Established 1951 October 2026
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing - II / IGATEX Pakistan 2026
Calendar of Events
IGATEX Pakistan 2026
Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris
Dates: October 15th to 18th, 2026. Venue: Expo Centre, Lahore.
Dates: January 25th to 27th, 2027. Venue: Paris
ITMA 2027 Dates: September 16th to 22nd, 2027. Venue: Hanover, Germany.
iCADEX Pakistan 2026 Dates: October 15th to 18th, 2026. Venue: Expo Centre, Lahore.
VIATT 2027 Dates: February 24th to 26th, 2027. Venue: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
DOMOTEX Hanover 2028 Dates: January 17th to 20th, 2028. Venue: Hanover, Germany.
ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Dates: November 20th to 24th, 2026. Venue: NECC, Shanghai, China.
FESPA Middle East 2027 Dates: April 27th to 29th, 2027. Venue: Dubai Exhibition Centre.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2028 Dates: April 4th to 7th, 2028. Venue: Frankfurt, Germany.
Textile Asia 2026, Karachi Dates: December 05th to 07th, 2026. Venue: Expo Centre, Karachi.
Textile Asia 2026, Faisalabad
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR 2027 Dates: May 26th to 28th, 2027. Venue: NECC, Shanghai, China.
FESPA Global Print Expo 2027 Dates: April 6th to 9th, 2027.
Dates: December 11th to 13th, 2026. Venue: N.T.U., Faisalabad
Venue: Munich, Germany.
Cinte Techtextil China 2027 Dates: Aug. 31st to Sep. 2nd, 2027.
DPS World Pakistan 2027 th
th
Dates: January 12 to 14 , 2027.
Venue: Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China.
Venue: Karachi Expo Centre.
Heimtextil 2027
2
th
Dates: June 13th to 17th, 2028. Venue: Istanbul, Türkiye.
Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress th
ITM 2028
HIGHTEX 2028
Dates: January 12 to 15 , 2027.
Dates: September 14th to 16th, 2027.
Dates: June 13th to 17th, 2028.
Venue: Frankfurt am Main.
Venue: Dornbirn, Austria.
Venue: Istanbul, Türkiye.
PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Vol. LXXV No. 10 - October 2026
Founded in 1951 by Mazhar Yusuf (1924-2009) Publisher Nadeem Mazhar
Rs. 685.00
EDITOR’S PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 IGATEX Pakistan 2026: A key platform for modernising Pakistan’s textile industry
Editor in Chief Amina Baqai
TEXTILE BRIEFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Executive Editor Nimrah Nadeem
NEWS & VIEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Associate Editor Minhaj Ali
AROUND THE WORLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Production Manager Mazhar Ali
CORPORATE NEWS
Layout & Design Noor M. Jaan
Green Story partners with Frontier to bring facility-level environmental data into fashion's material sourcing workflows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 SHIMA SEIKI exhibits at Egypt Stitch & Tex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 TMAS technology behind the perfect little black dress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 KARL MAYER: 90 years of innovation. Celebrating the value of textiles . . . . . . .22
Hony-Editorial Board Dr. Hafizur Rehman Sheikh Ph.D (UK) F.T.I. (UK)
Syed Mahfooz Qutab C.TEX, F.T.I (U.K), B.Sc. Fellow I.C.T.T Atlanta, GA; (USA)
Dr. Zubair Bandukda
20
22
PhD (Textiles), CText ATI
PERSONALIA Editorial & Advertising Office B-4, 2nd Floor, 64/21, M.A.C.H, Miran M. Shah Road, Karachi - Pakistan Tel: +92-21-34311674-5 Fax: +92-21-34533616 Email: info@ptj.com.pk URL: http://www.ptj.com.pk
Change of leadership at Rieter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
DYES AND CHEMICAL Archroma and Lameirinho partner in pioneering deployment of InOneGO single-step dyeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
PTJ Europe Ltd. Registered Office: Dairy House, Money Row Green, Holyport, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 2ND, United Kingdom. Registered no. 09141989 Tel: +44 792 2228 721
FEATURES Driving circularity with Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Closer to customers: Trützschler Card Clothing expands service network in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Available on Gale and Factiva affiliated international databases through Asianet Pakistan
Recycling Powerhouse: Circularity at industrial scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Barmag’s automated maintenance processes for quality, safety, and efficiency in
Printed at: Color Plus Korangi, Karachi. Published by Nadeem Mazhar from D-16, K.D.A. Scheme No.1. Karachi.
spinning plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 TANATEX Chemicals: Compliance without compromising fastness performance .36
36
24 26 SEMINAR ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Pakistan roadshows focus on technology and competitiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
38
DYEING, PRINTING AND FINISHING Monforts: Turning new ideas into industrial reality at the ATC . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Brazilian market leader Cedro Têxtil focuses on greater efficiency, sustainability, and product quality with Brückner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Beneks advances pre-drying with practical solutions for textile finishing . . . . .48
IGATEX PAKISTAN 2026 IGATEX PAKISTAN 2026: Region’s premier garment, textile & machinery exhibition
44
returns to Lahore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 IGATEX Pakistan 2026: Celebrating 24 years of innovation and excellence . . . .51 An interview of Mr. Saleem Khan Tanoli, CEO, Fakt Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd.
The LYCRA Company returns to IGATEX Pakistan to showcase next-generation performance and lower-impact fiber technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Groz-Beckert’s innovations for the spinning industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Zimmer sees opportunities for Pakistan in digital printing and higher-value textiles .56 Loepfe to showcase yarn clearing solutions at IGATEX Pakistan 2026 . . . . . . . .58 Ferraro and Cibitex join forces to strengthen textile finishing technologies . . .59
46
50 48
ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Shanghai showcases intelligent and sustainable manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Three stages, multiple customer benefits: KARL MAYER at ITMA ASIA 2026 . . . .62
60
56
EDITOR’S PAGE
IGATEX Pakistan 2026: A key platform for modernising Pakistan’s textile industry Pakistan’s textile industry must modernise to remain competitive. Rising production costs, particularly energy costs, have made efficiency essential to survival. International buyers also expect consistent quality, reliable delivery and greater environmental responsibility. Meeting these demands requires investment in technology, skills and better production practices.
Established 1951 October 2026
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing - II / IGATEX Pakistan 2026
Against this background, IGATEX Pakistan 2026 assumes particular importance. Organised by Fakt Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd., the exhibition takes place from 15–18 October at the Lahore Expo Centre, with participation expected from more than 30 countries. The previous edition, held in Karachi in April 2025, attracted over 450 exhibitors and more than 700 foreign delegates, according to the organiser’s post-show report. Since its inception in 2002, IGATEX has connected Pakistan’s textile industry with international machinery manufacturers. Pakistan Textile Journal has been a strategic partner since the beginning. Our shared history reflects a common commitment to bringing Pakistani manufacturers closer to the technology and expertise needed to compete internationally.
October 2026
This access becomes especially valuable when visa difficulties, travel costs and business commitments restrict attendance at overseas exhibitions. IGATEX enables a wider group of technical managers, engineers and production staff to meet international suppliers, examine technologies and discuss practical production challenges without travelling abroad. The exhibition brings together technology from China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and other textile machinery manufacturing centres. Its scope covers spinning, weaving, knitting, garment production, dyeing, printing and finishing, alongside testing, chemicals, accessories and automation. For visitors, the opportunity to compare solutions and discuss their application can support better investment decisions. This issue of Pakistan Textile Journal also focuses on textile processing, which is essential to higher value addition. Dyeing, printing and finishing determine a fabric’s appearance, handle, performance and suitability for different markets. Strengthening these capabilities will help Pakistan move towards finished products that command better returns. Investment decisions must therefore extend beyond a machine’s purchase price to its operating costs, reliability and contribution to quality. Technologies that reduce water consumption, improve chemical dosing, control drying and recover heat deserve particular attention. Better process control can reduce rejected batches and repeated treatments, protecting margins and delivery schedules. High energy costs have already encouraged textile companies to adopt alternatives such as solar power and biomass. These investments must be accompanied by efficient machinery, sound maintenance and better energy management. Reducing consumption is as necessary as finding a more affordable energy supply. Competitive energy pricing and a stable business environment remain essential. IGATEX offers manufacturers an opportunity to identify improvements within their own operations. As its longstanding strategic partner, Pakistan Textile Journal encourages the industry to turn this exposure into practical investment, stronger technical skills and lasting gains in productivity.
7
Textile Briefs National Pakistan’s non-knit apparel exports increased by 3.9% to a record $4.3 billion in FY202526, supported mainly by strong growth in men’s and women’s cotton trousers, according to the Pakistan Textile Council’s Annual Export Performance Report: Pakistan’s Textile & Apparel Exports FY26. Men’s cotton trouser exports rose 19% to $785 million, while women’s cotton trousers surged 54% to $392 million, reflecting strong international demand for value-added apparel.
1
Pakistan’s textile exports to China increased by 22.2% to $644 million during FY202526, making China the fastest-
2
growing among the country’s five leading textile export markets, according to the Pakistan Textile Council’s Annual Export Performance Report: Pakistan’s Textile & Apparel Exports FY26. Cotton yarn accounted for around 84% of shipments, while finished apparel exports remained under pressure, highlighting China’s role primarily as a raw-material market. Pakistan’s home textile and made-up article exports reached $5.705 billion in FY2025-26, with towels and bed linen continuing to lead the category as international demand shifts towards microfibre, digitally printed and embellished
3
products. Cotton towels remained the largest export product at $1.001 billion, while cotton mill-made bed sheets generated $503 million. The trend points to growing demand for differentiated and higher-value textile products.
global race to develop more capable robots, as a local startup pays industrial workers to perform tasks they already know while recording their movements for artificial intelligence and robotics companies.
Cotton arrivals at ginning factories across Pakistan increased 19.17% to 2.39 million bales as of 15 September 2026, compared with 2 million bales recorded during the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA).
Newly elected Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman Rehan Naseem Bharara has called for immediate measures to reduce rising production costs, saying high business expenses are discouraging fresh investment and weakening Pakistan’s competitiveness in international textile markets.
4
Thousands of Pakistani factory workers are becoming a part of the
5
6
Textile Briefs International Azerbaijan’s cotton yarn exports surged 88.5% year on year to around 13,700 tonnes during January-July 2026, with export value rising 81.7% to $31 million, according to State Customs Committee data. The growth reflects expanding domestic cotton processing and efforts to capture greater value through downstream textile production.
1
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce has suspended its plan to withdraw the bond facility for imports of 10–30 count cotton yarn, temporarily avoiding a requirement for importers to provide bank guarantees. The decision follows concerns from garment exporters that
2
8
PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
restricting imported raw materials could affect their ability to meet specialised buyer requirements and maintain export competitiveness. Cambodia’s garment and clothing exports approached $7 billion during January-July 2026, increasing nearly 8% year on year despite weaker apparel demand in some major markets. Cambodia’s shipments to the US rose 12.6% to $2.13 billion, while the country’s wider garment, footwear and travel-goods sector continues to employ around 1.1 million workers.
3
South Korea’s apparel industry is accelerating the adoption of AI and robotics across manufacturing as companies respond to
4
labour shortages and seek greater efficiency. Manufacturers are applying AI to sewing, pattern grading, material handling, quality inspection and production planning, while government initiatives aim to extend AI adoption across the wider textile value chain and reduce production variability. Major UK retailers including New Look, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s have launched The Circuit, a collaborative initiative with Oxfam and Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems to transform post-consumer textile waste into recycled materials. The programme will begin in January 2027 with automated sorting, improved traceability and pre-processing systems
5
designed to support fibre-tofibre recycling and reduce reliance on virgin materials. Vietnam’s textile and garment exports reached $27.02 billion during the first seven months of 2026, up 2.67% year on year, supported by stronger fibre, yarn, fabric and accessory exports. Apparel shipments reached $21.127 billion, while fibre and yarn exports rose 11.34%. Industry leaders are urging greater investment in sustainability, traceability, energy efficiency and recycled materials to meet tightening international requirements. The trend highlights growing opportunities for value addition, investment, and stronger integration across textile supply chains.
6
News & Views Pakistan’s non-knit apparel exports reach record $4.3 billion in FY2025-26 Pakistan’s non-knit apparel exports increased by 3.9% to a record $4.3 billion in FY2025-26, supported mainly by strong growth in men’s and women’s cotton trousers, according to the Pakistan Textile Council’s Annual Export Performance Report: Pakistan’s Textile & Apparel Exports FY26. Exports under Chapter 62, covering non-knit or woven apparel, increased from around $4.13 billion in FY2024-25 to $4.295 billion during FY2025-26. The report identified non-knit apparel as the strongest-performing value-added textile category during the year, helping support Pakistan’s overall textile and apparel exports despite a contraction in total exports.
a year earlier, with seven of the top 10 products recording growth.
Cotton trousers remained a major contributor to the growth. Exports of men’s and boys’ cotton trousers increased 19% to $785 million, while exports of women’s and girls’ cotton trousers surged 54% to $392 million, reflecting strong international demand for the products.
Within the US market, exports of a major category of men’s and boys’ cotton trousers increased 42.2% to $209 million from $147 million, while women’s and girls’ cotton trousers surged 75.8% to $153 million from $87 million. These gains helped offset a 23.8% decline in cotton ensembles for men and boys, which fell to $490 million from $643 million.
The report attributed the growth in trousers to product quality, greater range diversity and vertical integration, with manufacturers combining different stages of production and offering broader product ranges to meet changing requirements from international buyers.
The European Union, Pakistan’s largest textile market, recorded a mixed performance. Exports of a major category of men’s and boys’ cotton trousers increased 5% to $411 million, while cotton ensembles declined 15.4% to $783 million.
The United States emerged as an important market behind the growth. Pakistan’s overall textile and apparel exports to the US increased to $4.853 billion in FY2025-26 from $4.768 billion
The strong performance of non-knit apparel also reflects the wider shift towards value-added products. Valueadded apparel and home textile products accounted for 83.2% of textile exports in
FY2025-26, compared with 77% in FY2021-22, while raw materials and intermediates declined to 16.8%.
Pakistan’s textile exports to China rise 22.2% to $644 million in FY2025-26 Pakistan’s textile exports to China increased by 22.2% to $644 million during FY2025-26, making China the fastest-growing among the country’s five leading textile export markets, according to the Pakistan Textile Council’s Annual Export Performance Report: Pakistan’s Textile & Apparel Exports FY26. According to the report, exports to China increased from $527 million in FY2024-25 to $644 million in FY202526. China remained Pakistan’s fourth-largest textile export destination after the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. Unlike these major markets, which mainly absorb finished textile and apparel products, China primarily serves as a rawmaterial market for Pakistan, with cotton yarn accounting for the majority of shipments. Two major cotton yarn categories generated most of the export earnings. Shipments under HS code 52051100 increased by 33.2% to $276.4 million from $207.5 million, while exports under HS code 52051200 rose 20.3% to $266.7 million from $221.7 million. Combined, the two categories generated $543.1 million, representing around 84% of Pakistan’s total textile exports to China during the year.
10 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
A significant increase was also recorded in unbleached cotton woven fabric weighing more than 100 grams per square metre. Exports under HS code 52081200 more than doubled to $21.6 million from $10.6 million, registering growth of 103.9%. However, exports of finished apparel remained under pressure. Men’s and boys’ trousers declined 62.3%, while cotton-knit trousers fell 35.8%. Jersey exports dropped 32.4% and cotton hosiery declined 16%. The Pakistan Textile Council stated that cotton yarn and unbleached woven fabric were driving demand in China, while apparel exports remained relatively small and mostly declined. It cautioned that the increase should be viewed as “demand-pull, not a competitiveness win”, as Chinese mills increasingly turned towards Pakistani cotton yarn amid tighter domestic supply and Pakistan’s relative price competitiveness. The report further noted that Pakistan’s yarn exports remain highly dependent on Chinese production, inventories, domestic prices and competing suppliers, while domestic cotton availability remains another key constraint. The rise in Chinese purchases provided an important outlet for Pakistani cotton yarn despite a 3.4% decline in overall exports of raw materials and intermediates under Chapters 50-60, which fell to $3.026 billion during FY2025-26. The report further recommended strengthening Pakistan’s domestic cotton base and improving the competitiveness of the upstream textile industry.
Pakistan’s home textile exports reach $5.7 billion as demand shifts towards valueadded products Pakistan’s home textile and made-up article exports reached $5.705 billion in FY2025-26, with towels and bed linen continuing to lead the category as international demand increasingly shifts towards microfibre, digitally printed and embellished products. According to the Pakistan Textile Council’s Annual Export Performance Report: Pakistan’s Textile & Apparel Exports FY26, exports under Chapter 63 increased from $5.670 billion in FY2024-25 to $5.705 billion in FY202526, maintaining its position as the country’s largest value-added textile export sector. The latest figure also reflects a sustained recovery from $5.084 billion in FY2022-23 and $5.229 billion in FY202324, although exports remained below the $5.958 billion recorded in FY2021-22. Cotton towels remained the largest individual export product, generating $1.001 billion during FY2025-26 compared with $1.011 billion a year earlier. Cotton millmade bed sheets followed, with exports increasing to $503 million from $465 million, while cotton mill-made bed covers rose slightly to $391 million from $385 million. Performance across other bed-linen products remained mixed. Handloom bed-sheet exports declined to $377 million from $401 million, while other cotton bed linen fell
News & Views to $371 million from $418 million. Knitted or crocheted bed sheets also declined slightly to $327 million from $333 million. Meanwhile, exports of worn clothing and other worn articles increased to $311 million from $282 million. The report highlighted a changing preference among international buyers, noting that demand for made-ups is shifting rather than shrinking. Towel buyers are increasingly moving away from basic 100% cotton products towards microfibre, digitally printed and embellished varieties. Mattress protectors also continued to perform as a reliable product line, while demand for cotton bed linen contracted in some market segments. Major international markets continued to generate substantial demand for Pakistan’s home textiles. In the European Union, cotton towels generated $428 million, followed by cotton mill-made bed sheets at $279 million and bed covers at $278 million. In the United States, cotton towel exports increased 2.5% to $355 million, although cotton mill-made bed sheets declined 3.9% to $118 million. The United Kingdom recorded mixed results, with cotton mill-made bed-sheet exports surging 31.8% to $64 million, while cotton towels declined 6.2% to $99 million. Value-added apparel and home textile products under Chapters 61-63 generated $14.98 billion in FY2025-26, accounting for 83.2% of total textile and apparel exports.
Pakistan’s cotton arrivals rise 19.17% to 2.39 million bales Cotton arrivals at ginning factories across Pakistan increased 19.17% to 2.39 million bales as of September 15, 2026, compared with 2 million bales recorded during the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners’ Association (PCGA). Data compiled jointly by the PCGA and Karachi Cotton Association showed that ginners had received 2,388,682 bales during the current season, compared with 2,004,384 bales a year earlier. Of the total arrivals, 2,207,183 bales had been pressed into cotton bales, while 181,499 bales remained unpressed as of September 15.
12 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Sindh accounted for the largest share of arrivals, with ginning factories receiving 1.53 million bales, representing a 16.25% increase from 1.31 million bales recorded last year. Sanghar recorded the highest arrivals in the province at 888,607 bales, followed by Sukkur with 110,600 bales and Hyderabad with 89,828 bales. Cotton arrivals in Punjab stood at 860,942 bales, increasing 24.73% from 690,254 bales during the same period last year. Bahawalnagar recorded the highest arrivals in the province at 166,400 bales, followed by Dera Ghazi Khan with 146,415 bales and Bahawalpur with 125,253 bales. The PCGA data showed that total unsold cotton stocks stood at 260,789 bales, compared with 325,780 bales a year earlier. Of the cotton pressed during the season, 2,127,893 bales had been sold. Textile mills purchased 2,035,093 bales, while exporters and traders purchased 92,800 bales. A further 79,290 bales remained in ginners’ stocks.
Pakistani factory workers help train robots for the global AI industry Thousands of Pakistani factory workers are becoming a part of the global race to develop more capable robots, as a local startup pays industrial workers to perform tasks they already know while recording their movements for artificial intelligence and robotics companies. Pakistan-based startup World Context, founded in January 2026, currently works with around 8,000
factory workers across industries including tooling, textiles, electronics, automotive, heavy industry, healthcare, logistics and specialist manufacturing, according to the company. Instead of replacing workers with machines, the company uses cameras, sensors and smart equipment to capture how workers perform physical tasks. Workers are equipped with smart gloves as well as head-, foot- and wrist-mounted cameras, which record movements including gripping, pressing, adjusting, assembling and manipulating objects. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Sherdil Ali Khan said workers are paid roughly twice their previous wages, while the startup is building a data supply chain between Pakistan and the United States to strengthen technology trade between the two countries. The business is addressing a growing challenge for robotics companies, as teaching machines to operate in the physical world requires large amounts of real-world data. While AI systems can process enormous volumes of digital information, robots require examples of humans performing physical tasks in different environments. Industrial workplaces provide variations that are difficult to reproduce through simulation, including the weight and friction of objects, the force required to fit components together and the small adjustments workers make when tasks do not go according to plan. World Context records these interactions and packages the resulting datasets for robotics companies and research teams in the United States and other markets. The company said
recordings are made under written contracts, audited for quality and documented for provenance, while customers can also request datasets tailored to specific tasks and environments. Khan said data collected from Pakistani factories has already been used by US robotics companies, potentially giving Pakistan a role in supplying physical-world information required to train increasingly capable machines.
PTEA calls for reduction in production costs to revive textile exports Newly elected Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman Rehan Naseem Bharara has called for immediate measures to reduce rising production costs, saying high business expenses are discouraging fresh investment and weakening Pakistan’s competitiveness in international textile markets. Addressing the association’s Annual General Meeting, Mr. Bharara said the continued increase in production costs was choking new investment in the textile sector and constraining export growth. He stressed that an effective government strategy was urgently required to bring down industrial costs, restore momentum and accelerate economic activity. He identified high production costs as the foremost challenge facing textile exporters under the prevailing economic conditions. According to him, the export sector was facing mounting pressure from the broader economic slowdown, heavy taxation and elevated energy prices, all of which were affecting industrial activity, productivity and export competitiveness. The newly elected chairman also expressed concern over the continued slowdown in industrial output, saying the export sector had experienced negative growth since the beginning of the ongoing fiscal year. He attributed the sluggish performance to the difficult business environment and rising costs of energy and raw materials. Mr. Bharara urged the government to revisit and redesign export policies with a focus on improving competitiveness, encouraging investment and preventing further deterioration in industrial activity. He cautioned that measures increasing the cost burden on industry could undermine efforts to expand exports and generate employment. Newly elected PTEA Vice Chairman Haris Yousaf stressed the need for unity and collective action within the textile industry. He said the sector must speak with one voice to urge the government to strengthen the economy, improve industrial productivity and create a business environment conducive to investment and exports. He assured members that the new PTEA leadership would continue working for the long-term viability and international competitiveness of Pakistan’s textile industry. He welcomed the government’s efforts to clear outstanding refunds, saying the release of these funds would improve liquidity and support industrial activity.
Around the World AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijan’s cotton yarn exports surge 88.5% in seven months Azerbaijan’s cotton yarn exports recorded strong growth during the first seven months of 2026, with shipment volumes increasing 88.5% year on year as the country expands downstream cotton processing and seeks to capture greater value from its domestic fibre production. According to State Customs Committee data, Azerbaijan exported around 13,700 tonnes of cotton yarn worth $31 million during January-July 2026. Export volume increased by 6,450 tonnes, while export earnings rose by $13.9 million, representing growth of 81.9% in value. The latest performance marks a significant acceleration compared with recent annual results. Azerbaijan exported 11,187 tonnes of cotton yarn worth $31.29 million in 2023, followed by 11,548 tonnes valued at $28.55 million in 2024. The figures show that cotton-yarn export earnings during the first seven months of 2026 had already exceeded the total recorded for the whole of 2024, while export volume was almost 19% higher than the full-year figure for that year. The average export value during January-July 2026 stood at approximately $2.26 per kg, slightly below the estimated $2.36 per kg based on corresponding 2025 figures. This indicates that export volumes are growing faster than earnings, pointing towards lower average realisations despite stronger demand. Growth has also been recorded in Azerbaijan’s wider cotton sector. The country exported 97,289 tonnes of cotton fibre worth $137.1 million during the seven-month period, representing increases of 27.5% in volume and 24.9% in value.
excluding non-monetary gold increased 18.3% to $2.5 billion.
BANGLADESH Bangladesh suspends plan to withdraw bond facility for cotton yarn imports Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce has suspended its decision to withdraw the bond facility for imports of 10–30 count cotton yarn, temporarily halting a plan that would have required importers to provide bank guarantees. In a letter to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman on 13 September, the ministry said the decision had been suspended for further consideration. The ministry had earlier asked the NBR on 7 September to withdraw the bond facility as part of efforts to protect domestic textile industries while ensuring genuine exporters could access required raw materials.
Domestic cotton-yarn production, meanwhile, increased 33.6% to 14,815 tonnes, indicating that exports accounted for a substantial share of current production and highlighting the expanding role of spinning within the domestic textile industry.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu welcomed the suspension, saying BGMEA, the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) would meet shortly to discuss the issue and seek a mutually acceptable solution.
Government export data also showed cotton-yarn export value rising 81.9% year on year, while wider non-oil exports
Mr. Babu expressed hope that the stakeholders would reach a consensus under the leadership of the Commerce
14 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Ministry while keeping the interests of the country in view. The decision comes amid an ongoing disagreement between domestic textile millers and apparel exporters over restrictions on imported raw materials. The government had previously restricted imports of knit fabrics used by knitwear exporters under the new Import Policy Order, raising concerns within the apparel industry about the possible impact on exports. BGMEA and BKMEA had urged the Commerce Ministry to withdraw the provision in a letter submitted on 1 September, following which the ministry held discussions with industry representatives. The ministry had maintained that domestic textile manufacturers had developed sufficient capacity to supply most of the raw materials required by the knitwear industry, although certain specialised materials continued to require imports. Exporters, however, have argued that Bangladesh does not manufacture every category of knit fabric needed by international buyers. They said highvalue-added fabrics, buyer-specified materials and competitively priced imported inputs are sometimes necessary for manufacturers to meet orders and maintain export competitiveness. Domestic textile millers have taken a different position, maintaining that local mills possess adequate capacity to meet the knitwear sector’s requirements. They have also argued that limiting imported materials would reduce buyers’ ability to dictate the sourcing location of raw materials.
CAMBODIA Cambodia’s garment exports rise nearly 8% to $7 billion in seven months Cambodia’s garment and clothing industry continued to expand during the first seven months of 2026, with exports approaching $7 billion despite weakening apparel demand in some major international markets. According to data from the General Department of Customs and Excise cited by the Phnom Penh Post, Cambodia exported nearly $7 billion worth of garments and clothing accessories between January and July 2026, representing an increase of almost 8% compared with the same period last year. Garments and clothing accessories accounted for around one-third of the country’s total exports during the period, highlighting the continued importance of the sector to Cambodia’s export economy and foreign-exchange earnings. The latest performance follows growth recorded during the first half of the year, when exports from Cambodia’s wider garment, textile, footwear and travel-goods sector reached $7.99 billion, up 6.2% from $7.52 billion a year earlier. Cambodia’s export growth is particularly notable against the backdrop of weaker apparel demand in the United States. US apparel imports declined 7.7% year on year to $35.08 billion during January-June 2026, while Cambodian shipments to the market increased 12.6% to $2.13 billion. The increase represented the strongest percentage growth among major Asian apparel suppliers to the US market during the period, indicating continued demand for Cambodian manufacturing capacity despite softer overall imports. The country’s wider merchandise export performance has also strengthened, with total exports reaching around $20.81 billion during the first seven months of 2026, up 21.3% year on year. Overall trade rose to approximately $44.07 billion during the same period. Cambodia’s garment, footwear and travel-goods manufacturing base now comprises more than 1,800 factories and branches employing around 1.1 million workers, underlining the sector’s contribution to employment and industrial activity. The industry benefits from established market access to the US, European Union, Canada and Japan, while continued investment from Asian manufacturers is helping expand production capacity. However, Cambodia remains dependent on imported yarn, fabric and other textile inputs which limits the amount of value retained within the domestic economy and presents the next major challenge for the industry.
SOUTH KOREA South Korea accelerates AI and robotics adoption across apparel manufacturing South Korea’s apparel industry is accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and production data systems as manufacturers seek to automate labour-intensive operations amid growing labour shortages.
Around the World The shift is taking automation beyond design offices and into factory operations, with Korean manufacturers applying new technologies to pattern development, sewing, material handling and quality inspection. Major apparel exporter Hansae has contracted Korean robotics company Realworld and is evaluating its AI-enabled robotic gripping technology for garment production. The company is also conducting proof-of-concept trials with CAPlanet on software capable of automatically converting a base garment pattern into multiple sizes. Sewing is emerging as another major frontier for automation, particularly because handling flexible fabrics remains one of the most technically challenging areas of apparel manufacturing. Uniform producer Bokwang INT is deploying AI technology that measures fabric thickness and tension in real time and automatically adjusts sewing parameters. The system is also being developed to identify small surface defects, potentially reducing dependence on individual operator skills while improving sewing consistency and inspection processes. Meanwhile, Korean Friends is developing generative AI technology designed to convert garment designs directly into production work orders. Georim Trend, F&I Korea and Good Trust are working with AI specialist SIJE to analyse sewing-machine and workload data in order to identify production bottlenecks and improve factory efficiency. The developments are aligned with South Korea’s broader Manufacturing AI Transformation, or M.AX, strategy, under which the government aims to extend AI applications beyond individual machines into production planning, inventory management, supply chains and overall factory operations.
UNITED KINGDOM UK retailers launch ‘The Circuit’ to transform textile waste into recycled materials A coalition of major UK retailers including New Look, Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Sainsbury’s has launched ‘The
16 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Circuit’, a collaborative initiative aimed at transforming post-consumer textile waste into circular raw materials and strengthening the country’s textile recycling infrastructure. The partnership, which also includes Oxfam and Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems, seeks to establish new systems for recovering, sorting and preparing textiles that are no longer suitable for reuse. According to the consortium, around 1.4 million tonnes of post-consumer textiles were generated in the UK during 2024, with almost half classified as nonreusable. The initiative aims to address this growing challenge by developing processes capable of recovering and recycling garments at scale. The first phase of The Circuit is scheduled to commence in January 2027 at Oxfam’s site in Batley, West Yorkshire. The initial programme will focus on testing automated textile sorting technology, improving traceability through new reporting frameworks and examining operational models that could be expanded across the UK. Oxfam will operate the automated sorting equipment and separate reusable garments from textiles destined for recycling, while Circle-8 will develop the infrastructure and commercial frameworks required to connect textile recovery with fibre-to-fibre recycling. Circle-8 is also supporting the development of automated sorting and pre-processing facilities designed to produce feedstock for existing and emerging textile recyclers. The initiative is expected to create opportunities for local employment and manufacturing by keeping sorting and pre-processing
activities closer to where textiles reach the end of their useful life. The partnership also aims to encourage both mechanical and chemical recycling, allowing recovered fibres to reenter regional and international textile supply chains and reducing reliance on virgin raw materials. New Look Chief Executive Officer Lynda Petherick said The Circuit would provide retailers with an opportunity to help develop systems capable of converting non-reusable textiles into future raw materials. She added that the initiative could contribute towards more resilient and circular supply chains over the longer term. Oxfam Retail Director Rachel Cosgrove-Pearce said developing infrastructure to recover valuable fibres from end-of-use textiles was important for creating a fashion system that used fewer virgin resources and generated less environmental harm. Meanwhile, Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems CEO and co-founder Cyndi Rhoades said the initiative would help build the relationships, infrastructure and commercial frameworks required for a circular textile value chain. The partners said combining their expertise and investment could accelerate the development of large-scale circular textile systems in the UK.
VIETNAM Vietnam’s textile and garment exports reach $27 billion in seven months Vietnam’s textile and garment exports reached an estimated $4.7 billion in July
2026, rising 8.2% from the previous month and 4.3% compared with July last year, according to official figures. The strong monthly performance lifted the industry’s total export turnover during the first seven months of 2026 to $27.02 billion, representing an annual increase of 2.67% as manufacturers continue efforts to secure orders, diversify markets and improve production efficiency. Apparel exports alone were estimated at $3.738 billion in July, up 8.9% month on month and 2.1% year on year. During January-July, apparel shipments reached $21.127 billion, recording a more modest increase of 0.70% compared with the corresponding period of 2025. Upstream textile products and production inputs recorded stronger growth during the period. Fibre and yarn exports generated approximately $2.730 billion, increasing 11.34% year on year, while textile and garment accessories rose 11.18% to $929 million. Fabric exports also increased 9.57% to $1.763 billion, while non-woven fabric shipments reached $471 million, representing growth of 6.56% compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s textile and garment imports stood at $2.231 billion in July, down 6% from June but 8% higher year on year. For the first seven months, imports reached $15.255 billion, up 3.27%. Fabric imports accounted for $8.936 billion of the total, increasing 2.08%, while textile and garment accessories rose 3.60% to $2.605 billion. Cotton imports reached $1.885 billion, representing a 1.02% annual increase. Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) Vice Chairman Truong Van Cam said major international markets were increasingly tightening requirements related to sustainable development, raw-material traceability, carbon emissions and social responsibility. He said the growth recorded in fibre, fabric and accessory exports indicated that Vietnamese enterprises were becoming more proactive across the supply chain and reducing dependence on imported raw materials. Mr. Cam called on companies to accelerate the green transition, invest in energy-efficient technologies, diversify into niche markets and make greater use of incentives available under next-generation free trade agreements. Economists also advised textile and garment manufacturers to closely monitor changes in international trade policies, particularly stringent European regulations linked to the circular textile economy. They stressed that recycled fibres, environmentally friendly products and compliance with environmental standards would become increasingly important for accessing premium markets.
Corporate News
Green Story partners with Frontier to bring facility-level environmental data into fashion's material sourcing workflows The integration embeds primary supply chain sustainability data into the platform where brands and suppliers already discover and manage materials.
Green Story, a leading textile environmental intelligence company, has announced a partnership with Frontier, the AI-powered material digitisation and management platform used widely across the fashion and textile industry. The partnership integrates Green Story's environmental assessments into Frontier's platform, giving brands and suppliers access to facility-specific sustainability data at the point where material sourcing decisions are made.
Data Built from the Ground Up Green Story's environmental assessments are built on primary information, collected directly from suppliers and manufacturing facilities across 34 countries. Every data point reflects how and where a product was actually made, supported by one of the most recognised textile lifecycle assessment systems in the industry.
Akhil Sivanandan, Co-Founder and CEO, Green Story.
textile manufacturing from the inside. This partnership with Frontier puts that intelligence exactly where it belongs: in the room where materials are being chosen."
Embedding Sustainability into Material Sourcing
The company's AI-driven, expert-led methodology processes, validates and contextualises this data at scale, ensuring that the environmental information surfaced through Frontier is both scientifically rigorous and operationally relevant.
Environmental data from Green Story will be accessible within the same workflows where materials are already being sourced, digitised and evaluated on Frontier's platform. The integration enables brands to factor environmental performance into material selection alongside technical specifications, pricing and availability.
"Most sustainability data in fashion arrives too late to shape a material decision," said Akhil Sivanandan, CoFounder and CEO of Green Story. "Our work has always been about building environmental intelligence that reflects reality, primary data from facilities, assessed by experts who understand
"Frontier exists to scale physical materials into intelligent data which brands can actually use. Nowadays fabric decisions happen fast, however, environmental data has always played catch-up. By bringing Green Story’s facility-level intelligence directly into Frontier, we’re closing that gap. Brands
18 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Jing L. Chao, CEO, Frontier.cool
and suppliers can now see the full picture of a material the moment they’re evaluating it, not after the decision is already made.” said Jing L. Chao, CEO, Frontier.cool.
Supporting the Industry's Regulatory Transition The partnership addresses growing regulatory and market demands for product-level environmental transparency. The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Digital Product Passport requirements, and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are establishing new expectations for verifiable, data-backed sustainability disclosure across the fashion value chain. Access to credible environmental data at the material selection stage provides brands and suppliers with a practical foundation for meeting these evolving requirements.
Corporate News
SHIMA SEIKI exhibits at Egypt Stitch & Tex Leading Japanese computerised flat knitting technologist SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its sales representative in Egypt, TTS (EL MASRIA FOR TRADE & TECHNICAL SERVICES), participated in the 24th International Exhibition for Textile & Carpet Machineries, Printing Technologies and Accessories (Egypt Stitch & Tex) held in Cairo, Egypt between 24 and 27 September 2026. The exhibition, showcasing the forefront of digital transformation through sustainable digital technologies and virtual sampling utilising 3D design systems, gained recognition as a key business hub attracting buyers from across the globe. In line with this theme, SHIMA SEIKI offered solutions for automated knit product manufacturing, featuring the latest computerised flat knitting machines and the design system. N.SSR®112/N.SSR®132 SHIMA SEIKI’s global standard in shaped knitting, the N.SSR® series, now includes an even more cost-effective choice. The new N.SSR®112 and N.SSR®132 feature high productivity with a compact, lightweight carriage as well as quick carriage returns with the R2CARRIAGE® system. N.SSR®112 and N.SSR®132 carry over proven SHIMA
The new SHIMA SEIKI N.SSR®112
20 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
SEIKI technology such as our renowned Digital Stitch Control System (DSCS®), spring-type moveable sinker system, stitch presser, yarn gripper and cutter, and takedown comb. New features include a 52-inch (132 cm) knitting width for supporting larger sized garments as well as optional sub-rollers, offering the flexibility required for responding to various customer and market needs. Realising excellent cost performance while ensuring Made-in-Japan quality, safety, reliability and user-friendliness, N.SSR®112 and N.SSR®132 set a new standard for a new era in computerised flat knitting machines.
SDS® KnitPaint-Online KnitPaint is proven software used by knitting companies across the globe to create knitting data for programming SHIMA SEIKI computerised flat knitting machines. Previously available only as part of SHIMA SEIKI's SDS®-ONE APEX series all-in-one design system, with SDS® KnitPaintOnline, KnitPaint software is now available as standalone software that carries over the same familiar KnitPaint functions, but enhanced with basic planning and design functionality as well.
SDS®-ONE APEX4 Live demonstrations were given on SHIMA SEIKI's SDS®-ONE APEX4 3D design system, which supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual samples are a digitised version of sample making that are accurate enough to be used effectively as prototypes, replacing physical sampling and consequently reducing time, cost and material that would otherwise go to waste. Moreover, users can take advantage of this capability not only on the design side but also on the production side. When a design is approved for production, knitting data which is automatically generated can easily be converted into machine data, digitally bridging the gap between design and production. SDS®ONE APEX4 therefore helps to realise sustainability while digitally transforming the supply chain.
Corporate News
TMAS technology behind the perfect little black dress The little black dress may be one of fashion’s simplest and most enduring garments, but achieving its characteristic clean lines depends on manufacturing precision of the kind supplied by Swedish textile machinery specialist and TMAS member Svegea. Ever since Audrey Hepburn appeared in Givenchy’s celebrated creation in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the little black dress has become a wardrobe staple across generations. Its appeal lies partly in its apparent simplicity, but producing a dress that retains its shape, sits cleanly around the neckline and withstands repeated wear requires considerable attention to details that are largely invisible to the wearer.
One of those details is bias binding Bias binding is produced from strips of fabric cut diagonally across the material rather than along its straight grain. Cutting on the bias gives the strip greater flexibility, allowing it to follow curved necklines, armholes and other edges without puckering or distorting the garment. It can be used to enclose raw edges, reinforce areas subjected to movement and provide a clean internal finish. While largely unnoticed by the wearer, accurately produced and applied binding can consequently make an important contribution to both the appearance and durability of a garment.
This consistency becomes particularly important where binding has to follow prominent curved areas of a garment. A neckline or armhole that does not sit correctly can immediately affect the appearance and fit of an otherwise well-made product. The little black dress provides an obvious example. With few patterns or decorative elements to distract the eye, construction details and the quality of the finish become particularly important.
Beyond the LBD The applications for industrial bias cutting extend considerably beyond dresses. Bias binding is widely employed in blouses, childrenswear, activewear and other garments requiring flexible edge finishing, as well as in bags, accessories and home textile products.
For a home sewer, bias strips can be cut and prepared manually, but in industrial garment production, where thousands of identical pieces may be required, the challenge is quite different.
Svegea has developed its machinery around these varied production requirements, with equipment for bias cutting complemented by collarette cutters for applications such as waistbands and roll slitters for handling larger fabric rolls.
Consistency of width and cut becomes critical, while manufacturers must also control material use and maintain production speeds. It is here that TMAS member Svegea has established a specialist position with automated equipment for bias binding and other fabric cutting operations.
The common requirement is repeatability. As garment production has become increasingly automated, processes that once depended heavily on manual skill have progressively been engineered to deliver consistent results at industrial volumes.
From roll to binding Svegea’s system is designed to convert fabric rolls into continuously produced bias material in a series of automated operations. The process begins with the company’s Tube Sewing Unit, which joins open-width fabric to create a continuous tube. This is subsequently handled by the Bias Cutter and Winder, opening and rewinding the material in preparation for accurate slitting. The equipment can produce narrow strips down to 6 mm as well as wider bindings required for heavier fabrics and more structural applications. Automating these operations enables garment manufacturers to maintain consistent dimensions over long production runs while reducing the variations that can arise when material is prepared manually.
This is also representative of the highly specialised areas in which Swedish textile machinery companies continue to operate. TMAS – the Swedish Textile Machinery Association – brings together manufacturers supplying technologies across textile and garment production, often addressing individual stages of manufacturing that remain largely invisible in the finished product. In Svegea’s case, that specialism is the accurate preparation and cutting of textile materials for subsequent garment assembly. “The enduring little black dress provides a particularly neat illustration,” says Therese Premler-Andersson, secretary general of TMAS. “Its apparent simplicity depends on getting a succession of small manufacturing details right – from the way the fabric is cut and assembled to the finishing of its curved edges. The wearer may never notice the bias binding around a perfectly finished neckline, but in many ways, that is precisely the point.”
21
KARL MAYER: 90 years of innovation. Celebrating the value of textiles KARL MAYER invites the global textile industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German headquarters in 2027 KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be. “Our anniversary activities are about much more than individual machines or new features. They are about the next major technical breakthrough developments and true textile innovations across WARP KNITTING, TECHNICAL TEXTILES, and WARP PREPARATION. Above all, they highlight the opportunities for our customers: stronger growth, new market opportunities, higher productivity and efficiency, as well as additional potential for sustainable business success,” says Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER. In the place where progress has been shaping the textile industry for 90 years, innovations, technologies, and future opportunities come together in a unique and immersive experience – in a setting that’s perfect for this purpose: With its Textile Innovation Center (TIC) and Product Innovation Center (PIC) in Obertshausen, KARL MAYER offers a globally unique
22 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
environment for development, textile application and technology transfer. Across more than 5,000 square metres, visitors will not only see innovations but also experience them in real production environments and business scenarios.
Visitors can look forward to: New machine generations addressing
the challenges facing the global textile industry, in live operation. Innovative solutions demonstrating how customers can optimise their textile value creation and maximise the quality of their products. Future-oriented textile applications and entirely new fabric concepts that inspire new ideas and open up new business opportunities. Constructive expert dialogue with leading players from all sectors of the textile industry – from fibre manufacturers to brands. A special benefit for guests: Throughout the entire event week, KARL MAYER specialists from all textile categories, machine segments, and technology fields will be available for indepth technical discussions and tailored consultations. “We have a strong pipeline of innovations across all technology areas and are very much looking forward to sharing the results with our customers in 2027,” says Lutz Wolf. In light of the 90th anniversary, KARL MAYER will focus its activities in 2027 on
Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER
the celebrations at its headquarters in Obertshausen rather than on attending the ITMA trade show in Hanover. Further information on the anniversary programme will follow in the coming months.
Setting the Stage in China: ITMA ASIA 2026 KARL MAYER will already be presenting new developments at ITMA ASIA 2026 in Shanghai. To address the diverse needs of its customers even more effectively, the company will be represented there with two separate exhibition booths: In Hall 4.1/C18 for WARP KNITTING and TECHNICAL TEXTILES In Hall 3/A24 for WARP PREPARATION In addition, there will be a Product Show at KARL MAYER (China) in Changzhou. With its expanded trade show presence in China, the company is reinforcing its strong commitment to customers in this important region.
Personalia
Daniel Lippuner, new CEO of Rieter
Change of leadership at Rieter Thomas Oetterli has decided to step down from his function as CEO, effective 31 October 2026, and hand over the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. “After the successful implementation of the Next Level performance programme, the structural measures initiated to consolidate the sites and the acquisition of Barmag, the time has come to hand over responsibility to new hands,” explains Thomas Oetterli. The eventual separation of the functions of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors was planned since Thomas Oetterli took office. The Board of Directors thanks Thomas Oetterli for his great commitment and his important contributions to the strategic and operational development of Rieter. It is convinced that the measures initiated will strengthen the competitiveness of the Group and create a solid foundation to benefit from a future market recovery. Daniel Lippuner will take over as CEO of Rieter on 1 November 2026. He combines broad international leadership experience with in-depth knowledge of the textile machinery and components
24 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
industry. As former CEO of the Saurer Group and previously as Head of Oerlikon Textile Components, he led businesses along the value chain of spinning machines, yarn processing and textile components. As Chairman of the Board and co-owner of Heberlein Technology, he also remained closely connected to the chemical fibre industry. His experience in transformation, technology and quality management, operational leadership and Asian markets is particularly relevant for Rieter with its established short-staple fibre business and the newly acquired man-made fibre business. Carl Illi will assume the role of Chairman of the Board until the next Annual General Meeting on 14 April 2027. He has been a member of the Rieter Board of Directors since 2017 and is a recognised textile industry expert. With the acquisition of Barmag in February 2026, Rieter has expanded its traditional business focused on shortstaple fibres to include the attractive man-made fibres segment. The transaction strengthens the focus on the technology leadership of the Rieter Group, opens up additional growth opportunities and creates a broader basis for digital solutions in the textile industry.
About Rieter Rieter is the world’s leading system supplier for processing natural and manmade fibres into short-staple and long-staple yarn, as well as for the production of filament yarns, man-made fibres and nonwovens. With its comprehensive technology portfolio, Rieter covers the entire textile value chain – from fibre to yarn, and from polymer melt to texturised filament, synthetic staple fibres and nonwoven. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, the company designs and engineers complex spinning plants, machines, systems, and components that enable an efficient and economical production. Rieter’s leading technologies ensure minimal resource consumption, making a significant contribution to sustainability across the global textile value chain. With a history spanning more than 230 years, Rieter operates 22 production sites in nine countries, and employs around 6,400 people worldwide, approximately 9% of them in Switzerland. Rieter is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol RIEN.
Newly elected Executive Board of VDMA Textile Machinery
VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board At the general meeting of VDMA Textile Machinery held in Hanover at the end of September, Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, was re-elected as Chairman of the trade association. Regina Brückner, managing partner of Brückner Trockentechnik, and Verena Thies, managing partner of Thies Textilmaschinen, will once again serve as vice-chairs for the next four years. The general meeting of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association took place in the trade fair city of Hanover, one year ahead of the leading trade-fair, ITMA. The event’s theme, “The world is moving forward – where is Europe?”, outlined the industry’s current landscape: increasing competition from Asia, coupled with challenging business conditions in Europe, has led to significant declines in order intake and turnover in recent years. Although the turnover forecast for 2026 had to be revised downwards to 14 percent (nominal), order intake appears to be stabilising. “The discussions and workshops at our General Assembly clearly demonstrated that our industry is in the
26 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
midst of profound change. The challenges are considerable, yet we possess the innovative strength, the expertise and the technological leadership to actively shape these changes. Together, we will work to support our customers even more effectively throughout the entire lifecycle of their machinery and equipment, to capitalise on the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, and to strengthen the competitiveness of the European textile machinery industry in the long term. ITMA 2027 in Hanover will be an important milestone in showcasing our industry’s capabilities to the world,” explained Dr Janpeter Horn.
The Executive Board for the term of office from 2026 to 2030 comprises:
Dr Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery, added: “I look forward to working with the newly elected Executive Board. The board’s wealth of experience, high level of technical expertise and broad positioning reflect the diversity and innovative strength of our sector. Together, we will actively drive forward the key future issues facing the European textile machinery manufacturing sector and provide important impetus for the competitiveness of our industry.”
Dr Janpeter Horn, A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Oldenburg (Chair) Regina Brückner, BRÜCKNER Trockentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Leonberg (Deputy Chair) Verena Thies, THIES GmbH & Co. KG, Coesfeld (Deputy Chair) Riccarda Dilo, Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik KG, Eberbach Peter D. Dornier, Lindauer DORNIER GmbH, Lindau Volker Gingter, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen, Mönchengladbach Andreas Lukas, ANDRITZ Küsters GmbH, Krefeld Dr Jörg Morgner, Temafa Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach Benjamin Reiners, Reiners + Fürst GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach Markus Settegast, Groz-Beckert KG, Albstadt Alexander Stampfer, Trützschler Group SE, Mönchengladbach Georg Stausberg, Barmag GmbH & Co. KG, Remscheid
Dyes and Chemicals
Archroma and Lameirinho partner in pioneering deployment of InOneGO single-step dyeing Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, and Lameirinho, a leading home textiles manufacturer based in Portugal, are collaborating to bring InOneGO by Archroma, a new singlestep dyeing process, into commercial production. Lameirinho’s first InOneGO bed linens collection is now available worldwide. InOneGO by Archroma is an innovative continuous dyeing process that combines coloration, fixation and softening into a single pad-dry application step. “This new InOneGO by Archroma process enables Lameirinho to achieve a wide range of shades and effects – including authentic indigo denim looks, wash-down effects and vintage-inspired finishes – bringing depth, character and a contemporary aesthetic to home textiles. At the same time, it simplifies the dyeing process by reducing the number of processing steps, and decreases resource consumption,” said Jorge Leitão, Innovation and Development Manager at Lameirinho. Developed for woven cellulosic textiles, including denim and fashion wear, as well as home textiles, InOneGO
is compatible with Archroma’s advanced sulfur dyestuffs: the DIRESUL® RDT range of pre-reduced low-sulfur liquid dyes, and the EarthColors® and FiberColors® biomass-based sulfur dyes. This gives mills and brands a lower-impact way to produce wash-down effects, without compromising on fastness or shade range across earthy tones, deep blues and dark blacks.
“Achieving the washed-down look conventionally requires multiple washes, with extra water and energy needed at each stage. InOneGO is a genuine structural innovation. It delivers that same distressed character in a single step, with no trade-off in fastness – even after wash-down,” Julio Perales, Technical & Product Segment Manager, Archroma Textile Effects, said. Impact assessments using Archroma’s ONE WAY Impact Calculator show substantial environmental benefits when using InOneGO by Archroma with DIRESUL® RDT for woven fabrics, including denim and jacquard. The tests included the addition of easy wash-down effect finishing, benchmarked against conventional cold pad-batch reactive dyeing with pigment top-dye finish. Key results include up to: 81% less process time 97% less water consumption 65% less energy consumption 75% less CO2 emissions The InOneGO by Archroma process runs on Stenter and Thermosol lines, and performance finishes can be applied in a second step.
® Trademarks of Archroma registered in many countries. © 2026 Archroma
27
Features
Driving circularity with Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix The two-way street for assessing mechanically recycled materials The textile industry’s commitment to circularity continues to accelerate, and mechanical recycling is viewed as a targeted approach to cutting textile waste and its environmental impact. At the forefront of this drive, Uster has developed the Recycled Fiber Matrix, a two-dimensional assessment of mechanically recycled fibers to guide optimum processing and end-uses. Recycled cotton fibers are difficult to categorize because of their inconsistency and variability. How can the industry evaluate mechanically recycled material accurately, and match it to the most suitable spinning methods and product end-uses? Help is at hand from Uster, in the form of the Recycled Fiber Matrix. It provides an objective assessment of recycled cotton, so that recyclers, spinners and brands are guided towards what can be made from it, and how. The concept fits perfectly with the industry’s need for greater circularity and transparency in recycling.
The facts that matter Precise data about the physical characteristics of recycled fibers is essential to understand how they will behave in spinning and their end-use. The Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix focuses on the essential numbers, such as length
Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix for mechanically recycled cotton based on L(n) and SFC(n)
of fibers (L(n)), of the longest 5% fibers (5% L(n)), and short fiber content (SFC(n)). The background to the development of the Recycled Fiber Matrix involved testing of a significant number of 100% mechanically recycled cotton fiber samples from key recycling regions, including China, India and Europe. Samples included greige materials, as well as colored and bleached recycled fibers. Sources were categorized as post-industrial, preconsumer or post-consumer waste, as evenly distributed as possible. Measurements of the recycled samples with Uster AFIS 6 were the basis of trends used in the Recycled Fiber Matrix. From this, Uster developed its
The Recycled Fiber Matrix is based on measured Uster AFIS 6 values
application report on the Recycled Fiber Matrix. It evaluates the current state and potential challenges of using different types of mechanically recycled cotton fibers in spinning. The Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix is an ongoing and dynamic process, with more samples being collected and analyzed from global recycling hubs, to reflect variability as source materials and processing conditions evolve.
How it works
Mean fiber length distribution based on L(n) for different recycling waste types
28 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Measured Uster AFIS 6 values are presented as clear and easy-to-understand quality levels, from A to D, color-coded for intuitive practical application. The color-coded regions correlate fiber
parameters with their typical raw material sources, to provide a strategic guide for optimized yarn production. Mechanically recycled cotton cannot be accurately classified by a single fiber parameter. So the Recycled Fiber Matrix uses two-dimensional evaluation. Only a combination of these two parameters can properly determine processing behavior and yarn quality. For example, the x-axis might represent a length parameter, such as mean fiber length, while the y-axis could be a quality-limiting factor like short fiber content or nep count. Each position in the matrix thus reflects two interacting fiber properties simultaneously. In practice, this means that two fiber lots with the same mean fiber length could behave differently in spinning if one had high short fiber content and the other low. The two-dimensional matrix makes this visible and comparable.
Benefits in industrial application The Recycled Fiber Matrix lets customers directly translate AFIS measurements into clear quality categories. This makes the quality level and the limitations of a lot transparent. Based on Recycled Fiber Matrix, the class can be applied to bale management and machine settings. For optimum yarn performance, the class is useful to estimate the expected short-fiber load, and to define suitable blending ratios. Uster experts generally advise users to enhance fiber sorting by separating bales according to length, source, and color, thus reducing variability. Effective bale management helps maintain consistency in key parameters, ensuring uniform quality throughout production. It’s also recommended to enhance the spinning process by adjusting draft settings, twist, and spinning speed to suit the specific quality of recycled fibers. Increasing maintenance and cleaning frequency would also help. Mixing recycled cotton with virgin cotton or synthetic fibers is still regarded as the best blending strategy to compensate for quality deficiencies. Uster is currently working in this field to provide benchmarks for blend levels and their subsequent influence on yarn quality.
Free application report The Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix provides a data-driven framework for objective classification of recycled fiber lots. The application report on the Recycled Fiber Matrix is a valuable educational document, with several graphs and illustrations. It is available as a free download under www.uster.com/recycledfibermatrix. It contains shared insights empowering spinning mills, recyclers, and brands to make informed decisions about fiber suitability. It helps expand the use of recycled cotton in textile products, while optimizing processing parameters. As recycling technologies and fiber preparation methods continue to evolve, Uster is convinced that ongoing data collection and matrix updates play an important part, refining classification accuracy and supporting sustainable circularity goals in the textile industry.
from left to right: Yohan Danilo Avendaño, Rodolfo Quichiz (Tejidos Jorgito), Héctor Montenegro (Redimtex), and Abraham Cárdenas (Tejidos Jorgito) at the TRÜTZSCHLER service station at Tejidos Jorgito.
Closer to customers: Trützschler Card Clothing expands service network in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador Faster support, shorter lead times and local technical expertise: customers in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador now have direct access to Trützschler Card Clothing’s (TCC) comprehensive card clothing services. To further enhance customer support and ensure rapid onsite assistance, TCC has expanded its regional service network across all three countries. The expansion reflects Trützschler’s commitment to the Andean region for the textile and nonwovens industries. Peru is home to one of South America’s most established spinning sectors, built on its renowned Pima and Tangüis cotton production. In Colombia and Ecuador, spinning and nonwovens manufacturers continue to invest in quality and productivity improvements. By strengthening its local presence in the region, TCC can respond more quickly to customer needs. Professional card clothing service plays a key role in maintaining consistently high carding performance:
30 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
precise mounting, optimised machine settings and expert troubleshooting help mills maximise clothing lifetime, ensure stable product quality and maintain efficient production. To provide this support directly where it is needed, TCC has established workshop partnerships with long-standing customers in each of the three countries. These local service centres offer a comprehensive range of services, including: Card clothing mounting and installation at customer sites Services for flat tops and licker-in wires Specification and machine setting support for Trützschler and nonTrützschler cards Troubleshooting and technical consulting Consulting and wire services for nonwoven cards of all major brands These services help customers maintain card performance and maximise clothing lifetime, while providing direct access to local technical support in Spanish.
Combining local presence with global expertise All regional service activities are supported by the Trützschler Card Thomas Streicher, Clothing headquarters Area Sales in Germany, where Manager,Trützschler Card Clothing extensive spinning and carding know-how is available to support local teams and customers alike. “Our goal is to make our expertise available as close as possible to our customers’ operations,” says Thomas Streicher, Regional Sales Manager for Latin America. “With the expanded service network, we can provide faster support while maintaining the high service standards Trützschler Card Clothing is known for.”
Partnership with Tejidos Jorgito in Peru In Peru, the largest of the three markets, TCC has established a partnership with Tejidos Jorgito. The company provides workshop facilities that
Features
Following comprehensive machine training, Tejidos Jorgito technicians Abraham Cardenas (from left) and Ricardo Armas are now successfully operating the equipment at the company’s facility.
serve as a local service hub for the region, enabling TCC specialists to deliver card clothing services and technical support directly to customers in Peru and neighbouring markets. Tejidos Jorgito itself operates 15 state-of-the-art TC 19i cards alongside several other Trützschler carding machines and benefits directly from the local availability of professional service and technical support. Tejidos Jorgito employs around 700 highly skilled professionals across its open-end, ringspinning, and vortex-spinning operations, producing premium-quality yarns ranging from Ne 6/1 to Ne 50/1. Its products serve both the domestic market and
export markets, reaching countries such as Bolivia, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Chile, and the United States.
customer proximity, helping mills maintain reliable carding performance through professional service and technical expertise.
In Quito, Ecuador, and Medellín, Colombia, two of the most important textile hubs in the region, Trützschler has established similar partnerships to provide local service and technical support to customers throughout the Andean region.
The new regional service structure enables closer collaboration with customers and quicker implementation of optimisation measures. It helps mills achieve sustainable improvements in quality, efficiency, and operational performance across the Andean region.
Strengthening customer proximity in the Andean region With its expanded service network in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, Trützschler Card Clothing continues to invest in
For service enquiries, technical support, or maintenance requests in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, customers can contact the regional service team at oficina@redimtex.com.pe.
Features
Recycling Powerhouse: Circularity at industrial scale Recycling Powerhouse Ltd. was established in July 2026 to industrialise, standardise and scale textile recycling. Based in Switzerland, the venture will operate a franchise-driven business model that enables the production of high-quality, certified recycled yarns. The project is supported by the following partners: Rieter Group, the world’s leading system supplier for natural and man-made fibres, Säntis Textiles, a Swiss textile engineering company, and Valvan, a Belgian sorting technology company. The first blueprint franchise operation is scheduled to launch early 2027 in partnership with Suhail Industrial Holding Group in Qatar. The global textile industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Rising volumes of textile waste, increasing regulatory pressure and growing demand for sustainable products are accelerating the need for scalable circular solutions. Textile-to-textile recycling is not new, yet less than 1% of used textiles are recycled back into new ones. This is primarily due to technological complexity, the availability of low-cost virgin materials and often fragmented, hard-to-verify recycling claims in the market. Over the coming years, Recycling Powerhouse intends to industrialise, standardise and scale textile recycling by establishing a global network of textile recycling plants capable of converting post- and pre-consumer textile waste into certified recycled yarns on an unprecedented industrial scale. Recycling Powerhouse will act as a global integrator and franchisor across the textile recycling value chain, providing standardised recycling concepts, technologies, operating procedures, digital solutions, audit services and technical support to franchise partners worldwide. Franchise partners will gain access to Recycling Powerhouse’s proven recycling solutions, engineering know-how, training programmes and operational support systems. Yarns produced by franchisees will be marketed under an established brand. Recycling Powerhouse will ensure quality through auditing, certification and
32 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
full end-to-end traceability across the value chain. As part of this venture, Rieter is contributing its tearing and spinning expertise for short-staple fibres. The tearing machine converts fabric clips into fibres, preserving fibre quality far better than conventional technologies – a critical factor in enabling industrial-scale recycling and high-quality yarn production. The tearing machine complements Rieter’s endto-end spinning systems technology. Valvan, a global leader in sorting technology, contributes leading textile sorting equipment and know-how, including the automated and AI-based textile sorting machine Fibersort, as well as Trimclean, a system designed to prepare fabric clips for tearing. The first recycling blueprint facility and franchise operation will launch in early 2027 in Qatar in cooperation with Suhail Industrial Holding Group. Suhail has firmly established itself as a leader in the recycling of metals, steel and plastic in the Middle East and other regions, and with this move is extending its operations into textile recycling. The facility will serve as a global reference model, demonstrating how industrial-scale textile recycling can become commercially viable while supporting circular economy goals. Suhail Industrial Holding Group is already planning additional plants worldwide, with the ambition to become a global leader in textile recycling. Noel Norking, Managing Director of Recycling Powerhouse: “Our mission is to make textile recycling simple, scalable and accessible to investors, so they can
turn the textile industry’s tectonic shifts into monumental opportunity while helping to solve the world’s growing textile waste problem.” Thomas Oetterli, CEO of Rieter Group: “With Recycling Powerhouse Ltd., we are bringing our greatest strengths to one of the world’s most pressing issues: textile waste. By combining leading-edge spinning technology, decades of recycling expertise and advanced traceability solutions, the venture creates a strategic platform to unlock new growth opportunities across machinery sales, engineering services, recycling technologies and recycled yarn markets.” Stefan Hutter, owner of Säntis Textiles: “Yarn manufacturing is fundamental to successful textile-to-textile recycling. We will bring together the full know-how of Rieter’s systems technology to create a powerful yarn brand with real potential to transform textile recycling.” Frank Vandeputte, Owner of the Valvan Group: “At the heart of any effective recycling system is the ability to separate pure fractions from waste streams. We are proud to bring our advanced and specialised sorting technology to the textile industry and help pave the way to solving the global challenge of textile waste.” Sheikh Khalid Ahmed Mubarak Al Thani, Chairman of Suhail Industrial Holding Group in Qatar: “Recycling Powerhouse brings together deep textile expertise and cutting-edge engineering to help us realise our vision of a sustainable, competitive and resilient future where there is no textile waste.”
Features
Barmag’s automated maintenance processes for quality, safety, and efficiency in spinning plants Maintenance and service processes in chemical fibre spinning plants have a significant impact on product quality, equipment availability, and workplace safety. With three new retrofittable solutions, Barmag helps producers make manual work processes more efficient, safer, and more reproducible. The portfolio includes the automatic knife sharpening machine, the wiping robot for automated spinneret cleaning both in filament spinning and in the staple fibre process, and the electric Spinpack changer for motor-assisted replacement of spinning packages. Together, these solutions aim to standardise maintenance processes and sustainably improve the performance of existing production facilities.
Automated cleaning for stable processes The automatic knife sharpening machine ensures consistently high cleaning quality for spinnerets and helps producers increase the performance of their spinning systems. Standardised grinding results reduce process fluctuations, increase cleaning efficiency, and extend the service life of key components. This leads to reduced maintenance requirements, higher equipment availability, and improved productivity. Customer experience shows increases in the full-bobbin rate of up to 12 percent, in take-up efficiency of up to 28 percent, and an extension of spinneret service life of up to 51 percent. At the same time, cleaning cycles can be reduced by up to 53 percent. The wiping robot performs spinneret cleaning fully automatically both in filament spinning and in the staple fibre process. Its integrated rotating scraper blades are automatically resharpened in the parking station, ensuring consistently highquality cleaning results over the long term. In addition to greater process stability, automated cleaning also contributes to an improved working environment: silicone oil consumption is reduced, as is exposure to oil-containing aerosols in the production area.
Barmag’s automatic knife sharpening machine ensures consistently highquality grinding results, thereby helping to reduce process fluctuations.
34 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Barmag’s wiping robot contributes to greater process stability with its fully automatic spinneret cleaning
Greater safety and ergonomics in maintenance The electric Spinpack changer specifically addresses the issues of workplace safety and ergonomics. The mobile, electrically powered system facilitates the replacement of heavy and hot spinnerets, reduces physical strain, and enables precise installation with a defined torque. This minimises safety risks and shortens downtime.
Retrofit automation for existing systems A common feature of all three solutions is their nearly universal retrofit capability. Operators can modernise their production facilities in a targeted manner without significant The electric Spinpack changer assists operators in modifications to replacing heavy spindle nozzles, improves workplace safety, and reduces downtime for the spinexisting lines. This ning line. provides a costeffective entry point into the automation of maintenance and service processes, with measurable benefits for quality, efficiency, and workplace safety. “There is significant potential for optimisation not only in the production process itself, but also in the supporting maintenance and service tasks. Automating these tasks helps make existing plants more productive, safer, and more costeffective to operate,” explains Stefan Heesen, Senior Manager of Customer Services at Barmag.
Features
TANATEX Chemicals: Compliance without compromising fastness performance In this expert interview, Darius Naroska explains how MESITOL® UFR helps textile processors improve wet-fastness performance while meeting increasingly strict chemical compliance requirements and how the solution supports clean, reproducible results, reduces the risk of staining and discolouration, and enables more controlled processing of PA blends such as PA/CO and PA/Wool. Why is compliance becoming such a key topic in textile processing? Because performance alone is no longer enough. Textile manufacturers are expected to deliver high-quality results while meeting stricter chemical requirements from brands, retailers and certification frameworks. That means every process step needs to support both quality and responsible chemistry.
What makes wet-fastness aftertreatment challenging from a compliance perspective? Wet-fastness performance often has to be improved on demanding articles such as dark shades, fluorescent colours, printed fabrics or PA/EL blends. The challenge is to achieve this without introducing unwanted staining, discolouration or chemistry that creates compliance concerns later in the value chain.
What does “clean results” mean in practice? It means reducing the risk of staining or discolouration, especially on sensitive articles. Think of white backgrounds, contrast areas, prints or high-value colour combinations where even small contamination can affect the final quality. For mills, this supports more stable production. For brands, it supports lasting quality customers can trust.
How does MESITOL® UFR help address this balance?
Besides aftertreatment, where else can MESITOL® UFR support textile processors?
MESITOL® UFR is designed to support high wet-fastness performance while aligning with today’s stricter compliance expectations. It helps processors work towards reliable fastness, clean results and more responsible chemical choices in one solution.
MESITOL® UFR also offers reserving power, making it relevant for the processing of PA blends such as PA/CO and PA/Wool. In these applications, it can help support more controlled dyeing results by controlling the tone-in-tone dyes distribution on both blended fibres.
At the same time, MESITOL® UFR offers reserving power for PA blend processing, adding further value beyond the aftertreatment step.
This gives processors an additional tool to improve process reliability, especially when working with sensitive fibre blends and demanding colour combinations.
36 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Darius Naroska, Business Development Manager
Does choosing a more compliant solution mean giving up performance? Not with the right chemistry. MESITOL® UFR was developed to help processors improve wet-fastness performance across a wide range of shades, including dark and fluorescent colours, while maintaining clean and reproducible results. The goal is simple: compliance and performance should work together, not against each other.
ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Pakistan roadshows focus on technology and competitiveness In collaboration with ITMA Services, Pakistan Textile Journal organised two roadshows in Karachi and Lahore in anticipation of ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, which will be taking place in Shanghai from 20– 24 November 2026. The events brought together more than 300 textile industry professionals, manufacturers, exporters, technology suppliers, trade and industry representatives, academics and other stakeholders, highlighting strong interest in the latest developments in textile machinery and technology. The Karachi roadshow was held on August 18, followed by the Lahore event on August 21, facilitating the opportunity for Pakistan’s textile industry to learn more about the forthcoming exhibition and to discuss the role of technology, automation, digitalisation, sustainability and productivity in strengthening international competitiveness.
Technology and Competitiveness Pakistan’s textile industry remains central to the country’s export economy, with textile exports reaching US$17.93 billion in FY2025-26. At the same time, the sector faces increasing pressure to
38
PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Seminar
39
Seminar
improve productivity, quality, value addition and resource efficiency. The roadshows reflected this changing environment, with discussions focusing on investment in modern machinery, automation, digitalisation, intelligent manufacturing, energy efficiency and sustainable production. A recorded video message from Mr. Gu Ping, President of the China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), was presented at both events. He highlighted the scale of ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 and the opportunity it would provide to explore new textile technologies, digitalisation, intelligent manufacturing and sustainable production, while also emphasising the impor-
40
PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
tance of continued Pakistan-China cooperation in textile machinery and technology. Participants were also briefed on the exhibition and arrangements for visiting Shanghai, including visitor registration, invitation letters and visa applications.
Karachi Roadshow Highlights The Karachi roadshow brought together approximately 150 participants from across the textile and industrial community. Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Chowdhry, Central Chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), was the Chief Guest. The event featured senior representatives including Mr. Abdul Rehman Fudda,
President, S.I.T.E. Association of Industry; Mr. Zameer A. Soomro, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan; Mr. Abbas Ali Mooraj, Past President, TEXMAP; Mr. K.M. Khalid, Director, Al Ameen Trading Corporation; Mr. A.R. Daudpota, Deputy Italian Trade Commissioner, Italian Trade Agency; Mr. Hanif Bawa, CEO, Al Karam Towel Industries; and Dr. Ahmed Salman Abbasi, President, Textile Institute of Pakistan. Discussions reflected the priorities facing Pakistan’s textile manufacturers, including value addition, automation and digital manufacturing, energy efficiency, water conservation, traceability and compliance, quality control and the adoption of advanced machinery.
Seminar
Industry representatives appreciated the opportunity to engage with each other, exchange views on the technologies needed to improve productivity, strengthen manufacturing capabilities and meet the evolving requirements of international markets.
Lahore Roadshow Highlights The Lahore event attracted approximately 160 industrialists and senior representatives from across Punjab’s textile sector. Mr. Kamran Arshad, Chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), was the Chief Guest. Mr. S.M. Qutab, Chairman of the Textile Institute Manchester–Lahore Section, and Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed
Awan, distinguished Sinologist, diplomat and China-Pakistan expert, participated as Guests of Honour, with Prof. Awan also delivering the keynote address. The event also brought together representatives of leading textile companies and institutions, including Mian Shaukat Ali, CEO of Sitara Labels, Faisalabad, and M. Abdullah Qadri, Director of the company, along with representatives of the National Textile University, Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design and University of Management and Technology. In his address, Mr. Arshad highlighted the competitive pressures facing Pakistan’s textile industry in its major export markets. With buyers increasingly
demanding quality, traceability, sustainability, shorter lead times and environmental compliance, he stressed the need for Pakistan to modernise its machinery and production systems. He also highlighted the scale of Pakistan’s textile machinery imports and the significant role of China as a supplier. According to the figures presented, textile machinery accounted for around US$600 million of Pakistan’s machinery imports in FY2026, with approximately half of textile machinery imports coming from China. Mr. Arshad emphasised the strategic importance of technology investment, stating: “Technology must be viewed not simply as capital expenditure, but as an
41
Seminar investment in Pakistan’s future export competitiveness.” Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan also stressed the potential for deeper PakistanChina cooperation in textile technology, industrial investment, trade, manufacturing and value-added production. He encouraged Pakistan’s textile industry to make greater use of China’s expanding technological capabilities and manufacturing expertise.
A Shared Focus on the Future
energy efficiency, productivity and higher value-added production. It has become increasingly evident that technology, innovation, automation and sustainability will be critical in order for Pakistan’s textile industry to improve productivity, increase value addition and remain internationally competitive. The roadshows now set the stage for Pakistani textile professionals to visit ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, which will be held from November 20–24 at the
The events demonstrated strong interest within Pakistan’s textile industry in accessing new technologies and understanding how machinery and production systems are evolving. In both cities, the discussion returned to a common set of priorities: automation, digitalisation, intelligent manufacturing, sustainability,
42
PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. Pakistan Textile Journal’s association with ITMA ASIA dates back to the first ITMA ASIA exhibition in Singapore in 2001, with PTJ working closely since 2008 to promote ITMA ASIA + CITME in Pakistan.
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing
Monforts: Turning new ideas into industrial reality at the ATC The Monforts Advanced Technology Centre (ATC), initially opened in 2013 and subsequently expanded, continues to be an invaluable resource to customers from around the world in achieving new standards in fabric finishing. Covering an area of 1,200 square metres, the Monforts ATC at the company’s headquarters in Mönchengladbach houses two full MONTEX finishing lines, engineered to accommodate an extremely diverse range of processes, in addition to a THERMEX range for the continuous dyeing of denim and other woven fabrics, a full colour kitchen and a number of lab-scale systems for smaller batch trials. “The ATC allows our customers to test their own textiles and technical fabrics on Monforts dyeing and finishing machines under fully confidential, real production conditions,” says the company’s Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. “Using the results from these trials, we are also able to make recommendations for improving many fabric finishes.”
Technical textiles A highly-controlled and contained environment was a key consideration when constructing the special MONTEX line for technical textiles at the ATC. “Technical textiles are extremely diverse in their end-use applications and manufacturers can be called upon to quickly produce a succession of materials with widely differing properties and performance applications – often within a single shift,” explains Monforts Textile Technologist Saskia Bollhöfer. “These range from substrates for digitally-printed soft signage to carbon fabrics for today’s high-performance composites, and from filter media which must perform in extreme temperatures to flame retardant barrier fabrics. These very different materials all require expert coating and finishing for maximum efficiency and the technology to allow for ultimate flexibility and the ability to switch quickly from one fabric formula to the next, without compromising on the economical use of energy or raw materials.
Monforts textile technologist Saskia Bollhöfer at the ATC’s special Montex line for technical textiles.
Advanced functions The technical textiles line incorporates a Montex fourchamber, horizontal chain stenter and is fitted with an explosion-proof coating application chamber in order to allow treatment to be carried out with organic solvents and other volatile materials. Special features on the line relate to further advanced functions, the ability to treat materials not only at temperatures of up to 320°C, but also to be able to treat the top and bottom faces of certain materials at different temperatures within a single pass through the machine. There are many applications where employing two separate temperature treatments is beneficial, such as floorcoverings, where the textile face fabric is treated at one temperature and the rubber backing at another, as well as PVC flooring employing chemical foams or materials like black-out roller blinds with heavy backings. At the same time, in the pharmaceutical industry there is a wide range of different applications for organic solvents such as anti-septic treatments which have to be treated very carefully and applied at very specific temperatures in order not to destroy their efficacy. Most recently, a Baldwin TexCoat™ G4 digital spray unit has been successfully integrated into this line and is further available for full customer trials, especially for making full use of the latest advanced sustainable finishing chemistries supplied by industry leader Archroma.
MONTEX stenters provide smooth treatment at very low and precisely controlled tension during all stages of knitted fabric handling.
44 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
BW Converting’s Baldwin TexCoat G4 enables softeners, antimicrobials, durable water repellents, flame retardants and many other water-based chemicals to be precisely applied to textile surfaces, and in combination with industry-leading MONTEX stenters can reduce water, chemistry and energy consumption by up to 50% compared to traditional pad application processes.
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing “The new TexCoat installation is making an important contribution to what we can achieve and we are excited to be working together with Archroma and BW Converting to bring further transformative change to the dyeing and finishing space,” says Saskia Bollhöfer. MONTEX stenters provide smooth treatment at very low and precisely controlled tension during all stages of knitted fabric handling.
Knitwear The second production line at the ATC has been engineered with the state-of-the art production of conventional knitwear in mind and is based around a MONTEX stenter with vertical chain return. “Knitted fabrics need delicate handling as they often have a higher degree of elasticity compared to more rigid woven materials,” says Nicole Croonenbroek. “Our MONTEX stenters provide smooth treatment at very low and precisely controlled tension during all stages of knitted fabric handling, as well as very gentle and even thermal treatment. The MONTEX is extremely flexible in terms of the different fabric qualities it can accommodate and also provides significant benefits in terms of energy consumption.” The line is also equipped with the company’s Eco Applicator system which eliminates the need for a conventional wet-on-wet padder, instead employing trough and roller techniques to precisely apply the required amount of liquid/coating to the fabric. Compared with a padder system, where the initial moisture content of the fabric entering the stenter is 60%, with the Eco Applicator it is reduced to 40% and the system also has the shortest fabric path from the coating unit into the stenter. The Eco Applicator’s versatility also allows mills to apply finishes to just one side of the fabric, or both, and even to apply separate finishes to each side, or to specific areas of a fabric, for endless possibilities, whether treating wovens, denim or delicate knits. The THERMEX line at the Monforts ATC has recently been equipped with the Monforts Universal Energy Tower.
THERMEX Almost 1,000 Monforts THERMEX hotflue dyeing systems are now operational in the key manufacturing countries, with more than 150 of them already reaping the benefits of the Econtrol® process. With Econtrol®, reactive dyestuffs are fixed into the fabric in a one-step dyeing and drying process with a controlled combination of steam and air. The entire pad-dry process takes just two-to-three minutes at a temperature of between 120130°C and a relative humidity volume of 25-30%. The THERMEX line at the Monforts ATC has recently been equipped with the Monforts Universal Energy Tower, a standalone module which enables the heat from the exhaust air flow of thermal processes to be recovered, resulting in energy savings of up to 25%, depending on the exhaust air volume and operating temperature. “The current focus of the industry is very much on cleaner processes in order to meet the commitments on sustainability
The THERMEX line at the Monforts ATC has recently been equipped with the Monforts Universal Energy Tower.
made by the major fashion brands and with further regulations already in the pipeline,” says Nicole Croonenbroek. “This is calling for new investments that enable a significant reduction in resource consumption to be achieved, but that are easy to integrate into existing production systems. THERMEX lines running Econtrol fit the bill perfectly.”
From trials to production The value of the ATC ultimately lies in its ability to bring together the accumulated process knowledge of Monforts with full-scale production technology, allowing customers to move beyond laboratory evaluation and establish exactly how new fabrics, finishes and processes will perform under industrial conditions. Trials can be used to determine optimum machine settings, temperatures, dwell times and application parameters, as well as to assess the implications for energy, water and chemical consumption. This provides manufacturers with reliable production data before introducing a new process at their own mills or committing to further investment. The centre is also increasingly important as textile manufacturers respond to demands for lower resource consumption, new finishing chemistries and increasingly specialised fabric performance. By working alongside Monforts technologists, customers can investigate new approaches while drawing on extensive experience across conventional apparel fabrics, technical textiles, coating and dyeing and thermal finishing. “The ATC draws on all of the know-how of our company in respect of fabric processing,” concludes Saskia Bollhöfer. “It gives customers the opportunity to work with our specialists and our latest technologies to establish solutions that are not only technically achievable, but practical and economically viable in production. “Whether the objective is to improve an existing process, develop an entirely new product or evaluate the potential of a new technology, we can work with customers from the initial trials through to the optimum production parameters. This is what makes the ATC such an important resource for turning new ideas into industrial reality.”
45
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing
Brazilian market leader Cedro Têxtil focuses on greater efficiency, sustainability, and product quality with Brückner After more than 150 years of company history, Cedro Têxtil is once again embracing the challenges of a changing industry. Widely recognised as the largest manufacturer of workwear fabrics in Latin America, the Brazilian textile company continues to invest in the modernisation of its production facilities. A key milestone in this process was the decision to install a state-of-the-art Brückner stenter frame just over a year ago. For Cedro Têxtil, this investment represented far more than the purchase of new production equipment. The company was seeking a solution capable of meeting the highest quality standards, supporting its sustainability goals, and delivering long-term economic benefits. Comprehensive Evaluation Leads to Brückner The purchase was preceded by an extensive selection process. Over several years, Cedro Têxtil evaluated leading machinery manufacturers from Europe and Asia, visited production facilities and reference customers around the world, and compared a wide range of technologies. “The selection process went far beyond simply investing in a machine,” the company explains.
Brückner stenter SFP-4 at Cedro Têxtil
“Productivity, maintenance costs, technical support, energy efficiency, spare parts availability, and local service in Brazil were all decisive factors for us.” What ultimately convinced the company was Brückner’s combination of cutting-edge technology, outstanding process reliability, and exceptional energy efficiency.
Higher Performance and Quality with Significantly Lower Operating Costs The new production line has not only met expectations but exceeded them. By implementing the Brückner stenter, Cedro Têxtil has sustainably reduced its natural
gas consumption by more than 20 percent while significantly increasing production speeds. Another important advantage has emerged in the production of demanding super-stretch fabrics. The extremely uniform temperature distribution throughout the dryer ensures excellent dimensional stability, resulting in consistently high product quality. The productivity gains were so substantial that, following the commissioning of the new Brückner line, Cedro Têxtil was able to decommission three older existing stenter frames. This has significantly reduced operating costs and further optimised production processes.
Sustainability as a Core Business Strategy
Left: Patrick Melo Pinheiro; right: Lucas Fontoura Goulart, Cedro Têxtil
46 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Sustainability has been a central component of Cedro Têxtil’s corporate strategy for many years. The company participates in Brazil’s GHG Protocol Programme and has successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 85 percent over recent years. The investment in energy-efficient technology strongly supports this commitment. At the same time, it strengthens the company’s
Dyeing, Printing and Finishing competitiveness in a market where customers increasingly value sustainable manufacturing processes and responsible supply chains.
Quality for Demanding Applications Worldwide Today, workwear fabrics account for approximately 65 percent of Cedro Têxtil’s production. The finished fabrics are used in industries including manufacturing, healthcare, military applications, and personal protective equipment (PPE). With an annual production capacity of more than 80 million linear metres of fabric, annual revenue of approximately BRL 1.2 billion, and a workforce of more than 3,200 employees, Cedro Têxtil ranks among the most important textile manufacturers on the continent.
A Long-Term Partnership in the Making The successful commissioning of the first Brückner line may be only the beginning. As part of its ongoing modernisation programme, Cedro Têxtil plans to replace additional existing production lines with advanced Brückner technology in the future.
The Team at Cedro Têxtil with Frank Bernhard (2nd from right), Brückner Agent in Brazil
Patrick Melo Pinheiro, Industrial Director of Cedro Têxtil, Summarises the Partnership:
expand our leading position in a highly competitive environment.”
“We are a company that continuously reinvents itself and has overcome countless challenges throughout its history. Whether currency fluctuations, world wars, or the recent pandemic, we have always viewed every challenge as an opportunity to become stronger. By investing in a Brückner production line, we have taken an important step towards a more sustainable future and significantly reduced our carbon footprint. With Brückner as our partner, we can further strengthen the highest quality standards in our market and
About Cedro Têxtil Founded in 1872, Cedro Têxtil is one of Brazil’s oldest industrial companies. Its original charter was signed by Emperor Dom Pedro II. For more than 150 years, the company has been producing textiles and today operates a fully vertically integrated manufacturing process. Cedro Têxtil is certified according to international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OEKO-TEX®, and is actively committed to sustainable production practices.
Beneks advances pre-drying with practical solutions for textile finishing With nearly 40 years of experience in textile dyeing and finishing, Beneks has focused its development work on identifying practical problems in textile production and finding solutions that can deliver measurable improvements. The company's recent work on ozone technology is one example of this approach. Years earlier, Beneks had identified another challenge facing textile finishers: the limitations imposed by factory layouts, available floor space and energy consumption. This led to the development of its Fularban and Apreban systems, designed to provide cost-efficient pre-drying solutions while helping manufacturers make better use of existing production space. According to Beneks, more than 500 units are now operating worldwide.
Efficient Pre-Drying with Fularban Beneks' Fularban technology is designed to help textile manufacturers increase production capacity while reducing energy requirements. By introducing pre-drying before the stenter, the system can reduce the drying load on the stenter and allow it to operate at higher speeds. Beneks says this can provide manufacturers with up to 30% additional capacity, without compromising fabric integrity.
48 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
An important consideration is space. Rather than requiring a major expansion of the production line, Fularban has been developed as a cost-effective solution requiring minimal additional floor space. For mills seeking additional capacity from their existing finishing operations, the system therefore addresses three important objectives simultaneously: higher operating speeds, increased machine capacity and reduced electricity and energy costs.
Optimising Stenter Output with Apreban Apreban follows the same practical design philosophy but combines predrying with chemical application before the fabric enters the stenter. According to Beneks, this configuration can deliver up to a 100% increase in production in suitable applications. The improvement is achieved by eliminating the first stenter pass normally required for drying and instead feeding pre-dried fabric into the stenter. The company says this approach can substantially improve finishing efficiency without requiring additional factory floor space or compromising fabric integrity. Beneks also highlights further advantages including higher-quality finishing and tension-free fabric flow, which reduces stress on the fabric.
More Output from Existing Resources The same philosophy extends across the company's wider drying portfolio, including the Kurutmaban Relax Dryer and Free Pre-Dryer systems. The objective is straightforward: enable textile manufacturers to achieve more from their existing production facilities while controlling energy costs and avoiding unnecessary expansion of factory space. For Kurutmaban, Beneks highlights three principal benefits: faster operating speeds, increased machine capacity and reduced electricity and energy costs.
Experience the Difference For Beneks, innovation is ultimately measured by the results achieved on the production floor. Whether the objective is reducing energy consumption, increasing capacity or making better use of available factory space, the company's Fularban Pre-Dryer, Apreban Pre-Dryer, Kurutmaban Relax Dryer and Free Pre-Dryer systems have been developed around the principle of doing more with less. With nearly four decades of textile finishing experience and more than 500 units operating worldwide, Beneks continues to develop practical technologies aimed at improving the efficiency and economics of textile finishing.
IGATEX PAKISTAN 2026: Region’s premier garment, textile & machinery exhibition returns to Lahore IGATEX PAKISTAN, organised by Fakt Exhibitions (Pvt) Ltd., is set to take place from 15–18 October 2026 at the Lahore Expo Centre. Recognised as the region’s largest and most influential event for the textile and garment industry, IGATEX Pakistan continues to set benchmarks in showcasing innovation, fostering trade, and driving growth in the textile industry.
As a pioneer in textile technology exhibitions, IGATEX Pakistan serves as a premier platform where manufacturers, suppliers, and buyers from across the globe converge to explore the latest advancements and form strategic business alliances. With a consistent track record of record-breaking footfall, the exhibition has established itself as a mustattend event for industry professionals seeking cutting-edge solutions and meaningful connections.
Featuring live demonstrations of state-of-the-art machinery and technologies, the show promises a rich professional experience for textile and garment machinery manufacturers. The event offers direct access to high-quality buyers in an increasingly competitive global market. Pakistan's strategic position in the global textile industry is known by its robust cotton production. This makes it an ideal destination for textile-related investments and partnerships. Mr. Saleem Khan Tanoli, CEO of Fakt Exhibitions, shared his vision for the upcoming edition: "IGATEX Pakistan 2026 will serve as a key meeting point for textile professionals. It’s more than an exhibition, it's a platform to discover new investment opportunities, sharing knowledge, and building long-term business relationships." With a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and global collaboration, IGATEX Pakistan 2026 aims to accelerate the textile industry while reinforcing its position on the global stage.
50
PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
IGATEX Pakistan 2026: Celebrating 24 years of innovation and excellence An interview of Mr. Saleem Khan Tanoli, CEO, Fakt Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd.
What are your expectations from IGATEX Pakistan this year, and how will the tradeshow benefit Pakistan’s textile industry? As we gear up for IGATEX Pakistan 2026, scheduled from 15–18 October at the Lahore Expo Centre, I’m filled with a sense of excitement and purpose. Each year, we aim to raise the bar, and this time, we're coming better, and more globally connected than ever before having pavilions from China, Italy and Türkiye. My expectations are clear: I want to see IGATEX Pakistan serve as a true engine of progress for Pakistan’s textile industry, which remains the backbone of our economy. We’re bringing in the latest advancements in garment and textile machinery, plus sustainable production technologies, because staying globally competitive means staying on top of the game! I see this event as more than just a showcase, it’s a platform for transformation. By bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, buyers, and innovators from around the world,
IGATEX Pakistan creates unparalleled opportunities for networking, learning, and collaboration. Whether it’s spinning, weaving, dyeing, or finishing, every segment of the industry finds its place here.
IGATEX Pakistan takes place in both Lahore and Karachi. What’s the strategy behind that? We made a conscious decision to alternate between Lahore and Karachi because I believe in keeping the exhibition accessible, dynamic, and inclusive. Both cities are powerhouses in their own right, Karachi with its production muscle and Lahore as Pakistan’s commercial heart and export gateway. This rotational approach allows us to tap into the unique strengths of each region. It keeps the experience fresh and gives more people from different parts of the industry a chance to participate, engage, and benefit. It’s all about expanding our reach while staying closely connected to the needs of our exhibitors and visitors.
IGATEX Pakistan has supported the textile industry for over two decades. How do you reflect on that journey? IGATEX Pakistan is truly a humbling milestone for me, when we started this journey, our goal was to create a platform for innovation and connection in Pakistan’s textile industry. Today, I’m proud to say that IGATEX Pakistan has now grown to become the most recognised and respected textile exhibition in Pakistan. This success belongs to everyone, our exhibitors, our partners, our team, and the thousands of professionals who join us year after year. Together, we've built more than just a tradeshow. We've built a community. As we progress further each year, I’m more committed than ever to taking IGATEX Pakistan to new heights. That means focusing on sustainability, pushing for greater international collaboration, and continuing to bring world-class ideas and technologies to Pakistan. Our textile industry deserves nothing less, and I’m honoured to be part of that journey.
51
The LYCRA Company returns to IGATEX Pakistan to showcase next-generation performance and lower-impact fiber technologies In partnership with iTextiles, The LYCRA Company will participate in IGATEX Pakistan 2026, Pakistan’s leading international textile and garment machinery exhibition and a key innovation platform for the South Asian textile value chain. At the event, The LYCRA Company will welcome mills, manufacturers, and brand partners to its booth to showcase a portfolio of innovations that underline its long-term commitment to Pakistan’s textile industry. “Our presence at IGATEX reflects our confidence in Pakistan’s technical capabilities, global relevance, and potential for continued growth,” said Thiruvengadam R, Commercial Director for South Asia at The LYCRA Company. “We are committed to providing mills and brands with advanced fiber solutions that support high-performance apparel and help reduce environmental impact where substantiated. Our long-standing partnerships in Pakistan remain central to our regional strategy, and we look forward to strengthening these relationships as the industry enters its next phase of innovation.” The LYCRA Company will spotlight a range of next-generation fiber and fabric technologies, designed to meet the evolving requirements of global brands and Pakistan’s export-driven textile sector.
Renewable LYCRA® Fiber Renewable LYCRA® fiber is made with 70% renewable content derived from plant-based feedstock, replacing an equivalent portion of fossil-based raw materials used to make conventional LYCRA® fiber. This innovation supports The LYCRA Company’s efforts to offer lower-impact fiber solutions for the textile industry.
52 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Renewable LYCRA® fiber delivers the same performance attributes for which the LYCRA® brand is known, including comfortable stretch and recovery, durability, and quality. By incorporating 70% renewable content in the fiber, it can help manufacturers reduce reliance on fossil-based resources while maintaining the performance required by global brands and consumers.
COOLMAX CloakFX™ Fiber The latest innovation from the makers of the COOLMAX brand, COOLMAX
CloakFX™ fiber addresses a key consumer concern: visible sweat marks. It is engineered with an optical sweatmasking technology that helps reduce the appearance of sweat stains by refracting light, so consumers can move with greater confidence. True to the COOLMAX brand, its wicking system helps keep the wearer cool, dry, and comfortable by moving moisture away from the skin. With consistent, long-lasting performance, COOLMAX CloakFX™ fiber enables mills and brands to develop
fabrics and garments that deliver reliable comfort throughout the day, responding to growing consumer demand for breathable, high-performance apparel without compromising fabric aesthetics.
LYCRA® VintageFX Fiber LYCRA® VintageFX fiber enables authentic vintage denim aesthetics while delivering modern stretch performance. It empowers brands to create comfortstretch jeans that combine a heritage look and today’s wider silhouettes with comfort, shape retention, and durability. The result is fashion-forward styling aligned with contemporary expectations for wearability.
LYCRA® Anti-Slip Fiber LYCRA® Anti-Slip fiber addresses a critical manufacturing challenge: seam slippage. By reinforcing fabric stability and improving garment longevity, it helps brands deliver higher-quality products and may contribute to reduced return rates and increased consumer satisfaction, depending on garment construction and end-use conditions. Its performance-driven functionality makes it a valuable solution for manufacturers seeking to improve garment reliability and consumer comfort. The LYCRA Company also recognises the important role of its long-standing
partner, iTextiles, in Pakistan. Through market development, technical engagement, and knowledge sharing, iTextiles helps ensure that LYCRA® brand innovations are accessible across the country’s textile ecosystem and effectively implemented at the mill level. This partnership continues to support mills in meeting global standards and unlocking new opportunities. At The LYCRA Company booth, visitors will have the opportunity to engage with technical experts, explore fabric and garment applications, and discuss market-relevant solutions tailored to Pakistan’s export markets. The space is designed to encourage meaningful dialogue and collaborative problemsolving, rather than purely promotional engagement. The LYCRA Company reaffirms its long-term commitment to Pakistan’s textile industry, anchored in innovation, sustainability, and partnership. As global markets continue to evolve, the company plans to collaborate closely with mills, manufacturers, and brands to support the future of performance textiles and reinforce Pakistan’s position within the global supply chain.
53
Groz-Beckert’s innovations for the spinning industry Today’s spinning mills face growing demands for efficiency, quality, and sustainability. Groz-Beckert’s range of products answers all concerns on those problems. Groz-Beckert’s CMF and XX CMF cylinder wires Meeting even the most demanding requirements in the Spinning industry, the CMF and XX CMF cylinder wires are characterised in particular by their special tooth shape and show their potential when processing cotton and man-made fibres for the production of open-end, airjet and ring yarns. Thanks to its special and patented tooth geometry, the card clothing does not have to be re-sharpened, thus, avoiding costly grinding processes and the associated production stops. In the case of revolving flat cards with an automatic grinding system, maintenance of the clothing, and also replacement of the grinding stone, is no longer necessary. This results in lower maintenance costs and savings due to the reduced downtime of the revolving flat card.
High Sensitivity IPI (S) Comparison
Building on the innovative tooth geometry of the standard CMF cylinder wire, the XX CMF cylinder wire distinguishes itself through its unique front working angle and tip design, specifically for processing 100% cotton fibres. Field tests with the XX CMF cylinder wire confirmed superior results over time. Customers have reported a production increase of 25 to 40% and reduced energy consumption per unit output, which in turn helps their machines to run more efficiently. Some have also reported that they’ve achieved USTER® 2023 5% level standards by using the Groz-Beckert XX CMF cylinder wire product. In addition, in cotton carding applications a higher neps removal efficiency (NRE) was achieved on the revolving flat card, with a clear positive effect on the yarn quality. CMF and XX CMF cylinder wires are available in both Duratech and Ultra steel grades. Duratech is a micro-alloyed steel grade with a high wear resistance whereas Ultra offers the longest service
54 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Normal Sensitivity IPI Comparison
life and is particularly recommended for state-of-the-art revolving flat cards and highest production outputs.
Groz-Beckert SmartTop™ and SmartTop™ Pro Specially developed for carding machines that use flat tops with magnetic flat bars - flat tops, in conjunction with the cylinder, play a vital role in the carding process within the spinning industry. On certain modern carding machines, such as the TC 11, TC 15, TC
19, TC19i, TC26i, and TC30i models, magnetic flat bars are used. These magnetic flat bars require a different type of flat tops other than conventional flat tops with clips. Groz-Beckert’s solution for these card models is SmartTop™ and SmartTop™ Pro. SmartTop™ and SmartTop™ Pro integrates advanced flat top design and manufacturing technologies specifically for magnetic flat bar applications, delivering a comprehensive product portfolio. This solution is designed for a
wide range of applications and offers enhanced carding performance, providing significant operational benefits.
What SmartTop™ and SmartTop™ Pro delivers Customers can expect faster maintenance, reduced damage to the flat bars, easier reclothing, and outstanding performance across all carding applications. These benefits translate into lower maintenance costs, shorter machine downtime, greater operational flexibility, and improved overall cost-effectiveness.
Experience it live Visit the Groz-Beckert booth at IGATEX Pakistan 2026, Hall 1 | Booth A1-08 to experience the products, talk to Groz-Beckert’s experts and discover how it can transform your production.
Note: Availability and Patent Restrictions The Groz-Beckert SmartTop™ product line is not available for sale in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Italy or Switzerland. Any advertising or promotional information relating to these SmartTopTM TV51 compared to competitor product, open-ond yarn, 100% cotton
SmartTop™ & SmartTop™ Pro type
Finished height (mm)
Nominal PPSI exit points
TV40
7.50
400
TV45
7.50
450
TV51
7.50
510
TV53
7.50
530
TV55B
7.50
550
TV56
7.50
560
TV58
7.50
580
TN60
7.50
600
products is not directed at customers in these countries. In the event that a customer purchases a product from the SmartTop™ range, the product must not be exported to any of the countries listed above. Certain technical features of the SmartTop™ product line may be protected by third-party patents in these countries, and importing such products could therefore constitute patent infringement. These restrictions apply only for as long as the relevant patent protection remains in force in the respective country. SmartTopTM TV56 compared to competitor product, ring, yarn carded, 100% cotton, Ne30
For further information or clarification, customers may contact Groz-Beckert at contact-spinning@grozbeckert.com.
About Groz-Beckert Groz-Beckert is the world's leading supplier of industrial machine needles, precision parts and fine tools, as well as systems and services for the production and joining of textile fabrics. Its products and services support the fields of knitting, weaving, nonwovens, tufting, sewing and spinning. Groz-Beckert is part of the GrozBeckert Group, which is a market leader in the development, manufacture and distribution of process-critical textile precision tools, industrial cutting solutions, textile reinforcements for the construction industry and composites. The group consists of the companies Groz-Beckert, TKM and Solidian and generated sales of 799 million euros in 2025 with around 8,800 employees worldwide. The company is active in more than 150 countries with agencies, production and sales subsidiaries.
55
Zimmer sees opportunities for Pakistan in digital printing and higher-value textiles From integrated digital printing and pigment curing to major reductions in water and energy consumption, Zimmer Austria is developing technologies aimed at more efficient and sustainable textile production. Andreas Rass, CEO and Managing Director of Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH, also sees Pakistan's strong home textile base as a platform for moving into technical textiles and higher-value products. Pakistan's textile industry already possesses much of the manufacturing infrastructure, technical knowledge and human expertise required to move further into value-added textile production. For Andreas Rass, CEO and Managing Director of Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH, this established base presents an opportunity for the industry to extend its capabilities beyond conventional textile products into more specialised applications. Speaking with Pakistan Textile Journal during ITM in Istanbul, Mr. Rass described Pakistan as a highly active textile market operating in an increasingly competitive environment. Its particular strength in home textiles, he believes, provides a strong foundation from which manufacturers can take the next step towards technical textiles and highervalue products.
Andreas Rass, CEO and Managing Director, Zimmer Austria
“It is a very short step forward to bring this also to a more technical textile level, to a more high-value product level,” he said. Zimmer believes it can support this transition through its printing and coating technologies.
From individual machines to integrated production Zimmer Maschinenbau GmbH offers technologies covering digital textile printing, digital carpet printing, rotary screen printing and coating, as well as specialised printing applications.
A significant development in digital printing, according to Mr. Rass, is the movement towards more integrated production. Manufacturers increasingly need to consider the complete process, from pretreatment through printing and subsequent treatment, rather than printing as an isolated production stage. Pigment printing is becoming particularly important within this development because of its potential for a shorter and more integrated production process. Zimmer's approach can also be seen in its carpet printing systems, where complete production lines combine individual stages into a continuous process. A white carpet enters the production line and emerges at the other end as a fully printed finished roll. This integration is particularly relevant as textile manufacturers seek greater productivity, shorter processing routes and more consistent quality.
Sustainability starts with reliable production While sustainability discussions often concentrate on energy and water consumption, Mr. Rass makes a more fundamental point: sustainable production starts with reliable machinery.
56 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
therefore combines machine reliability, reduced waste, lower energy requirements and water recycling within the production process itself.
Pakistan: moving further up the value chain Mr. Rass sees Pakistan's existing textile capabilities as an important advantage. The country has established machinery, experienced textile professionals and a substantial manufacturing base, particularly in home textiles. The opportunity now is to use those strengths to develop more sophisticated products. Technical textiles and other higher-value applications can require specialised printing, coating and finishing capabilities. These are areas in which Zimmer believes its technology portfolio can support Pakistani manufacturers seeking greater product differentiation.
Colaris Digital Printing for Towels
Frequent machine stoppages result in rejected material, interrupted production and unnecessary consumption of resources. Reducing this wastage is therefore an essential part of improving the environmental performance of textile manufacturing.
such as Pakistan where reducing water consumption is becoming increasingly important for both environmental and economic reasons.
For an export-oriented textile industry facing intense international competition, this transition is significant. Competing purely through production volume and cost is becoming increasingly difficult, while specialised products, technical applications and more resource-efficient manufacturing offer opportunities to create additional value.
“Wastage is, I think, the devil of sustainability,” he observed. Zimmer has complemented this emphasis on reliability with technologies specifically designed to reduce energy and water requirements. One significant development is a new curing concept for pigment printing using overheated steam. According to Mr. Rass, drying and curing can take place within a very short time while requiring only around 15% of the energy consumed by a conventional gas dryer.
Pakistan has the equipment, the knowhow and the people to move towards technical textiles and highervalue products. Andreas Rass, CEO and Managing Director
For mills facing high energy costs, this represents a potentially significant reduction in operating requirements.
Dramatically reducing water consumption
Rather than treating sustainability as a separate feature, Zimmer's approach
Zimmer's message to Pakistan is therefore not simply about adopting digital printing technology. It is about using the country's existing textile strengths as the foundation for the next stage of development, combining printing, coating, process integration and resource efficiency to move towards more specialised and higher-value textile production.
Zimmer has also addressed one of the less visible but substantial sources of water consumption in digital textile printing, the washing of the printing belt. Conventional belt-washing systems may continuously consume fresh water, with usage reaching as much as one cubic metre per hour. Zimmer's solution incorporates water recycling instead. Mr. Rass said this can reduce fresh-water consumption to approximately 100–150 litres per day. The difference is considerable, particularly for textile-producing countries
Colaris Digital Printing by Zimmer
57
Loepfe to showcase yarn clearing solutions at IGATEX Pakistan 2026 At IGATEX Pakistan 2026 in Lahore, Loepfe will present its latest yarn clearing and quality monitoring technologies for ring and rotor spinning at the booth of its local sales agent Tekstil Corporation. Specialists from Loepfe’s Sales & Service Agent, Service Traders will also be present throughout the exhibition to provide local technical and service expertise. YarnMaster® PRISMA and YarnMaster® EOS+ will be at the centre of Loepfe’s presentation. Pakistan remains an important spinning market, where mills face increasing demands for consistent yarn quality while keeping production costs and waste under control. Loepfe’s presentation will therefore focus on technologies designed to combine reliable quality control with efficient production. For ring- and compact-spun applications, Loepfe will showcase YarnMaster® PRISMA, its latest generation of yarn clearing technology. The system combines precise yarn fault detection with advanced contamination control. Its RGB technology identifies foreign matter according to colour characteristics across a wide range of shades, helping mills detect critical contamination while avoiding unnecessary clearer cuts. Particular attention will be given to contamination challenges in cotton spinning, including coloured foreign
YarnMaster® PRISMA
fibres, organic matter and polypropylene. By distinguishing critical contamination from material that does not pose a significant quality risk, PRISMA helps mills balance yarn quality requirements with winding efficiency and raw material utilisation. For rotor spinning, YarnMaster® EOS+ builds on Loepfe’s long-standing and proven presence in Pakistan. More than 50,000 units of EOS+ and its predecessor generations are already running in Pakistani spinning mills, demonstrating the strong market acceptance of Loepfe’s rotor yarn clearing technology. EOS+ combines proven optical sensor technology with advanced digital signal processing, providing precise and reliable yarn quality monitoring directly on the rotor spinning machine. Covering yarn counts from Ne 3 to Ne 100, EOS+ provides 100% online quality assurance
across different materials and production conditions. Its clearing functions detect NSLT faults, piecing, count and CV% deviations, imperfections, periodic faults and nep clusters – supporting consistent yarn quality and high machine efficiency.
From production data to better decisions Alongside its yarn clearing technologies, Loepfe will present MillMaster® TOP, its real-time data management platform for winding operations. The system provides a transparent overview of yarn quality and production performance, helping mills identify deviations and respond quickly to changing process conditions. With intuitive dashboards, trend monitoring and comprehensive reporting functions, MillMaster® TOP turns clearer data into actionable information, supporting more informed quality and production decisions. Together, YarnMaster® PRISMA, YarnMaster® EOS+ and MillMaster® TOP demonstrate Loepfe’s approach to combining precise yarn clearing with intelligent data management – supporting consistent yarn quality, efficient use of raw materials and high production efficiency.
YarnMaster® EOS+
58 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Visitors to IGATEX Pakistan 2026 in Lahore are invited to meet the Loepfe team together with Tekstil Corporation and Service Traders at Hall 1, Booth A101, to discover the latest solutions and discuss individual yarn quality, production and service requirements.
Ferraro and Cibitex join forces to strengthen textile finishing technologies The acquisition of Cibitex's finishing business by Ferraro S.p.A. marks an important development in the Italian textile machinery industry, bringing together two established specialists with complementary technologies and extensive international experience. The integration strengthens Ferraro's product portfolio, particularly in denim and woven fabric finishing, while expanding the commercial reach of Cibitex technologies. The strategic integration brings together complementary Italian expertise in knitted, woven and denim finishing, creating new opportunities for textile manufacturers worldwide. Founded in 1951, Ferraro has established a strong international reputation for its finishing machinery, particularly compacting and other finishing solutions for knitted fabrics. Cibitex, meanwhile, has developed considerable expertise in denim finishing, including singeing and specialised sanforising systems. Both companies have enjoyed longstanding relationships with Pakistan's textile industry. During a visit to Ferraro's headquarters in Italy, Pakistan Textile Journal spoke with Simone Ferraro and Roberto Gorri, Ferraro–Cibitex Sales Manager, about the strategic thinking behind the acquisition and its implications for textile manufacturers.
Combining Complementary Strengths According to Simone Ferraro, the acquisition addresses an important gap in the company's product portfolio. Although Ferraro has been well established in knitted fabric finishing, entering the denim sector had proved challenging because of the presence of established competitors. Cibitex brings recognised expertise and customer references in this segment, allowing Ferraro to offer a broader range of finishing solutions while strengthening its competitive position.
Roberto Gorri, Simone Ferraro and Alex Zucchi
For Cibitex, the integration provides access to Ferraro's wider international commercial organisation and manufacturing resources. Gorri explained that although Cibitex had developed sophisticated technologies and strong relationships in markets such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, its relatively small organisation limited its ability to serve other markets with the same intensity.
Technology, Efficiency and Sustainability One of the important additions to the combined portfolio is Cibitex's singeing technology, particularly for denim finishing. As textile manufacturers increasingly seek to improve fabric appearance while controlling processing costs, singeing offers an effective means of removing surface fibres and improving fabric quality. The process can also reduce dependence on certain chemical and enzyme treatments, supporting the industry's efforts to minimise chemical consumption and water usage. Ferraro also sees opportunities to extend singeing applications into knitted fabric finishing, where the company already has considerable market experience. The integration offers operational advantages as well. Ferraro's extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities, including mechanical production,
electrical cabinet construction and assembly, provide greater control over quality, production costs and delivery.
Pakistan: A Market for Advanced Technology Pakistan remains a strategically important market for both companies. Cibitex has supplied customised finishing installations to leading denim manufacturers, including specialised wide-width and double-sanforising systems. Gorri emphasised the technical competence of Pakistani manufacturers and their willingness to invest in sophisticated machinery designed to meet demanding quality and productivity requirements. The combined Ferraro–Cibitex organisation is now positioned to build on these established relationships, offering a wider technology portfolio to manufacturers seeking higher productivity, improved fabric quality and more sustainable finishing processes. As the textile industry navigates increasingly competitive conditions, the integration represents a strategic response built on complementary engineering expertise, manufacturing strength and a shared commitment to technological development.
59
ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Shanghai showcases intelligent and sustainable manufacturing From 20 to 24 November 2026, the textile machinery industry will gather in Shanghai for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, Asia's leading business platform for textile machinery, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The exhibition will occupy seven halls, with a total gross exhibition area of about 180,000 square metres. The exhibition has expanded by 10% over the last edition which reflects the continued industry interest in the region.
Spotlight on emerging technologies Responding closely to the industry's evolving needs, this edition will introduce several emerging sectors, including equipment for textile-reinforced composites, textile recycling technologies, digital platforms and automation solutions for production processes. The exhibition will also feature a dedicated Research and Innovation sector, bringing together leading Chinese universities to showcase advanced research developments and examples of
60 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
industry-academia-research collaboration. The area will feature innovations, which include embodied robots for textile applications, intelligent inspection technologies and artificial intelligence development platforms.
Complete value chain coverage with leading industry players To date, more than 1,800 exhibiting companies, of which almost 90% are from China, have applied to participate.
Exhibits will be organised by production process, encompassing the complete textile and garment manufacturing value chain, including braiding, dyeing and finishing, embroidery, garment making, knitting, man-made fibres, nonwovens, printing, recycling, spinning, testing and packaging, weaving, etc. Leading domestic and international companies that have confirmed their participation include Atexco, Barmag, B.T.D., Beijing Chonglee, BEST, CHTC,
Cixing, Dornier, Epson, Fong’s, Hicorp, Hongyuan, Itema, Karl Mayer, Konica Minolta, LMW, Murata, Picanol, Rieter, Rifa, Santoni, Saurer, Shima Seiki, Staubli, Taitan, Texpro, TMT, Truetzschler, Vandewiele, Yingyang and Yoantion. These companies will present their latest innovations in digitalisation, intelligent manufacturing and automation designed to enhance sustainability, improve energy and resource efficiency, and enable smarter production.
Visitor promotion gains momentum The 2024 edition attracted visitorship of more than 90,000 from 111 countries and regions, with almost 90% of visitors coming from China. Participation from South American markets, led by Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, recorded particularly strong growth. Increase in visitorship was also seen from Algeria, Japan, Italy, Sri Lanka, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. From April to July 2026, the organiser conducted a series of overseas promotional and outreach activities in India (Coimbatore, Ludhiana and Surat), Indonesia (Jakarta), Japan (Tokyo), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), and Türkiye (Bursa and Istanbul). Further activities will be held in Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, South Africa and other countries and regions,
extending the exhibition's outreach and encourage international visitor participation.
Trade visitor pre-registration opens with exclusive group benefits The trade visitor pre-registration opened on 25 May and will remain available until 19 November 2026. Trade visitors may pre-register through the official exhibition websites at www.itmaasia.com and www.citme.com.cn. Registration is also available through the WeChat accounts of "International Textile Machinery
Exhibition", the China Textile Machinery Association and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Textile Industry Sub-Council.
Trade visitors can enjoy a 40% discount on early-bird admission tickets. Domestic and international trade associations, industry organisations and corporate visitor groups comprising six or more participants may also apply for preferential group admission packages, enabling a more seamless and efficient exhibition experience.
61
Direct Warping Machine
Three stages, multiple customer benefits: KARL MAYER at ITMA ASIA 2026 Innovations for WARP KNIT, WARP PREP and Technical Textiles at two exhibition booths and a product show in Changzhou At ITMA ASIA in Shanghai, KARL MAYER will once again demonstrate that it understands the challenges facing the Asian textile industry – and will present tailor-made solutions. It will do so across no fewer than three stages: Hall 4.1, Booth C18 for warp knitting Hall 3, Booth A24 for warp preparation An accompanying mega Product Show at the company’s Changzhou site The Asian markets are among the most dynamic and innovative in the world and are a key part of KARL MAYER’s global strategy. Across Asia, rising labour, energy, and financing costs are compounded by continued price pressure from international brands. At the same time, sustainability requirements, shorter lead times, and smaller batch sizes are making the battle for margins even tougher. With its new machines and textile solutions for ITMA ASIA, KARL MAYER will directly address precisely these challenges.
62 PAKISTAN TEXTILE JOURNAL - October 2026
Our closeness to customers in Asia helps us identify market requirements at an early stage and translate them into targeted innovations. That is why, at this trade fair, we will be showcasing solutions that are not only technologically leading but, above all, deliver one key benefit: they create measurable added value and long-term growth opportunities for our customers.
Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER
Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER
The company will present its solutions to the challenges facing its customers at two exhibition booths in Shanghai. This approach will also allow KARL MAYER to engage with customers from both the warp knitting and warp preparation sectors within their own industry environment. In addition, KARL MAYER (CHINA) will host a Product Show at its Changzhou location, featuring further machine premieres.
Performance Upgrade for the Next Generation of Warp Knitting In the late 2010s, KARL MAYER triggered a boom in China with its costeffective tricot machine range. Now, a new generation is ready to deliver performance upgrades and drive business expansion. Two-, three-, and four-bar models offer higher output and greater flexibility, and set new standards for product quality thanks to XXL working widths, higher operating speeds, and finer gauges.
Visitors to Hall 4.1, Booth C18 at the NECC Shanghai can look forward to:
Innovative Warp Preparation Machines for Staple Fibres
A two-bar elastic tricot machine opti-
Weaving customers will once again find KARL MAYER’s latest warp preparation technology in the familiar surroundings of Hall 3, Booth A24. Here, the leading machine manufacturer will demonstrate its particular strengths in staple fibre processing with:
mised for performance and value, designed for demanding sportswear, outerwear, and lingerie, offering high flexibility in panel width A three-bar tricot machine with significantly more scope for patterning and fabric widths, with a clear focus on productivity and cost efficiency Complementing the machine exhibits, a textile innovation show will highlight natural fibres and eye-catching trend collections for the growth sectors of sportswear, fashion, and footwear, providing inspiration for new textiles and business fields. Sustainable material concepts are a particular highlight. KARL MAYER’s new natural-fibre warp knits help customers meet brands’ growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions. KARL MAYER supports its customers in all their needs – quickly, efficiently, and comprehensively. This commitment will also be reflected in the company’s Care Solutions offering at ITMA ASIA. The presentation will focus on the Customer Portal, the latest digital solutions, and the SPARE PARTS WEBSHOP.
On display are: A next-generation direct warping
machine with creel and yarn tensioners delivering unique output levels, simplified operation, perfect yarn tension and top-quality beams. The premium beams reduce yarn waste during sizing and maximise efficiency in the weaving process. An intelligently engineered sizing box capable of achieving maximal yarn coverage with minimal sizing agent consumption and maximum occupancy rates, while simultaneously reducing maintenance requirements.
Product Show Featuring Premieres for Greater Efficiency, Growth, and Creativity Further world premieres and innovations will be unveiled at KARL MAYER (CHINA) in Changzhou:
The public premiere of multiple
double-needle bar Raschel machines that rethink patterning, particularly for the footwear industry, while delivering an unparalleled level of efficiency A RASCHELTRONIC® machine that opens up new creative possibilities in product development for both knitting mills and brands The fastest and most flexible four-bar short-stroke tricot machine on the market, which is simultaneously the finest-gauge model in KARL MAYER’s four-bar portfolio. It enables the production of textiles with an exceptionally premium appearance and a wide variety of designs. An upgraded weft-insertion machine that creates new opportunities for fashion through finer fabrics and easier pattern changes, while maintaining high productivity, particularly compared with weaving. A new composite machine that expands KARL MAYER’s portfolio for reinforcement textiles, especially for the wind energy sector. Customers can use it to supply all required noncrimp fabrics from a single source – with outstanding productivity, ease of operation, and operational reliability. KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) in Changzhou will also present new fabrics reflecting current trends and applications with major future potential. The textiles developed here not only demonstrate the machines’ capabilities but also translate market trends, customer requirements, and new materials into concrete business opportunities for customers. At the TIC, visitors will find fresh ideas, inspiration for the markets of tomorrow, as well as ideas for specific development projects and experts able to address all their needs. KARL MAYER looks forward to welcoming its visitors and engaging in a lively exchange with them.
63
Classified
ADVERTISERS INDEX OCTOBER 2026
ACIMIT .....................................................................FC A. Monforts................................................................43 Benninger AG.............................................................17 Beneks Makine ...........................................................19 Biancalani .....................................................................1 Brückner.....................................................................47 Chhipasons.................................................................64 Groz-Beckert - (Weaving) ..........................................IFC Groz-Beckert - (Spinning) .............................................9 Groz-Beckert - (Weaving)...........................................25 Graf............................................................................11 Heimtextil 2027............................................................3 IGATEX Pakistan 2026 ................................................49 International Rubber Industries..............................35&64 ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 ...........................................6 ITMA 2027 ...............................................................IBC iTextiles ......................................................................33 Karl Mayer .................................................................31 Loepfe Brothers ..........................................................15 Loptex SRL .................................................................23 Saurer .......................................................................BC Swissmem ..................................................................13 Pakistan Solar Solutions ..............................................64 Rastgar .................................................................37&64 Uster Technologies AG ................................................29