#Weaving

2021-05-12

High-tech behind historic walls: TextielMuseum in the Netherlands buys P2 rapier weaving machine from DORNIER

Only introduced to the market in 2019 and already worth exhibiting: The well-known "TextielMuseum" in Tilburg, the Netherlands, has acquired a P2 rapier weaving machine from Lindauer DORNIER for its textile laboratory. According to its director “a long-cherished dream" came true with the purchase of the weaving machine from the Lindau-based machine and plant manufacturer.

The official tourism website for the Netherlands says Tilburg, which lies about 100 kilometers south of Amsterdam, is a "cosy town". If you click through online travel guides, the city's textile museum is at the top of the list of recommended sights. It is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, which connects important historical economic sites in Europe. Located in a 19th century textile factory, the museum sees itself as a "dynamic and creative place". Not only knowledge about the history of the textile industry is passed on here, in fact the areas of design, art, fashion and innovation are interwoven within the construct of textiles.

Textile research in the museum

The "TextielLab" is connected to the museum. Here, students, architects, young artists and established designers from all over the world work on textile research, development and design projects using state-of-the-art technology. Recently, the museum's machine park was extended by a brand new P2 rapier weaving machine from DORNIER. Although the museum already owns three weaving machines, says Hebe Verstappen, head of the textile laboratory, the acquisition of the P2 "fulfilled a long-cherished dream", as the wide range of applications of the machine offers to innovative students, artists and designers completely new technical possibilities to realise their textile ideas and concepts.

Tapestries for exhibition in Bregenz

The first user of the new acquisition will be Otobong Nkanga. "I'm really looking forward to experimenting on the P2," says the performance artist, whose work has already been on show at London's Tate Gallery of Modern Art. The flexibility of the rapier weaving machines on which DORNIER's customers produce fabrics for home textiles, clothing and technical textiles opens up all kinds of possibilities for her to experiment with different yarns, colours and textures. The artist's first project will be a four-part tapestry series that will celebrate its premiere at a solo exhibition at Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria, this autumn.

Woven creativity in today's world

DORNIER is proud to see the variety of creative woven innovations that are produced on the weaving machines from Lake Constance in the Tilburg "TextielMuseum", but also at many universities, research institutes and design studios. "Weaving is a textile technology that is over 10,000 years old. As a weaving machine manufacturer, we have seen a lot over the decades, but we never cease to be surprised at how great the diversity of ideas in fabric production still is," says Florian Boch, Head of Central Marketing and Communication at DORNIER. The P2 has also been very well received by DORNIER's industrial customers since its introduction in 2019. Weaving mills in Europe, Asia and the USA are ensuring very satisfactory sales figures despite Corona's impact on the global economy. According to the family-owned company DORNIER, this is mainly due to the fact that the P2, as the successor to the rapier weaving machine introduced in 1967, continues to demonstrate its quality as the most flexible rapier weaving machine in the world, which is much-vaunted in expert circles.

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

From carbon to canvas: DORNIER presents flexible and reliable weaving technologies for 3D weaving and dynamic markets at Techtextil

At Techtextil from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt am Main (Hall 12.0, Stand D95), Lindauer DORNIER will be showcasing reliable and flexible weaving technologies for ever-changing market requirements. The machine and plant manufacturer will present retrofits for existing machines, the new TRITOS® FLEX 3D weaving technology, intuitive automation concepts and software solutions for data-sovereign networking of the weaving machine fleet.

40 years of the Peter Dornier Foundation: Four decades of non-profit commitment to people, culture and the environment in Lindau, Germany and worldwide

The “Haus Brög zum Engel” hospice, the historic farm “Haug am Brückele” and numerous other projects: for over 40 years, the Peter Dornier Foundation has been supporting social and cultural life in Lindau and beyond. The company-related foundation can look back on more than 500 projects it has supported in Germany and worldwide. It was founded in 1985 by Peter Dornier, founder and long-time Managing Director of the international machine and plant manufacturer Lindauer DORNIER, whose profits go into the foundation at a rate of ten percent annually via a holding company. In the future, the foundation intends to expand its commitment in an even more targeted way.

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.

Picanol to present its leading weaving technology at ITM 2026

Picanol is pleased to announce it will be participating in ITM 2026 in Istanbul. This is a key event for industry professionals to engage with the Turkish textile industry as well as the extensive international audience attending the fair. During the event, Picanol will present its latest innovations to the visitors in Hall 8, booth 802.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.