#Dyeing, Drying, Finishing

2023-01-19

Biancalani Textile Machinery and Petrocom BV, founded by Jean Comhaire, work closely together for the Belgian textile industry

Belgian textile industry has always been a reference point in the global textile industry. With upholstery and furniture fabrics as their assets and a centuries-spanning tradition, Belgian textile companies generate an annual turnover of more than EUR 4 billions and are massively investing in e-textiles and sustainable fibers, i.e. a whole innovative textile ecosystem. Not least – indeed essential – textile education, training and research are being strongly supported: therefore, nowadays Belgium is definitely a textile and fashion business cluster and incubator.

Together with Jean Comhaire, Biancalani Textile Machinery has been part of Belgium textile reality since 1991, when Comhair founded Petrocom BV. Petrocom deals with textile, plastic and chemical industries and has expanded into Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg. Comhaire deeply believes in strong, lasting partnerships with textile machinery companies and confirms that this kind of professional relationships are the fundamentals of Petrocom success.

When talking about Biancalani, Comhaire lingers on three aspects: innovative ideas, a honest, stunning professionalism, and keeping on proposing the best solutions as per fabrics finishing, despite an always tougher competition. As Comhaire states, Biancalani is perceived as one of the most innovative textile machinery producers in the country, a company with a long finishing textile tradition and experience – a detail Belgian textile clusters give great importance to – and always at the top as per high-technology solutions.

Comhaire also points out that clients’ positive reception to Biancalani is a certainty, to the point that the entire process of contacting, testing, quotation, and final negotiations is somehow permeated by it. Besides, Biancalani makes it actually possible to work with the customer and find a specific technical solution or a brand new product that the customer does not have yet. Especially after the release of AIRO®24, one of the most revolutionary projects by Biancalani, the company has been perceived more and more favorably and has seen its role as innovator increasing more and more thanks to the release of AQUARIA® open-width washing lines.

According to Comhaire, the next challenge is to continue to innovate and come up with new ideas, as the textile industry at large and Belgian textile clusters in particular will be craving for them. To keep on providing the best machines to customers and thus remain one of the most qualified producer on the market will be part of a healthy, always a-changing competition. It all can be done if companies carefully listen to their customers’ needs, an approach that is totally Biancalani’s style.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

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“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

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SETEX turns dyeing and finishing data into daily production control

At ITM 2026, SETEX will show how textile mills can use machine, recipe, quality and energy data for more reliable daily production decisions — not as another reporting layer, but as part of the running dyeing and finishing process. With OrgaTEX X3 MES, E390x/C390x controllers, CamCOUNT and FabricInspector Portable, SETEX connects planning, machine execution and fabric-related quality insight within existing mill structures.

Tradition and Innovation – Phoenox Textiles Ltd. relies on state-of-the-art carpet back-coating line from Brückner

For more than 70 years, Phoenox Textiles Ltd. has been synonymous with quality, reliability, and inno-vation in the textile industry. Founded in 1954 in Huddersfield (Yorkshire, UK), a region with a long tradition in textiles, this family-owned business has continued to evolve without losing sight of its roots. Today, in its fourth generation under the leadership of the Mosley family, Phoenox successfully combines decades of experience with a clear, forward-looking corporate strategy.

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.