Textiles Review |

KIPAS Launches fibR-e: The Recycling Breakthrough To Solve Fashion’s Polyester Problem

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

The platform removes accessories during processing rather than through manual sorting, cutting labour and bottlenecks. It decolourises blended fabrics to produce cleaner outputs. At its core is a patented molecular recycling technology developed by Meltem Kimya that breaks polyester down to its building blocks and rebuilds it without creating microplastics, allowing repeated recycling without loss of quality.

Early analysis shows that producing polyester entirely from textile waste through fibR-e cuts emissions by nearly 74 per cent compared with virgin production. “Recycling has barely scratched the surface of the polyester problem,” said Halit Gümüser, CEO of KIPAS Textiles. “With fibR-e, we can take real post-consumer waste in all its complexity and return it to the market as certified, high-quality filament yarns and staple fibres. This is how the industry moves from linear to circular, not through pilots but through commercial scale.”

fibR-e is built on a multi-year partnership between KIPAS and specialist companies, with Meltem Kimya providing the molecular recycling expertise that underpins the fibR-e platform.

As a global yarn and fabric producer, KIPAS will channel fibR-e materials directly into its own supply chain, enabling bulk production at competitive pricing. The outputs are traceable, performance-tested and designed to meet commercial quality standards while helping brands reduce virgin material use and prepare for stricter regulations.

fibR-e marks a turning point. It shows that closing the loop on polyester waste can now move from ambition to industrial reality.

For more information, visit www.kipastextiles.com; www.kipasfibre.com

Wool’s Rebound: The New Era Of Wool & Protein Fibers

2025-12-18T10:00:00+00:00

According to the press release, the market value for wool is predicted to almost double from $34.9 billion in 2022 to $63.2 billion by 2033.

Once a wardrobe staple along with cotton, wool lost market share with the advent of man-made fibers. Concerns about animal welfare also painted wool as a less than desirable fiber choice. But the natural advantages of wool — including warmth, durability, elasticity, odor resistance, temperature regulation, moisture management, resilience and breathability, among other properties — make it too valuable to exclude from the fiber choice landscape. As a 100-percent natural performance fiber, wool also is biodegradable, renewable and recyclable, making it a perfect fiber for a sustainable ecosystem.

Beyond luxury fashion, where Woolmark reports wool emerged as a key fiber in recent Spring/Summer collections, wool’s natural properties and seasonal adaptability are motivating sports brands to launch innovative wool apparel.

“As citizens demand more from what they wear — comfort, performance, traceability and responsibility — merino wool is meeting the moment,” said Woolmark Managing Director John Roberts. “With leading influencers and brands alike embracing its story, it’s no surprise demand is rising across luxury fashion, sportswear and lifestyle. It’s the fiber that truly delivers, naturally.”

Following is a snapshot of some companies and apparel/footwear brands that are championing the use of wool fiber.

According to Andy Wynne, CEO of New Zealand-based Nuyarn®, “The wool industry has undergone a remarkable transformation.” Wynne sees wool escaping its traditional categories of suits, formalwear and sweaters, among other categories, and becoming a “legitimate performance and comfort material across diverse categories including everyday hoodies, footwear uppers, women’s activewear, technical sportswear, loungewear, athleisure and beyond.”

Technology advancements, such as Nuyarn spinning technology, are helping drive the shift in tradition. Nuyarn’s twist-free spinning technology drafts superfine merino wool with a high-performance nylon filament carrier yarn to produce an ultrafine, two-ply yarn with more volume and aeration than merino yarns made using traditional worsted spun-yarn technologies (See “Nuyarn: Wool A New Way,” TW, January/February 2023). According to the company, the light weight and softness of the resulting yarns make them perfect candidates for next-to-skin applications in baselayer garments in particular.

Rather than avoiding the conversation, Wynne prefers to tackle historical concerns about wool head on. The company uses transparency, certification and education including full Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certification, which ensures rigorous animal welfare standards and traceability from farm to finished product. “We’re also bluesign®, GOTS, and OEKO-TEX certified, demonstrating our commitment across the entire production chain,” Wynne shared.

Ibex’s Men’s Mammoth Full Zip Hoodie features Nuyarn® technology.

Nuyarn’s primary customers are active outdoor and lifestyle brands seeking to integrate natural fiber performance garments into their product lines. “Our development process is highly collaborative and tailored to each brand’s specific needs and customer base,” Wynne said. “As a fully vertical business — controlling every-thing from yarn production to fabric manufacturing to finished garments, we can offer brands a streamlined partnership with a single entity rather than managing multiple suppliers.”

Just some of the apparel brands using Nuyarn include:

Artilect — A long-time proponent of Nuyarn, Artilect offers baselayer products and accessories made using the yarn including the Flatiron 185 crew and leggings, which are made using a baselayer yarn blend — 91-percent superfine Nuyarn merino wool and 9-percent nylon — knit into a 185 gram per square meter (gsm) fabric that is bluesign certified. Artilect uses hangtags to share the benefits of Nuyarn with consumers under the “More than merino” tagline. The brand also incorporates a TAP wifi-enabled sticker on the hang-tags so users can scan using a smartphone to learn more online.
Ibex — Ibex features Nuyarn in its Woolies Pro Tech Q-Zip and Woolies Pro Tech Bottom baselayers. The fabric, comprised of 85-percent merino wool and 15-percent nylon, weighs 125 gsm making it Ibex’s lightest weight baselayer ever. While Ibex does not promote Nuyarn specifically on the hangtags, it touts the benefits of merino in a thoughtfully designed hangtag. The company does explain Nuyarn and all of its benefits on its website in the product descriptions.
Lé Bent — Committed to performance, apparel brand Lé Bent features Nuyarn in its Featherweight Hooded Merino Crew top and Featherweight bottoms. The 125 gsm fabric is made using a Signature Merino Blend that contains 60- percent merino, 25-percent bamboo and 15-percent nylon.

Nuyarn also has established partnerships with Allbirds and HOKA, and the footwear industry currently makes up one of the company’s largest categories.

Additionally, Wynne announced that the Herculan® technology has allowed the company to transition carpet wool — coarse fibers historically relegated to flooring and upholstery applications only — into high-performance wearable garments. “We’ll be launching a performance wool fleece using this material in fall 2026,” he shared.

“Wool isn’t a fiber of the past, it’s a fiber of the future and I wouldn’t be in this business if I didn’t believe that,” Wynne said. “We’re at an inflection point where consumers are actively seeking alternatives to synthetic materials due to growing awareness of microplastic pollution and climate concerns. Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts are driving demand for natural, sustainable performance options, and technology like Nuyarn makes those choices viable without performance compromise.”

Woolx’s Stella Leggings represent the brand’s warmest baselayer.

Woolx was founded in 2012 in Endicott, N.Y. as family-run brand focused on merino wool clothing that combines technical performance and everyday comfort. The product line incorporates essentials, pajamas, shapewear and layers, in ultra-heavyweight fabrics, featherlight pieces and everything in between for all seasons.

Traditional wool has an average thickness of 30 microns, while typical merino wool — known for its fineness — has an average thickness of 21 microns. To avoid any itchy, scratchy sensations against the skin, Woolx uses a super-fine merino wool with an average thickness of only 17 microns in many of its products.

“While wool might make some people think of their grandma’s scratchy sweater, this is not that,” said Nicole Calleo, co-founder and CEO, Woolx. “We’ve taken all the natural benefits of traditional wool —temperature regulation, durability and comfort — and reimagined them in a modern, insanely soft merino that’s as stylish as it is functional.” In addition, all of Woolx’s clothing is ethically sourced and responsibly made. “Every Woolx piece is certified non-mulesed ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare and sustainability, ” Calleo said.

Woolx offers the Stella Leggings and Piper Pocket Leggings. Stella represents one of Woolx’s warmest baselayers for fall and winter, while Piper is a merino wool baselayer with functional side pockets for all-day comfort and performance.

“The idea for Woolx’s merino wool baselayer leggings came from a simple need: clothing that could keep up with active, outdoor lifestyles without com-promising comfort,” Calleo said. “The founders wanted something that could move easily, breathe well, and regulate temperature during hikes, runs or even when used in everyday wear. Merino wool turned out to be the perfect solution — warm when it’s cold, cool when it’s warm, and soft enough to wear all day.”

The company recently extended the use of merino wool to mini Woolx, a new line of kids’ baselayers.

Ciele Athletics has launched its first Woolmark-certified merino wool collection of headwear and apparel.

Based in Montreal, Ciele Athletics— focused on headwear and apparel for runners — was founded in 2014 by Jeremy Bresnen and Mike Giles. “We are all very passionate about running, technical garments, responsibility, and doing the best we can as individuals and an organization,” said Dan Marrett, global marketing director, Ciele Athletics.

Ciele works with suppliers to develop technical fabrics and performance constructions tailored for running and movement. The brand recently partnered with Woolmark to launch its first-ever Woolmark-certified merino wool collection of apparel and headwear for winter. According to Ciele, each piece is independently tested and meets the Woolmark standards for durability, colorfastness and quality. Pieces in the line include beanies, balaclavas and baselayers made using 100-percent wool as well as merino/silk blended yarns.

“We’ve been exploring natural performance fibers for a while and that exploration led to our Sorino™ fabric line,” reported Ciele’s design team. “Partnering with an industry leader like Woolmark felt like the right move to help us highlight everything that makes merino exceptional. The Woolmark certification gives runners confidence that they’re getting the best quality merino possible. It’s a mark of fiber integrity, performance and traceability — all things that align with how we approach design and manufacturing at Ciele.”

Ciele is reimagining merino as a year-round performance fabric, not just a cold weather choice. “For us, reimagining merino means leaning into what it already does best and redesigning around its strengths to create true, all-season performance,” the company shared.

Paka innovates using alpaca fiber working with indigenous people in Peru to create its clothing and accessories.

While sheep’s wool currently is experiencing unprecedented demand, Peru-based PAKA is firmly focused on another fiber in the protein family — alpaca. Founded in 2017 by Kris Cody, the certified B-Corp. business works directly with non-governmental organizations alongside the indigenous people in Peru to create its natural, all-purpose clothing and accessories (See “PAKA: Tri-Blend Fiber Trio,” TW, November/December 2022). PAKA’s mission remains one of connecting people to where their clothing comes from and supporting the communities who make the garments.

“At PAKA, we’re continuously exploring how natural performance can evolve across categories,” said Megan Krajco, PAKA Design director. “Our foundation began with alpaca fiber in sweaters, but our vision is to build a complete ecosystem of products that support everyday explorers.”

Most recently, Paka has expanded into the outerwear category with its patented PAKAFILL® alpaca insulation material, which can replace down or synthetic fiber fill options, providing needed warmth without weight. PAKAFILL is featured in the brand’s Apu parkas and Mayu vests and jackets for men and women.

One interesting product that resulted after a 2022 PAKAFILL puffer launch, was a packing cube. In contrast to the company’s alpaca focused products, the upcycled packing cubes are made using deadstock polyester shell fabric left over from puffer production. The company was determined not to send the unusable material to landfills and came up with the idea for the packing cubes.

“From day one when Kris originally founded PAKA, our focus has been to help consumers connect to our natural world, make more conscious choices and support the Peruvian communities where our products come from,” said Laura Rysz, senior director of Brand and Marketing, PAKA. “That mission truly remains at the core of everything we do today, from the decisions we make on product development to starting team meetings with PAKA Foundation updates.” The foundation was formed in early 2025 to support “alpacas, alpaqueros, weavers and education for the Peruvian communities we work with,” Rysz shared.

PAKA just announced its first-ever Heritage Collection, co-created directly with master Quechuan artisans in Peru. The company gives back 5 percent from sales of the collection to the artisans’ non-governmental organization.

PAKA has also branched out into underwear and continues to innovate in knitwear building on “The Hoodie,” the original sweater PAKA developed. In addition, “the alpaca fiber in every PAKA item now is traceable back to the source,” noted Krajco.

“The wool/protein fiber market has made an incredible shift toward transparency, traceability and regenerative land management that was not part of the mainstream conversation 10 years ago,” Krajco offered. “At the same time, technology is allowing us to enhance what nature already perfected — through improved spinning, dyeing, and knitting techniques that preserve fiber integrity and reduce the environmental impact. What excites us the most is the fusion of tradition and innovation. We’re using modern tools to amplify the story nature already tells through fiber.”

As wool and other protein fibers step back into the spotlight, the apparel industry is seeing a convergence of innovation, transparency and consumer demand. Whether it’s Nuyarn pushing the boundaries of yarn engineering, Woolx refining next-to-skin comfort, Ciele reimagining merino for performance, Allbirds redefining footwear rules, or PAKA building a modern ecosystem around alpaca, these companies illustrate how nature and technology can thrive together. In a landscape once dominated by synthetics, wool and its protein-fiber counterparts are reshaping the future of performance, comfort and sustainability.

Allbirds: Footwear Disruptor Launches PFAS-Free, Fully Waterproof Shoes

A champion of wool since its founding in 2015, footwear brand Allbirds, San Francisco, recently introduced its first fully waterproof collection in three silhouettes — the Wool Runner NZ Waterproof, Wool Runner NZ Mid Waterproof and the Wool Cruiser Waterproof. Each shoe upper is made using merino wool and is treated with C-Zero per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-free durable water repellent (DWR). An additional breathable, waterproof membrane placed between the upper and interior lining further prevents water from penetrating the upper and reaching the feet.

“We were really excited about C-Zero DWR because it gave us the all-weather performance we needed, without having to use PFAS,” said Adrian Nyman, chief design officer, Allbirds. “In the design and development process, we explored different PFAS-free DWRs an ultimately selected C-zero because it delivered the perfect balance of water-repellency, durability, and played well with our toolkit of natural materials.”

Allbirds previously offered a weather-resistant Mizzle style, but had not yet developed a fully waterproof, all-weather option for showers, heavy rain or slushy conditions. “We wanted to redefine what waterproof shoes could be, with an Allbirds twist,” Nyman, said. “While most waterproof shoes lean utilitarian and technical, we believe that by looking to natural materials like wool, we can bring something new and exciting to this space.”

When Allbirds got its start, wool was not material ordinarily used in footwear applications. “But our founders knew it had incredible properties that could be put to use,” Nyman said. In 2016, when Allbirds introduced its first shoe, the Wool Runner, the product “flew in the face of all the ‘usual rules’ of footwear, particularly because of the use of merino wool, an untapped natural material in an industry so often dominated by virgin synthetics,” Nyman noted. “Almost 10 years later, Allbirds has sold nearly a pair of Wool Runners every minute, and the style has become a mainstay in wardrobes around the world — safe to say the founders were onto something!”

2025 Quarterly Issue IV

Sustainable Innovation: Freudenberg Launches Unique Binder-Free PLA/Wood Pulp Wetlaid Nonwovens

2025-12-18T10:00:00+00:00

These innovative PLA-based wetlaid nonwovens have a variety of applications in markets such as horticulture, packaging, filtration and healthcare.

In horticulture, PLA/wood pulp wetlaid materials achieve the ideal balance between good water absorption, good rooting and degradation properties due to wood pulp on the one hand, and the high strength provided by PLA on the other. These properties are required by short-, medium- and long-term plant propagation systems, e.g. for vegetable growing, flower cultivation and forestry. The new PLA-based product line complements the current range of plant propagation wetlaid materials offered by Freudenberg, based on different component mixes including wood pulp, polypropylene, polyester and viscose.

For packaging, PLA/wood pulp wetlaids open up new sustainable opportunities by replacing plastic-based packaging, e.g. bio-based desiccant bags to replace traditional synthetic desiccant bags.

Other applications of PLA-based wetlaids include embroidery backings and interlinings for apparel, and wound dressings for the healthcare market.

The two-component mix is flexible, therefore allowing for a wide range of products to fulfill the requirements of the various applications.

REI Co-op And Ambercycle Reach Three-Year Agreement To Scale Regenerated Polyester

2025-12-18T10:00:00+00:00

“At REI, we see next-generation materials as critical to building a decarbonized future for outdoor gear,” said Ajay Chadha, director of Materials Innovation at REI Co-op Brands. “As we work toward our 2030 goals, REI Co-op Brands is investing in science-driven solutions like textile-to-textile recycling to cut emissions at the feedstock level and reduce reliance on virgin polyester. This is one of the initiatives that reflects our long-term commitment to scaling low-carbon materials and delivering real impact for our members and the broader industry.”

This agreement establishes a phased pathway for cycora integration at REI Co-op Brands: initial adoption in priority performance categories, followed by broader material integration as supply scales. In parallel, Ambercycle is expanding molecular regeneration capacity to recapture end-of-life textiles and return them to fabric supply chains — building the backbone of a lower-carbon material system.

REI believes taking climate action creates an incredible opportunity to innovate, enabling us to make products that perform better, last longer, and reduce impacts on the planet. Through its agreement with Ambercycle, the co-op seeks to continue to incorporate innovative low-carbon materials into its products as part of its broader goals to minimize its environmental impact.

“REI’s influence extends far beyond its own brand — as a co-op, it brings together a thousand outdoor brands and millions of members under one vision,” said Shay Sethi, CEO and co-founder of Ambercycle. “That makes them a uniquely powerful partner in scaling decarbonized materials. By integrating cycora, REI is helping to set a new standard for the entire outdoor industry, proving that high-performance gear and circular systems can go hand in hand.”

New Global Lifestyle Monitor™ Survey Confirms Cotton Is The Fiber Of Choice

2025-12-18T10:00:00+00:00

“On World Cotton Day, we recognize the fiber that continues to appeal most to consumers around the globe,” said William Kimbrell, president and CEO at Cotton Incorporated. “Comfort and quality remain top priorities for consumers, and cotton delivers on both, naturally. The latest data from the Global Lifestyle Monitor Survey confirms that cotton is the fiber of choice for consumers for everyday wear, performance, and sustainability.”

Key Findings from the Global Lifestyle Monitor™ Study:

Cotton is the Preferred Fiber Globally

3 in 4 (75 percent) consumers prefer clothing made of cotton, cotton blends, or denim, overwhelmingly ahead of man-made fibers like polyester, spandex, and rayon.

Cotton Tops in Comfort, Quality & Authenticity

Consumers rate cotton clothing as the most comfortable (67 percent), softest (66 percent), best quality (59 percent), most authentic (56 percent), and most sustainable (49 percent) compared to clothing made from polyester or rayon.

Natural Fibers Command a Premium

Over half (59 percent) of global consumers are willing to pay more for clothing made from natural fibers such as cotton, citing comfort (66 percent) and quality (63 percent) as key reasons.

Environmental Trust in Cotton

Most consumers consider cotton (83 percent) and other natural fibers to be safe for the environment, while fewer than half believe manmade fibers like rayon (48 percent), polyester (46 percent), and Tencel (41 percent) are environmentally safe.

Sustainability Matters, But Trust Is Key

75 percent of global consumers are interested in sustainable clothing, with 21 percent calling it essential and 54 percent saying it’s “nice to have.”

Tactile Advantage in Retail

Consumers say trying on clothing (71 percent) and feeling the fabric (56 percent) are the top reasons why they prefer shopping in-store, a clear advantage for cotton’s tactile appeal.

“This year’s Global Lifestyle Monitor findings show that cotton’s strengths — comfort, quality, and environmental trust — are exactly what consumers are seeking, no matter where they live,” said Liz Hershfield, executive director, COTTON USA. “As brands and retailers adapt to shifting consumer habits and tighter economic conditions, cotton’s durability and versatility make it a smart choice for building products that last, resonate globally, and meet sustainability goals.”

Milliken & Company Launches Millad ClearX™ 9000: The Clear Choice For Polypropylene

2025-12-18T10:00:00+00:00

Millad ClearX 9000 has broad FDA conditions of use approval (A-J), opening doors for its use across a wide spectrum of food-contact applications. By enhancing additive compatibility, it helps resin producers and converters experience less downtime, less waste, and quicker changeovers—delivering measurable improvements in manufacturing efficiency. The technology also allows for improved compatibility with other Millad clarifying agents, giving producers the flexibility to optimize formulations for both virgin and post-consumer recycled (PCR) PP, supporting sustainability initiatives.

“Our team developed Millad ClearX 9000 to address the growing need for clarity and efficiency in polypropylene applications,” said Bhavesh Gandhi, Global Product Line manager of Milliken’s plastic additives business. “By reducing additive loading and migration rates, we’re helping our customers create products that are not only visually appealing but also meet the highest standards for food and medical use.”

Milliken, through its Millad platform, pioneered the application of clarifying agents to create transparent PP parts and packaging incorporating PCR content, and the company’s latest clarifying technology builds on that legacy. To learn more about Millad ClearX™ 9000, visit milliken.com.

US’ LYB partners with Futamura, Iwatani & Shiseido on bio-based films

2025-09-02T10:00:00+00:00

LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB), a global leader in recycled polymers, has announced the joint development of a new bio-based film packaging solution in collaboration with Futamura Chemical, a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing, Iwatani Corporation, a major Japanese trading company, and Shiseido, a renowned leader in the beauty industry with over 150 years of history. This innovative cosmetic film packaging series partially incorporates LYB bio-based polypropylene (PP) polymer, CirculenRenew, in the outer packaging film of select products in Shiseido’s Clé de Peau Beauté line. CirculenRenew, with measurable and certified C14 renewable content, is another cornerstone of LYB Circulen sustainable solutions product family. The CirculenRenew grades can be used as drop-in solutions without requiring any modification of existing processing equipment. “At LYB, our purpose is creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. We take pride in cooperating with Shiseido, Futamura, and Iwatani on this initiative, supporting brand owners in achieving their environmental targets and helping to reduce product carbon footprints in the beauty industry,” said Allen Yu, senior vice president of LyondellBasell, Asia Pacific. Shiseido aims to realize a sustainable world where everyone can enjoy a lifetime of happiness through the power of beauty by 2030, under its corporate mission BEAUTY INNOVATIONS FOR A BETTER WORLD. Futamura Chemical is promoting the “SusFi” brand of packaging films to help realize a more sustainable society. Recently, by collaborating with Shiseido and developing products using LYB CirculenRenew polymers, Futamura Chemical has expanded the “SusFi” brand family and taken a new step towards the stable supply of these products and the realization of a more sustainable society. Under its corporate philosophy of “Become a person needed by society, as those needed by society can prosper”, Iwatani is working towards the realization of a “carbon neutral society” by leveraging the strengths of each business division in the company. In its medium-term management plan, Iwatani has set a target of handling 100,000 tons of bioplastics by the fiscal year 2027. As part of this effort, it is working closely with LYB to expand the bio-PP resin market in Japan. A significant step toward this goal was achieved with the use of CirculenRenew by Futamura and Shiseido.

LyondellBasell, with Futamura Chemical, Iwatani, and Shiseido, has co-developed a new bio-based film packaging for Shiseido’s Clé de Peau Beauté line. The outer film incorporates LYB’s CirculenRenew bio-based PP, offering certified renewable content. The collaboration supports sustainability goals, carbon footprint reduction, and expands bio-PP use in Japan’s packaging market. ALCHEMPro News Desk (HU)

NITMA Seeks Uniform 5% GST on PSF & Polyester Spun Yarn

2025-08-30T10:00:00+00:00

The Northern India Textile Mills Association (NITMA) has issued a strong appeal to the GST Council to introduce a uniform 5% GST rate across key inputs in the man-made fiber (MMF) value chain, in light of the newly imposed U.S. tariffs—among the steepest in the region—which threaten India’s global competitiveness. Speaking ahead of the GST Council’s meeting scheduled for September 3–4, 2025, Shri Sidharth Khanna, President of NITMA, stressed the urgent need to eliminate the inverted duty structure currently burdening the MMF sector. He urged that GST rates on Polyester Staple Fiber (Virgin & Recycled) – HSN 55032000 and Polyester Spun Yarn – HSN 55092100 & 55092200 be rationalized to 5%. At present, Polyester Spun Yarn (PSY) is taxed at 12% and Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF) at 18%, while fabric attracts only 5% GST. Mr. Khanna cautioned that this disparity places immense pressure on the spinning industry, leading to:

Significant blockage of working capital due to delayed GST refunds
Administrative hurdles and increased scrutiny during refund claims
Higher cost of new investment as input tax credit on capital goods remains unutilized
Loss of SGST incentives from state governments
Unfair competition from imported finished goods that bypass these inefficiencies Mr. Khanna concluded by stating, “This is a critical moment for India’s textile sector. Decisive action to remove the inverted duty structure will not only counteract the impact of U.S. tariffs but also unlock growth and investment across the MMF value chain, thereby ultimately making this event a blessing in disguise.”

Loepfe to mark 70 years of innovation at ITMA Asia + CITME in Singapore

2025-08-28T10:00:00+00:00

Loepfe to mark 70 years of innovation at ITMA Asia + CITME in Singapore

Loepfe, the Swiss pioneer in yarn quality control and a member of the Vandewiele Group since 2021, is set to mark its 70th anniversary at ITMA Asia + CITME in Singapore this October. Founded in 1955 by brothers Helmut and Erich Loepfe, the company has built a global reputation for precision, innovation, and technological excellence in the textile industry. For seven decades, Loepfe has remained a trusted partner to spinning mills worldwide, helping improve production efficiency and yarn quality through advanced monitoring solutions. At the exhibition, Loepfe will showcase its flagship Prisma yarn clearer, designed to maximize efficiency with its four-sensor system. Prisma combines dual-measurement technology, RGB-based multi-color defect detection, and a dedicated P sensor for efficient polypropylene clearing. The company will also highlight Prisma’s latest upgrades, including a Compactness feature that enhances detection in compact yarn spinning and a climate compensation system ensuring reliable polypropylene clearing under varying environmental conditions. Another key innovation is AutoStart, which automatically sets optimized clearing curves for both new and existing articles. This feature reduces setup time by up to an hour while improving operational reliability and yarn consistency. Alongside Prisma, Loepfe will display its trusted Zenit+ yarn clearer, a global standard known for dependable performance in diverse mill environments. As it celebrates 70 years, Loepfe aims to honor its legacy of innovation while showcasing cutting-edge technologies that will continue shaping the future of textile production.

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Barmag unveils a suite of sustainable yarn innovations at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025

2025-08-28T10:00:00+00:00

Barmag unveils a suite of sustainable yarn innovations at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025

Oerlikon’s Barmag division, together with Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven, is preparing to present a broad range of sustainable and high-performance yarn technologies at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025, taking place in Singapore from October 28 to 31. At the core of Barmag’s showcase is atmos.io, a new digital operating system designed for the smart factory. The platform enables complete transparency by tracking every bobbin from polymer melt to finished warehouse stage. With modular app integrations, it helps optimize production efficiency, quality, and waste reduction, while maintaining robust cybersecurity standards and seamless compatibility with existing IT infrastructure. Among the machinery highlights is the WINGS FDY FLEX, a versatile filament spinning solution with an exceptionally wide processing window. It is suitable for producing a variety of yarns, including recycled polyester, making it future-ready and more sustainable. The company will also debut eFK EvoSmart, an advanced texturing system that combines EvoHeater technology and Smart Godets. This setup reduces energy use by up to 25 percent per kilogram of yarn and minimizes downtime by 50 percent through easily replaceable heater inserts. In staple fiber production, Oerlikon Neumag will present its EvoSteam process, along with innovations such as EvoDuct and EvE-2. These solutions enhance airflow uniformity, lower pressure loss, improve fiber quality, and support automated maintenance with spin-pack cleaning robots. For carpet yarns, the new BICO BCF technology improves pile strength while cutting fiber consumption by 20 percent. Complementing this is FiberGuard BCF, a retrofit system that monitors yarn tension in real time and automatically adjusts parameters to boost sustainability and reduce waste. Oerlikon Nonwoven will further introduce hycuTEC, a breakthrough in electrostatically charging polypropylene meltblown nonwovens. By using osmosis-treated water, the system achieves 99.99 percent efficiency, offering significant advantages for high-performance filtration media.

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