[pageLogInLogOut]

#Spinning

Rieter advances strategic repositioning amid market volatility

Rieter Servocan © 2026 Rieter

Rieter successfully completed the acquisition of Barmag on February 2, 2026, and reached an important milestone in the company’s repositioning. Barmag will be integrated into the Rieter Group as the “Man-Made Fiber” Division. With this strategically transformative acquisition, Rieter is expanding its core business beyond the short-staple fiber business in a targeted way. This positions Rieter as the global market leader along the entire value chain for natural and man-made fibers. In addition, as a complete systems supplier, Rieter is further strengthening its technological leadership in the areas of automation and digitization.


The transaction is a consistent step in implementing Rieter’s long-term growth strategy and builds on previous acquisitions that have systematically expanded the portfolio. Since acquiring the automatic winding machine in the 2021 financial year, Rieter has been the only system supplier covering the entire production process from fiber preparation to all four end-spinning technologies.

Through the acquisition of Barmag, Rieter is expanding its sales markets to include the structurally growing man-made fiber market. With this additional technological breadth, Rieter increases its resilience and reduces dependence on cyclical fluctuations in individual end markets. This paves the way for Rieter to capitalize on the expected recovery of the global textile machinery market. At the same time, the Man-Made Fiber Division strengthens Rieter’s market position in the long term in the strategically important Asia region.

Order intake

Order intake remained constant on a currency-adjusted basis. It amounted to CHF 703.4 million in 2025 (2024: CHF 725.5 million). The expected wider market recovery has been delayed due to the ongoing global trade conflict (particularly the punitive US tariffs) and geopolitical uncertainty.

The Machines & Systems Division posted an order intake of CHF 346.3 million (2024: CHF 364.2 million). While the Machines & Systems Division recorded an increase in demand, order completion was significantly impacted by uncertainty surrounding customs tariffs and the geopolitical and economic situation.

The Components Division generated an order intake of CHF 193.5 million (2024: CHF 206.6 million) and is suffering under lower demand for components for new machines, mainly due to the cautious investment activity in the market.

The After Sales Division recorded a pleasing 6% increase in its order intake to CHF 163.6 million (2024: CHF 154.7 million). This positive development confirms the strategic growth initiatives that have been launched. Incoming orders are benefiting from increased sales activities in the target markets, such as Central Asia and China, as well as from the ongoing expansion of the service and repair network.

Sales

The Rieter Group closed the 2025 financial year with sales of CHF 685.1 million (2024: CHF 859.1 million), thus remaining 20% below the previous year’s period.

The Machines & Systems Division posted sales of CHF 329.1 million, down 23% on the previous year (2024: CHF 424.9 million). Sales in the Components Division fell by 19% year on year to CHF 200.8 million (2024: CHF 247.6 million). The After Sales Division posted sales of CHF 155.2 million, down 17% over the previous year (2024: CHF 186.6 million).

Order backlog

At the end of 2025, the company had an order backlog of around CHF 510 million (December 31, 2024: CHF 530 million).

Operating EBIT, net profit, free cash flow

Despite the decline in sales, Rieter achieved a positive operating EBIT of CHF 2.5 million (before restructuring and transaction costs). This is primarily attributable to the consistent implementation of additional cost measures. Owing to extraordinary restructuring expenses and transaction costs in connection with the acquisition of Barmag in the amount of CHF 54.2 million, Rieter closed the 2025 financial year with a net loss of CHF 63.4 million (2024: net profit of CHF 10.4 million).

Free cash flow was CHF -40.6 million (2024: CHF 14.1 million). Owing to the capital increase already completed to finance the acquisition of Barmag, net liquidity amounted to CHF 184.3 million (2024: CHF -230.3 million).

The equity ratio increased to 53.3% as of December 31, 2025 (previous year: 33.7%), which was due in particular to the capital increase completed in October 2025 in connection with the Barmag acquisition. The acquisition was completed on February 2, 2026.

Dividends

The Board of Directors proposes to the shareholders that no dividend be distributed in view of the negative Group result. The company continues to adhere to its fundamental dividend policy of distributing at least 40% of net profit.

New medium-term targets

Rieter is pursuing a soft integration approach for Barmag. In this context, Rieter confirms a preliminary synergy assumption of at least CHF 20 million resulting from the acquisition. These synergies are reflected in the new medium-term targets. An update on the realization of synergies will be provided with the results for the first half of 2026.

Rieter sees strong potential for the combined company beyond 2026. To this end, it has defined three new market scenarios following the successful realization of synergies from the Barmag acquisition:

Low scenario

In a subdued market environment with slow recovery in terms of demand and ongoing price pressure, sales of around CHF 1.4 billion are expected, with an operating EBIT margin of 2 to 5%.

Medium scenario

In a normalized market environment with stable demand, sales of around CHF 1.8 billion are expected, with an operating EBIT margin of 5 to 8%.

High scenario

In a strong market environment with broad-based demand and high capacity utilization, sales could reach CHF 2.2 billion, with an operating EBIT margin of 8 to 11%.

Outlook for 2026

In 2026, a year of transition, Rieter expects sales in the range of CHF 1.3 to CHF 1.5 billion.

The outlook for 2026 reflects the integration of Barmag and the restructuring measures announced in 2025, which are yet to be fully implemented. As a result, a positive operating EBIT margin in the range of 0 to 3% is expected. Financing for the further development of the combined company is fully secured.




More News from Rieter Textile Systems

#Spinning

Rieter prepares leadership transition in Components & Technology

Roger Albrecht, Head of the “Components & Technology” Division, has decided to pursue a new opportunity outside the Rieter Group. Roger has worked for the Group for 11 years and has been instrumental in maintaining Rieter’s position as a technology leader in the short-staple business.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Rieter and partners launch Recycling Powerhouse for industrial-scale textile recycling

Recycling Powerhouse Ltd. was established in July 2026 to industrialize, standardize and scale textile recycling. Based in Switzerland, the venture will operate a franchise-driven business model that enables the production of high-quality, certified recycled yarns. The project is supported by the following partners: Rieter Group, the world’s leading system supplier for natural and man-made fibers, Säntis Textiles, a Swiss textile engineering company, and Valvan, a Belgian sorting technology company. The first blueprint franchise operation is scheduled to launch early 2027 in partnership with Suhail Industrial Holding Group in Qatar.

#Spinning

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.

#Spinning

"We will become a recycling powerhouse"

The textile industry is now in its fourth consecutive year of crisis, while automation, artificial intelligence and recycling are reshaping the rules of the game. In this interview, Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli discusses the first signs of a market recovery, reflects on his first three years at the helm of the company, explains the integration of Barmag, outlines Rieter’s vision of the fully automated spinning mill and highlights the strategic importance of recycling. In doing so, he explains why the new Rieter Group aims to play a leading role in transforming the textile value chain into a circular economy.

More News on Spinning

#ITMA Asia + CITME 2026

ITMA Asia 2026: How Barmag is reshaping the future of man-made fiber production

The textile industry is entering a groundbreaking era. Manufacturers face rising energy prices, growing sustainability demands, increasing labor shortages, and an unprecedented need for flexibility. For a globally active textile industry, where competitiveness is closely linked to production efficiency and cost leadership, this means that technology is no longer merely a means of improving operational processes – it is increasingly becoming a strategic differentiator.

#Spinning

Eltex takes the tension out of heat-setting

The ACT-MULTI system developed by Eltex – a member of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association – is bringing individual yarn tension monitoring and automatic control to the heat-setting process, helping manufacturers maintain consistent processing conditions across every yarn position.

#Spinning

Heberlein reinforces its commitment to the Chinese market

Heberlein, globally recognised as a leading provider of air interlacing and air texturing jets for synthetic filament yarns, is consolidating its success in the Chinese market with its APh- and APe-series for DTY applications. Particularly in the field of Air Covering, Heberlein technologies combine excellent quality with significant savings in compressed-air consumption. A new service hub in Shengze City underlines the company’s long-term commitment in the Chinese market.

#Recycled Fibers

Driving circularity with Uster Recycled Fiber Matrix

The textile industry’s commitment to circularity continues to accelerate, and mechanical recycling is viewed as a targeted approach to cutting textile waste and its environmental impact. At the forefront of this drive, Uster has developed the Recycled Fiber Matrix, a two-dimensional assessment of mechanically recycled fibers to guide optimum processing and end-uses.

Latest News

#Research & Development

ITA has developed a washable digital smart jacket with real-time feedback and an AI-powered app for rehabilitation

As part of the PhysioTaix research project, the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University is developing a digital smart jacket with integrated sensors. The jacket is washable and reusable; it tracks movements during rehabilitation exercises in real time and transmits the data to an app.

#Nonwovens

25 years in the room: EDANA’s OUTLOOK™ returns to Cascais to shape a changing industry

The market does not wait, and it does not grant easy answers. Across the absorbent hygiene, personal care, and wipes sectors, business is undergoing a period of intense, necessary adjustment. New European rules on packaging, single-use items, product safety, and end-of-life are forcing companies to drop old assumptions about materials and performance. At the same time, producers must keep their goods safe, reliable, and affordable for the babies and aging adults, who rely on them every day.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Recover™ names Enes Adak and Fehmi Yüksel as Co-CEOs to accelerate its next growth phase

Recover™, a leading materials science company and global producer of consistent high-quality, recycled cotton fibers and circular material solutions at scale, today announced the appointment of Enes Adak and Fehmi Yüksel as Co-Chief Executive Officers. This leadership transition marks an important step in Recover’s evolution as the company enters its next stage of development.

#Research & Development

ADD-ITC 2026 highlights strong industry participation

The Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference (ADD-ITC) 2026 will place a strong focus on the exchange between textile research and industry when it takes place on November 26–27, 2026, at the International Congress Center Dresden. According to the preliminary conference program, more than two-thirds of all presentations will be contributed by companies or jointly presented by industry and research institutions.

TOP