#Weaving

2024-06-13

Leadership transition at Loepfe

Loepfe Brothers Ltd. has embarked on a new chapter with the appointment of Markus Kleindorp as the new CEO, ushering in a fresh era of leadership. Former CEO Ralph Mennicke's departure prompts restructuring, including the addition of Gregor Stalder as CFO. With this seasoned team, Loepfe aims to maintain its excellence in the textile industry.

Since the beginning of May, Loepfe Brothers Ltd. has been led by a new management team. The Board of Directors has appointed Markus Kleindorp as the new CEO of Loepfe. Markus Kleindorp brings a wealth of experience from his tenure within the Vandewiele Group and as the former CEO of MEMMINGER-IRO GmbH, offering deep insights into the textile industry.

After four years of dedicated service, the former CEO of Loepfe, Ralph Mennicke, has decided to embark on new professional endeavors, signaling a change in leadership for the company. The Board of Directors acknowledges Mennicke's resignation and extends gratitude for his contributions to Loepfe's journey.

Furthermore, Loepfe is seizing this moment to restructure its management team, reinforcing it with an individual possessing extensive business expertise. We are delighted to introduce Gregor Stalder as the new CFO of Loepfe. Gregor Stalder is a proven expert in finance and has long-term experience in the position of a CFO.

With this accomplished leadership team in place, Loepfe is poised to continue its trajectory of excellence in the textile industry. We thank our stakeholders for their ongoing support and partnership as we embark on this exciting journey together.

The new Loepfe CEO Markus Kleindorp © 2024 Loepfe

A tradition of innovation celebrated at ITMA 2025 in Singapore

For 70 years, Loepfe has embodied precision, technological excellence, and uncompromising quality. Join us as we proudly celebrate seven decades of innovation at ITMA 2025 in Singapore. Founded in 1955 by two visionary brothers, Helmut and Erich Loepfe, the company has been a pioneer in yarn quality control – continuously pushing technological boundaries to meet and exceed industry expectations.

"Dynamic markets do not only create uncertainty – they also create opportunities."

Volatile markets, increasingly complex materials and growing demands for flexibility are changing the weaving industry. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging in technical textiles, filtration, composites and many other specialised applications. Since taking over as Head of DORNIER's Weaving Machines Product Line at the beginning of 2026, Yvonne Schuberth has been helping to shape this development. In this interview with TexData, she explains why process stability and customer proximity remain the foundation of innovation, how digitalisation is transforming weaving mills, and why she believes the future belongs to technologically demanding applications.

More patterns, less effort: the MULTI-MATIC® at Rohleder

Rohleder is one of Europe’s most modern weaving mills. For over 80 years, the family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing premium fabrics for brands, retailers and private customers – 100% Made in Germany. This success is made possible by a consistent focus on design, quality, and functionality, as well as by continuous investment in state-of-the-art production facilities. Rohleder also relies on innovative technologies in warp preparation and has been collaborating with KARL MAYER for many years. As recently as 2023, a MULTI-MATIC® was delivered to the company’s headquarters in Konradsreuth.

Therapeutic patterns and mythology as design inspiration: New Talent Area curated by Trendease at Heimtextil grows

Even more young design talent and creative ideas: at the upcoming Heimtextil, the New Talent Area returns for its second edition with stronger presence. From 12 to 15 January 2027, the curated area welcomes more than 30 participants, many of whom are presenting on the international stage for the first time. In Frankfurt, they showcase exciting textile designs, surprising materials and market-ready products.

HeiQ & Archroma and Lenzing & Armedangels win ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has named two industry partnerships as winners of the ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026. The awards go to collaborations between HeiQ and Archroma as well as Lenzing and Armedangels, highlighting joint approaches to innovation and sustainability across different parts of the textile value chain.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.