#ITMA 2019

2019-06-19

On the way to an evergreen with ecological GREENDYE

KARL MAYER remains on a growth path with its Denim Excellence Center at KARL MAYER ROTAL and a wide-ranging product portfolio. The motto of the continuing success story is: providing the complete technology for an efficient indigo dyeing process from a single source. With its PRODYE-S unit, this manufacturer is already a leader in the fashion market, its PRODYE-R is increasingly accepted by the Genuine Denim segment.

KARL MAYER launches eco-friendly indigo dyeing technology at ITMA 2019, booth 8.0/B107

At ITMA 2019, KARL MAYER launches GREENDYE, an innovative technology for producing jeans fabrics with minimized ecological footprint, thus, opening up another market sector, SUSTAINABLE DENIM.

Dyeing in nitrogen atmosphere

The nitrogen technology ensures less environmental impact and more efficiency during indigo dyeing. With its high concentration in the dye bath and under nitrogen atmosphere, the dye diffuses and migrates more intensely into the fibre than in case of conventional comparable procedures. The yarn can absorb three times more dye in a dye vat. In this way, it is possible to reduce the number and length of vats, with positive effects for the environment. The chemical consumption can be reduced considerably, a minus of 50% is possible when using hydrosulphite and caustic soda, and there is also less yarn waste. Moreover, due to the good fixation of the dyestuff on the fibre, considerably less water is required during the washing process.

Production with reproducible parameters

KARL MAYER took over the patents for the innovative indigo dyeing technology from MASTER in 2018. There followed extensive works for the further development and fine tuning. One of the milestones in this context was the putting into operation of a pilot machine at the Denim Competence Center in Mezzolombardo, Italy, at the beginning of this year.

The dyeing system maps the industrial production process at a scale of 1:10 and it has already supplied the first warp beams. These beams were processed by an Italian partner from the weaving industry, the result being highly promising jeans samples. Enzo Paoli, Managing Director of KARL MAYER ROTAL, wants to use these fabrics in order to gain the interest of denim manufacturers in the innovative GREENDYE technology. „Only with samples produced under realistic fix running parameters we can convince on the market. Our contact partners are textile manufacturers, who want something to touch“, says this experienced company boss.

Fabric samples, an animation of the machine and its contribution to the topic of sustainability belongs to the highlights of KARL MAYER’s exhibition stand 8.0/B107 at ITMA 2019. Further steps are already planned. As from September 2019, KARL MAYER will have a new Denim Customer Center, and wants to invite the sector to carry out processing tests on the innovative nitrogen unit.

More about SUSTAINABLE DENIM:

https://www.karlmayer.com/en/sustainable-denim

Georg Stausberg, a veteran of the textile machinery industry, takes over as Rieter Group CEO

Georg Stausberg, one of the most experienced executives in the international textile machinery industry, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Rieter Group with immediate effect from 4 November 2026. With more than three decades of industry experience and a long-standing leadership career at Barmag, Stausberg brings extensive technological expertise, international market knowledge and an established network across the global textile industry to his new position.

Jeanologia and BCome connect factory data with Life Cycle Assessment and Digital Product Passports

A new white paper by EIM by Jeanologia and BCome demonstrates how primary environmental data from denim finishing processes can be integrated into a garment's Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and prepared for use in a Digital Product Passport (DPP). A comparative case study highlights significant improvements at the production stage while also showing how these translate into the environmental performance of the finished garment.

Inside the Making connects denim and sportswear supply chains at Ecomondo 2026

Six European companies are joining forces at Ecomondo 2026 in Rimini to demonstrate how different stages of denim and sportswear production are interconnected. The new initiative, Inside the Making, highlights the importance of cooperation across the textile supply chain in addressing sustainability challenges, from reducing resource consumption to improving transparency and the reliability of environmental claims.

EDANA welcomes definitive EU anti-dumping measures on Chinese PET spunbond

EDANA, the international association serving the nonwovens and related industries, has welcomed the European Commission's decision to impose definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of PET spunbond originating in China. The association considers the measures an important step towards restoring fair competition and safeguarding European industrial capacity.