#Spinning

2025-05-27

Uster Technologies wins another infringement lawsuit

In a ‘victory for innovation in China’ Uster Technologies has secured a decisive judgment in a patent infringement lawsuit against a competitor. The final ruling by the Supreme People’s Court of PR China confirms that the competitor’s actions in copying the patented yarn feeder of the Uster Tester 6 constitute unlawful infringement.

Uster Tester 6 © 2025 Uster Technologies

Protecting innovation with patents

Uster Technologies has established itself as a pioneer in the field of textile quality control, by diligently investing in research and development since the 1940s. The company now holds over 250 active patents – a testament to its commitment to being the innovation leader. Each patent provides Uster with a temporary, exclusive right to exploit the relevant invention, ensuring that the considerable resources the company invests in research and development are protected and that competitors are barred from illegal imitation.

Victory for justice

A Chinese competitor of Uster launched its yarn evenness tester incorporating a feeder device copied from Uster Tester 6. Uster initiated legal action, leading to a ruling by the First Instance Court that the competitor is liable for patent infringement. After an appeal, the Supreme People’s Court of PR China reaffirmed that decision as final. As a result, the competitor must immediately cease its infringing activities and compensate Uster.

Confidence in the Chinese market

“We are glad to experience once again that China has a well-functioning and fair intellectual-property protection system that treats right holders of different origins equally,” says Dr. Paul Pliska, Intellectual-Property Manager at Uster. “This judgment reinforces our commitment to protecting our innovation power. Not only our company, but also our customers, deserve this.”

This is not Uster’s first intellectual-property victory in China. Last year, an earlier lawsuit against the same company, concerning the infringement of the Uster Tester 6 console design, ended in Uster’s favor. Notably, that design – honored with the 2016 Red Dot Award for Industrial Design – underscores Uster’s recognized innovation.

With the Chinese government's efforts to foster a favorable business environment, Uster emphasizes its dedication to elevating the quality and technological progress of China's textile industry. The company will persist in channeling resources into innovation at its Suzhou Technology Center, catering for both global and local customers.

Measure and control the fiber – optimize yarn quality

Producing consistent yarn quality is an everyday challenge – and a very difficult one. Detailed knowledge and understanding of the fiber raw material is absolutely critical to achieving the best possible quality in the yarn. To help spinners, Uster experts have put together guidelines for avoiding yarn irregularity claims, in a special edition of the Uster News Bulletin.

Uster presents novelties at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025

There’s news from Uster Technologies to be announced for the industry’s upcoming event in Singapore. The Uster 360Q universe is growing with new products, solutions and services. Innovation developments can also be recorded in the fields of man-made fiber testing and fabric inspection. Uster innovations address the industry’s trending topics as mill management and process control, optimization of delivered fabric quality and yield.

Challenges of making yarn from recycled fibers

What does it take to spin quality yarn from recycled fibers? Uster Technologies brought textile industry leaders together to discuss the role of technology, data and automation – as well as the current challenges in using recycled raw material. Experts from Rieter, Säntis Textiles, Otto Yarns, and TVU commented on the current situation and looked into the future of spinning in a panel discussion organized at Uster headquarters.

Barmag presents the next generation of POY production – energy-efficient and partial-automated

With POY 2.0, Barmag is introducing a completely redesigned spinning concept that takes the production of partially oriented yarn (POY) to a new level in terms of technology and economy. The solution, which was presented to a selected audience of experts for the first time at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025, was met with great enthusiasm: several yarn producers worldwide immediately expressed their interest in a pilot plant.

Development of bio-based polyethylene fibers for textile applications – BB Engineering partici-pates in the bioPEtex research project

In the German research project bioPEtex, BB Engineering (BBE) is working with other partners to develop textiles made from 100% bio-based polyethylene (PE). The aim is to make use of this poly-mer, which has hardly been used in the chemical fiber industry to date. BBE is contributing its spinning and texturizing expertise and developing the texturing process on an industrial scale. The first promising results are already available – opening up new opportu-nities for sustainable and economically attractive applications in the textile industry.

High-performance yarns for tomorrow's mobility

At this year's Techtextil in Frankfurt (April 21–24), Barmag will be presenting comprehensive solutions for the production of industrial filament yarns at the VDMA joint stand (Hall 12, C56). The focus will be on applications that ensure greater safety, durability, and efficiency in automotive engineering.

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem to accelerate technology scale‑up

Textile‑to‑textile recycling leader Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem (consortium) to help advance the scale‑up of Spinnova’s technology. Spinnova has actively sought partners to accelerate commercial scale‑up, and Circulose, as a key player in textile recycling, strengthens the ecosystem by providing a raw material that is in high demand across the industry.

UNIFI® introduces Luxel™: A Linen-inspired, easy-care performance yarn

Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), the makers of REPREVE® and one of the world’s leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today announced the launch of Luxel™, a groundbreaking yarn technology that combines the luxurious look and feel of linen with high-performance, easy-care, and textile-to-textile recycled materials.