#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.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.