#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.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.