#Textile chemistry

2022-11-03

New COO of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group

The global supplier of chemical specialities and auxiliaries strengthens its management team: Dr Felix Grimm becomes new Chief Operating Officer

On 1 November 2022, Dr Felix Grimm assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer at Zschimmer & Schwarz Chemie GmbH. In this role, he is responsible for the areas of production, supply chain, purchasing and EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group on a global level. For many years, he held various management positions in the areas of production and technology at Clariant AG in Germany, France and Switzerland. Dr Felix Grimm sees his special focus in the further development of technological standards and processes, the internal transfer of knowledge as well as the stronger networking between the individual production companies of the Zschimmer & Schwarz Group.

Dr Felix Grimm © 2022 Zschimmer & Schwarz

Dr Felix Grimm succeeds Wolfgang Nowak, who will leave the company at the end of the year. "We thank Wolfgang Nowak for his very successful commitment and the very good cooperation over many years, and we wish him every success for his professional future as well as all the best in his private life," says Dr Christoph Riemer, General Manager at Zschimmer & Schwarz. "We are really looking forward to working with Dr Felix Grimm. With his broad expertise in the areas of production and technology as well as his international management experience, he will be an excellent addition to our management team."

“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.

BW Converting, Archroma and Monforts to highlight precision spray finishing at IGATEX Pakistan 2026

BW Converting, Archroma and Monforts will participate in IGATEX Pakistan 2026, held Oct. 15–18 at the Expo Centre Lahore, at Al-Ameen Trading Corporation’s stand F-2-09 in Hall 2. Together, the companies will highlight precision spray-finishing technology, textile chemistry expertise and application-development support to help Pakistan’s textile manufacturers evaluate opportunities to improve finishing performance and production efficiency.

An eco-friendly alternative to fluorocarbon treatments

Protective and outdoor clothing derives its durable water-, dirt- and oil- repellent properties from the application of fluorinated polymers or per- and polyfluorinated low-molecular- weight chemicals (PFCs). The beneficial properties thus achieved on textiles are offset by environmental and human health risks. For manufacturers of sports, medical, protective and automotive textiles, researchers at the Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. and the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research have developed liquid-applied dispersions and solutions to functionalise textiles without the use of fluorine.

Archroma and Lameirinho partner in pioneering deployment of InOneGO single-step dyeing

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, and Lameirinho, a leading home textiles manufacturer based in Portugal, are collaborating to bring InOneGO by Archroma, a new single-step dyeing process, into commercial production. Lameirinho’s first InOneGo bedlinens collection is now available worldwide.

Archroma wins ICIS Innovation Award for sulfur dye breakthrough

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, has won a coveted 2026 ICIS Innovation Award for Best Product Innovation from a Large Company for FiberColors®. These high-performance sulfur dyes are synthesized from pre-consumer wool waste, reducing industry reliance on petroleum-based inputs while contributing to the circular economy by upcycling unwanted wool that farmers would otherwise pay to dispose of.

Officina39 and Gold Girl Co. explore unconventional materials in denim at Kingpins Amsterdam

Officina39 and Gold Girl Co. will present their experimental collaboration “Renegade Renaissance” at Kingpins Amsterdam on October 14–15, 2026. The project brings together the creative direction of Marta and Glenda Goldschmied, founders of Gold Girl Co., with Officina39's expertise in textile chemistry and material development.

MK SONS Denim Research to make its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam

MK SONS Denim Research, a specialist denim development and manufacturing division of Pakistan-based textile and garment manufacturer MK SONS, will make its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam on October 14–15, 2026. The company will present its approach to integrating denim product development with industrial manufacturing at stand T in the Green Area.