#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2021-04-22

Solesis announces investment from Altaris Capital Partners

Solesis Inc. (“Solesis” or the “Company”), the healthcare subsidiary of Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA (“Michelin”), announced today that Altaris Capital Partners, LLC (collectively with its affiliates, “Altaris”) has entered into an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in Solesis from Michelin. Michelin will maintain a 49% interest and will formalize a research and development initiative with Solesis to develop advanced polymers for life sciences and medical technology applications.

Solesis is an innovative provider of biomaterials, tools and services for the life science and medical technology industries. Solesis operates through two primary business divisions, Secant Group and Charter Medical. The Secant Group, which includes SanaVita Medical, is a leading supplier of biomaterials and implantable textile structures that enable repair, recovery and regeneration of human tissue, as well as technical materials for the specialty chemical and aerospace markets. Charter Medical supplies single-use tools for cell culture expansion, cryopreservation and fluid management that are used during the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, including cell and gene therapies.

“Over the years, Solesis has established a successful business built on differentiated technology platforms. We are thrilled to enter the next phase of our journey in partnership with Altaris and Michelin, which will enable us to accelerate our business strategy and growth plans. Through increased investment in R&D and enhanced access to capital, we intend to continue to develop innovative technologies to meet the evolving needs of our customers and their rapidly expanding end markets. This is an exciting time for Solesis, our customers and our dedicated team,” said Karen West, CEO of Solesis.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to partner with Solesis and Michelin,” said George Aitken-Davies, Co-founder and Managing Director of Altaris. “We believe Solesis is a market-leading provider of biomaterial technologies and will continue to make significant contributions to advancements in the life science and medical technology fields. We look forward to working closely with Michelin and the Solesis team to develop and grow the company in the years to come.”

As part of the transaction, Solesis will formalize a research partnership with the Advanced Research Group of Michelin to develop novel polymer technologies for medical applications, including the Company’s [PGS] biopolymer platform, which is currently being commercialized in several therapeutic categories as Regenerez® and Hydralese™.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Italian Textile Machinery heads to Geneva for Index 2026

An important delegation of Italian companies will exhibit at the upcoming INDEX 2026, the world’s leading event for the nonwovens sector, taking place from May 19 to 22 in Geneva (Switzerland). Numerous Italian exhibitors will be present within the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT, an exhibition area of over 140 square meters dedicated to the latest innovations proposed by the Italian industry.