#Raw Materials

2021-02-11

Technical advancement secures the future – cotton processing procedures

In just a few weeks, the International Cotton Conference Bremen will be launched worldwide. This time the organisers, the Bremen Cotton Exchange and the Fibre Institute Bremen, are presenting a future-oriented conference platform in digital format. It is available to professionals from science and practice anywhere in the world. In addition to subjects such as production, sustainability in the cotton sector, and exciting new products made from cotton, several sessions will focus on the heart of the Bremen conference: the technical lectures.

Technical Progress is Gaining Momentum

Cotton processing procedures are becoming more and more productive and intelligent. This is illustrated by a series of lectures by representatives from the fields of textile research and textile machine manufacturing on production processes. On both conference days there will be a session chaired by Stefan Schmidt. Schmidt is a long-standing advisor for science and technology at the Industry Association for Finishing, Yarns, Fabrics and Technical Textiles (IVGT), Frankfurt, Germany.

Among others, the presentations include the following:

Innovative Products from Recycled Raw Materials

Stephan Baz is Head of the Staple Fibre Technology Division in the Research and Development Department of the German Institute for Textile and Fibre Research (DITF), Denkendorf, Germany. “How does recycled raw material behave during spinning?” Baz discusses this question in his lecture and includes cotton, polyester and technical fibres made of carbon. Based on the respective properties of the raw materials, he presents concepts for converting recycled raw materials into new yarns and innovative products for special applications.

Spinning Fibres into Quality Yarns with a High Proportion of Short Fibres

“Spinning with a high short fibre content” is the topic of an informative lecture by Harald Schwippl. Schwippl is Head of Technology and Process Analytics at machinery manufacturer Rieter AG, Winterthur, Switzerland. He presents the results of a technical study for a rotor spinning process to produce yarn from cotton with high short fibre content and/or admixtures of short-staple noils. The rotor process offers improvements in the area of yarn nonuniformity compared to conventional processes and reduces production costs.

Improved Carding Technology for More Quality and Production Performance

Ralf Müller is Head of Research and Development in the field of spinning technology at textile machinery manufacturer Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach. In the carding process, the cotton fibres are aligned following a pre-cleaning process. In his presentation, Müller presents a new method for ensuring that the carding gap between the cylinder and flat clothing is as small as possible. Intelligent sensor technology ensures that the carding gap is automatically set within the machine and kept constant. A minimal carding gap previously not achieved in practice creates new potential for increasing the quality and productivity of carded cotton.

Card Sliver in Spinning Mill © Jean-Paul Haessig

Minimising Cotton Contamination Before Processing

Oswald Baldischwieler, Product Manager Online Systems at Uster Technologies AG, Uster, Switzerland, presents the results of a five-year practical study of the Total Contamination Control System (TTC) in 236 spinning mills in nine major textile producing countries including China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam. The TTC offers 24/7 online quality monitoring at all relevant stages within the spinning process. Ultimately, even the smallest contamination can lead to considerable quality impairments. Uster assumes that contamination in cotton deliveries is not likely to decrease, but rather increase in the future.

Less Hairiness with Fine-Thread, High-Quality Ring-Spun Yarn

Stuart Gordon is a Senior Scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in the Agriculture and Food Division based in Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia. Controlling the hairiness of ring yarns is an important research focus within ring spinning. There is great interest in the spinning sector in reducing undesirable hairiness and any resulting pilling effects in yarns using new techniques at low investment costs. A new unit presented by Stuart Gordon makes this possible.

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.

Beyond Cotton: Natural Fibres in the Spotlight at the Bremen Cotton Conference - Branded by DNFI

Climate targets, fragile supply chains, and rising regulatory requirements are fundamentally changing the perspective of the textile industry - the focus is increasingly shifting toward the base material. Not only cotton, but natural fibres are gaining significant importance: they stand out not only because of their outstanding functional properties, but also because they make a valuable contribution to the bioeconomy and responsible product development.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead

Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorder cuts through the ideology to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of both sides of the debate.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.