#ITMA 2015

2014-12-01

Sympatex wins Future Materials Award 2014

The Future Materials Award 2014 Best Innovation – Sportswear and Outdoor Apparel goes to Sympatex. (f.l.t.r.) Nadine Dereza, Isabel von Lösecke, Sonja Zajontz (both Sympatex) and Charles Beauduin, Cematex President; (c) 2014 WTiN / Sympatex

Now it has become official: Sympatex Technologies has won the “Future Materials Award 2014”. The ecological alternative among functional textile specialists has successfully prevailed over six other finalists in the category “Best Innovation – Sportswear and Outdoor Apparel” with the Sympatex Phaseable® technology. The 2.5-layer laminate offers an intelligent climate regulation by using a dynamic thermal insulation.

The award, which has been initiated by “World Textile Information Network” (WTiN), was presented last night, on Wednesday, during a glamorous gala at “The Westin Bellevue Dresden” by the prizewinning journalist Nadine Dereza (Financial Times, CNN and BBC amongst others) and Charles Beauduin, CEO Van de Wiele Group and President of CEMATEX.

The winning product Sympatex Phaseable® is especially suitable for high levels of physical effort during sports and outdoor activities, for example. The 20 experts of the “Future Materials Award” jury – among them leading specialised journalists as well as renowned representatives in the fields of industry and research – have been enthusiastic about the technical solution: “Very interesting innovative construction, and outstanding environmental considerations. Wonderful new innovation.”

The 2.5-layer laminate works like this: The three-dimensional half-layer on the inside of the laminate only touches the skin punctually in the form of foam points.

During the recovery phase of the athlete, an insulating air layer is created between the skin and the laminate. When the physical activity is increased, moisture is produced, which lets the compact hydrophilic Sympatex membrane swell up. Thus, the foam points disappear, the distance to the skin is reduced, and the laminate gets closer to the skin. This offers a better moisture transport and breathability. In addition, the breathability increases during higher levels of physical activity due to the dynamic climate regulation.

There are also environmental benefits: As an ecological alternative among functional textile specialists, Sympatex doesn't use any solvents for its technology. The footprint is also kept as low as possible, because the laminate is entirely produced within the EU. Another advantage: The top performance and maximum ecology of Phaseable® is enhanced by a fantastic fashionable component thanks to the individual design of the foam points.

“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.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

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

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

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.

DePoly Inaugurates its Showcase Plant in Monthey Switzerland

What if used plastic bottles, PET packaging material and polyester textiles could become raw materials just as high performing as virgin resources? That is the ambition of DePoly, a circular materials company based in Sion, Switzerland which inaugurated its Showcase Plant in Monthey on July 6th & 7th. The first depolymerization facility of its kind and scale in Switzerland, this industrial Showcase Plant represents a major milestone in the company's growth and its journey toward commercialization.