#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.

SOKO presents low-impact denim finishing innovations at Denim PV Milan

SOKO will present a range of sustainable denim finishing technologies and collaborative projects at the upcoming Denim Première Vision Milan on 20–21 May in Milan. At booth G27 in Superstudio Più, the company will showcase new chemical solutions designed to combine fashionable denim effects with reduced environmental impact.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.