#Textile chemistry

2024-09-12

New CEO for Beaulieu International Group

Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) announces the appointment of its new CEO, Mr. Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck. This important step marks a new era of leadership and stability for the company.

Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck (45) has a solid background in senior leadership roles and international finance. He is moving over from AbrisoJiffy where he successfully transformed the company from a local business to a pan-European leader in protective packaging and insulation. He has a strong track record in profitability improvement, growth and building highly effective teams. Prior to that, he was CEO of food packaging company Omniform. Previously he led a start-up in Latin America. He started his career in Investment Banking in London where he spent more than 6 years executing M&A and financing transactions across Europe. He holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Brussels, a Master in Finance from Vlerick Business School and completed several Leadership courses at INSEAD.

New CEO for Beaulieu International Group: Mr. Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck © Beaulieu International Group

His appointment as external and non-family CEO highlights B.I.G.'s commitment to professional and independent leadership and provides a fresh perspective on the company's growth strategies.

"We are delighted to welcome Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck as our new CEO," says Dominiek De Clerck, Chairman of the B.I.G. Board of Directors "His experience and fresh perspectives will be essential to identify and capitalize on new opportunities in our industry. With this appointment, we intend to enter a new phase of growth and stability and to continue to implement B.I.G.'s outlined sustainable growth strategy.”

Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck: “I am honoured to join B.I.G. at such a pivotal time. I’m very positive about the future and the opportunities ahead of us. I know periods of change can be unsettling but I’m going to focus my energy on the positive projects and those where I believe there is a huge potential to grow and to improve. Building on strong foundations but looking forward rather than backward. I would like to thank the family and the Board for their trust and I look forward to coming on board and leading B.I.G. to the next chapter of success.”

Jean-Baptiste De Ruyck takes over the torch from Pol Deturck who left the company at the end of June 2024. His official start date is still to be mutually agreed upon, but in the coming months Jean-Baptiste will gradually settle in at Beaulieu International Group.

B.I.G. Yarns strengthens European market position with major investment in state-of-the-art yarn production

B.I.G. Yarns, a leading designer and manufacturer of polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyester (PET) carpet yarns for commercial, automotive, residential, and technical applications, is proud to announce a significant investment of €25 million in its French yarn production site. This investment reinforces its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and European manufacturing. It includes the installation of cutting-edge BCF lines, enhancing B.I.G. Yarns’ leadership in one-step 3-ply yarns and further solidifying its position as a key player in the global market.

Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) powers its Belgian Cushion Vinyl production plant with green energy

Beaulieu International Group is investing €5 million to transition the fossil based energy supply of its Cushion Vinyl production plant in Wielsbeke, Belgium, to bio mass generated steam supply. A transition to renewable energy. To this end, B.I.G. is collaborating with A&U Energie, a company that converts non-recyclable wood waste into green energy and heat. This strategic move aligns with B.I.G.'s commitment to reach ‘net zero’ for our operations by 2030.

Update on DyStar’s transition to full ownership of Zhejiang Longsheng Group

DyStar, a leading specialty chemical company with a heritage of more than a century in product development and innovation, wishes to provide an update on the progress of Share Purchase Agreement signed for the acquisition of 37.57% of the issued share capital of DyStar Global Holdings (Singapore) Pte Ltd.

TEXTILCOLOR AG launches strategic collaboration with Alpex, Majocchi, and Trans-Textil in the field of Pyroshell™ flame protection

TEXTILCOLOR AG, a leading provider of innovative solutions in textile chemistry, today announces the start of a strategic collaboration with Alpex Protection, Majocchi, and Trans-Textil. Starting November 1, 2025, the partners will jointly advance the flame-retardant finishing of textiles using the patented Pyroshell™ technology at production sites in Germany, France, and Italy.

Huntsman and Steitz Secura deliver breakthrough in sustainable safety footwear

Huntsman, in collaboration with Steitz Secura, has developed a breakthrough polyurethane (PU) solution that can help improve the circularity of safety footwear. Together, the two companies have created a DALTOPED® polyurethane midsole system that can incorporate recycled content without compromising performance – setting a new benchmark in protective footwear production.

Zschimmer & Schwarz at ITMA Asia in Singapore

At ITMA Asia in October 2025, Zschimmer & Schwarz will present 100 % bio-based spin finishes from the LERTISAN range designed for hygiene nonwovens, and HYDROSET ECO-DRY, a bio-based wicking agent that delivers excellent moisture management for synthetic fabrics. For dye fixation on polyamide, the company has developed a sustainable, plant-based product completely free from phenol, bisphenol, and formaldehyde. The patented aftertreatment agent ZETESAL ECO-FIX PA ensures durable and reliable fixation, particularly on dark shades.

Catching heart disease early with AI-based sensor system

It slips on like a normal vest: Fraunhofer IZM has created a smart sensor system in cooperation with the Charité and the Technical University of Berlin. The vest records a vast array of cardiovascular parameters, which an AI-based system uses to support medical diagnostics and spot potentially dangerous developments.

ICAC to collaborate with Uzbekistan and Bizpando on regenerative agriculture

The Government of Uzbekistan has allocated 55,000 hectares of land to implement a regenerative agriculture program for cotton as part of a collaborative project with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) and Bizpando, a company with a a blockchain-based internet platform designed to ensure supply chain compliance.