

The PRODYE®-R offers:

• A darker indigo shade with just nine dyeing boxes
• Savings of up to 20% of hydrosulfite and caustic soda as well
• Around 15 to 20% higher output in rebeaming – thanks to perfect tension control during the entire process and the programmable coilers.

With production solutions for improved performance in practice, market-relevant textile innovations, and a clear vision for the future, KARL MAYER underscores its commitment at ITM 2026 to reliably supporting customers even in challenging times and jointly opening up new perspectives.

Posted: May 15, 2026

Source: KARL MAYER

REMSCHEID, Germany — May 13, 2026 — At the upcoming ITM in Istanbul, taking place June 9–13 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Hall 7, Booth 702B, BB Engineering will once again be represented at a joint booth with its parent company, Barmag, and its representative, Tekstil Servis. The German machine manufacturer will showcase its expertise in man-made fiber and recycling technology, presenting its entire product portfolio, which includes components such as extruders and filters, as well as complete systems for spinning synthetic fibers, air-texturing, and PET recycling.

ValuePack – The new generation spin pack

With its new, patented spin pack, BB Engineering underlines its expertise in synthetic fiber spinning. Until now, spin packs have been equipped with either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both variants have their place in specific applications but come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. While sand packs score points primarily for their homogeneity and are therefore well-suited for virgin material, packs with filter candles offer an increased filter area and were originally developed specifically for recycling applications. The large filter area leads to better filter performance and service life, but at the same time is accompanied by a lower flux rate and shear. This can compromise homogeneity.

The ValuePack combines both methods — metal sand and filter candle — in a two-step filtration process. The melt first passes through the filter candle, where it is optimally filtered over a large filter surface down to 15 µm. The melt then flows through the sand chamber, where homogenization and shearing are the primary processes. As simple as the concept is, it is equally innovative and advantageous. BB Engineering is a pioneer with its multi-step filtration in the spin pack.

The result is significantly better homogeneity in terms of temperature and viscosity, improved spinning performance, and higher yarn quality for a wide range of applications that goes beyond pure recycling. Another advantage of the ValuePack is that it is already forced-sealed independently of pressure. This prevents leaks that can occur with self-sealing packages and offers a larger process window. Existing systems can be easily retrofitted to accommodate the ValuePack, which is slightly longer due to its design.

VarioFil® – A trusted and popular system for good reasons

Such as the popular VarioFil® compact spinning system from BB Engineering. Compact size, flexibility, and consistently high yarn quality—that’s what VarioFil® stands for, and that’s what Turkish fiber and textile producers value. “Our compact spinning system perfectly meets the needs of the Turkish textile market. Fibers and yarns from our VarioFil® customers are used, for example, in clothing, carpets, or textile automotive components such as seat covers or seat belts,” reports Ralf Morgenroth, Head of Sales and Customer Service. With over 60 systems installed since its market launch, Turkey is the largest market for VarioFil®.

Accordingly, BB Engineering will once again be showcasing its compact spinning system at ITM this year for customers, prospective clients, and industry professionals. VarioFil® produces high-quality yarns (POY, FDY, HTY, LSY, HMY) from all common polymers with a production capacity of up to 450 kg/h per extruder. VarioFil® also spins recycled PET or bottle flakes directly into POY or FDY with impressive quality.

COBRA® Filter sets new standards

BB Engineering first introduced the new COBRA® filter at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe and K 2025 — setting new standards in the process. The company had clear goals in mind during development: The filter was designed to handle the increasing levels of contamination in recycling, simplify filter changes and cleaning through automation, and significantly reduce operating costs.

The result is a system that combines continuous, large-area filtration with automated, chemical-free intermediate cleaning. Two filter cartridges with automatic switching ensure stable, reliable, and uninterrupted operation. As a result, COBRA® can handle even high levels of contamination where conventional candle filters or screen changers reach their limits. The integrated cleaning system significantly extends the service life of the filter media. At the same time, it reduces operational effort, melt loss, and energy consumption—all without the use of chemicals. This increases process reliability and significantly lowers operating costs.

As a versatile solution, COBRA® is suitable for both coarse and fine filtration. In addition to PET recycling, the system is also suitable for other applications, such as plastic spinning, where it can be used to improve efficiency or retrofitted.

Posted: May 15, 2026

Source: BB Engineering GmbH

FAIRFIELD, NJ — May 13, 2026 — Precision Textiles, a component supplier to the bedding industry, is reporting strong operational momentum at its Arizona manufacturing and distribution facility, highlighted by recent full-scale open-flame mattress burn test results that underscore the performance and reliability of materials produced at the site. As demand continues to grow across its customer base, the facility is operating at a high level of efficiency and is well-positioned to support this growth.

The 60,000-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse operations were established to support increasing demand while positioning production closer to its West Coast customers. Since opening in 2021, the facility has become an important part of Precision Textiles U.S. footprint, producing both FR and non-FR highloft solutions used in mattress panels and borders, along with a range of additional products, including Endure® FR stitchbond, IQ Fit® GlassFree socks and caps, FR-backed laminated borders, and PurLoft® Organic batting.

The team demonstrated that quality and performance have remained top priorities. During a day of full-scale mattress burn testing conducted in February, multiple latex mattresses incorporating PurLoft® Organic, produced at the West Coast facility, were evaluated under CFR 1633, including several constructions with elevated fuel loads. These represent some of the more demanding test scenarios, and the results confirmed consistent performance across a range of challenging builds.

With deep technical expertise in CFR 1633 compliance, Precision Textiles helps mattress manufacturers avoid costly mistakes and navigate complex flammability requirements with confidence, backed by full-scale open-flame burn test results for challenging, high-fuel-load applications.

“The Arizona facility is doing exactly what we built it to do,” said Keith Martin, vice president of Precision Textiles. “We’re seeing strong production output, high efficiency, and consistent product performance. Just as important, we’re in a great position to support additional volume and respond quickly to our West Coast customers.”

The operation, which began with a team of 11, has continued to expand by adding two more personnel while maintaining a highly organized production environment focused on efficiency and product consistency. When the plant first opened, it was shipping about two truckloads of product daily to meet demand, and the company will now exceed that as production continues to increase.

The West Coast location is part of a broader strategy to align manufacturing capacity and responsiveness with customer demand, reduce freight costs, and shorten lead times.

Precision Textiles supplies innovative materials solutions used across the bedding and other industries, with a focus on performance, scalability, and responsible manufacturing. The company has decades of experience in the bedding industry and was named Best Component Supplier in a 2024 Reader Ranking Survey. The company has long been committed to developing innovative solutions that not only meet the highest standards of safety and quality but also contribute to a healthier planet.

For more information about Precision Textiles, visit https://www.precisiontextiles-usa.com/

Posted: May 15, 2026

Source: Precision Textiles

DENVER— May 13, 2026 — CitroTech Inc., a specialty chemicals company producing environmentally responsible fire inhibitor solutions, and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), the official research agency of the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, today announced a 12-month research partnership to develop next-generation, water-based polymer technologies for fire-resistant textiles.

Launched on March 1, the collaboration is focused on addressing a persistent gap in fire-resistant materials: developing wash-durable, skin-safe textile coatings that maintain flame resistance even after repeated use and laundering—an area where conventional solutions often fall short. Initial applications are expected in firefighting gear and industrial textiles, where durability and safety are critical, with longer-term potential across home furnishings and consumer products.

“CitroTech has built its reputation on delivering fire resilience in some of the most demanding environments, from construction materials and utility infrastructure to roadside and vegetation management,” said Andrew Hotsko, Chief Operating Officer at CitroTech. “This partnership is about extending that foundation into textiles, working alongside the foremost minds in polymer science to introduce a new class of environmentally safe, fire-resistant solutions. We’re taking chemistry proven at scale and applying it to a category that has seen limited innovation, with the goal of protecting people more directly in the environments where they live and work.”

Essential to this partnership is the combination of CitroTech’s patented portfolio of fire-inhibitor chemistries and the expertise of Dr. Jaime Grunlan, a globally recognized leader in polymer science whose research has helped shape modern approaches to flame retardancy. Together, CitroTech and Texas A&M researchers are accelerating the transition from academic discovery to real-world application, addressing longstanding challenges around durability, performance, and chemical safety.

“Flame retardancy has long required trade-offs between safety, durability, and practicality, particularly in textiles that are washed, worn, and exposed to the elements,” said Dr. Grunlan. “What makes this work meaningful is the ability to move beyond those limitations. We’re moving toward solutions that can perform consistently outside the lab and at scale, which is ultimately what’s needed to better protect homes, first responders, and the communities they serve.”

The technology under development uses water-based polymers that form a thin, durable layer on fabric. When exposed to heat or flame, that layer reacts by expanding and forming a protective shield, helping slow fire spread and insulate the material beneath. Unlike many conventional treatments, these coatings are designed to stay in place over time and avoid the use of chemicals of concern, including PFAS and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

As part of the initiative, CitroTech is funding dedicated research at TEES, including graduate-level work and advanced testing, creating a direct pipeline from early-stage research to product development. The collaboration reflects a broader strategic focus on expanding CitroTech’s portfolio through investment in cleaner, high-performance technologies that address evolving fire risks.

“This partnership exemplifies TEES’s mission to connect leading research with industry to solve complex, real-world challenges,” said Dr. Robert H. Bishop, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Texas A&M Engineering. “We’re building a blueprint for the future of safer, more effective fire-resistant materials, with far-reaching implications not only for individual safety, but for the resilience of the communities and systems we depend on.”

CitroTech will further support industry collaboration as a lead sponsor of the upcoming Fire and Polymer Workshop in San Diego, where researchers and industry leaders will convene to advance next-generation approaches to flame retardancy and material safety.

Posted: May 15, 2026

Source: CitroTech Inc.