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#Research & Development

Premium AEROTEC, Faurecia and Solvay launch Thermoplastic Composites research consortium (IRG CosiMo) with ITA-Augsburg

On the Picture (ITA Augsburg) from left to right: Rob Blackburn (Solvay) - Application Engineering Director; Guillaume Morales (Faurecia) - Program Development Leader; Reinhard Schaefer (Faurecia) - Engineering Director Ultra-Light Weight Structures; Helge von Selasinsky (ITA) - General Manager; Kim Gingras (Solvay) - Thermoplastic Composites Incubator Director; Jochen Scholler (Premium AEROTEC) - Manufacturing Engineer; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Schlichter (ITA) - Managing Director; Dr.-Ing. Daniel Hartung (Premium AEROTEC) - Head of Numerical Simulation; Joachim Nägele (Premium AEROTEC) - Managing Director Programs and Sales and Johannes Treiber (Solvay) - Senior Applications Engineer
Premium AEROTEC, Faurecia Clean Mobility, and Solvay are proud to launch IRG CosiMo (Industry Research Group: Composites for Sustainable Mobility), the industry’s first private consortium focusing on the development of materials and process technologies that will enable the high volume production of thermoplastic composites for both the Aerospace and Automotive markets.

Through a 3 year commitment, Premium AEROTEC, Faurecia Clean Mobility, and Solvay will bring together their expertise, capabilities and resources to hit the R&D milestones set to meet the industry’s growth expectations and offer solutions for sustainable mobility. Composite adoption, industrialization and accelerating automotive and aerospace ramp rates are all key focus areas that will be addressed by the IRG CosiMo consortium.

Premium AEROTEC, Faurecia Clean Mobility and ITA Augsburg are also part of an upcoming large project consortium in the Campus Carbon 4.0 program of the Free State of Bavaria, Germany. This public sponsored consortium (CC4.0 CosiMo) is going to develop new materials and processes for in-situ polymerization of Caprolactam to Polyamide 6 for high volume applications in automotive. IRG CosiMo, an extension of this consortium, aims to focus on a wider range of thermoplastic materials and processes. As a partner of IRG CosiMo, the Institute of Textile Technology Augsburg gGmbH (ITA Augsburg) will host and project manage the consortium, coordinate the scientific research program and operate the equipment used for processing new materials into tape and web based thermoplastic composites. 

All machines will be installed in the Technologiezentrum Augsburg (TZA), the core infrastructural element of Augsburg Innovationspark. In collaboration with IRG CosiMo Premium Partners, all installed equipment can also be used by companies interested to benefit from the network. Sharing infrastructure and equipment through open innovation is a highly efficient way to encourage the development of new materials, data driven process controls and robust automated manufacturing processes for serial production, without interrupting industrial plants.

ITA, a unique textile research facility, is focusing on the development of thermoplastic tape- and web based composite systems and will bring a lot of scientific knowledge to the group. ITA Augsburg initiated IRG CosiMo as part of a strategic, branch overlapping approach to push innovation in thermoplastic composites including recycled fiber materials. This unique private consortium allows demand-driven networking with short decision-making processes to maximize customer benefits. 


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#Research & Development

Networking Day 2026: Industry stakeholders unite around textile recycling

In 2026, the Industry Research Group (IRG) Polymer Recycling once again brought together some of the key stakeholders in textile recycling for its annual Networking Day. This year, the event took place at EREMA’s premises in Ansfelden, Austria. It brought together key players from across the textile recycling value chain for a day of structured exchange and in-depth discussions.

#Research & Development

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

#Research & Development

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.

#Research & Development

Carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre proves its worth – NRW Minister for Science Mona Neubaur congratulates ITA start-up TERNAfil

MAXCarbon technology, a novel carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre developed by ITA spin-off TERNAfil, secured third place at the HIGH-TECH.NRW Demo Day on the TÜV NORD campus in Essen. The technology combines the strength of carbon fibres with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Science in North Rhine-Westphalia, congratulated the team on their success and on winning prize money of 4,000 euros.

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#Research & Development

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Self-actuating textile structures are used in a wide range of applications, such as medical technology, automation, architecture, agriculture, and the apparel industry. An example is the use of shading nets in greenhouses, which can be deployed and retracted depending on the sunlight intensity. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing textiles based on shape-memory polymers with reversibly controllable geometry.

#Associations

Meadow Grove Research joins ITMF as Corporate Member

Meadow Grove Research is a commodity research firm specializing in supply, demand, and trade analysis in cotton and other soft commodities. Providing clarity to the complex nature of the global fiber supply chain is one of its most formidable services. The firm thrives on customer engagement and providing the best framework for critical decisions.

#Research & Development

ALADIN paves the way for circular and demand-driven textile production in Europe

Textile production can be organized sustainably by utilizing short supply chains and preventing overproduction. This can already be achieved today by intelligently connecting and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure. At the same time, production becomes circular when innovative technologies and materials are used that enable high-quality recycling. The ALADIN research project, launched in May 2026 and co-funded with five million euros under the EU Horizon Europe program, is creating the conditions for this.

#Research & Development

TERIS reaches milestone: Fraunhofer consortium develops new standards for tire analysis

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#Man-Made Fibers

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

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#Recycling / Circular Economy

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

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#Associations

IVGT membership: expertise that pays off

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#Knitting & Hosiery

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

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