#Index 2017

2017-03-24

INDEX 17 - Lohmann-koester on the innovative road

As an expert for tailor-made closure solutions for hygiene products, Lohmann-koester from Altendorf / Bavaria cannot miss the INDEX17. Lohmann-koester has been producing self-adhesive and mechanical closure systems for baby diapers and adult incontinence briefs for more than 40 years.

Furthermore, technical adhesive tapes for hygienic, medical and technical applications belong to the product portfolio. Lohmann-koester coats and laminates, extrudes, siliconizes and processes films, papers, nonwoven fabrics, foams and thermoplastic elastomers. In the field of closure solutions for disposable diapers, the company has established itself as one of the leading manufacturers worldwide.

At stand number 1230 at the Palexpo in Geneva, Lohmann-koester presents its broad product portfolio, ranging from modular solutions to customer-specific products. A special highlight is the revolutionary FlexEar® range, Lohmann-koesters successful brand for elastic side panels (diaper ears, pull-ups, belt inserts) for diaper closures.

The FlexEar® product family is characterized by a high degree of flexibility with simultaneous softness and is tailor-made for the baby diaper and adult incontinence briefs market. Against the background of great technical know-how and many years of experience, the elastic materials have been further developed and attuned to the individual customer needs.

With the FlexEar® EVOlution family a product line has resulted that meets the unique requirements of the hygienic sector. Furthermore, new products such as mechanical tapes, combi-tapes, mini-tapes and so-called "crosswound" products will be presented.

Lohmann-koester not only uses the trade fair presence to exhibit its innovative products and global activities, but also to cultivate contacts. Particularly the direct exchange with experts in the industry, customers and suppliers from different markets is one of the guarantors for near-market and demand-oriented Lohmann-koester products that are state-of-the-art in an extremely rapidy changing hygienic market.

“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.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.