LEIPZIG, Germany — September 30, 2024 — The next-generation TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer, specifically designed for the textile and nonwovens industries, offers updated features and a cloud-based database. The TSA distinguishes itself by simulating the sensory capabilities of the human hand through sound and deformation analysis, providing objective measurements of haptic parameters such as surface softness, surface smoothness, stretch, and recovery behavior. Notably, the TSA delivers these results in just 90 seconds — a significant reduction in time compared to traditional hand-panel testing methods.
TSA2
Further enhancing its capabilities, the lab instrument now measures thermal properties and includes improved methods for assessing springback behavior, as well as an integrated camera for capturing detailed sample images. These features offer unparalleled precision in analyzing textile haptic qualities. Comparative studies have demonstrated that the TSA’s results correlate up to 100% with traditional hand-panel testing conducted by touch experts, underscoring its accuracy and consistency.
The emtec TSA builds on its success in the paper industry and has been recognized for its innovative features. At the recent Techtextil North America in Raleigh, it was honored with the Innovation Award 2024 in the “New Product” category. This award underscores the TSA’s role in setting new standards for haptic measurement in the textile and nonwovens industry.
Another unique selling point of the TSA is its seamless integration into the cloud-based Virtual Haptic Library, which was developed in collaboration with Black Swan Textiles. This online database categorizes the digital TSA sample data and enables authorized personnel worldwide to access the information in real time. This innovation significantly streamlines quality assurance and control and reduces the worldwide sample shipping to verify haptic properties, resulting in a significant return on investment.
“As the desire for automated and sustainable processes continues to evolve in the textile and nonwovens industry, the need for precise and reliable haptic measurement test methods has never been greater,” says Alexander Gruener, Global Business Development Manager at emtec Electronic. “The TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer not only meets this need, but also sets a new benchmark in haptic testing. We look forward to showcasing this advanced solution at ITMA Asia + CITME 2024 and demonstrating how the TSA can simplify quality assurance, product development and supply chain management.”
Visitors to ITMA Asia + CITME 2024 are encouraged to visit Roachelab at booth H8-A03 to explore the latest advancements in haptic quality testing, including new methods for digitization.
SINGAPORE — September 30, 2024 — Britain-based climate tech company Matter and Paradise Textiles, the material science and innovation hub of the Alpine Group, has announced a groundbreaking collaborative project to bring Matter’s Regen.™ for Textile Production to market — a microfiber filter specifically designed for textile manufacturers. This pioneering technology aims to tackle the urgent issue of global microfiber pollution, setting a new standard for sustainable practices in the textile industry.
Created by Matter, Regen. for Textile Production represents a major advancement in sustainable textile manufacturing. This filter efficiently removes microfibers during textile manufacturing processes. It is powered by Matter’s patented self-cleaning filtration technology to deliver a low energy, low cost microfiber capture solution that offers effective wastewater filtration without the carbon impact.
The technology also reduces chemical use, prolongs the life of water reuse systems and significantly cuts operating costs. A single manufacturing site could save up to 3 million kilowatt-hours annually and capture over 90 tonnes of microfibers*, reducing carbon emissions over 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Sindre Østgård, Lewis E. Shuler II, Adam Root
Working in collaboration with Paradise Textiles, Regen. for Textile Production, which is currently in its R&D phase, is set for installation at Paradise Textiles’ new state-of-the-art low impact fabric mill in Egypt by Q4 2025. Once operational, it will serve as a showcase of the technology for manufacturers and brands keen to adopt the new filtration device.
This announcement builds on the launch of Matter’s successful microfiber filter for home laundry systems with BSH, under the brands Bosch and Siemens. Matter, who raised $10 million in their Series A funding round in 2023, are backed by investors including S2G Ventures, SOUNDwaves, and Regeneration.VC, the climate tech fund backed by Leonardo DiCaprio.
Unveiling Regen. for Textile Production, and its collaboration during Regeneration.VC’s Annual Meeting at New York Climate Week, Matter and Paradise explained how Regen. for Textile Production offers a revolutionary solution capable of reducing microfiber pollution across all 150,000 global textile factories, which are estimated to be responsible for 20 percent of the world’s clean water pollution.
Microfiber shedding is a major contributor to microplastic pollution, a significant concern as these tiny particles are now found in our water, air, soil and food sources. Scientific studies have revealed alarming evidence that microplastics infiltrate the human body and have been linked to serious health concerns, including respiratory issues and chronic conditions. The global textile manufacturing industry is responsible for around 120,000 tonnes of microfiber emissions per year, resulting from production, dyeing and washing, underlining the need for urgent industry change.
The collaboration between Matter and Paradise Textiles has been instrumental in advancing Matter’s industrial program for textile manufacturing. Paradise Textiles, part of the Alpine Group, an end-to-end fashion supply chain partner, recognized the game-changing potential of Matter’s technology for the textile industry and proactively approached Matter with the opportunity to collaborate. Leveraging their expertise in textiles and fiber pollution mitigation, Paradise collaborated closely with Matter to explore how this innovation could be adapted and scaled within textile manufacturing, setting the stage for this groundbreaking collaboration. Over the last 2.5 years, they have provided insights into textile processes, funded early research, and helped shape Matter’s Microfibre Assessment Program (MAP) to establish a service model and maximize fiber capture across Alpine Group’s facilities. Alpine Group, a major producer of materials and apparel, manufactures for brands including The North Face, Lululemon, American Eagle Outfitters and Puma. With over 15 facilities worldwide, Alpine represents the breadth of the apparel industry.
Adam Root, founder and CEO of Matter, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Paradise Textiles on this groundbreaking project. It will demonstrate to the fashion industry that a viable solution to this colossal problem of microplastic pollution is within reach. Having co-pioneered the Microfibre Assessment Programme (MAP), which is already benefiting the rest of the industry, it’s an exciting next step to work on this project together to cap microfiber pollution from textiles production and drive further, much needed, change towards a circular solution.”
Lewis Shuler, head of Innovation at Paradise Textiles, said: “At Paradise we are committed to collaborating with industry innovators and brands to make a material difference for the future of the fashion and textile industry. Matter’s Microfibre filter presents us with an effective way to reduce the environmental impact of the textile and apparel manufacturing process, whilst also reducing operational costs, which is a real game-changer for the industry. We look forward to continuing to drive this exciting project forward and exploring new ways to implement sustainable technologies that can transform the industry at scale.”
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — September 26, 2024 — TRSA’s 111th Annual Conference concluded today in Colorado Springs, Colo., where its new board members were elected at its Annual Business Meeting.
Randy Bartsch, Chairman of Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service
Randy Bartsch, chairman of Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service, based in Vancouver, Canada, was elected as the 68th Chair of TRSA’s Board of Directors. Bartsch made history as the first elected leader from outside the United States. Bartsch’s major objective as the new chair of TRSA is to focus on promoting environmental sustainability and the efficacy of reusable linen and textiles.
Bartsch believes that the industry and North American economy are at an inflection point with mixed growth and consolidation, and he envisions a future with opportunities for both national and independent laundry operators. “My preference is to see a robust and diverse industry where independent operators can learn and grow,” Bartsch said.
Outgoing chair, Jim Kearns reflected on his tenure as TRSA chair, highlighting significant progress in advocacy, developing Environmental Social Governance (ESG) resources, and promulgating industry best practices Through support of TRSA’s Executive Management Institute (EMI) programs leadership development and Hygienically Clean Certification. He emphasized the rewarding journey of generating positive change in the textile services industry. “I am confident in Randy’s leadership to continue these efforts and encourage TRSA members to stay involved and support the industry’s ongoing progress,” Kearns said.
TRSA President & CEO Joseph Ricci expressed his gratitude to Kearns for his dedicated service and warmly welcomed Bartsch as the new chair. “Jim has been an exceptional leader, driving significant progress in advocacy and reinforcing industry best practices. We are deeply thankful for his contributions and the positive impact he has made for the industry and TRSA,” Ricci said. “As we welcome Randy, we are excited about the future. His commitment to sustainability, certification and education will undoubtedly steer TRSA toward continued growth and innovation. I encourage all members to support Randy as we embark on this new chapter together.”
TRSA also elected additional Officers and Directors including P.J. Dempsey, president, Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply as vice chair and Roger Harris, president & CEO, Metro Linen as treasurer.
Additional directors elected during the conference included:
Scott Burke, president, Loop Linen (2nd Term )
Rich Kramer, president, City Uniforms and Linen
Ed Orzetti, CEO, ImageFirst
In addition, the TRSA Supplier Partner Council has elected Anwer Shakoor, vice president, Unitex International Inc., as the director candidate representing Soft Goods.
Bartsch added a message to members: “The TRSA Board of Directors represents the interests of the industry’s diverse membership, including our independent operators, national and international companies as well as our supplier partners. Each of us are an important part of an essential service that supplies, launders and maintains linens, uniforms and other reusable textiles and facility services for customers in every sector of the economy. We must work together to strengthen our industry, and create a more sustainable future for our customers and the communities we serve.”
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands — September 27, 2024 — The ZDHC Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Francesco Pianca as its new chief programme officer, effective 1st November, 2024.
Francesco Pianca
Francesco Pianca brings over a decade of experience leading sustainability initiatives at global brands. He joins ZDHC after a 10-year tenure at Burberry, where he spearheaded the transformation of the supply chain’s sustainability and chemical management practices. Prior to that, he served in senior roles, including Corporate Sustainability, Environment, Product Safety, and Global Head of Quality Assurance at Benetton Group.
Throughout his career, Francesco has been a key driver of cleaner, safer and more sustainable practices across the fashion industry. His leadership has raised environmental standards and fostered a culture of continuous improvement within supplier networks and manufacturing sites.
Reflecting on his journey, Francesco remarked:
“The supply chain transformation we’ve driven together has been one of the proudest achievements of my career. We learned and grew together, proving we can achieve cleaner products and emissions with better chemistry. I look forward to continuing this mission at ZDHC, working alongside a community of dedicated and passionate partners that I always admired.”
Frank Michel, ZDHC’s CEO, added: “Francesco’s visionary approach and commitment to sustainable transformation will play a key role in advancing our mission. I got to know Francesco well during his service on our Board of Directors, and I enjoyed his genuine passion for our work. His experience and leadership align perfectly with ZDHC’s goal to accelerate safer chemical management globally, and we are thrilled to have him join our team.”
As Chief Programme Officer, Francesco will play a pivotal role in advancing ZDHC’s 2030 Strategy, which will focus on cleaner chemistry for resource efficiency, carbon reduction, biodiversity protection, and circularity.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C — September 27, 2024 — AATCC extends an open invitation for all interested professionals to have a seat at the table and help shape the future of textiles by registering to participate in upcoming committee meetings. These volunteer-led committees create the test methods, measurements, specifications, and educational resources that enable quality, safety, sustainability, and innovation across textile supply chains worldwide.
Guidelines for textile processing, manufacturing, testing, and compliance are improved through the lending of invaluable expertise by committee members. Unique perspectives that promote innovation and establish baseline metrics are contributed by participants. Insider access to emerging technologies and trends influencing textile materials, production methods, safety testing, sustainability measures, and cutting-edge inventions on the horizon is gained through engagement with these pivotal committees.
AATCC provides platforms for students, industry experts and everyone in between to contribute their passions and insights. These platforms include open committee meetings, technical resources, networking opportunities, and more. Committee participation is free and open to all who desire to learn, as well as to lead progress. By engaging with AATCC’s diverse array of committees, volunteers can directly influence the responsible, informed, and sustainable advancement of textiles globally.
Administrative Committee Meetings
AATCC members determine the direction of the Association. Attend virtual Administrative Committee Meetings to learn or lead new projects for conferences, membership, education, and more. There is no fee to attend, and your input is welcome. The fall series includes meetings with the technical committees on statistics and editorial review. Whether you are a math nerd, a language fanatic, or just a textile fan, there’s a place for you in an AATCC committee!
Research Committee Meetings
Join AATCC members and other industry stakeholders to help develop and revise standards and testing materials used around the world. This year AATCC is hosting the Research Committee Meetings at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) located at 12 Laboratory Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC. AATCC extends its gratitude to Underwriters Laboratories Inc. for providing their space to host the fall 2024 meetings.
If travel isn’t an option, you can still join meetings remotely. Meetings are open to all—no membership or fee required. If you’re looking for leadership experience, an opportunity to boost your reputation as an expert in your field, or a way to give back to the industry, this is your chance! A complete schedule of meetings and events is posted online. Advance registration is appreciated to facilitate planning.
Herman and Myrtle Graduate Student Paper Competition
The Herman and Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition aims to enhance the textile education experience for student members of AATCC. The intent is to encourage independent student research globally. Students who are working on research regarding application of colorants, chemicals, and polymers or textile design and coloration, chemical processes, and materials of importance to the textile industry are eligible to submit an entry.
New this year, the top four graduate entries for the competition will have 15 minutes to present their paper on-site at the 2024 AATCC Fall Research Committee Meetings. Cash prizes are awarded to winning entries. The first-place prize is $1,000.00, second place is $ 800.00, and third place is $ 600.00. All prizes will be awarded in USD. Winners are recognized during the meetings.
Get Involved
AATCC committee meetings are working meetings. They are also an opportunity to meet people from across industry and around the world. Whether the discussion focuses on defining sustainability or choosing the location for an upcoming conference, there is always something new to learn and room to share.
LENZING, Austria — September 27, 2024 — The Lenzing Group, a supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, announces that LD Celulose International GmbH (the Issuer), a wholly owned subsidiary of its Brazilian joint venture, LD Celulose S.A. (LDC), has successfully priced the offering of Green Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $650 million.
The Green Notes, which mature on January 25, 2032 and bear a coupon of 7.950 percent per annum, were met with high demand from institutional investors.
Part of the new financing structure of LDC with a total value of $1 billion is also a syndicated term loan in the amount of $350 million. LDC intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, in addition to an amount equivalent to the proceeds from the disbursement under the term loan, and cash on hand, to permanently repay in full the existing financing agreements and to allocate an amount equivalent to the proceeds of the offering of the notes to finance and refinance eligible investments in accordance with the Green Financing Framework.
Rohit Aggarwal
“The Lenzing Group has been a pioneer in the sustainable textile and nonwovens industry and the production of dissolving wood pulp for decades and has a clear plan to further green its production,” said Rohit Aggarwal, CEO of the Lenzing Group. “The investors’ interest for LDC’s Green Notes is also a result of our sustainability efforts.”
Nico Reiner, CFO of the Lenzing Group: “With the successful transaction, LDC will convert the existing project financing, which enabled the erection of one of the world’s largest dissolving wood pulp plant, into a standalone corporate finance structure. It is another milestone for the joint venture after having surpassed expectations in respect of its nominal design capacity of 500,000 tons per year.”
The Green Notes will be issued by the Issuer and guaranteed by LDC and LD Florestal S.A. The Green Notes will be listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — September 26, 2024 — IPE, experts in production management, order tracking, time/attendance/payroll, and quality control for sewn products and other labor-intensive product manufacturers, announces two significant new developments that promise to streamline prospective and existing customer interactions.
The newly redesigned GetIPE.com website details how IPE’s IP-Batch™ and IP-Realtime™ solutions and services empower manufacturers to improve productivity and efficiency measurably. The new site, built on WordPress, the world’s most popular content management system, features new video presentations alongside expanded product information, customer reviews, in-depth analysis of industry issues, and news and events content.
GetIPE.com also integrates the all-new IPE Help Desk online portal to streamline customer self-help and live support needs. This solution features an extensive IPE Knowledge Base and a Support Ticket solution that ensures customers get the help they need faster and more efficiently than ever before.
The IPE Knowledge Base includes dozens of self-help tutorials and reference videos, reference guides, and demonstration videos. The Support Ticket tool empowers IPE clients to file, track and manage all support interactions (tickets) with IPE. It will give customers a higher first-contact resolution rate for operational and system optimization requests.
“We are proud to bring these important tools to existing and future clients,” said IPE Managing Partner and 40-year manufacturing technology veteran Brad Mikes. “Since founding IPE, we have been recognized for our industry-focused products and customer-centric business approach. These recent developments represent our continued commitment to our customers and the competitive industries we serve.”
NEW YORK CITY — September 26, 2024 — Woolmark, the global authority on wool and the wool industry, is proud to introduce Woolmark Teach, the first email newsletter created specifically for educators in the Americas.
Published and distributed three times per year, Woolmark Teach will provide educators with the latest wool news, including industry updates, events, educational opportunities and more. Interested parties can subscribe here: https://www.woolmarklearningcentre.com/subscribe/
“Our work at Woolmark goes well beyond simply supporting wool producers and the brands that offer products made with wool,” said Angela Jabara, Trade & Education Extension lead for the Americas with The Woolmark Co. “Among other things, our mission includes ensuring the next generation of textile professionals are well versed in the amazing sustainability, performance and innovations associated with the use of wool, and we’re hopeful this newsletter will become a resource and a point of engagement for educators across the Americas.”
The wool lab at Hong Kong resource centre.
Woolmark is active throughout the supply chain, working with everyone from manufacturers to universities, providing organizations with resources to learn about, create, and sell wool products.
A wide range of opportunities are available to textile industry educators, including custom workshops, tailored educational content, consultations, student mentorship, speaking engagements, and more.
As the go-to resource for wool, Woolmark is proud to provide support for students and educators in many ways, including the online Woolmark Learning Center, custom Wool Fundamentals presentations, and now the Woolmark Teach newsletter.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — September 26, 2024 — At this year’s ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 textile machinery exhibition in Shanghai from October 14-18, members of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association, will introduce technologies to assist regional manufacturers in the production of more sustainable fabrics for today’s increasingly demanding markets.
China’s mills, for example, currently consume more than 50 percent of all of the world’s fibers and its synthetic fiber manufacturers are responsible for over 70 percent of global production.
To meet their sustainability goals, many leading brands are now looking for the incorporation of even higher percentages of recycled fiber into the yarns that their products are made from.
“Many Chinese cotton spinning companies have been processing yarn mill waste for decades using rotor spinning technology, which is best suited for recycled yarns that contain a high short-fiber content,” says TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson. “In the past, the practice of incorporating a percentage of recycled content into yarn blends has not been anything to do with meeting sustainability goals, but simply about achieving an acceptable quality with the cheapest available fibers. Now, however, these mills are in the position of potentially being able to charge a premium for yarns containing higher recycled content.”
According to the Zurich-based International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA), China has installed just under four million new rotor spinning spindles since 2015.
The potential is huge and this industry-wide development puts high demands on changing and adopting production with upgraded technologies not only in spinning, but also further up the production chain, something that TMAS members are well aware of and prepared for.
Eltex ACT-R for weaving looms
The ACT-R is designed to be fitted after the prewinder, and can be used on any type of rapier machine.
The subsequent weaving of yarns with recycled content requires special consideration, which is where TMAS member Eltex, with its ACT-R technology, can help.
The Eltex ACT-R is a stand-alone device designed to automatically keep weft yarn tension at a constant and required value on rapier weaving machines.
“This is especially important when weaving with recycled yarns because the quality of the yarn packages can be much more irregular,” said Eltex Senior Sales Engineer Daniel Sauret. “Shorter staple fibers result in inconsistencies and are prone to breakages, but the ACT-R system automatically compensates for any differences in weft yarn tension that may originate from such irregularities, regardless of whether the yarn package is full or almost empty.”
The ACT-R is designed to be fitted after the prewinder, and can be used on any type of rapier machine, regardless of its age.
“Our ACT-R is a completely plug and play, stand-alone system and self synchronizes without any communication with the weaving machine,” explained Eltex CEO Brian Hicks. “This is important, because many older weaving machines are still in operation worldwide, and the ACT-R enables instant improvements to be made without upgrading these machines in any way. We have achieved fantastic results for weavers working with recycled yarns who have been amazed at the difference in consistent quality and uninterrupted production that can be achieved.”
As a pioneer in the adoption of electronic sensors by the weaving machinery industry, Eltex of Sweden is marks its 60th anniversary this year.
That the company’s timeline aligns with the acceleration of weaving machine production speeds from around 150-200 picks per minute back in the 1960s to up to 1,200 picks per minute today is no coincidence — Eltex sensor technology has made a significant contribution to enabling today’s fault-free, high-speed production.
Vandewiele’s accumulated know-how
Vandewiele X4 yarn feeder with integrated active tension control (ATC).
Advanced weaving control is also the bedrock of business for Vandewiele Sweden AB, which benefits from all of the synergies and accumulated know-how in fabric formation of the market-leading textile machinery builder Vandewiele Group.
The company supplies its weft yarn feeding and tension control units for weaving looms to the majority of the leading weaving machine manufacturers around the world, as well as for retrofitting in working mills, and will present its latest X4 yarn feeders with integrated accessory displays at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024.
X4 feeders are available in three different versions — with an integrated tension display (TED), with integrated active tension control (ATC), or with rapid tension control (RTC).
With TED, a manual setting of the weft feeder’s brake ring is digitally shown as a value that can be transferred to other weft feeders located on other weaving machines. It also displays alarms when they occur, for easier visibility. With ATC-W, the position of the S-Flex Tensioner is constantly monitored by an internal sensor — maintaining tension through the full weaving cycle to reduce waist and to improve the fabric quality, Machine learning AI. The Rapid Tension Control (RTC) is a fast reacting, programmable weft tensioner system. It allows “within-the-pick” adjustment to different tension levels, achieving the optimal tension required for the complete weft insertion cycle. The system requires only one device to be set for the weft tension. The integrated panel is easily used for electrical opening and programmable settings.
Baldwin TexCoat digital spray unit installed on a Monforts stenter.
TexCoat G4 for faultless finishing
TMAS member Baldwin is meanwhile revolutionizing the traditional water and energy-intensive pad-dry-cure finishing process with its TexCoat G4 unit.
The TexCoat G4 precisely applies chemistry, including softeners, antimicrobials, durable water repellents, flame retardants, resins and most other water-based chemicals across a textile’s surface only where it is required, on one or both sides of the fabric. The system can therefore reduce water, chemistry and energy consumption by up to 50 percent compared to traditional pad application processes.
Baldwin already has multiple installations in China adding fluorocarbon-free durable water repellents to technical fabrics, including one in partnership with a major European sporting goods retailer.
Baldwin has further just announced a collaboration with Monforts, the German leader in dyeing and finishing equipment and Archroma, the manufacturer of, among other leading products, fluorocarbon-free durable water repellent finishes.
A full-width Baldwin TexCoat digital spray unit is currently being installed on a stenter frame at the Monforts Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) in Mönchengladbach, Germany, to enable extensive trials to be carried out on an industrial scale.
“We strongly believe that this partnership will be greater than the sum of its parts,” said Rick Stanford, Baldwin’s vice president of Business Development for Textiles. “Together, we will support dyeing and finishing manufacturers in their development projects, boosting the quality and performance of their finished products, while at the same time maximising the productivity and resource utilization of the finishing application process. This is the first time our three companies have committed to working together with a focus on bringing transformative change to the dyeing and finishing space. It will result in significantly lower energy, chemical and water consumption with increased productivity and higher quality for fabric finishers.”
“We are really looking forward to being in Shanghai again and connecting with customers old and new to present Swedish innovations for the good of our customers as well as the planet,” concluded Therese Premler-Andersson.
Posted: September 26, 2024
Source: The Swedish Textile Machinery Association, (TMAS)
VALENCIA, Spain — September 26, 2024 — Jeanologia has joined the Open Lab initiative, a project led by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) and the H&M Foundation. The initiative aims to create a dynamic hub for the entire textile value chain, driving innovations to tackle the challenges of climate change.
Hong Kong’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre
Located in Hong Kong’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre, this lab spans 1,800 square meters and is dedicated to the research and development of sustainable textile solutions. It will host more than 80 projects focused on sustainability and serve as a meeting point for brands, manufacturers, and suppliers to develop scalable technologies that promote greater circularity and efficiency in the industry. The lab bridges the gap between research-phase innovations and their practical application in textile production.
Jeanologia, aligned with HKRITA’s values, is part of the Open Lab ecosystem, contributing its technology and R&D to advance the Green Machine project. As Enrique Silla, CEO and founder of Jeanologia, explained: “The creation of the Open Lab presents a unique opportunity to unite brands, manufacturers, and suppliers in a collaborative, innovation-driven environment. We are confident that, together with HKRITA and the H&M Foundation, we will make significant strides toward a more circular and efficient textile future.”
In this cutting-edge space, Jeanologia has introduced some of its most advanced technological solutions aimed at reducing water, chemical, and energy use in the textile industry. Key innovations include the H2 Zero water recovery system, a closed-loop process that allows for the reuse of water without chemicals, while also minimizing energy consumption. The lab also features the eco-efficient Smart Box washing line, which significantly cuts water, energy, and chemical use during textile washing. Additionally, e-Flow technology uses nanobubbles to precisely apply chemicals to garments with minimal water and zero waste. Another highlight is the G2 technology, which uses atmospheric air to generate ozone that interacts with textile dyes to create authentic worn finishes on garments, all without emissions and with substantial savings in water and chemicals.
The new Open Lab, funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong government and housed at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, aims to become a global leader in applied research and industrial solutions. At the heart of the facility is the Pilot Plant, an industrial-scale recycling line designed for demonstrations and technology testing. It also features the Green Machine 2.0, which separates polyester fibers from PET-cotton blended textiles at scale, with the capacity to recycle up to one ton of material daily.
The Open Lab is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024, cementing its status as one of the world’s most advanced centers for sustainable textile technology R&D.
Globally recognized for its disruptive innovations, Jeanologia reaffirms its leadership in transforming the textile industry with its involvement in this ambitious project. The Spanish company emphasizes its collaborative approach to addressing the pressing sustainability challenges the sector faces.
“We firmly believe that the future of fashion will be eco-efficient, and through partnerships like this one, we are building that future today,” Silla, added. “Technological innovation is key to solving the industry’s most urgent challenges.”
LEIPZIG, Germany — September 30, 2024 — The next-generation TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer, specifically designed for the textile and nonwovens industries, offers updated features and a cloud-based database. The TSA distinguishes itself by simulating the sensory capabilities of the human hand through sound and deformation analysis, providing objective measurements of haptic parameters such as surface softness, surface smoothness, stretch, and recovery behavior. Notably, the TSA delivers these results in just 90 seconds — a significant reduction in time compared to traditional hand-panel testing methods.
