#Textile chemistry

2025-11-03

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.

Pyroshell™ technology is a patented, permanent flame protection for polyamide and polyester fabrics and represents a milestone in the field of protective equipment for synthetic textiles. Pyroshell™ is revolutionising flame protection by significantly reducing the risk of burns. When a fabric equipped with Pyroshell™ is exposed to a flame, its textile structure expands substantially in volume. This effect keeps heat and fire-promoting gases largely away from the fabric. Therefore the time between the first sensation of pain from heat exposure and the onset of second-degree burns doubles. As a result, wearers gain valuable additional reaction time compared to conventional flame protection solutions.

The partnership with Alpex, Majocchi, and Trans-Textil enables the Pyroshell™ technology to be implemented even more efficiently within production processes and made accessible to a broader customer base. Alpex Protection (France) specializes in technical textiles and functional fabrics, Majocchi (Italy) manufactures high-quality textiles for the military, PPE, and luxury/fashion sectors, and Trans-Textil (Germany) produces innovative materials for safety and operational applications. The goal is to provide high-quality, safe, and comfortable functional and protective textiles throughout Europe.

“We are very excited about collaborating with our experienced partners in Germany, France, and Italy,” says Detlef Fischer, CEO of TEXTILCOLOR AG. “Together, we can leverage Pyroshell™ optimally within the production processes. The technology provides not only maximum protection but also exceptional comfort for users in demanding operational environments.”

Enhanced protection without added weight: Innovative technology for flame-retardant textiles doubles reaction time and ensures high wearing comfort

Flame-retardant textiles have long faced the same dilemma: the higher the level of protection, the greater the compromise in comfort, weight and breathability. This is especially important for workwear and protective clothing worn for long hours, where comfort is crucial to wearer acceptance and satisfaction. At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, Swiss company Textilcolor AG will unveil pyroshell™, an innovative flame-retardant technology designed to tackle this challenge. Protection is provided by a graphite-based functional layer integrated into the textile structure, which doubles the reaction time before burns occur while significantly enhancing comfort. The material does not release any toxic fumes and offers textile manufacturers entirely new opportunities to design and produce protective and functional garments. It is also durable enough to withstand up to 50 industrial washes.

Swiss company showcases new technologies for lowering water and energy consumption

The textile industry is one of the biggest consumers of water globally, requiring approximately 93 billion cubic meters annually. This is equivalent to around 4% of the total freshwater consumed worldwide. The industry is facing increasing criticism as a result and is coming under pressure. Sustainability is therefore no longer just about image, but is a key competitive factor for textile manufacturers. Companies across the entire textile chain with a sole focus on conventional processes will have to address sales issues over the medium term and will be faced with ever greater regulatory pressure.

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.

European Flax-Linen & Hemp step into advanced manufacturing: Enabling filament winding, 3D printing and high-performance composite processes

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp announces a new wave of technological advancements demonstrating how flax-linen and hemp fibres are now being successfully integrated into advanced composite manufacturing processes. These developments mark a transition beyond traditional hand lay-up techniques, positioning natural fibres as credible, scalable solutions for high-performance industrial applications.

SETEX turns dyeing and finishing data into daily production control

At ITM 2026, SETEX will show how textile mills can use machine, recipe, quality and energy data for more reliable daily production decisions — not as another reporting layer, but as part of the running dyeing and finishing process. With OrgaTEX X3 MES, E390x/C390x controllers, CamCOUNT and FabricInspector Portable, SETEX connects planning, machine execution and fabric-related quality insight within existing mill structures.

Fifteen years of Autoneum – From spin off to global technology leader

What started as a strategic carve‑out has since become the success story of a global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, Autoneum supplies leading automobile manufacturers worldwide with innovative, lightweight and increasingly sustainable solutions.

Kruger, Canada, orders first nonwovens line for sustainable wipes from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from newly established Kruger Nonwovens to deliver a complete WetlaceTM hybrid line for the Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. With this investment, pulp and paper producer Kruger is preparing to enter the nonwovens market with a new generation of plastic-free, chemical-free materials for sustainable wipes. The line is the first of its kind in Canada and is scheduled to start production in 2028.