#Spinning

2026-10-01

Rieter appoints Daniel Lippuner as new CEO as Thomas Oetterli steps down

Daniel Lippuner © 2026 Rieter

Thomas Oetterli has decided to step down from his function as CEO, effective October 31, 2026, and hand over the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. “After the successful implementation of the Next Level performance program, the structural measures initiated to consolidate the sites and the acquisition of Barmag, the time has come to hand over responsibility to new hands,” explains Thomas Oetterli.

The eventual separation of the functions of CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors was planned since Thomas Oetterli took office.

The Board of Directors thanks Thomas Oetterli for his great commitment and his important contributions to the strategic and operational development of Rieter. It is convinced that the measures initiated will strengthen the competitiveness of the Group and create a solid foundation to benefit from a future market recovery.

Daniel Lippuner will take over as CEO of Rieter on November 1, 2026. He combines broad international leadership experience with in-depth knowledge of the textile machinery and components industry. As former CEO of the Saurer Group and previously as Head of Oerlikon Textile Components, he led businesses along the value chain of spinning machines, yarn processing and textile components. As Chairman of the Board and co-owner of Heberlein Technology, he also remained closely connected to the chemical fiber industry. His experience in transformation, technology and quality management, operational leadership and Asian markets is particularly relevant for Rieter with its established short-staple fiber business and the newly acquired man-made fiber business.

Carl Illi will assume the role of Chairman of the Board until the next Annual General Meeting on April 14, 2027. Carl Illi has been a member of the Rieter Board of Directors since 2017 and is a recognized textile industry expert.

With the acquisition of Barmag in February 2026, Rieter has expanded its traditional business focused on short-staple fibers to include the attractive man-made fibers segment. The transaction strengthens the focus on the technology leadership of the Rieter Group, opens up additional growth opportunities and creates a broader basis for digital solutions in the textile industry.

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.

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.

"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.

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

Barmag to showcase next-generation spinning technologies and smart factory solutions at India ITME 2026

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. Against this backdrop, Barmag will present a innovation portfolio at India ITME that goes far beyond incremental machine upgrades.

Closer to customers: Trützschler Card Clothing expands service network in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador

Faster support, shorter lead times and local technical expertise: customers in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador now have direct access to Trützschler Card Clothing's (TCC) comprehensive card clothing services. To further enhance customer support and ensure rapid on-site assistance, TCC has expanded its regional service network across all three countries.

ROICA™ brings global textile innovation to Functional Fabric Fair Portland

ROICA™, the premium stretch fiber by Asahi Kasei, will make its debut appearance at Functional Fabric Fair Portland on October 27-28, 2026, at the Oregon Convention Center (Stand 256). Bringing together textile developments from partner companies across Europe and Asia, the ROICA™ booth will present a diverse collection of fabric solutions for performance, outdoor, mobility, swimwear, cy-cling, and lifestyle applications.

Mayer & Cie. Global gears up tor ITMA Asia 2026

Mayer & Cie. Global will focus on mattress fabric production at ITMA Asia, taking place in Shanghai from 20 to 24 November 2026. The company will showcase one of its flagship models for this application: the OVJA 2.4 EM. Joining the mattress fabric specialist will be an OV 3.2 QCe, presented at ITMA Asia in a configuration for knitting double-face fabrics in E40. This gives the OV 3.2 QCe a combination of capabilities rarely found in the market. The German textile machinery manufacturer will also introduce its new portfolio strategy and share updates from its development team at its Albstadt headquarters.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.