Filtration Basics: Quiet Giant

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VORTEX baghouse dust collector, from industrial air cleaning and filtering equipment company Torch-Air.com.

For U.S. manufacturers, technical demands and the strategic importance of filtration products are creating new opportunities.

Textile World Special Report

Like many technical textile applications, filtration technologies are often undervalued and overlooked by everyday consumers and professionals alike.

Wherever air has to be cleaned, water clarified, or process streams kept on spec, there is almost always a textile hidden in the system. As manufacturers, utilities and regulators have asked more of filtration — collecting finer particles, hotter gases, harsher chemistries — U.S. textile producers have shifted from basic textiles to engineered nonwovens and laminates designed around specific performance targets. Filtration has emerged as a significant technical outlet for U.S. textiles at a time when much commodity production has come under pressure. Industry analyses place the global nonwoven filter media market in the multibillion-dollar range, with one recent estimate valuing it at $6.55 billion in 2022 and projecting it to reach nearly $10 billion by 2030. INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, also identifies filtration as one of the key North American nonwovens end-use segments in its outlook work.

Meeting Basic Needs

In the early days of industrial filtration, textiles were used largely because they were available, not because they were engineered for the task. Woven cotton and wool fabrics — some felted — were pressed into service wherever a porous barrier was needed to keep solids out of water, air, or product. Municipal water plants relied on sand beds and simple filter cloths to hold back grit, while factories used cloth bags and basic screens to catch dust and fibers before they fouled machinery or finished goods.

As industrial processes intensified, those materials reached their limits. Higher throughputs and more aggressive chemistries exposed the weaknesses of traditional fibers, prompting broader adoption of synthetics such as polyester, polypropylene and nylon. Nonwoven technologies, meanwhile, made it possible to create thick, three-dimensional felts capable of trapping particles throughout the structure rather than only on the surface. In many operations, what had been a simple fabric became an engineered component.

Environmental regulation accelerated that evolution. As air-quality standards tightened, fabric-filter baghouses became established in cement, metals, power generation and waste-to-energy operations. Those systems depend on textile filter bags that can withstand hot, dust-laden and chemically aggressive gas streams while maintaining acceptable pressure drop and service life. Producers responded with structures based on aramids, PTFE and glass, along with finishes tailored to specific dust loads and cleaning methods.

In-Plant Filtration

Filtration also became more important inside manufacturing plants. Dust, lint and airborne fibers were increasingly treated not just as housekeeping concerns but as occupational and product-quality issues. Textile operations installed dedicated air- and lint-filtration systems around weaving, knitting and finishing, while improved liquid filtration for process water, dyes, coatings and auxiliary chemicals helped reduce downtime and improve consistency.

Nonwoven technologies added another layer of capability. Spunbond and melt-blown processes gave producers new ways to tune fiber diameter, web structure and basis weight for particular air- and liquid-filtration duties. Multilayer constructions — for example, a spunbond backing carrying a fine melt-blown layer — delivered higher efficiency without sacrificing strength or processability. Melt-blown media in particular became important where very fine fibers and high surface area were needed, including high-efficiency air filtration and some liquid applications.

As commodity textiles came under pressure from offshore production, many U.S. plants leaned more heavily into technical products, including filtration. Industry observers have pointed to filtration textiles, along with other performance fabrics and nonwovens, as one route away from price-driven competition and toward application-specific business with higher value added.

A Variety Of Constructions

From a manufacturing standpoint, filtration textile development starts with a basic question: What does the application require? The answer usually determines fiber selection and whether a producer relies on woven, knitted, or nonwoven constructions, or combines several in a composite.

Polyester and polypropylene continue to account for a large share of air and liquid filtration where temperatures are moderate and a balance of cost and performance is acceptable. Where processes involve hotter gases or more aggressive chemistries, producers report greater use of aramids, PTFE and glass to prevent softening, shrinkage, or chemical attack. In that sense, fiber choice sets the operating window for a medium before fabric construction is even considered.

Engineered wovens remain important where dimensional stability and mechanical strength are central. By adjusting yarn size, monofilament or multifilament construction and weave design, manufacturers can target specific pore geometries and flow characteristics. Those fabrics are widely used in press cloths and belt filters in mining and chemical processing, where media must tolerate abrasion, pressure and mechanical cleaning.

Knitted structures play a narrower but still significant role. Warp-knit spacer fabrics and other knits serve as support or flow-management layers in spiral-wound membrane modules and some multilayer laminates. In those applications, the textile is there primarily to maintain channel spacing and support more fragile layers rather than deliver the main filtration performance.

Nonwovens have become central in many air- and a growing number of liquid-filtration applications. Needle-punched constructions are standard in dust-collection bags and industrial air filters, valued for their depth-filtration behavior and manageable pressure drop. Spunbond and melt-blown nonwovens, often used together, dominate many high-efficiency HVAC and cleanroom filters and are common in industrial cartridges. The ability to tune fiber diameter, porosity and thickness allows producers to balance efficiency, dirt-holding capacity and energy consumption in ways that differ from traditional wovens.

Air, Liquid And Process

In practice, textile-based filtration tends to appear in three broad categories: air, liquid and process. One INDA-based market analysis described the North American filtration market as about $21 billion in end-user sales in 2019 and projected it to approach $27 billion by 2024, illustrating the scale of the opportunity for media suppliers and converters. Textile World’s reporting on the North American nonwovens filter market, drawing on INDA data, described filtration as the most diversified of the nonwoven end-use categories, spanning more than 30 major market segments.

On the air side, nonwoven and composite constructions are common in industrial dust collectors and HVAC systems. Needle-punched fabrics provide depth filtration that captures dust through the thickness of the media, while surface treatments encourage the dust cake to release during cleaning rather than blind the pores. Higher-efficiency applications often rely on melt-blown layers and finer fibers to raise capture performance without pushing pressure drop beyond acceptable limits. The broader North American air filter market is also growing, with one forecast estimating an increase from $5.29 billion in 2025 to $7.21 billion by 2030.

The Largest Segment

In liquids, textiles are used wherever solids need to be separated from water, oils, or more complex fluids. Woven and nonwoven media appear in belt presses, filter presses, cartridge and bag filters. Mining and chemical plants rely on robust woven filter cloths to handle abrasion and pressure in dewatering duties, while food and beverage operations use nonwovens and engineered fabrics to keep products clear and consistent. Liquid filtration is also the largest segment of the broader industrial filtration market, accounting for 57.6 percent of global revenue in one 2024 market summary.

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A variety of N95 respirator masks (Image courtesy of CDC/Pexels)

Process filtration cuts across both air and liquid. In power generation, cement and metals, high-temperature filter bags made from aramid, PTFE and glass-based felts are used to control particulate emissions. In transportation and industrial equipment, cartridge filters built with nonwoven media protect engines, hydraulic circuits and lubricating systems from wear-causing particles. Across these examples, the task is similar: matching fiber, structure and finishing to the demands of the stream.

Innovation In Fiber And Finish

Although the main constructions are well established, much of the recent innovation has occurred at the fiber and finish level. Finer fibers and bicomponent designs provide more surface area and more tightly controlled pore structures, which can be used to increase efficiency or reduce energy use. Multilayer structures let producers combine a robust backing with a delicate, high-performance surface layer tuned for a specific particle size or droplet behavior.

Finishing chemistry is another area of activity. Hydrophobic and oleophobic treatments are used to help shed water or oil in coalescing and separation applications. Antimicrobial treatments are being applied to nonwoven and technical textile media to inhibit microbial growth on filter surfaces, particularly in HVAC, appliance and some water applications. In industrial dust collection, specialized surface treatments can reduce blinding, improve cake release and extend the service life of filter bags between changeouts.

Energy consumption is also a growing focus. Every inch of pressure drop across a filter translates into fan or pump power. Media designed for lower resistance at a given efficiency, or that can be cleaned more effectively to maintain performance over time, contributes directly to plant-wide energy and emissions targets.

N95 — A Lifesaver

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for reliable domestic filtration capacity as demand for respirators surged and supply chains came under strain (see “A Necessary Filter,” Textile World). In 2020, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Behnam Pourdeyhimi, then executive director of The Nonwovens Institute and associate dean for industry research and extension at NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles, explained that N95 respirators are generally built as a sandwich of spunbond nonwoven layers that give the mask shape and protect an inner melt-blown filtration layer that captures microscopic particles such as viruses and bacteria. One key differentiation is that polypropylene can be made into fine fibers through meltblown processes and electrostatically charged, and that charge can be made stable and durable by using a variety of additives. Other materials such as polyesters and nylons are not capable of producing fine fibers in the same way and their charge durability and charge density are limited. Therefore, traditional textiles cannot offer the enhanced filtration made possible by electrostatic charge. The pandemic highlighted how important it is for the United States to maintain this manufacturing capability.

Room To Grow

The demands placed on filtration textiles are unlikely to ease. Tighter air and water standards, greater attention to indoor air quality and continuing pressure to reduce energy and waste all point toward higher performance expectations for filters. Market researchers tracking nonwoven filter media place global revenues in the high single-digit billions of dollars today, forecasting continued growth through the next decade. The broader industrial filtration market is also expanding, with one recent forecast projecting growth from $37.1 billion in 2024 to $47.1 billion by 2029. INDA’s North American outlook work likewise points to continued importance for filtration within the nonwovens industry as producers adapt to changes in trade, sourcing and downstream demand.

At the same time, recent supply-chain disruptions have drawn more attention to the value of domestic capacity for critical technical materials. For U.S. manufacturers, that combination of technical challenge and strategic importance suggests continued opportunity. Plants that can combine expertise in fibers, constructions and finishing with specific application knowledge — and that are willing to work closely with equipment makers and end users — appear well positioned to compete. The same demand-driven evolution that carried filtration textiles from utility cloth to engineered media is still underway, as customers ask more of the systems that keep air clean, water clear and processes running.

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FiltXPO™ Minneapolis

FiltXPO™ 2026, organized by Cary, N.C.-based INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, will take place Oct. 28-29, 2026, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Held every 18 months, the event brings together more than 1,200 filtration professionals and features more than 120 exhibitors showcasing technologies, equipment and solutions for air, liquid and industrial filtration applications.

Co-organized with the American Filtration and Separations Society, based in North Olmsted, Ohio, the Advances in Filtration Conference will highlight emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, sustainability initiatives, PFAS mitigation and applications in e-mobility and data centers. The program will include technical presentations, panel discussions and research posters from industry experts, academics and students. A Filter Media Training Course is scheduled for Oct. 26-27.

“FiltXPO is where technologies, industry leaders and business opportunities converge,” said Tony Fragnito, president and CEO, INDA. “This is the leading filtration event for companies looking to grow their business and engage with decision-makers who are shaping the future of filtration.”

The event also will feature the FiltXPO Innovation Awards, recognizing advances in air filtration, liquid filtration and equipment. Winners will be announced live during the exhibition.

2026 Quarterly Issue III

U.S. Textiles: Staying The Course

Rough water challenges even the best run ships and crews. High winds, cross currents and unseen obstacles can suddenly test even the strongest vessel.

This year’s textile events have felt a lot like that — U.S. mills and brands navigating their own rough seas. From the macro shocks of war, high energy prices and the lingering effects of COVID 19, textile manufacturers are universally challenged.

Undercurrents of nearshoring decisions, trade policy shifts and global price pressures are testing even well-managed companies, while leaps in technology and regulatory changes unexpectedly hit their path forward.

All in all, this isn’t really new water for U.S. textiles.

There is a deep history of offshoring, plant closures and strong companies facing unexpected shocks or final blows. But the industry also has a history of resilience and a remarkable instinct for finding a new path forward.

Both Techtextil Frankfurt and Techtextil North America echoed these challenges —and opportunities — this year.

As reported in this issue’s coverage of the Frankfurt show, “The overall situation reflects the current global uncertainty. Companies are cautious with investments and eager to cut costs,” said Matthias Schemken, managing director of Trützschler Nonwovens. “This is exactly where practical, efficient solutions become important.”

Beyond that practicality was a desire to look past the headwinds for a path forward; both shows shared the same tone — acknowledging the current situation while trying to see past it to the opportunities ahead.

Whether it was NASA’s discussion of a need for textiles in the Artemis program, or hemp fiber making new strides, there was —and still is — positive change to be embraced.

The Red Land Cotton cover story is a great example of looking at one’s strengths and fearlessly pushing forward for the company’s gain — and, in Red Land’s case, for the security of family and farm.

The nay-sayers can’t be discounted — and there are plenty of them. But navigating through rough waters has never been for the faint of heart.

An interesting detail of the Red Land Cotton story is easy to overlook. Red Land Cotton built a U.S.-based textile supply chain to take their Alabama cotton all the way through domestic manufacturing, to deliver heirloom sheets to consumers:

“We all got in the same room at Techtextil in Atlanta, in 2016, and by October of that year we had our first product to sell,” recalled Brakefield.

“Parkdale was there. Jim Hopkins [Hamrick Mills] was there. Brewster Yates was there. You know, so all of a sudden, they’re in this big room full of textile people and realize, hey, here’s our supply chain right here,” said Miller.

Anna Yeager Brakefield is a founder of Red Land Cotton and Jack Miller is the textile veteran instrumental in Red Land’s ability to navigate the U.S. textile industry.

But it goes to show that “being there” matters. Showing up, looking for opportunity, solving problems — U.S. textiles has weathered many a storm, and rough water or not, will continue to stay the course.

James M. Borneman
jborneman@TextileWorld.com

2026 Quarterly Issue III

U.S. Cotton, Nearshoring And The Resilient Supply Chain

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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol provides audited field-to-mill data and verified regenerative practices, validated on the ground and via satellite imagery, from a U.S. cotton industry built on about 14,000 farms and supporting more than 200,000 jobs.

As sourcing volatility reshapes brand decision making, U.S. cotton is being evaluated on more than raw material cost, including quality, traceability, compliance and nearshore supply chain performance.

By Liz Hershfield

The sourcing environment right now is unlike anything most of us have navigated in our careers. The trade landscape has shifted considerably, reshaping sourcing economics across multiple regions. Supply chains that looked efficient in one set of conditions have adapted quickly. And brands that optimized purely for cost are now reckoning with what it really means: margin exposure, lead time and the ability to respond when conditions change.

Fiber choice sits right in the middle of that reckoning. Where your fiber comes from, what you can verify about it and how it moves through the supply chain all have real consequences for cost, compliance and competitiveness. The brands thinking seriously about this are the ones building supply chains that can withstand a dynamic and volatile environment.

After 30 years in sourcing and supply chain, mostly on the brand side, I have learned that price is always a key consideration with U.S. cotton. But the question isn’t just raw material cost. It’s what the alternative actually costs you, in yields, compliance exposure, verifiable sustainability data and supply chain resilience. That’s where the real math lives and that’s the conversation worth having right now.

Quality That Delivers: From Field To Finished Garment

U.S. cotton’s fiber characteristics — length, uniformity and strength — consistently rank among the highest in the world. That matters at every stage of processing. Better fiber uniformity means fewer breaks in spinning, higher yields and more consistency in the dyeing and finishing stages. When you run the full cost-in-use analysis rather than stopping at price-per-pound, the gap with perceived lower-cost alternatives often becomes cost neutrality, if not cost savings.

This isn’t a claim I make lightly. Comparative fiber testing data backs it up and mills that have switched to U.S. cotton or increased their share of it report real, measurable improvements in processing efficiency. The technical work to prove this, done side-by-side with suppliers, is where COTTON USA’s team has been focused. We’re now extending that directly to brand partners — through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol — who want to deploy this service in their supply chains to take full advantage of all that U.S. cotton has to offer.

A Sustainability Story Backed By Data

Most U.S. cotton comes from multi-generational family farms. Many of these growers have been practicing soil health-focused, reduced-input farming for years, well before “regenerative agriculture” became an industry buzzword.

What has changed is the ability to verify and communicate that. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, now in its sixth year, gives brands field-to-mill audited aggregated data on water use, greenhouse gas emissions, soil health and energy efficiency. For the 2025 crop year, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol launched a dedicated Field Partner Program pilot for regenerative practices, testing a dual framework that combines verified practice adoption with quantifiable, data-driven outcomes, validated through field visits and satellite imagery analysis. Broader implementation is planned for 2026. This is serious, rigorous work: audited proof of practice at field level, not a marketing exercise.

Scrutiny on sustainability claims is intensifying. The EU Green Claims Directive is one example and U.S. regulatory attention is growing. Verified, supply chain-specific data has become a basic expectation, not a selling point. U.S. cotton also comes without the forced labor or deforestation risks that demand constant due diligence elsewhere. In the current environment, that clarity has real value.

CottonUSA
More brands are asking harder questions about fiber origin, inputs and proof, and turning to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol to trace garments back to U.S.-grown cotton through spinning, knitting, sewing and finishing in an audited, compliant nearshore supply chain — a story they can substantiate and build on.

The Latin America Connection: Nearshoring + U.S. Cotton

One of the biggest sourcing shifts I’ve watched over the past two years isn’t about fiber. It’s about geography. Latin America has gone from a supplemental sourcing option to a genuine strategic priority for many brands with U.S. distribution and the current trade environment has accelerated that considerably.

The reasons aren’t hard to see. Shipping times from Latin America to the U.S. run three to twelve days, making weekly replenishment cycles possible. That has direct consequences for inventory management: fewer markdowns, faster response to demand signals.

Trade agreements are also a meaningful part of the picture. Mexico and the U.S. have had a mutually beneficial trade relationship for more than 30 years. Today, USMCA offers duty- and tariff-free access for qualifying goods, helping to make Mexico one of the largest importers of U.S. cotton in Latin America. CAFTA-DR provides duty- and tariff-free entry for qualifying yarn-forward goods from Central America and the Dominican Republic and brands with strong rules of origin compliance are well-positioned to take advantage of that. CAFTA-DR’s FTA utilization rate reached 75.7% in 2025, up from 73% in 2024, reflecting growing investment in supply chains built to meet those requirements.

Across the region, the manufacturing offer has developed into a sophisticated operation: premium denim in Mexico and Guatemala; performance and activewear in Central America; and high-quality knitwear in Guatemala and Peru (which consistently ranks among the top three countries in the world by average apparel export price).

Additionally, there is the benefit — through the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol — of being able to trace a finished garment back to U.S.-grown fiber, through spinning, knitting, sewing and finishing, all within a compliant and audited nearshore supply chain: that’s a story more brands are starting to build and it’s one that resonates.

The Opportunity Ahead

The U.S. cotton industry continues to evolve by investing in technology, sustainability and technical support. For example, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol recently announced its partnership with Oritain implementing a forensic testing strategy to provide physical assurance along with the best-in-class digital traceability offering. Now, it’s time for brands to come to the table prepared to evaluate the full value case, not just compare price per pound.

The brands I keep an eye on are the ones asking hard questions about what goes into their products, where the fiber comes from and what they can actually prove. Some are smaller companies building natural-fiber commitments from scratch. Some are larger brands who are evolving their sourcing approach to include nominating fiber origin so they can benefit from a compliant supply chain and higher quality.

Connecting U.S. cotton to Latin American manufacturing, through strong trade partnerships, increased traceability and trusted supplier relationships, is a supply chain model with real integrity. It performs under pressure, it can be audited and it tells a coherent story from field to finished garment.

Behind that story is a U.S. cotton industry that supports communities in rural America, providing more than 200,000 jobs across roughly 14,000 farms. These aren’t passive operations waiting to be sourced from. They’re investing in their practices, their data and their connections to the brands and mills downstream. When you go and actually look at what’s been built, the case makes itself.

Editor’s Note: Liz Hershfield is Executive Director of COTTON USA™ and Director of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol.

2026 Quarterly Issue III

Textiles: Composite’s Secret Ingredient

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Bcomp’s flax composite material for BMW dash components demonstrates new natural fiber composite applications.
Textile reinforcements give composite materials their strength, form and manufacturing versatility across markets ranging from tires to aerospace, creating opportunities for textile professionals.

Textile World Special Report

To many people, the word “composites” brings to mind NASA rockets, aerospace applications and Formula One cars. But composites are also close at hand. The tires on a car depend on reinforcing cords and fabrics; a fishing rod may rely on carbon fiber; and boats, bicycles and building products also make use of composite materials.

In many cases, the textile component is largely out of sight. Yet it often helps determine how a product carries load, holds its shape, resists damage or can be manufactured efficiently. That is where the textile industry enters the composite story.

From woven glass fabrics and nonwoven mats to braided carbon preforms and 3D-woven structures, textile technologies give composite materials much of their practical utility. The same basic relationship between reinforcement and matrix appears in products ranging from tires and sporting goods to industrial equipment, infrastructure and aerospace structures.

The Textile Contribution

The role of textiles in composites becomes clearer when the materials are considered as a system. Fibers, arranged as yarns, fabrics, mats, braids or other preforms, provide reinforcement. Resin holds the structure together and helps transfer loads among the fibers.

A textile preform is more than fabric awaiting impregnation or coating. Its architecture is part of the engineering design. Yarn count, fiber type, weave construction, crimp, areal weight, porosity, thickness and fiber orientation influence stiffness, strength, impact behavior, permeability, surface quality and manufacturability.

In manufacturing, permeability is particularly important. It refers to how readily resin can flow through a dry textile preform during processes such as resin transfer molding or vacuum infusion. A construction that is difficult to wet out consistently can slow production or contribute to dry areas and voids in the finished part. The best textile choice is not always the reinforcement with the highest fiber properties; it is the construction that performs reliably in the intended process and end use.

A 2023 review published in Oxford Open Materials Science grouped textile preforms into four principal categories: woven, knitted, braided and nonwoven. Woven structures interlace warp and filling yarns; knitted structures use interlocking loops; braids intertwine yarns into flat, tubular or shaped forms; and nonwovens are fiber webs bonded mechanically, thermally or chemically.

Each architecture creates different technical and commercial possibilities:

  • Woven fabrics offer repeatable construction, dimensional stability and the ability to place yarns in defined directions.
  • Knitted structures can provide extensibility and conformability for complex shapes.
  • Braids can form tubular, tapered and other near-net-shape preforms, reducing the need to cut and assemble flat plies.
  • Nonwovens can support efficient coverage, isotropic or near-isotropic reinforcement and cost-effective molding systems.
  • Multiaxial noncrimp fabrics position fiber layers at selected angles and are used when designers seek directional reinforcement with limited yarn crimp.
  • Three-dimensional woven structures add through-thickness yarns, creating an integrated architecture rather than a stack of separate two-dimensional plies.

For textile manufacturers, the management implication is clear: a reinforcement supplier increasingly is expected to contribute to process capability as well as material supply. Textile construction affects lay-up time, scrap, resin use, cycle time, part quality and the degree of automation a fabricator can achieve.

Top Textiles Used In Composites

Composite reinforcements are identified by fiber chemistry but supplied in many textile forms. Glass fiber remains the dominant volume reinforcement because it balances cost, tensile performance and processing versatility. It is used in rovings, chopped strands, woven fabrics, mats and multiaxial constructions. Mordor Intelligence estimated that glass fiber represented 61.22% of the global fiber-reinforced composites market by revenue in 2025.

Carbon fiber provides high specific stiffness and strength relative to weight for aerospace, automotive, energy, sporting goods, industrial and defense applications. Its cost and processing requirements make material efficiency important.

Aramid offers toughness and impact resistance, while basalt, natural, ceramic and quartz fibers serve specialized needs. Natural fibers, including flax, hemp and other cellulosic fibers, are considered where renewable content, appearance, weight or particular sustainability objectives are relevant. Ceramic and quartz fibers serve high-temperature environments.

Ultimately, manufacturers select among unidirectional materials, woven or knitted fabrics, braids, mats, multiaxial constructions and shaped preforms based on the application, resin system, part geometry and manufacturing process.

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Bally Ribbon Mill’s patented 3-Dimensional Multifunctional Ablative Thermal Protection system (3-D MAT) involves 3-D weaving quartz yarns and infusing them with a cyanate ester resin for a 900% increase in tensile strength.

From Soft Goods To Structural Parts

Textile-based composites range from flexible coated fabrics to highly engineered aircraft structures. Flexible composites, such as coated fabrics, membranes, conveyor belts and protective materials, retain flexibility while textiles provide tear resistance, strength and dimensional stability.

Rigid structural composites use cured resin to form load-bearing parts reinforced with woven glass, carbon or aramid fabrics, nonwovens or chopped fibers. Sandwich composites combine lightweight cores with reinforced skins for bending stiffness at low weight. Other categories include textile-reinforced concrete and 3D textile composites.

Three-dimensional textile composites extend reinforcement architecture beyond layers stacked in a laminate. In 3D weaving, yarns are introduced through the thickness, or Z direction, rather than only in the length and width directions. This can improve resistance to delamination — separation between layers under load — and create complex, single-piece preforms. Textile World has reported that 3D weaving can reduce crack risk and production time in appropriate applications.

This range means that composites are not a single market for the textile sector. A supplier of high-volume glass mat faces a different competitive environment, capital requirement and quality framework from a company developing 3D carbon preforms for aerospace or defense structures.

Scale, End Uses And Value Chain

There is no single public measure that isolates the dollar value or tonnage of all textiles used in composites. Reinforcements can be sold as yarn, fabric, mat, prepreg, chopped fiber or a fabricated preform, and market reports do not always use identical definitions.

However, published composites data demonstrates the scale of downstream markets served by textile reinforcements. The American Composites Manufacturers Association, headquartered in Arlington, Va., reported that more than 1.9 billion pounds of glass-reinforced polyester/ vinyl ester thermoset composites were sold in the U.S. and Canada during the first half of 2025. ACMA identified construction as 34% of sales, infrastructure as 26% and transportation as 21%. The figure covers composite materials rather than textiles alone, but it provides a useful indicator of the markets supported by glass-fiber reinforcements.

At a global level, Mordor Intelligence estimated the textile composites market at $34.94 billion in 2026 and projected it would reach $49.70 billion by 2031. The figures should be treated as directional estimates rather than as an industry census because market definitions, forecasts and methodologies vary.

Common end uses include corrosion-resistant pipes, tanks, ducts and process equipment, marine hulls and structures, wind-energy components, automotive parts, rail and truck components, sporting goods, building panels, infrastructure products, aircraft components, protective equipment and consumer goods.

The property sought varies by application. A marine customer may value corrosion resistance and maintenance performance. A transportation manufacturer may focus on weight reduction, production volume and cost. An aerospace customer may place greater emphasis on repeatability, traceability, certification and long-term structural behavior. An infrastructure customer may prioritize durability, ease of installation and resistance to environmental degradation.

Modern High-Tech Applications

Some advanced textile-composite applications use fiber architecture to address structural or manufacturing problems that conventional flat laminates cannot easily solve.

Braided preforms can follow tubular, tapered and other complex shapes. They may reduce cutting, scrap and assembly compared with a process that begins with multiple flat plies. Multiaxial fabrics can position fibers at selected angles with limited yarn crimp. Three-dimensional weaving can integrate through-thickness reinforcement and support shaped, single-piece preforms.

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Kevlar EXO’s HA E230S, in a ceramic tile support application, is designed to enhance performance of rifle plate systems when compared to carbon fiber, fiber glass or aramid systems.
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation — IACMI, The Composites Institute® — headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., documented a project involving textile-grade polyacrylonitrile precursor, commonly called PAN, to produce lower-cost carbon fiber for a full-size injection-molded automotive component. IACMI reported an estimated 40% to 50% cost reduction compared with a commercial carbon-fiber benchmark used in the project.

The broader implication is not that all carbon-fiber applications will move rapidly into high-volume markets. Rather, lower-cost fiber pathways, more efficient preforming and faster molding processes can expand the range of applications where advanced reinforcements are commercially feasible.

The U.S. Department of Energy describes IACMI’s work as focused on lower-cost, higher-speed and more efficient manufacturing and recycling processes for advanced composites.

Demand For Textile Professionals

Composite manufacturing needs personnel who understand both textile formation and downstream part production. That demand extends beyond laminate technicians. It includes textile engineers, fiber and polymer scientists, weavers, braiders, process engineers, tooling specialists, quality professionals, automation engineers and technicians trained in cutting, kitting, lay-up, infusion, molding and inspection.

The need is especially clear when a preform is engineered rather than purchased as a commodity fabric. Teams must understand yarn handling, tension control, fiber placement, fabric drape, permeability, nesting of plies and defects such as wrinkles, gaps and misalignment. They also must connect textile variability with resin flow, void content, cure behavior and finished-part consistency.

For textile manufacturers, this creates an opportunity as well as a challenge. Traditional textile competencies — fiber handling, fabric construction, tension management and process control — are directly relevant to composites. However, companies seeking to participate in advanced-composite supply chains also need expertise in resin systems, fabrication processes, testing requirements, digital-manufacturing tools and customer qualification procedures.

ACMA has identified workforce training and outreach as industry priorities. The association provides educational resources for the fiber-reinforced polymer composites sector, including information relevant to material specification and construction applications.

IACMI includes workforce development as part of its mission. The institute connects industry, government and academia to advance the development and adoption of advanced-composites manufacturing technologies.

The Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, or SAMPE, headquartered in Diamond Bar, Calif., provides a complementary resource. Founded in 1944, SAMPE brings together professionals working in advanced materials and manufacturing processes through conferences, technical sessions and professional networking. Its relevance to textile-composite suppliers lies in the cross-disciplinary nature of product development: fiber and textile engineering must work alongside resin chemistry, tooling, automation, fabrication and end-use design.

For textile companies entering or expanding in composites, these organizations offer more than event calendars. They provide access to technical education, industry contacts and a clearer view of evolving customer requirements.

The opportunity for textile professionals lies in connecting their expertise in fibers, yarns, fabrics and preforms to the performance of the finished composite part. From reinforcing the tires on a car to enabling advanced aerospace structures, textiles give composites much of their strength, form and manufacturing versatility. Companies that understand both textile formation and downstream composite processing will be best positioned to turn that capability into new products, partnerships and markets.

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CAMX 2026: A Textile-Composites Connection

CAMX — the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo — offers textile-industry professionals a concentrated view of the downstream markets for fiber reinforcements and engineered preforms. The event brings together material suppliers, equipment producers, fabricators, researchers and end users, working across the composites value chain. For textile companies, the practical value is seeing how woven, multiaxial, braided, nonwoven and other reinforcement forms are specified, handled and incorporated into finished parts.

Produced by the American Composites Manufacturers Association, headquartered in Arlington, Va., and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, headquartered in Diamond Bar, Calif., CAMX 2026 will take place at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. The conference runs Sept. 21-24; the exhibition is scheduled for Sept. 22-24. The program includes technical presentations, education and hands-on tutorials, providing a useful venue for companies evaluating new applications, manufacturing methods and customer requirements.

2026 Quarterly Issue III

Cone Denim Announces Strategic Transformation To Better Serve The Global Denim Market

GREENSBORO, N.C. — September 3, 2026 — Cone Denim, a global denim innovator, today announced strategic transformation plans designed to better serve the global denim fabric market. The plans include strengthening Cone Denim’s focus on its established manufacturing platform in Mexico and the planned exit of denim manufacturing operations in China by year-end 2026. This repositioning follows a comprehensive review of the global denim market, Cone’s manufacturing footprint, customer sourcing needs, and long-term business strategy.

The decision follows careful consideration of economic, market, and geopolitical factors that have increasingly affected the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of operating denim manufacturing in China. Changing global trade dynamics, evolving customer sourcing strategies, cost pressures, supply chain considerations, and broader geopolitical developments all contributed to this determination.

“We are positioning Cone Denim for its next chapter of success, with a clear priority to continue delivering for our customers with the quality, innovation, reliability, and service that have defined Cone Denim for generations,” said Steve Maggard, President of Cone Denim. “Closing the China facility was a difficult but necessary decision as we position Cone Denim for long-term competitiveness in a changing global market. While this marks a significant change in our manufacturing network, our commitment to serving customers remains unchanged, and we are committed to supporting our customers, employees, suppliers, and local stakeholders through this transition with transparency, care, and disciplined execution.”

“At Elevate Textiles, we are focused on executing our strategy—winning in the marketplace for our customers, taking care of our employees, and generating returns for our investors,” said Jeffrey P. Pritchett, Elevate CEO and Member of the Board. “Transforming Cone Denim to meet our strategic objectives, including the planned exit from denim manufacturing operations in China, is an important step in sharpening Cone Denim’s focus on the markets, capabilities, and manufacturing platforms where it is best positioned to compete and win. By supporting customers through this transition and strengthening our established Mexico platform, we are building a more focused, resilient Cone Denim business for the future.”

Cone Denim will work closely with customers to support a smooth transition, continuity of short-term fabric supply, and planning for future sourcing needs. Company teams will engage directly with customers to understand requirements, support existing commitments, and provide transition information as it becomes available.

To support ongoing demand, Cone Denim will continue to focus on its established manufacturing operations in Mexico as the company’s go-forward denim manufacturing platform. The Mexico platform provides a strong foundation for serving customers across key markets and will play an important role in maintaining the quality, innovation, responsiveness, and service levels customers expect.

Maggard added, “We are grateful for the dedication of our employees and the continued partnership of our customers, suppliers, and local stakeholders who have supported our China operations over the years. We remain committed to treating our employees with respect, working constructively with local stakeholders, and managing this transition responsibly while strengthening Cone Denim’s platform for the future.”

Posted: September 3, 2026

Source: Elevate Textiles

Tiger Group Sells Fabrication And Assembly Equipment From Two U.S. Manufacturing Plants

LOS ANGELES — September 1, 2026 — Tiger Commercial & Industrial (C&I) has completed the sale of a portfolio of high-precision fabrication and assembly machinery and equipment (M&E), along with finished products and raw materials, from two U.S. plants.

Conducted on behalf of the secured creditors, the online auction featured M&E from the former Alpharetta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas, facilities of Auzmet, a national manufacturer of exterior building solutions such as composite metal panels, architectural façades and insulated wall panels.

Schlebach Quadro+ standing seam rollforming system

Tiger marketed a broad mix of equipment from the two facilities, including CNC routers, electro-mechanical plate shears, CNC folding machines, electro-pneumatic saws, and smart routers by brands such as Miller, Lincoln Electric, FomIndustrie, Schechtl and Schlebach.

Bidders in the 415-lot sale vied for plant-support M&E and rolling stock by brands such as Kaesar, Chevy and Mitsubishi, along with raw materials and finished-goods inventory originally valued at more than $1 million.

Tiger’s in-house auction and operations team leveraged its proprietary database of repeat buyers in composites manufacturing to drive demand across the offering, managing the entire sale and removal process across both facilities within a tight 30-day deadline set by the landlord.

“Our years of experience with aluminum fabrication equipment—including large-format panel builders from AXYZ Automation Group and units from Schechtl and Durma—gave us the ability to execute and quickly monetize the collateral,” said Jonathan Holiday, Senior Director of Tiger Commercial & Industrial. “The end result was a robust recovery for the secured creditors in a fraction of the usual timeframe.”

Posted: September 1, 2026

Source: Tiger Group

Randa Acquires UNTUCKit Brand And Operations

NEW YORK — September 1, 2026 — Randa Apparel & Accessories (Randa), a global leader in apparel and lifestyle accessories, today announced that it has acquired the UNTUCKit brand and operations.

UNTUCKit is a digitally native, New York-based menswear brand with more than 70 retail stores and a substantial e-commerce business. The transaction brings together UNTUCKit’s strong direct relationship with consumers and Randa’s financial strength and global reach to support the brand’s next phase of growth.

UNTUCKit Storefront in New Orleans

“We spent 15 years proving that a shirt built to be worn untucked could become a brand people trust,” said Chris Riccobono, UNTUCKit’s founder. “Randa brings something different: more than a century of relationships with the world’s leading retailers and suppliers, along with the global capabilities to help UNTUCKit reach its next stage.”

Founded in 2010, UNTUCKit built its name on the shirt designed to be worn untucked and grew into a leader in men’s dress and casual shirts, with a direct-to-consumer footprint spanning e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail. The transaction advances Randa’s strategy of building and investing in leading brands while moving closer to the consumer.

“UNTUCKit did the hard thing: it built a direct relationship with the consumer, store by store and click by click,” said Justin Spiegel, President of Randa. “Randa will add capital, global sourcing and market-leading retail relationships to that foundation. Together, we will accelerate the brand’s growth and introduce it to many more consumers.”

The UNTUCKit business and its leadership team will continue to operate from its SoHo headquarters in New York City.

Advisors

Randa: Consensus Consumer, a division of Origin Merchant Partners (financial advisor);
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (legal counsel)
UNTUCKit: PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC (financial advisor); Brown Rudnick LLP (legal counsel);
The Zegans Law Group PLLC (leasing counsel);
Hilco Global Real Estate (real estate and leasing advisor)

Posted: September 1, 2026

Source: UNTUCKit

Manufacturing PMI® At 54.6%; August 2026 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report —Manufacturing Expanded For The Eighth Consecutive Month

TEMPE, Ariz. — September 1, 2026 — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August for the eighth consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report.

The report was issued today by Susan Spence, MBA, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

“The Manufacturing PMI® registered 54.6 percent in August, 1 percentage point below the July figure of 55.6 percent. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 22nd month in a row. (A Manufacturing PMI® above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.) The New Orders Index expanded for the eighth consecutive month after four straight readings in contraction, registering 53.7 percent, down 3 percentage points compared to July’s figure of 56.7 percent. The August reading of the Production Index (58.3 percent) is 0.2 percentage point lower than the 58.5 percent recorded in July. The Prices Index remained in expansion (or ‘increasing’ territory), registering 71.1 percent, the same reading as July. The Backlog of Orders Index registered 51.8 percent, down 3.2 percentage points compared to the 55 percent recorded in July. The Employment Index reading of 51.2 percent is down 1.6 percentage points from July’s figure of 52.8 percent,” says Spence.

“The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated slowing performance for the ninth month in a row after one month in ‘faster’ territory. The reading of 59.3 percent is up 0.4 percentage point from its July reading of 58.9 percent. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® PMI® Reports index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)

“The Inventories Index registered 50.6 percent, down 0.6 percentage point compared to July’s reading of 51.2 percent. The Customers’ Inventories Index reading of 42.8 percent is 2.1 percentage points higher compared to the 40.7 percent recorded in July.

“The New Export Orders Index gained 0.2 percentage point in August for a reading of 53.2 percent versus 53 percent last month. The Imports Index registered 52.5 percent, a loss of 3.2 percentage points since July’s reading of 55.7 percent.”

Spence continues, “In August, U.S. manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory, though it has lost ground in a number of key measures — namely, the New Orders, Backlog and Imports indexes. Of the five subindexes that make up the PMI®, the only one that grew faster than last month was Supplier Deliveries (up 0.4 percentage point), indicating a continuing slowdown of the supply chain.

“In August, 42 percent of the comments were positive and 58 percent negative, with a 1-to-1.4 ratio of positive to negative sentiment. Pricing volatility was mentioned in 57 percent of negative comments, the Iran war 30 percent, increasing lead times 46 percent and tariffs 29 percent. (Most comments mentioned multiple factors.)

“In August, three of four demand indicators (the New Orders, Backlog of Orders and New Export Orders indexes) remained in expansion, and the Customers’ Inventories Index remained in ‘too low’ territory, contracting at a slower rate. A ‘too low’ status for the Customers’ Inventories Index is usually considered positive for future production.

“Regarding output, the Production Index expanded for the 10th month in a row (though at a slower pace) with the positive-to-negative comment ratio dropping in August (2.2 positive comments for every negative one, versus a 3.3-to-1 ratio in July). The Employment Index remained in expansion but lost 1.6 percentage points. The positive-to-negative comments ratio on Employment also dropped (1.3-to-1, compared to 1.5-to-1 the previous month).

“Finally, inputs (defined as supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and imports) were mixed, with the Supplier Deliveries Index increasing another 0.4 percentage point, the Inventories Index declining 0.6 percentage point but staying in expansion, and Prices Index repeating its July reading of 71.1 percent, and the Imports Index losing 3.2 percentage points, to 52.5 percent versus 55.7 percent in July.

“Looking at the manufacturing economy, 22 percent of the sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in August, compared to 20 percent in July, and 2 percent of manufacturing GDP was in strong contraction (defined as a composite PMI® of 45 percent or lower), compared to zero percent in July. The share of sector GDP with a PMI® at or below 45 percent is a good metric to gauge overall manufacturing weakness. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, five (Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products) expanded in August.”

The 15 manufacturing industries reporting growth in August — listed in order — are: Primary Metals; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Textile Mills; Furniture & Related Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Printing & Related Support Activities; Computer & Electronic Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products. The two industries reporting a contraction in August are: Wood Products; and Chemical Products.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING

  • “The economy is annoying; it is getting in the way of otherwise good business. We are making great new products but struggling to compete when prices escalate due to things like tariffs and the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. I fear that the inflation caused by these factors will lead to lower sales and lower spending power of our customers. Call it inflation! At some point, it leads to an economic downturn or at least an economic pain for many consumers. It’s an uncertain year, our second in a row.” [Chemical Products]
  • “For our building products division, profitability is not far off from last year despite economic headwinds, as our specialty products have maintained their market share and sales. Specific to IT, the rising costs in component inputs have caused some budgetary constraints as we plan for the 2027 fiscal year. However, we largely been able to keep costs close to historic consumer price index averages.” [Chemical Products]
  • “Supply chain situation, especially in the electronics market, is going through another crisis even bigger and more complicated than during and post COVID-19. That’s mainly due to AI infrastructure and uncertainties in the global market (for oil and other critical supplies) due to war in the Middle East and more complication on trade rules.” [Computer & Electronic Products]
  • “Supply markets are increasingly challenging due to inflation and supply availability. Each month has been more difficult than the previous one. Starting to resemble the post-COVID-19 disruptive period.” [Computer & Electronic Products]
  • “Prices continue to rise on all goods. Suppliers are noting that energy, steel and labor costs are increasing very quickly. We continue to try to move products around to offset costs. We have moved more products to offshore sources to try to minimize cost impacts.” [Machinery]
  • “Photonics, high speed connectors, semiconductors and government orders are expanding significantly. Supply chains domestically and globally are difficult, with increases in lead times and cost.” [Machinery]
  • “Commentary this month echoes that of recent months: (1) significant availability/price challenges in commodities heavily consumed by AI, (2) great uncertainty over when the Iran conflict will end, and (3) another round of shifting U.S. tariff policy. Despite these tensions, we continue to focus on what we can control, and the market for our products remains strong.” [Miscellaneous Manufacturing]
  • “This month is a blur: Steel prices continue to climb as supply diminishes, aluminum is rising after dropping, and there are many holes on the plate side. Demand seems to be a seesaw. Our prediction ability continues to diminish, with the exception that the year will remain difficult until the end.” [Primary Metals]
  • “High steel and aluminum prices (due to Section 232 tariffs) continue to make profitability a challenge. Uncertainty over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is at the forefront of many customer conversations. Our industry has also been hit with countervailing and anti-dumping penalties, further raising the cost of equipment.” [Transportation Equipment]
  • “Volume is consistent. Our main customer is shifting production from U.S. plants to Mexico plants.” [Transportation Equipment]
MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE

August 2026
Index Series
Index

Aug

 Series
Index

Jul

 Percentage

Point

Change

 Direction Rate of
Change		 Trend*
(Months)
Manufacturing
PMI®		 54.6 55.6 -1.0 Growing Slower 8
New Orders 53.7 56.7 -3.0 Growing Slower 8
Production 58.3 58.5 -0.2 Growing Slower 10
Employment 51.2 52.8 -1.6 Growing Slower 2
Supplier
Deliveries		 59.3 58.9 +0.4 Slowing Faster 9
Inventories 50.6 51.2 -0.6 Growing Slower 3
Customers’
Inventories		 42.8 40.7 +2.1 Too Low Slower 23
Prices 71.1 71.1 0 Increasing Same 23
Backlog of
Orders		 51.8 55.0 -3.2 Growing Slower 8
New Export
Orders		 53.2 53.0 +0.2 Growing Faster 2
Imports 52.5 55.7 -3.2 Growing Slower 7
OVERALL ECONOMY Growing Slower 22
Manufacturing Sector Growing Slower 8

ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.

COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY

Commodities Up in Price
Aluminum* (33); Chemicals; Copper (14); Copper Products; Corrugated Products (5); Diesel Fuel; Electrical Components (3); Electronic Components (8); Freight (6); Fuel (6); Memory Components (6); Metal Products (5); Oil Based Products (5); Plastic Based Products (5); Printed Circuit Boards (2); Resin Based Products (2); Resins (7); Semiconductors (3); Steel (10); Steel — Cold Rolled (2); Steel — Hot Rolled (8); Steel — Stainless (7); Steel Products (9); and Wire.

Commodities Down in Price
Aluminum*(3); and Solvents.

Commodities in Short Supply
Copper (2); Electrical Components (14); Electronic Components (18); Labor; Memory (8); Printed Circuit Boards (2); Steel (2); and Tungsten Products (2).

Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.
*Indicates both up and down in price.

August 2026 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

Manufacturing PMI®
The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in August for the eighth straight month following a 10-month period of contraction, registering 54.6 percent, a decrease of 1 percentage point compared to July. Of the five subindexes that directly factor into the Manufacturing PMI® — the New Orders, Production, Employment, Supplier Deliveries and Inventories indexes — all were in expansion territory, the same as in July. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, five (Transportation Equipment; Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products) expanded in August. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing sector is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A Manufacturing PMI® above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the August Manufacturing PMI® indicates the overall economy grew for the 22nd straight month. “The past relationship between the Manufacturing PMI® and the overall economy indicates that August reading (54.6 percent) corresponds to a 2.4-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis,” says Spence.

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Month Manufacturing
PMI®		 Month Manufacturing
PMI®
Aug 2026 54.6 Feb 2026 52.4
Jul 2026 55.6 Jan 2026 52.6
Jun 2026 53.3 Dec 2025 47.9
May 2026 54.0 Nov 2025 48.0
Apr 2026 52.7 Oct 2025 48.8
Mar 2026 52.7 Sep 2025 48.9
Average for 12 months – 51.8

High – 55.6

Low – 47.9

New Orders
ISM®‘s New Orders Index expanded in August with a reading of 53.7 percent, a decrease of 3 percentage points compared to July’s reading of 56.7 percent. “Of the six largest manufacturing industries, three (Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; and Transportation Equipment) reported increased new orders. Demand sentiment was less optimistic in August, with a 2-to-1 ratio of positive to negative comments (versus 3.5-to-1 in July),” says Spence. A New Orders Index above 51.9 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau’s series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

The 11 manufacturing industries that reported growth in new orders in August, in order, are: Textile Mills; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Primary Metals; Furniture & Related Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; and Plastics & Rubber Products. The three industries reporting a decline in new orders in August are: Wood Products; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

New Orders %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 19.0 65.4 15.6 +3.4 53.7
Jul 2026 25.6 60.2 14.2 +11.4 56.7
Jun 2026 22.3 64.3 13.4 +8.9 56.0
May 2026 30.9 55.2 13.9 +17.0 56.8

Production
The Production Index expanded in August for the 10th month in a row, registering 58.3 percent, a 0.2 percentage point decrease compared to July’s reading of 58.5 percent. “Of the six largest manufacturing industries, four (Petroleum & Coal Products; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; and Chemical Products) reported increased production. Panelists had a 2.2-to-1 ratio of positive to negative comments regarding output,” says Spence. An index above 52 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board’s Industrial Production figures.

The 12 industries reporting growth in production during the month of August — listed in order — are: Petroleum & Coal Products; Primary Metals; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Furniture & Related Products; Transportation Equipment; Paper Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Fabricated Metal Products. Two industries reported a decrease in production in August are: Wood Products; and Computer & Electronic Products.

Production %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 25.1 62.9 12.0 +13.1 58.3
Jul 2026 25.1 64.5 10.4 +14.7 58.5
Jun 2026 19.0 68.0 13.0 +6.0 52.2
May 2026 26.7 57.8 15.5 +11.2 54.3

Employment
ISM®‘s Employment Index registered 51.2 percent in August, 1.6 percentage points lower than July’s reading of 52.8 percent. “Of the six big manufacturing industries, only Transportation Equipment reported higher levels of employment in August. The panelist comment ratio of hiring to managing/reducing head counts was 1.3-to-1,” says Spence. An Employment Index above 50.3 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, seven reported employment growth in August, in the following order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Primary Metals; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment; and Fabricated Metal Products. The three industries reporting a decrease in employment in August are: Textile Mills; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. Eight industries reported no change in employment in August.

Employment %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 11.8 76.7 11.5 +0.3 51.2
Jul 2026 16.3 70.4 13.3 +3.0 52.8
Jun 2026 16.2 70.0 13.8 +2.4 49.7
May 2026 17.0 67.6 15.4 +1.6 48.6

Supplier Deliveries†
Delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in August for the ninth consecutive month. “The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 59.3 percent, 0.4 percentage point higher than July’s reading of 58.9 percent. Of the six big industries, five (Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Transportation Equipment) reported slower supplier deliveries,” says Spence. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.

The 14 manufacturing industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in August, in order, are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Textile Mills; Wood Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Paper Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; and Transportation Equipment. No industries reported that supplier deliveries were faster in August compared to July.

Supplier Deliveries %Slower %Same %Faster Net Index
Aug 2026 21.9 74.7 3.4 +18.5 59.3
Jul 2026 21.3 75.2 3.5 +17.8 58.9
Jun 2026 18.1 78.5 3.4 +14.7 57.4
May 2026 24.6 71.9 3.5 +21.1 60.6

Inventories
The Inventories Index registered 50.6 percent in August, down 0.6 percentage point compared to the reading of 51.2 percent in July. “Of the six big industries, two (Transportation Equipment; and Computer & Electronic Products) expanded inventories in August,” says Spence. An Inventories Index greater than 44.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

Of 18 manufacturing industries, the seven reporting higher inventories in August — in the following order — are: Textile Mills; Furniture & Related Products; Transportation Equipment; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; and Computer & Electronic Products. The five industries reporting lower inventories in August are: Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Chemical Products; and Wood Products. Six industries reported no change in inventories in August compared to July.

Inventories %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 14.7 73.6 11.7 +3.0 50.6
Jul 2026 11.0 78.5 10.5 +0.5 51.2
Jun 2026 15.4 70.4 14.2 +1.2 51.4
May 2026 18.1 65.4 16.5 +1.6 49.9

Customers’ Inventories†
ISM®‘s Customers’ Inventories Index remained in “too low” territory in August, with reading of 42.8 percent, an increase of 2.1 percentage points compared to the 40.7 percent reported in July. (For more information about the Customers’ Inventories Index, see the “Data and Method of Presentation” section below.)

The two industries that reported that customers’ inventories were too high in August are: Wood Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The 11 industries reporting customers’ inventories as too low in August, in order, are: Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Primary Metals; Machinery; Chemical Products; Transportation Equipment; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products.

Customers’
Inventories		 %
Reporting		 %Too
High		 %About
Right		 %Too
Low		 Net Index
Aug 2026 75 7.3 70.9 21.8 -14.5 42.8
Jul 2026 74 6.8 67.7 25.5 -18.7 40.7
Jun 2026 78 7.5 69.5 23.0 -15.5 42.3
May 2026 73 7.0 71.3 21.7 -14.7 42.7

Prices†
The ISM® Prices Index registered 71.1 percent in August, the same as in July, indicating raw materials prices increased for the 23rd straight month. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, five — Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products — reported price increases in August. “The Prices Index reading is still being driven by (1) increases in steel and aluminum prices that impact the entire value chain, (2) tariffs applied to many imported goods and (3) increases in petroleum-based products as a result of the Middle East conflict. Higher prices were reported by 46.2 percent of respondents in August, down 4 percentage points from July’s 50.2 percent,” says Spence. A Prices Index above 52.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.

In August, the 15 industries that reported paying increased prices for raw materials, in order, are: Textile Mills; Wood Products; Primary Metals; Furniture & Related Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Paper Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; Computer & Electronic Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. No industries reported paying decreased prices for raw materials in August.

Prices %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 46.2 49.8 4.0 +42.2 71.1
Jul 2026 50.2 41.7 8.1 +42.1 71.1
Jun 2026 55.1 35.7 9.2 +45.9 73.0
May 2026 66.3 31.5 2.2 +64.1 82.1

Backlog of Orders†
ISM®‘s Backlog of Orders Index registered 51.8 percent in August, a decrease of 3.2 percentage points compared to the July reading of 55 percent. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, three (Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; and Machinery) reported expansion in order backlogs in August.

The 11 industries reporting higher backlogs in August — listed in order — are: Textile Mills; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Plastics & Rubber Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; and Machinery. The four industries reporting lower backlogs in August are: Wood Products; Paper Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products.

Backlog of
Orders		 %
Reporting		 %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 91 19.7 64.2 16.1 +3.6 51.8
Jul 2026 91 23.5 62.9 13.6 +9.9 55.0
Jun 2026 88 20.4 60.2 19.4 +1.0 50.5
May 2026 87 20.4 63.5 16.1 +4.3 52.2

New Export Orders†
ISM®‘s New Export Orders Index remained in expansion territory in August, registering 53.2 percent, up 0.2 percentage point from July’s reading of 53 percent. “Among panelists’ comments, the positive-to-negative sentiment ratio was 2 to 1,” says Spence.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the nine that reported growth in new export orders in August — listed in order — are: Furniture & Related Products; Paper Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; and Computer & Electronic Products. The seven industries that reported a decrease in new export orders in August — in the following order — are: Wood Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal Products; and Machinery.

New Export
Orders		 %
Reporting		 %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 75 12.0 82.4 5.6 +6.4 53.2
Jul 2026 74 14.8 76.4 8.8 +6.0 53.0
Jun 2026 71 10.9 75.2 13.9 -3.0 48.5
May 2026 74 12.8 75.6 11.6 +1.2 50.6

Imports†
ISM®‘s Imports Index registered 52.5 percent in August, a 3.2-percentage point decrease compared to July’s reading of 55.7 percent.

The seven industries reporting higher imports in August — in the following order — are: Textile Mills; Transportation Equipment; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Plastics & Rubber Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products. The three industries that reported lower volumes in August are: Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. Eight industries reported no change in imports in August compared to July.

Imports %
Reporting		 %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Aug 2026 85 10.1 84.7 5.2 +4.9 52.5
Jul 2026 85 16.0 79.4 4.6 +11.4 55.7
Jun 2026 86 12.5 80.7 6.8 +5.7 52.9
May 2026 85 15.4 75.2 9.4 +6.0 53.0

†The Supplier Deliveries, Customers’ Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, and Imports indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.

Buying Policy
The average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures in August was 171 days, one day less than July. The average lead time in August for Production Materials was 84 days, a decrease of three days compared to July. The average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies was 48 days, two days less than July.

Percent Reporting
Capital
Expenditures		 Hand-to-
Mouth		 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days 6 Months 1 Year+ Average
Days
Aug 2026 18 3 8 13 31 27 171
Jul 2026 16 3 7 13 36 25 172
Jun 2026 16 5 7 15 30 27 171
May 2026 17 5 7 11 34 26 171

 

Percent Reporting
Production
Materials		 Hand-to-
Mouth		 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days 6 Months 1 Year+ Average
Days
Aug 2026 10 24 26 23 12 5 84
Jul 2026 8 23 25 26 13 5 87
Jun 2026 8 23 28 26 10 5 84
May 2026 8 25 27 25 11 4 81

 

Percent Reporting
MRO Supplies Hand-to-
Mouth		 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days 6 Months 1 Year+ Average
Days
Aug 2026 29 37 18 9 5 2 48
Jul 2026 26 38 18 11 5 2 50
Jun 2026 28 35 17 13 6 1 48
May 2026 27 39 16 12 4 2 48

 

Posted: September 1, 2026

Source: Institute for Supply Management

Made In Filo At Filo66: The Fabric Collection That Celebrates The Supply Chain

BIELLA, Italy — September 1, 2026 — The eagerly awaited “Made in Filo” collection is once again on show at the 66th edition of Filo. The fabric collection is designed and created by Filo with the aim of showcasing the potential developments of the materials exhibited at the fair to Filo visitors.

“Made in Filo,” now in its fourth edition, is a unique initiative among international trade fairs. To implement it, Filo has taken on the challenging task of “going into production itself.” The result is a collection of fabrics created from materials provided by exhibitors, which emphasizes the technical aspects of both the yarns used and the processes employed.

The project, along with Filo, involves exhibitors and several partner companies. This edition focuses on the three souls of “Botanica”, the theme of Filo66’s product development proposals, available on Filo website, filo.it. For “Spontaneous,” very simple yarns were used, but they lend a more natural feel to the fabric. “Expanded” embodies the concept of an Italian garden, with very subtle weaves and effects. “Hybridised” gives free rein to the imagination, with highly structured jacquards and much more technical yarns.

The “Made in Filo” fabric collection will be exhibited at the 66th edition of Filo in an area specifically dedicated to research and innovation. A preview can be seen in this short presentation video here: https://filo.it/made-in-filo-la-collezione-di-tessuti-che-esalta-la-filiera/

The 66th edition of Filo will take place on September 15 and 16, 2026, at Fiera Milano Rho, Hall 24.

Posted: September 1, 2026

Source: Filo

Textile Factory 7.0: Smart Jackets, Laser Technology And Microplastics

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — August 27, 2026 — As part of her summer tour, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Mona Neubaur, visited Textilfabrik 7.0 in Mönchengladbach to experience the project’s innovations first-hand. Under the motto “smart and clean”, the visit focused on innovative technologies and sustainable alternatives for textile production – from smart jackets to the decolourisation of textiles using fungal cultures.

Minister Mona Neubaur with T7 logo
Photo:© Tomas Rodriguez

Researchers from the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) of the Hochschule Niederrhein and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University presented Minister Neubaur, Mönchengladbach Mayor Felix Heinrichs and representatives of state politics with innovative technologies and processes developed as part of T7.

Textilfabrik 7.0 is being established in the Monforts Quartier as a real-world laboratory where innovative technologies and production processes are developed, tested under real-world conditions and further advanced for industrial application. The goal is to foster economically viable, CO₂-neutral and circular textile production in the Rhenish Mining Area. The halls of the T7-Factory in the Monforts Quartier are currently being equipped with machinery. The innovations already developed were presented to the visitors at the Technology Centre for Textile Finishing at Hochschule Niederrhein.

Smart: Making Textile Production Intelligent and Digital

Under the motto “smart”, the Minister explored a range of innovative technologies. She tested one of the project‘s smart jackets which recorded her movements and body data and visualised them via an app. Integrating sensors into textiles opens up new fields of application, particularly in the healthcare sector. Smart jackets, for example, can be used during physiotherapy exercises to digitally track movement patterns and provide targeted feedback.

At an embroidery machine, the visitors were also shown how conductive yarn can be integrated into textile structures. AI applications were demonstrated as well: artificial intelligence can be used to analyse natural fibres and, for example, determine material compositions more quickly and accurately. Project staff also presented digital manufacturing processes such as laser printing.

The Rhenish Mining Area is already shaping the future with innovative and sustainable solutions for industry and the people who live and work here. Digital applications, artificial intelligence and sustainable processes are not merely being demonstrated here; they are being further developed and tested. The focus is on products that are closely aligned with users’ needs. When smart jackets made from intelligent textile fabrics measure vital data, they can provide tangible support to help people stay healthy or regain their health. This benefits not only people, but also creates tangible opportunities for a competitive and sustainable textile industry,” said Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Clean: Sustainable Alternatives for Textile Processes

Under the motto “clean”, the project partners presented approaches for dyeing textiles using natural dyes, for example from tea or pomegranate peels. Alternative processes for decolourising and bleaching textiles are also being developed. Visitors were shown how a pair of jeans can be decolourised using either laser technology or fungal cultures. The resulting substance can even be used to produce vegan leather alternatives. The visitors also had the opportunity to view a set-up for detecting fibrous microplastics in wastewater from washing machines.

Mönchengladbach Mayor Felix Heinrichs said: “Today’s tour impressively demonstrated just how much textile expertise and innovative strength exists in Mönchengladbach and the surrounding region. A wide range of technologies and applications can already be experienced and tested here in practice. This highlights the potential that lies in bringing together science, industry and Mönchengladbach’s long-standing textile tradition, and the opportunities this creates for sustainable growth and prosperity in the future.

A Clear Shared Vision For The Future

The visit clearly showed: innovation does not solely happen in the laboratory. The crucial step is translating research into practical applications. This is what the researchers at Textilfabrik 7.0 are doing.

With its four core areas – On-Demand Manufacturing, MicroFactory Engineering, Digital Textiles and Biosphere – T7 combines technological innovation with sustainability and creates a platform for the textile production of tomorrow. At its heart is one shared question: How can textile production become smarter, cleaner and economically viable at the same time?

Prof. Dr. Rabe (Hochschule Niederrhein) and Prof. Dr. Gries (RWTH Aachen University) emphasised to the Minister that the motto “smart and clean” is not an abstract vision. It can already be experienced and tested in practice today and is ready for application.

About T7:

T7 is a joint project of the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing (FTB) of the Hochschule Niederrhein, the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University, the Association of the Northwest German Textile and Clothing Industry, the Association of the Rhenish Textile and Clothing Industry, the Textile Academy NRW, and the Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) through the “STARK” funding guideline for strengthening the momentum of transformation and fostering new beginnings in the coal regions and at coal-fired power plant sites, by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia under the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy (MWIKE) of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in accordance with the Framework Guideline for the Implementation of the Investment Act for Coal Regions (InvKG) in North Rhine-Westphalia (RRL), and by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

Posted: September 1, 2026

Source: Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University

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