MIDLOTHIAN, Va. — February 14, 2025 — Fi-Tech is excited to announce the addition of Joe Bernard to its sales team as Sales and Market Development manager. In this role, Bernard will be responsible for market development and customer management in the Northeast, Mid-West and Western USA in addition to other duties on the sales team.
Joe Bernard
Bernard brings 15 years of manufacturing and sales experience in the textile and technical textile industries and holds a bachelor’s degree in Textile Technology from NC State University.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe to our team,” said Managing Director Jeffrey G. Bassett. “His vast experience and expertise in textile manufacturing and more recent sales and market development experience will enhance Fi-Tech’s service to our customers and European principals. Joe has a tremendous work ethic, an established reputation, and strong communication skills, allowing him to connect with and to serve our growing customer base.”
Bernard also expressed excitement about joining Fi-Tech, saying: “I first worked with Fi-Tech on a project in 2014. The company and its staff have always been recognized as a provider of market leading products and services with the utmost professionalism. I experienced this firsthand in manufacturing and now I am excited to join their team.”
As Fi-Tech continues to expand, the addition of Joe reinforces the commitment to providing excellent service to our global customers. For more information, please contact Jeffrey Bassett, Managing Director, jbassett@fi-tech.com
SINGAPORE — February 13, 2025 — DyStar, a specialty chemical company with a heritage of more than a century in product development and innovation, announced the sale of the property housing its manufacturing facility in Charlotte, N.C., and subsequent consolidation of Charlotte production facility. As a result of the sale, the production facility, which produces performance chemicals, textiles and leather chemicals, will be integrated within DyStar LP in Reidsville, N.C.
DyStar has entered into an agreement with Constellation Real Estate Partners, for the land sale that currently houses DyStar Carolina Chemical Corp. The deal is expected to be completed by Quarter 4 of 2025 and is aligned with DyStar’s long-term vision for growth and development for the Americas region.
“DyStar is adopting a strategic approach as we enter this new phase, focusing on the changing needs of our customers and aligning with current market trends to enhance DyStar’s long-term business efficiency,” said Xu Yalin, managing director and president of DyStar Group. “This decision demonstrates our strong commitment to overcoming challenges and investing in emerging technologies and capabilities to strengthen our competitive position in the market.”
“We are committed to ensuring a smooth relocation process and are excited about the new opportunities that this move will bring,” added Clement Yang, vice president, Global Manufacturing, DyStar Group. “Our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest level of service our customers have come to expect, and we look forward to continuing to grow in our new location.”
Following the strategic decision of the sale and subsequent consolidation of manufacturing activities, some positions will be impacted. DyStar remains committed to provide extensive support to affected employees, including offering opportunities within other sites in the United States. This move is an important part of our long-term strategy for growth, and we deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of all our employees during this transition.
The move of DyStar Carolina Chemical facility to DyStar LP in Reidsville is expected to take place over the next twelve months, with an expected completion by end of 2025 or early 2026. The consolidated facility at DyStar LP, coupled with added capability from DyStar Carolina Chemical, will eventually drive DyStar Americas towards our goal of improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing overall productivity. Customers can expect better proximity with an advanced infrastructure that is scalable for the future growth once the move is completed.
GRAZ, Austria — February 13, 2025 — International technology group ANDRITZ supplied and recently commissioned a state-of-the-art neXline airlay system for Revibat, France.
From left to right: Alexandre Butté, ANDRITZ; Sophie Bretillon Charrier, Revibat; Nicolas Brousse, Revibat; Alexis Gautier, ANDRITZ; Jörg Eberle, Schott & Meissner, in front of the ANDRITZ neXline airlay system at the opening ceremony. Photo — ANDRITZ
This innovative line, inaugurated at the beginning of February, enables the production of building insulation panels from glass wool waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills.
With the new ANDRITZ line, Revibat can now transform complex waste collected in the Paris region into valuable products. The patented process addresses two major challenges: giving a second life to insulation glass wool waste and reducing the carbon footprint across the entire production chain.
The line processes up to 1,500 kg of fiber per hour and is specifically designed to produce a unique nonwoven material, marking a significant step toward a circular economy in the insulation industry.
Nicolas Brousse, CEO of Revibat, states: “Our new ANDRITZ neXline airlay system represents a major milestone in our market as it enables us to start producing building insulation panels from glass wool waste. Our goal is to expand this solution across France, getting as close as possible to the waste and thereby minimizing our carbon footprint. Working with the experts at the ANDRITZ technical center in Cours has been a pleasure and essential for the development of this unique product.”
Revibat specializes in manufacturing construction materials from recycled building waste. Its mission has been to find a viable solution for the recycling of glass wool, a challenge that had previously remained unsolved. With a state-of-the-art laboratory, Revibat processes glass wool waste on an industrial scale, aiming to position itself as a key player in supporting eco-organizations in their efforts to collect, consolidate, and recover building waste and materials.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — February 12, 2025 — BOKSER Textiles, a provider of hospitality textiles, today announces the adoption of CiCLO® technology, a patented textile ingredient designed to help reduce the impacts of microplastic pollution from synthetic fabrics — a first-of-its-kind for the industry. The new Shoreline Collection of Top Sheets, made from recycled polyester and infused with CiCLO biodegradable technology, helps deliver a new level of sustainability to the hospitality linens category by reducing the persistence of microplastic pollution in the environment.
The BOKSER and CiCLO partnership introduces a new offering for hotel groups nationwide. The constant use and laundering that hotel fabrics endure result in a vast amount of unavoidable synthetic textile shedding, contributing to the increase in microplastic pollution in our environment. Fibers that shed from synthetic fabrics during manufacturing, use, laundering, and disposal are the most prevalent form of microplastic pollution found in all environments worldwide. When blended with CiCLO technology, synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon maintain durability and high performance but can also biodegrade at rates similar to wool, reducing the long-term environmental impact of synthetic microplastic pollution.
“Our Mission at BOKSER is to be the most affordable supplier of sustainable hospitality textiles. Partnering with Intrinsic to bring their cutting-edge CiCLO technology to the hospitality industry helps us take a big step forward in protecting our planet for generations to come,” said Ed Guzek, president of BOKSER.
“We are thrilled to partner with BOKSER to bring CiCLO technology to hotels nationwide. Through our work with BOKSER, we will deliver the luxury of sleeping on high-quality, sustainable bedding while simultaneously moving the industry towards a better future,” said Hector Torres, Global Sales Director, Home & Hospitality at Intrinsic Advanced Materials.
SEOUL, South Korea — February 12, 2025 — To further drive its business expansion in the US, Hyosung TNC has appointed industry expert, Malvina Hoxha, as its new U.S. director of Marketing.
At Hyosung, Hoxha will direct the company’s U.S. marketing team in the promotion of Hyosung’s specialty fibers and fabrics to targeted brand and retail accounts. Additionally, she will manage joint development and promotional programs with key industry partners.
Based on the U.S. East Coast, Hoxha has years of experience in the textile, fashion, and retail markets. She has led strategic roles throughout her career from business development, marketing to sourcing and developing products with organizations such as, Ralph Lauren, Lenzing Tencel, and Chargeurs. Hoxha holds a business degree from Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and an MBA certificate from Cambridge Judge Business School in circular economy and sustainable business models.
“Malvina brings a wealth of resources to our team,” said Sora Yoo, Hyosung chief marketing officer. “Her extensive expertise in navigating the complexities of product development, branding, retail, and consumer needs will reinforce our position as a leading textile solutions provider in the U.S.”
With offices in more than 29 countries, 77 cities and 119 business sites, Hyosung can locally support and interact with the international value chain. Together with Hyosung’s Fashion Design Center (FDC) Team who forecast trends and create fabric stories and samples in the context of global trends, Hyosung’s Global Brand Marketing Team supports brands and retailers with design concepts, textile, and product development, and facilitate the promotion of products made with Hyosung specialty fibers to consumers.
CARY, N.C. — February 12, 2025 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, in partnership with Nonwovens Industry magazine, is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2025 IDEA® Achievement Awards. These awards recognize the most innovative new product introductions in the nonwovens and engineered materials industry since the last IDEA event in 2022.
The IDEA Achievement Awards celebrate excellence in product innovation across multiple categories, with nominees evaluated on creativity, novelty of approach, uniqueness, and technical sophistication. The awards will be presented during IDEA25, the global event for nonwovens and engineered fabrics, taking place April 29-May 1, 2025, in Miami Beach, Fla.
Periodic Products, Inc. – MetalXtract® Filter Media
IDEA® Raw Materials Achievement Award
BASF SE – SAVIVA® B 800
OrganoClick AB – OC-Biobinder®
Woolchemy NZ Ltd – neweFibre
IDEA® Short-life Achievement Award
Egal Pads, Inc. – Egal™ Pads on a Roll
Hello Hazel, Inc. – Hazel® High & Dry Brief
Swoobie – Swoobie Bra Liner
IDEA® Sustainability Advancement Award
HIRO TECHNOLOGIES – The World’s First MycoDigestible™ Diapers
KINDCLOTH™ – PURA HEALTH Insect Repellent Water-Dissolvable Wipes
OrganoClick AB – OC-Biobinder®
These innovations reflect the industry’s commitment to advancing technology, sustainability, and performance in nonwoven materials. The Finalists will be voted on by industry professionals and the winners will be announced live at IDEA25.
For more information about the Finalists and how to vote, visit: www.ideashow.org/2025-awards-finalists
To register for IDEA25, visit: https://ideashow.org/
Posted: February 12, 2025
Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
BRUSSELS — February 12, 2025 — The wait is over! EDANA Innovation Forum 2025 is officially open for registration, inviting pioneers from across the nonwovens industry to gather at Station F, Paris, on June 11-12, 2025. Designed as a hub for bold ideas, breakthrough technologies, and fresh perspectives, this event promises an inspiring mix of keynote sessions, interactive discussions, and innovative ideas.
This year’s forum is all about collaboration and cross-industry learning. By bringing together start-ups, researchers, scientists, and business leaders, the event aims to bridge gaps, spark new ideas, and challenge the status quo. Expect engaging workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and real-world case studies that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Whether you’re looking for fresh insights, new partners, or the next big breakthrough, this is where the future of nonwovens takes shape.
To foster an immersive and highly engaging environment for connection, exchange, and collaboration, we are limiting registration—secure your spot in time!
Call for Papers: Share Your Innovations!
Innovation is a condition for business continuity and growth. As such, and as part of the event, EDANA has issued a Call for Papers to welcome best practices and real-life examples for innovating in the nonwoven industry! Presentations should align with one of the three key focus areas:
Materials
Technology
Applications
If you want to participate, you can send your abstract to giovanna.merola@edana.org, by 20th February 2025, with the following information:
A suggested title
3-4 bullet points
Contact details of the speakers
Why should you join?
Unparalleled Networking: Meet industry leaders, researchers, and start-ups at Europe’s biggest start-up hub.
A Platform for Ideas: Showcase groundbreaking projects and exchange insights with decision-makers.
Fresh Perspectives: Get inspired by cross-industry innovations and the latest advancements shaping nonwovens.
With limited spaces available, securing your spot early is essential!
You can register and find all the information on the following page:
MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — February 12, 2025 — Removing foreign parts from cotton is a challenging task. That’s why our T-SCAN technology features multiple modules that detect contaminations and reliably eject them as part of our blowroom process. After establishing T-SCAN in cotton ring lines, our Indian customers are now enjoying the benefits of our intelligent solutions in rotor applications.
When cotton travels out of fields and into spinning mills, it sometimes carries a few unwelcome passengers. Leaves, stems, stones, plastic or jute particles from transport bags, bits of metal or shreds of paper can find their way into cotton bales. Some of these foreign parts sneak past the first cleaning steps in the blow room. Colored parts and plastics like polypropylene create particularly big problems for spinners: They can cause yarn breaks during spinning and weaving, take dye in a different way than the raw material and therefore show up on the surface of the final textile product. And if that happens, the yarn might get rejected or returned to the spinner! In ring spinning, sophisticated yarn clearers with an option to detect and cut polypropylene and colored contaminants are the main solution to this problem. However, the usage of such a yarn clearer in rotor spinning is in practice very limited, especially the detection of polypropylene.
The answer? T-SCAN! Our state-of- the-art system ejects foreign parts out of cotton via its comprehensive range of sensor modules for detecting contamination. The TS-T3 and TS-T5 are the latest versions of this market-proven technology. They empower spinners to maximize quality and avoid costly rejections – even when dealing with low-contrast, small or thread-like foreign parts. This technology detects and removes a wide variety of polypropylene types, such as transparent or glossy polypropylene, or polypropylene that reacts to different UV light intensities. Especially in the rotor and recycling segments, these foreign part separators can be a good solution to effectively deal with contaminants.
Proven performance in the rotor and recycling segment
Ashish Raval, Vice President Spinning, Nandam Terry: “Installing TS-T3 and TS-T5 technologies has drastically reduced color contaminations and improved fabric appearance, satisfying high-end brands and our end users.”
Real-world tests from Trützschler customers, particularly in rotor applications, are confirming the impressive capacity to kick out contaminations, boost quality and avoid rejections with our TS-T5 and TS-T3 systems. Nandam Terry and Nandam Denim are among those pioneering customers. The companies are one of the biggest denim manufacturers based in Ahmedabad, India. They make 45 tons per day of denim and 10 tons per day of terry towel products.
“Since installing TS-T3 and TS-T5 technologies, we have drastically reduced color contaminations with minimum ejection of cotton,” says Ashish Raval, Vice President Spinning. “The appearance of our fabric has improved very much and we are now selling contamination- controlled yarn to high-end brands. Our end users are really happy.”
Muthupalaniappa M., Senior Vice President (Technical), Thiagarajar Mills Ltd.: “The TS-T5 has significantly improved our yarn quality by reducing contamination and is easy to operate and maintain, with great support from Trützschler.”
Thiagarajar Mills Ltd. in Madurai, India, is a vertically integrated group in South India known for quality fine yarns and fabrics. The company runs 25 Trützschler machines to produce 250 tons of yarn per month for denim products. After successfully establishing TS-T5 in ring spinning, the customer continued with our foreign part separator in rotor spinning.
“The quality of our yarn, in terms of contamination, is much improved with the TS-T5,” says Muthupalaniappa M, Senior Vice President (Technical). “It is easy to operate and maintain, with improved cleaning for polypropylene. Along with great support from the Trützschler team, we are making excellent progress with the various challenges related to contamination.”
Blue Rose Cotspin LLP. is happy with the performance of the TS-T3. From left to right: Ganesh Bansal (Chairman), Sawant Singh Kulhari (General Manager of the plant) Ashwani Garg (Managing Director) and Vikas Bansal (Managing Director).
Further positive feedback recently arrived from Blue Rose Cotspin LLP. This company based in northern India produces 20 tons of yarn per day, mainly for hosiery and weaving customers. “We have not received any complaints about contamination since installing the TS-T3 from Trützschler,” says Ashwani Garg, Managing Director.
“The performance is excellent and it’s capable of ejecting all types of contamination while protecting good fibers. The auto-calibration is really valuable for us.” Kamal Kumar, owner of Patiala Gold LLP, is enthusiastic about the user-friendly cleaning and maintenance of the TS-T3: “This reduces downtime to an absolute minimum without any loss of performance.
Kamal Kumar, Managing Director, Patiala Gold LLP: “The TS-T3’s user-friendly maintenance minimizes downtime and boosts production efficiency compared to other foreign part separators”
Based in Samana, Punjab, the company operates twelve Trützschler cards with IDF, producing up to 30 tons of rotor yarn per day, mainly for bottomweight and bed sheets. “Compared to other foreign part separators, the production efficiency of our blow room and card lines is significantly higher with the TS-T3,” says Kamal Kumar.
Blue Rose Cotspin and Patiala Gold are using the TS-T3 in rotor recycling applications, even for polycotton blends. They have also placed repeat orders for their new units based on the performance of the TS-T3.
Info: Minimal Maintenance, Maximum Effiency
The TS-T5 and TS-T3 achieve maximum foreign part separation with very low levels of good fiber loss. They are energy-efficient solutions that use up to 80 % less compressed air than comparable systems. The TS-T5 and TS-T3 also have minimal requirements for cleaning and maintenance, which customers value highly. Their range of functions and detection modules are unique in the market.
CINCINNATI — February 12, 2025 — Michelman is proud to announce that the state-of-the-art fiber sizing line, which it has partnered with IACMI – The Composites Institute and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to operate, will be the first operational line at Innovation South, a multi-use facility in UT’s Research Park at Cherokee Farm. The announcement comes as part of an open house that IACMI is hosting for members at Innovation South on February 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
Michelman’s 70-foot modular fiber sizing line is designed to apply advanced chemical coatings, known as fiber sizings, to help create composites that are lighter, stronger, and more versatile. Designed and funded by Michelman and provided to UT Knoxville as part of a growing relationship, the equipment enables hands-on training for next-generation engineers. It provides a faster pathway from research to commercialization and allows stakeholders to customize their constituent materials for tailored fiber-matrix interfaces, which are critical to composite performance. Located within UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, Innovation South spans 85,000 square feet and offers cutting-edge resources for research and development. The facility features a 40,000-square-foot high bay and laboratory area. It is the home of both the UT Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility as well as IACMI’s headquarters.
This versatile open-innovation space is designed for collaboration among UT faculty and students, government, and industry professionals to develop, prototype, and test advanced composite materials for state-of-the-art manufacturing applications including high-tech aerospace, automotive, and gas storage.
Steve Bassetti, Michelman Director of Global Marketing
“We’re honored to take part in Innovation South’s open house,” said Steve Bassetti, Director, Global Marketing, Fibers & Composites at Michelman. “This facility represents an extraordinary collaboration between industry, academia, and government, and we are thrilled that the Michelman fiber sizing line will be the first line up and running. This achievement underscores our commitment to driving innovation and advancing the composites industry.”
At the event, Steve will briefly address attendees to provide insights into Michelman’s longstanding partnership with IACMI and to provide an industry perspective regarding the power of on-going collaboration among manufacturers, academia, and government.
Uday Vaidya
According to Uday Vaidya, IACMI’s Chief Technology Officer, work is underway evaluating a variety of sizing solutions for a range of reinforcements including carbon, glass, and natural fibers. “The Michelman line offers unlimited avenues for innovative chemistries that result in tailored fiber-matrix interfaces and composite properties,” said Vaidya. “The development phase is cost-effective and derisks stakeholders, since small and medium batch sizes can be evaluated before moving to production scale.”
Michelman and IACMI will continue to showcase their leading roles in the development of advanced composites at JEC World 2025. Michelman’s fiber sizing solutions will be showcased at booth 5E135. Sizing experts will be available to discuss applications for basalt, glass, carbon, and natural fibers. IACMI will exhibit in booth 6Q32.
ZÜRICH, Switzerland — February 12, 2025 — Reju is a purpose driven materials regeneration company focused on creating innovative solutions for recycling polyester textiles and PET waste. Owned by Technip Energies, a world-leading engineering and technology company, Reju is using proprietary technology to establish a circular ecosystem for textile recycling to reduce global plastic found in textiles
Dr. Christian Schindler
Christian Schindler, director general of ITMF, stated that “at ITMF we are delighted that Reju is joining the federation as a Corporate Member. This will strengthen ITMF’s position as a platform for the entire global textile value chain. Including companies like Reju in ITMF that are at the forefront of recycling and circularity solutions is very important. The textile industry is under enormous pressure from legislators, brands and increasingly from end-consumers to become more circular. Companies along the entire textile value chain have to work closely together to identify ways and means to scale and speed up recycling and circularity solutions. ITMF offers Reju a unique global network that covers all continents and segments from fiber to garment and home textile producers”.
Patrik Frisk
Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, commented that “we are pleased to be joining ITMF as a corporate member and working together to develop solutions that are both with and for the textile industry.”
For more information about the Reju, please go to www.reju.com
For more information about ITMF, please go to www.itmf.org
Posted: February 12, 2025
Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)
MIDLOTHIAN, Va. — February 14, 2025 — Fi-Tech is excited to announce the addition of Joe Bernard to its sales team as Sales and Market Development manager. In this role, Bernard will be responsible for market development and customer management in the Northeast, Mid-West and Western USA in addition to other duties on the sales team.
