Machinery and equipment

Robot sews first complete garment

14 September 2016

Seattle-based start-up company Sewbo says that it has achieved the long-sought goal of automated sewing, by using an industrial robot to sew together a T-shirt.

Jakob Müller buys into textile finishing

16 August 2016

Jakob Müller AG of Frick, Switzerland, a machine builder specializing in looms for narrow fabrics, has acquired Benninger AG, an Uzwil-based compatriot company that develops and supplies machinery

Karl Mayer acquires seamless warp-knitting technology

1 June 2016

Effective from today (1 June 2016), Karl Mayer has acquired Santoni’s technology (SWD) for seamless warp-knitting.

Automated handling for delicate fibres

26 May 2016

A fully automated system, which is designed to wrap, pack and prepare for transport sensitive fibres (including carbon fibre) is now available.

Mogul invests in hydroentanglement technology

2 May 2016

Mogul Nonwovens of Gaziantep, Turkey, has invested in three hydroentanglement lines, two for its new plant in Luleburgaz, Turkey, and one for its new North American facility in Gray Court, South Ca

Santex completes its acquisition of SMIT

21 April 2016

Santex, a specialist in machinery for textile finishing, has entered the business of weaving machinery after completing its acquisition of one of the world’s leading loom builders, SMIT.

Trützschler exits staple fibre business

18 April 2016

Machine builder Trützschler Nonwovens & Man-Made Fibers GmbH has agreed to sell its entire staple fibre business to the Manmade Fibers Segment of the Oerlikon Group.

Chinese investment in one-piece woven airbag technology

30 March 2016

HMT New Technical Materials, an airbag manufacturer based in Xiamen, China, has invested in a complete new system for the manufacture of one-piece woven (OPW) airbags.

Fabrics tailored for through-air drying

21 March 2016

Xerium Technologies Inc has introduced a range of fabrics designed for use with through-air-driers in the tissue manufacturing industry.

Scanner to measure web thickness

25 January 2016

Facts Inc is to add another scanner (LTM) to its range for measuring the thickness of webs.

World's first production line for three-dimensionally printed textiles

22 January 2016

The UK-based company behind a patented technology (CosyFlex) for the mass production of three-dimensional (3D) printed textiles says its first production line, capable of producing up to three mill

Karl Mayer forms company dedicated to technical textiles

18 December 2015

Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH of Obertshausen, Germany, has merged its two subsidiaries to form Karl Mayer Technische Textilien GmbH.

Specialist cutters for airbag fabrics

4 December 2015

From January 2016, airbag manufacturers will be able to take advantage of a new range of laser cutters backed by dedicated software and a range of services provided by the builder to help them meet

Starlinger wins major contract in Oman

30 November 2015

A major Omani flour producer has invested €4.56 million in a complete packaging production plant to be supplied by Starlinger of Vienna, Austria.

Joint programme to develop waterborne polyurethane coatings

10 November 2015

A range of coating machinery for applying waterborne polyurethane (PU) to materials is under development.

Italian machine builders put the spotlight on technical textiles

4 November 2015

Technical textiles account for €3.5 billion in annual revenue for Italian companies, according to a promotional vi

Machinery innovations for knitted and woven technical fabrics

Editor Nick Butler selects his highlights among the exhibits that readers can find in Milan, Italy, during ITMA 2015 (12–19 November), continuing with a preview of the latest developments for all kinds of woven and knitted fabrics.

ITMA 2015 provides a showcase for all a manufacturer needs

Saving energy and extending automation in spinning processes

Exhibitors who get the chemistry right for technical textiles

ITMA welcomes the dawn of the age of digital textile printing

Machine builders target high-performance nonwoven markets

Editor Nick Butler selects his highlights among the exhibits that readers can find in Milan, Italy, during ITMA 2015 (12–19 November), starting with a preview of the latest developments from the leading builders of nonwovens machinery.

Finishing, coating and laminating refined for technical textiles

Editor Nick Butler selects his highlights among the exhibits that readers can find in Milan, Italy, during ITMA 2015 (12–19 November), with a preview of the latest developments for finishing, converting, and coating and laminating.

Highlighting growth opportunities for nonwovens at ITMA 2015

Suppliers of key technologies for nonwovens – including Dilo, Andritz and Oerlikon Neumag – will stress the opportunities for high-performance applications during ITMA 2015 (to be held in Milan, Italy, 12–19 November), reports Adrian Wilson.

Hard chrome coating proves its worth to filament processors

A German company has developed an improved method of coating the guiding parts and surfaces of filament processing machinery in order to decrease the damage and breakage to high-performance fibres, reports Nick Butler.

Pegas Nonwovens adds a second spunmelt line at its Egyptian plant

12 September 2015

Pegas Nonwovens is to install a second spunmelt production line at its plant in 6^th of October City, Egypt.

Technology is enabling the market for digitally printed textiles

On 18–22 May 2015, Cologne, Germany, hosted the largest FESPA Global Expo to date with exhibitors displaying the latest printers and technologies in order to attract a record-breaking number of visitors from around the world. Niki Tait reviews highlights from among the exhibits relevant to technical textiles.

Oerlikon sets up joint venture in China to exploit polycondensation market

9 July 2015

Oerlikon’s Manmade Fibers Segment is to create a joint venture with Huitong Chemical Engineering Technique Co Ltd of Yangzhou, China, a leading global supplier of technologies and e

Oerlikon Barmag invests in research and development

2 July 2015

Oerlikon Barmag has officially opened the building for its new technology centre in Chemnitz, Germany.

Rapid testing for permeability

26 June 2015

Designed for rapidly testing the vapour permeability of fabrics, the Mk VI is now available from Versaperm Ltd.

New headquarters for American Starlinger-Sahm

24 June 2015

American Starlinger-Sahm Inc has moved into its new headquarters in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, USA.

Machinery builders—a major element of Techtextil 2015

Despite the next ITMA being just a few months away, the importance of technical textiles manufacturers as a market for machinery builders is shown by the number of them attending Techtextil in Frankfurt, writes Editor Nick Butler.

Innovative ways to process textiles and flexible materials

Texprocess is an exhibition dedicated to the processing of textiles and flexible materials. Niki Tait spoke to the exhibitors and presents a round-up of the latest products and technologies to be found on the show floor.

Lasers and water jets as alternatives to knives for cutting

Lasers, water jets and combinations of these are offering manufacturers new alternatives when it comes to cutting technical textiles and composites quickly and precisely, according to Niki Tait.

Increased efficiency of cotton swab production

1 June 2014

Together with Rosink Systeme, Trutzschler has for many years been selling installations for the production of card slivers that are used for making cotton swabs.

Record-breaking ITMA Asia points to vibrant Chinese market

Editor Nick Butler reports on the trends and latest machinery developments relevant to technical textiles, as revealed by exhibitors’ plans for the forthcoming ITMA Asia, to be held in Shanghai, China, on 16–20 June 2014.

Thermal-bonding lines now available from Autefa

1 May 2014

Nonwovens machinery builder, Autefa Solutions of Friedberg, Germany, has added equipment for thermobonding, drying, cutting and winding to its portfolio, following its acquisition of the licences for

Electrospinning technology updated for fundamental research

1 April 2014

A Czech specialist in electrospinning technology has introduced an updated version of its machine designed specifically to allow academic researchers to investigate nanofibre webs and membranes.

Computer numerically controlled cutting of technical textiles

Niki Tait reviews the latest computer numerically controlled cutting techniques available from some of the world’s key suppliers, and discovers a vibrant industry engaged in continual development of machinery. In addition, she reveals that new companies are entering the market, including some from China.

Simulating circular braiding

1 March 2014

A software program capable of simulating circular braiding has won one of this year's JEC Innovation Awards for developments related to composites.

Fibre spreader and placement system

1 March 2014

A laser-assisted tape-placement system designed for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and research laboratories has won an award for composites processing.

Groz-Beckert designs felting needle with a small cross-section

1 October 2013

Groz-Beckert has introduced a felting needle called EcoStar that the company from Albstadt, Germany, has designed to have a long service life and consume a low amount of energy in use.

Continuous web lamination

1 October 2013

Starlinger of Vienna, Austria, says it will show its latest machine for continuous web lamination, demonstrating it live for the first time, at the K2013 exhibition to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany,

Oerlikon Neumag extends meltblown technology for spunbond plants

1 September 2013

The first two Oerlikon Neumag meltblown "Plug & Produce-Solutions" have been commissioned in a new SXXS line for hygiene and medical nonwovens by an undisclosed customer in the US market.

TenCate switches on first digital inkjet printer for industrial finishing

1 July 2013

A production machine for digital finishing based on inkjet printing technology has been unveiled by Royal Ten Cate of Almelo, The Netherlands.

Machinery builders to be a major presence at Techtextil 2013

Machinery builders come to Techtextil to learn about the latest trends in technical textiles so that they can develop equipment suited to this growing sector and, in the last decade, their presence in Frankfurt has become significant, writes Nick Butler.

Idea Medical machine offers advanced compression hosiery

1 May 2013

Italian sock knitting machine manufacturer Busi Giovanni is expanding production and marketing of its Idea Medical range of compression stocking knitting machines following strong sales in Italy and e

Latest innovations for processing textiles and flexible materials

The second edition of Texprocess, an exhibition dedicated to presenting the latest developments in the processing of textiles and flexible materials, is to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, on 10–13 June 2013, concurrently with Techtextil. Niki Tait helps readers navigate the show floor with a round-up of her selections from the new technology that will be on display.

Nonwoven machinery builders declare war on processing waste

Careful control and monitoring of all the parameters in a modern nonwovens plant is helping to reduce energy consumption and the use of raw materials each to a bare minimum, according to Adrian Wilson.

Pilot line opening provides fresh resource for nonwovens makers

Editor Nick Butler attended the inauguration of a pilot plant in Montbonnot, France, dedicated to hydroentangled nonwovens to learn more about the latest machinery and processes behind a sector of the industry enjoying robust growth.

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1 May 2024

Please find below the list of forthcoming conferences and exhibitions on technical textiles and nonwovens.

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