#Textile chemistry

2022-09-08

Sirial TIS NATUR for very soft leathers

As part of the pioneering Pulcra Naturalis® initiative, the Pulcra development team has introduced Sirial® TIS NATUR. The product has been designed as the main fatliquor for very soft leathers with good fullness, sponginess and a waxy feel. Applications range from shoe uppers to garment and sofa leathers.

Fatliquoring with improved eco balance

Sirial® TIS NATUR is based on high-quality fish oil obtained from purified technical varieties that have not been released for human consumption and therefore do not compete with raw material flows for nutrition. Moreover, the fish oil is extracted without endangering wild fish stocks. The high degree of purification guarantees good heat and light fastness. In addition to the fish oil, Sirial® TIS NATUR contains natural humectant components that improve the elasticity of the grain without weighing it down. The proportion of bio-based carbon in Sirial® TIS NATUR is >80%, well above the current industry benchmark. When used with products from the Pulcra Naturalis® portfolio, the bio-C content of the leather is significantly improved. We believe that the best advertisement for the highly sustainable material natural leather is to further reduce its environmental impact.

Pulcra Naturalis®– The Bio-Revolution for Leather Processing is an initiative launched by Pulcra focused on promoting a product portfolio with a high content of bio-based carbon. All products included in this new portfolio contain at least 80?% renewable carbon1.

The use of renewable feedstocks is an important means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacture of chemicals and an important step towards carbon neutrality. Much of the carbon contained in industrial or consumer products, including leather or leather chemicals, eventually enters the atmosphere as CO2. When working with fossil raw materials, the carbon used was sequestered in the earth, so its release means a strongly negative carbon balance. Renewable raw materials, which are based on plant or animal raw materials, have a much better carbon balance: plants bind CO2 from the atmosphere, and animals are fed with natural feed. Switching to renewable raw materials therefore stops the influx of CO2.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Indovinya advances sustainable solutions with agreement for the supply of renewable Oxygen from Air Liquide

Indovinya, the specialty chemicals and surfactants division of Indorama Ventures, has entered into an agreement with Air Liquide — a world leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and healthcare — for the supply of renewable oxygen. The agreement represents a strategic advancement in Indovinya’s commitment to sustainability, as it increases the share of renewable raw materials in the production of ethylene oxide, one of its key products.

DyStar releases FY2025 sustainability report, marking a new milestone towards its 2030 targets

DyStar, a leading specialty chemicals company with more than a century of expertise in product development and innovation, today announced the release of its FY2025 Sustainability Report, marking a significant milestone in its sustainability journey and reinforcing its commitment to long-term value creation.

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.