#Dyeing, Drying, Finishing

2025-04-09

Generation change at Pleva: Kathrin and Stephan Pleva join the Management Team

PLEVA GmbH, a leading manufacturer of sensors, measurement and control technology for various industries, announces that Kathrin Pleva and Stephan Pleva have been appointed as Managing Directors of the family-owned company. Together with their father, Dr. Ralf Pleva, they will shape the future of the company.

The Pleva family: Mother Regine, father Dr. Ralf, Kathrin and Stephan Pleva © 2025 Pleva

PLEVA, founded in 1969, has been developing and producing high-quality sensors and systems for process control in sectors such as the textile, paper, nonwovens, film, automotive and wood industries for over five decades. The company's products have proven themselves in tough continuous operation worldwide and are successfully used by end customers and machine suppliers.

With the strengthening and succession of the management team, PLEVA is focusing on continuity and innovation. Kathrin and Stephan Pleva will bring fresh impetus and new perspectives to the company, while Dr. Ralf Pleva will continue to contribute his many years of experience and expertise. His strong technical know-how, recognition in the industry, deep understanding of customer needs, and values-driven leadership have shaped the company over decades and played a key role in its international success.

Together, the three managing directors will drive forward the strategic direction of the company to meet the challenges of the global market and further strengthen PLEVA’s position as a technology leader.

“We are delighted to continue the tradition of our family business and to shape the future of PLEVA together with our father,” explain Kathrin and Stephan Pleva. “Our aim is to strengthen the company's innovative power and continue to offer our customers tailor-made solutions for efficient and sustainable production.”

With the reinforcement and succession, the company is ideally equipped to continue to operate successfully on the market in the future and meet the needs of its customers worldwide.

Further information can be found on the website www.pleva.org.

Smart automation to fix gaps of skilled staff

Advanced technology for high quality and efficiency at textile finishing - ITMA Asia 2025, Singapore As customer expectations rise and skilled labor becomes increasingly scarce, smart sensor technology and automated control systems have become essential in modern textile finishing. PLEVA meets these challenges with its renowned, robust and reliable sensors, specifically designed for the demanding conditions of textile production.

SL Smart Weft-Straightener success at Harris Tweed Hebrides, UK

High quality fabric is essential for any finisher who wants to ensure consistent quality and resource efficiency. A particularly important quality criterion is straight weft and straight course fabric. The Scottish tweed manufacturer Harris Tweed Hebrides finishes 100% woolen, handwoven cloth and stands as a world class leader in British luxury cloth with an extensive, high quality product range. The company was looking for a weft-straightening system which, in contrast to the previously used pinwheel system, could not damage the wool.

Pleva will showcase advanced technology for energy-efficiency and sophisticated processes at Techtextil 2024

Making processes more cost-effective, sustainable, transparent, and above all more efficient, is exactly the aim of using sensors and controls at textile processes. By this, textile producers are enabled to save large amounts of energy, improve product quality and make even complex processes more traceable and reproducible. Pleva is looking forward to discuss those important aspects is the Techtextil 2024 in Frankfurt.

Orthopac RVMC-20 plus: German Engineering for Smarter Weft Straightening

In times of rising cost pressure and growing quality demands, textile producers worldwide are searching for solutions that combine precision, efficiency, and sustainability. With its latest innovation, the Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, Mahlo once again demonstrates the strength of German engineering: improving proven technology to meet today’s challenges.

Precision jet dyeing moves towards industrial scale as Alchemie partners with Acatel

BTMA member Alchemie Technology, the pioneer of precision jet dyeing solutions based in Cambridge, UK, is partnering with Acatel, the Portuguese leader in sustainable textile manufacturing. The two companies will work together to validate and optimise Alchemie’s Endeavour system for knitted cellulosic fabrics.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.