#Dyeing, Drying, Finishing

2026-01-26

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.

Endeavour enables dye houses to eliminate energy and CO₂ emissions by up to 85%, achieve chemistry savings of up to 30%, and reduce water usage by up to 95% compared to traditional methods. The proprietary liquid application solution combines a large droplet size and high droplet velocity to deliver unrivalled penetration and precision into a textile fabric.

R&D programme

As part of the collaboration, Alchemie and Acatel will run a twelve-month R&D programme to prepare the technology for large-scale manufacturing and demonstrate how the fully electric, non-contact dyeing process can replace conventional dyeing routes.

The partnership will operate from the Acatel Innovation Hub in northern Portugal, with the industrial expertise, manufacturing infrastructure and focus on innovation necessary to accelerate the adoption of this next-generation textile technology.

Through the platform, Alchemie will advance the commercial readiness of its low-carbon digital dyeing system tailored for knitted cellulosic fabrics based on cotton, lyocell, linen, hemp and wool blends.

“Transforming one of the world’s most resource-intensive industrial processes requires resilience, vision and innovation,” says Dr Alan Hudd, founder and CEO of Alchemie Technology. “Being part of the Acatel Innovation Hub represents exactly the kind of partnership needed to scale sustainable textile solutions globally.”

Acatel has been a leader in sustainable textile processes since 1985, combining advanced technology with a strong environmental commitment. By leveraging Acatel’s innovation ecosystem, the partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of next-generation dyeing solutions and highlight the role of the Acatel Innovation Hub in bringing scalable, sustainable innovations to industry.

“Acatel’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship aligns perfectly with Alchemie’s mission,” says Tércio Pinto, member of the board at Acatel “With this collaboration we are empowering textile producers to redefine responsible manufacturing.”

Première Vision

To mark the partnership, Alchemie and Acatel will be exhibiting side-by-side at Première Vision in Paris from February 3-5, where visitors will be able to directly assess the touch and feel of fabrics processed with the technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how Endeavour technology can deliver substantial sustainability and efficiency gains.

“This development is great news to kick off 2026,” said BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Textile dyeing is a significant polluter and Alchemie’s digital technologies, developed here in the UK and now to be further commercialised within Europe, promise to archive a dramatic reduction in energy consumption while eliminating contaminated wastewater emissions, which will be a major boost for the industry.”

Alchemie Technology launches new Taiwan office and expands executive team

Alchemie Technology, a leading clean-tech digital textile dyeing company headquartered in the UK, has today announced the opening of a new Taiwan office. This strategic expansion allows Alchemie to better serve its customer base in Taiwan by providing local support for servicing and commissioning. Taiwan is a major textile hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with its industry placing a strong emphasis on R&D to foster innovation in new materials and textile technologies.

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.

Dedicated car seat model of SHIMA SEIKI’s P-CAM® R Cutting Machine unveiled

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ALADIN paves the way for circular and demand-driven textile production in Europe

Textile production can be organized sustainably by utilizing short supply chains and preventing overproduction. This can already be achieved today by intelligently connecting and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure. At the same time, production becomes circular when innovative technologies and materials are used that enable high-quality recycling. The ALADIN research project, launched in May 2026 and co-funded with five million euros under the EU Horizon Europe program, is creating the conditions for this.

Katharina Obergruber appointed to the Management Board of Sandler AG

The Supervisory Board of Sandler AG has appointed Katharina Obergruber to the company’s Management Board. Effective September 1, 2026, the Board will consist of Philipp Ebbinghaus (CEO), Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck (currently CCO, future COO), and Katharina Obergruber (CCO). Katharina Obergruber, currently Chief Sales Officer Hygiene and member of the Management Team of Sandler AG, will assume responsibility for all sales activities as Chief Commercial Officer. She will assume this role from Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck, who will focus primarily on production and supply chain topics.

Ence and ShareTex begin initial testing of the ATENEA innovation project to promote textile recycling in Spain

Ence and ShareTex are making progress on the Atenea R&D project, which aims to develop a complete value chain for textile recycling in Spain. Specifically, the goal of the ATENEA project—which is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI)—is to connect all the necessary stages for the recovery of textile waste, from collection and management, through recycling and transformation into new raw materials, to their incorporation into new textile products.