#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.

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.

ISKO unveils a new circular vision of color, texture and tactile innovation at Denim Première Vision Milan

At Denim Première Vision Milan (booth G3), ISKO introduces its FW27-28 Collection, built around three defining elements: color, texture and touch. This season, ISKO presents a vision where emotion and advanced textile innovation converge, rooted in a steadfast commitment to responsible material development by utilizing patented technologies and high-quality raw materials, powered by RE&UP.

Uster FiberQ excels for recycled raw materials too

Uster FiberQ is a complete solution for raw material utilization, supporting spinners to achieve consistent quality and profitability every day, building further growth for the future. The Turkish company ORTA relies on FiberQ with recycled yarn for its denim production. Data-driven knowledge puts the producer in control of raw material utilization – ready to make the correct decisions for process efficiency, quality and productivity.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.