Nonwovenn Expands PFAS-Free Ostomy Care Range

Nonwovenn, a global supplier of nonwoven fabric technologies, is expanding its PFAS-free, activated carbon filter media for ostomy pouches, addressing the medical sector’s growing demand for safer and sustainable filtration materials.

The new media combines odor and gas adsorption with low-pressure drop and carbon integration, while meeting evolving global regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In the EU, proposed PFAS restrictions under REACH and U.S. medical device regulations are intensifying compliance requirements.

“Demographic trends and regulatory changes are driving the need for next-generation ostomy care technologies,” said John Birkett, MediTech business director at Bridgwater, England-based Nonwovenn. “We’re focused on delivering high-quality PFAS-free filter media that meet the practical and regulatory demands of modern ostomy systems.”

Nonwovenn’s products are engineered without intentionally-added PFAS and supplied as roll goods or filter inserts for standard pouch formats.

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Freudenberg High-Performance Tapes Enhance Protection & Durability

Freudenberg Performance Materials will return to the Wire trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, April 13 17, to showcase its portfolio of high-performance cable tapes for power, data and specialty applications. The Weinheim, Germany-based company will present solutions for medium and high voltage cables — MV, HVAC and HVDC — including semiconductive and non-conductive water-blocking, binding, bedding, separation and specialty tapes.

The tapes enhance cable protection and durability through advanced swelling performance and conductivity. For submarine cables, Freudenberg offers tapes engineered to expand instantly on contact with water, sealing against moisture intrusion.

“Freudenberg is a globally preferred partner for cable manufacturers,” said Jochen Bialek, head of global sales, cable and electro. “By returning to Wire in Düsseldorf, we’re strengthening our industry relationships and supporting customers as they address today’s and tomorrow’s energy and digital demands.”

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Atomic-6 Space Armor® To Fly Aboard SpaceX

Atomic-6 shot a 3mm particle into its Space Armor® tile to simulate untrackable debris. Traveling at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) speeds of 7.2 km/s, this test proved both protection and no harmful secondary debris was created (Photo: Atomic-6, Inc.)
Marietta, Ga.-based Atomic-6 announced that Portal Space Systems has selected its Space Armor® tiles as the primary Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) protection system for an upcoming spacecraft launching on SpaceX’s Transporter 18 Rideshare mission in October 2026.

The mission marks the first operational orbital deployment of Space Armor®, validating its use in commercial and national security applications. “Portal is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in orbit, and they need protection that keeps up with their ambitions,” said Trevor Smith, CEO of Atomic-6.

“Our customers rely on Portal spacecraft to remain maneuverable over extended timelines,” added Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems. “Incorporating Atomic-6’s Space Armor® tiles expands our ability to deliver sustained on-orbit performance.”

Lighter and thinner than traditional metallic shields, Space Armor® tiles offer fragmentation resistance, RF permeability and scalable debris protection for spacecraft systems.

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Reju Selects Site In Rochester, New York

18.9-acre site in Eastman Business Park for first Reju Regeneration Hub in the U.S.
Reju, a textile-to-textile regeneration company, has selected an 18.9-acre site at Eastman Business Park in Rochester, New York, for its first U.S. industrial Regeneration Hub. The plant is designed to regenerate the equivalent of 300 million garments annually into rBHET, which will be repolymerized into Reju PET, supporting near-shoring and diversified manufacturing. The project remains subject to a final investment decision by the board of Technip Energies, Reju’s parent company.

“As our first Regeneration Hub in the United States, this site selection is a major leap forward in building a truly global circular system,” said Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju.

“New York state is committed to creating good paying jobs, and supporting innovative projects and companies that are working to keep materials out of landfills and protecting our planet,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Through partnerships with global brands, mills, and waste aggregators, Reju ensures full textile-to-textile traceability, transforming garments destined for landfills or incineration into raw material for a new, circular economy.

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Huixing Machine Acquires Mayer & Cie.

Chinese textile machinery manufacturer Huixing Machine Co., Ltd. has acquired key assets of Albstadt, Germany-based Mayer & Cie., the German maker of circular knitting and braiding machines currently in insolvency proceedings. The deal includes Mayer & Cie.’s Albstadt property and subsidiaries in China and the Czech Republic.

Huixing, based in Shishi City, plans to resume circular knitting machine production in Albstadt following regulatory approvals expected within six to eight weeks.

“With the sale of Mayer & Cie.’s circular knitting division to Huixing, we have found a prospect for the planned resumption of business,” said restructuring lawyer Martin Mucha of Grub Brugger.

Trustee Ilkin Bananyarli of PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH called the outcome “a very welcome result for this long-established company.”

Volker Wintergerst of Wintergerst Societät added that persuading Huixing to invest “is a great success for all of us.”

2026 Quarterly Issue I

NONWOVENN Acquired By CorpAcq

Nonwovenn manufactures bespoke technical fabrics for niche markets.
Nonwovenn, a nonwoven fabric-technology company based in Bridgwater, England, has been acquired by Altrincham-based CorpAcq, backed by TDR Capital, marking the successful exit of growth investor BGF. Founded in 2003 by Chairman David Lamb, Nonwovenn manufactures bespoke technical fabrics for niche markets, with a focus on harm reduction, including materials for protective clothing and wound treatment.

“We’re proud to have delivered such consistent growth and strong profitability over two decades,” Lamb said. “We’re excited to build on these strong foundations in our next phase of growth as part of CorpAcq.”

“Nonwovenn has gone from strength to strength since our initial investment in 2016,” said Paul Oldham of BGF.

“Nonwovenn is an outstanding business with a leading market position and strong growth prospects,” added Stuart Kissen, head of acquisitions at CorpAcq. “We see significant opportunity in the fabric technology space.”

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Rieter Completes Acquisition Of Barmag

Winterthur, Switzerland-based Rieter has completed the acquisition of Barmag as of Feb. 2, 2026, a strategic move that makes Rieter the world’s leading system provider for natural and synthetic fibers. Barmag will be consolidated as of Feb. 2 and integrated into the Rieter Group as the new Man-Made Fiber Division.

Barmag’s management will remain in place. Georg Stausberg will continue to lead the division, report to Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli, and join the Group Executive Committee.

“Barmag’s know-how is a perfect fit for Rieter and will accelerate profitable growth as well as strengthen our market leadership in the important region of Asia,” Oetterli said. “The acquired filament know-how will help to expand our areas of expertise as a system provider and further advance automation and digitization solutions.”

The transaction is financed through a 2025 capital increase and long-term bank loans.

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Itema America Acquires Palmetto Loom Reed

(left to right): Itema America CFO Stephanie Ort, Itema America Area Sales Manager Doug Merritt, Itema America President Scott Malcolm, Itema Group Chief Sales and Service Officer Matteo Mutti, Palmetto Loom Reed President and Owner Gladys Richardson, Palmetto Loom Reed Sales Manager Ron Lemonds, and Palmetto Loom Reed Business Development Phillip Gilliland cut the ribbon celebrating Itema America’s acquisition of Palmetto Loom Reed.
Photo — Devin Steele, eTextileCommunications.com

Itema America, the U.S. subsidiary of Colzate (Bergamo), Italy-based Itema Group, has acquired Greenville, S.C.-based Palmetto Loom Reed, one of the nation’s last domestic reed manufacturers. The move expands Itema’s technical capabilities and underscores a long-term commitment to localized manufacturing support for North American textile producers.

Founded 113 years ago, Palmetto Loom Reed supplies custom weaving reeds and will continue operations with its 18-person team under President Gladys Richardson. “This is the best outcome I could imagine,” Richardson said. “Itema shares our customer-first values and respect for people.”

Itema America President Scott Malcolm called the acquisition “a strategic move toward becoming a full-service domestic partner for the weaving industry.”

Itema Group’s Matteo Mutti added, “Producing reeds on American soil eliminates tariffs and delays — delivering faster, more responsive service to our customers.”

“At a time when others are retrenching, this investment shows confidence in U.S. manufacturing,” Malcolm said. “Itema America is stronger because we’re doing this.”

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Lenzing AG To Become Majority Owner Of TreeToTextile

Lenzing, Austria-based, The Lenzing Group is acquiring a controlling majority in Stockholm-based TreeToTextile AB, strengthening its leadership in sustainable, wood-based specialty fibers through a highly scalable, patent-protected cellulosic fiber technology platform. The transaction, executed through new share issuance, advances Lenzing’s premiumization strategy across textile and nonwoven markets.

TreeToTextile’s process offers improved sustainability, cost advantages and builds on innovations like viscose and Lenzing’s Lyocell technology.

“TreeToTextile is among the world’s most advanced next-generation fiber technologies,” said Georg Kasperkovitz, COO of Lenzing Group. “Since our initial investment in 2025, the collaboration has enabled significant technological progress. We are fully committed to joint scale-up and commercialization.”

“Innovation at industrial scale requires time, expertise, and strong partnerships,” said Dr. Roxana Barbieru, CEO of TreeToTextile. “Lenzing Group’s increased ownership is a clear endorsement of our technology.”

Lenzing plans increased output at TreeToTextile’s Nymölla, Sweden, demonstration plant and preparation of a first industrial-scale facility.

2026 Quarterly Issue I

Stäubli To Merge U.S. Operations

Stäubli, a global supplier of industrial and mechatronic solutions, will merge its Stäubli Electrical Connectors unit in Windsor, California, and Stäubli Corporation in Duncan, South Carolina, into one legal entity named Stäubli Corporation, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The consolidation streamlines processes across engineering, manufacturing, assembly, sales and service for Stäubli’s 350 North American employees.

The Windsor site will expand beyond Electrical Connectors to include Fluid Connectors, Robotics and Textile divisions, boosting West Coast service.

“Our goal is to accelerate growth and strengthen our business in North America, spanning all Stäubli divisions,” said Gerald Vogt, group CEO of Stäubli. “By bringing Electrical Connectors, Fluid Connectors, Robotics and Textile divisions together under one integrated organization, we can serve our customers more effectively and foster innovation.”

“Combining these operations under one legal entity allows us to leverage resources and expertise across divisions,” added François Masbou, managing director for North America.

Stäubli Electrical Connectors originally joined the Stäubli group through the acquisition of Multi-Contact in 2002 and has since developed into a major pillar for the company. According to the company, this merger marks a strategic step in consolidating operations under one organization in the U.S, with its main location in Duncan, South Carolina, a factory and R&D center in Windsor, California, complemented by offices in Novi, Michigan and Querétaro, Mexico.

2026 Quarterly Issue I

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