#Denim

2022-04-14

RUDOLF OFFUEL ®: 'It's Time to Get Wasted'

Celebrating the Group’s 100 years anniversary with the launch of the “It’s time to get wasted” denim collection: denim icons reused, reworked, reimagined and, of course, finished with OFFUEL®.

RUDOLF is turning 100 years old this year. Quite frankly though, it’s difficult to find a quiet moment to celebrate. The past 18 months have taught us how rough things can get and how quickly they can change. The shortages of raw materials, gas and oil are having dramatic consequences. Because of geo-political situations and because of petroleum being a scarce resource, we can expect even more dramatic supply bottlenecks in the future.

This unsettling scenario was the “inspiration” for RUDOLF OFFUEL®, a progressive array of chemical auxiliaries for denim finishing consisting, by at least 90%, of alternatives to crude oil and/or components based on recycled materials. OFFUEL® meets two pressing needs of society: the definition of sustainable industrial practices rooted in renewable sources and the identification of economic alternatives.

Finishing auxiliaries from waste

One of the most advanced and progressive frontiers of textile chemistry, is the transformation of waste (natural or not) into substances that can be further used in a greener and more sustainable world. Until not long ago, waste of any origin was an unconceivable raw material for the chemical industry due to poor consistency and availability issues. Nowadays, through the upcycling of organic waste and the chemical recycling of plastics, RUDOLF can present the denim industry and society with another option: textile finishing auxiliaries from renewable raw materials and waste.

RUCOGEN® UPCYCLE RNB is the crown jewel within the OFFUEL® range. It’s a dispersing agent, specific for denim washing, based on chemically recycled, PET plastic waste. It’s about the upcycling of post-consumer, disposable PET plastic bottles into valuable textile chemistry.

Celebrating the company’s 100 years with the 'It's Time to Get Wasted' collection

The OFFUEL® Collection, designed by Labor Made Inc, is a series of modern denim icons reused, reworked, reimagined and, of course, finished with OFFUEL® products. These styles can be worn across gender and have a natural unisex feel and style. The collection is focused around the Japanese word 'Mottainai' - meaning "Don't waste what is valuable:' “The intent behind the collection is refining on how we embrace waste and discarded materials” says Gordon Muir of Labor Made. “Then we turn them into beautiful items that embrace today's modern culture and sustainable values”, he adds.

The Kaihara fabric has its highest possible pre-consumer waste content, the pocket bags are made from vintage Japanese yukata and the back patches are recycled and reprinted. Everything is hand made using the best local, Japanese craftsmanship and traditional skills.

RUDOLF is pioneering the future of technical textiles by developing innovative, functional solutions

At Techtextil 2026, RUDOLF presents its latest innovations for textile auxiliaries, textile care and construction chemicals. Based in Geretsried, Bavaria, the company draws on more than 100 years of experience and continues to position itself as a global technology partner focused on quality, innovation and sustainability.

RUDOLF gets the exclusive global distribution rights for Sanitized® textile technologies

With effect from today, RUDOLF officially assumes exclusive global distribution rights for Sanitized® textile technologies from SANITIZED AG. This is the next milestone in the strategic collaboration announced in 2025, with the partnership between the two companies now fully implemented and expanded worldwide.

RUDOLF appoints Marcos Furrer as CEO, Dr Gunther Duschek as CTOO and Dr Oliver Kusterle as CSO – Dr Wolfgang A. Schumann becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors

RUDOLF, a leading global medium-sized specialty chemical company, is adopting a new management structure at the beginning of 2025 to accelerate the implementation of its strategic goals. The aim remains to further strengthen RUDOLF‘s international market position and to sustainably, expand the company‘s innovative strength in an increasingly dynamic competitive environment.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.

ISKO brings conscious color, texture, and tactile evolution to Bluezone Munich

At Bluezone ISKO is debuting its FW 27–28 Collection, structured around a trio of core sensory pillars: color, texture, and touch. This season, the textile leader showcases a creative vision where emotional connection and advanced technical innovation come together. The entire range is anchored by a dedicated commitment to eco-conscious material creation, utilizing patented processing technologies and high-quality Next-Gen materials powered by RE&UP.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.

"Dynamic markets do not only create uncertainty – they also create opportunities."

Volatile markets, increasingly complex materials and growing demands for flexibility are changing the weaving industry. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging in technical textiles, filtration, composites and many other specialised applications. Since taking over as Head of DORNIER's Weaving Machines Product Line at the beginning of 2026, Yvonne Schuberth has been helping to shape this development. In this interview with TexData, she explains why process stability and customer proximity remain the foundation of innovation, how digitalisation is transforming weaving mills, and why she believes the future belongs to technologically demanding applications.

Ready for the future: PI Cottex chooses Brückner again for reliable quality and efficiency

PI Cottex, based in Ludhiana in the Indian state of Punjab, has developed into a leading manufacturer of high-quality knitted fabrics in recent years. Thanks to consistent vertical integration, modern pro-duction technologies and a clear focus on quality, the company supplies renowned national and inter-national clothing brands. In this interview, the team at PI Cottex talks to Brückner about its market strategy, future growth plans and its long-standing partnership with the German premium machinery manufacturer.