#Sustainability

2024-08-29

Lindauer DORNIER continues to rely on solar power

Lindauer DORNIER has put a new photovoltaic system into operation at its main plant in Lindau. Following the system at the Esseratsweiler plant, which was connected to the grid at the end of 2022, this is the machine and plant manufacturer's second photovoltaic system. In future, it will not only supply the company's own production, but also the public power grid with environmentally friendly solar energy. The family-owned company's aim is to cover its electricity needs entirely from renewables in the long term.

The aim of the family-owned company DORNIER is to cover its energy needs entirely from renewables in the long term and to reduce its CO2 footprint © Lindauer DORNIER

With a maximum output of up to 880 kWp (kilowatt peak), the new photovoltaic system can generate up to 880,000 kWh of solar power per year under optimal conditions. This amount could supply around 220 average four-person households with electricity for a year. Spread over six roofs and with a total area of around 4,000 m², the new system is the largest rooftop system in the district of Lindau, according to Energie-Atlas Bayern. ‘The project was a bit tricky because the feed-in points are spread across the entire factory premises, some of which are listed buildings – but the high planning effort paid off,’ says Franz-Peter Matheis, CFO at DORNIER. DORNIER uses the majority of the solar power generated for the production of its air-jet and rapier weaving machines. The surplus electricity is fed into the public power grid and thus also supplies private households in the region with environmentally friendly solar energy. ‘Our thanks go above all to Stadtwerke Lindau, who have supported us at all times, especially with the fast processing and certification of the system,’ says Matheis. If the company's own electricity supply is not sufficient, it obtains 100% green electricity from hydropower by cooperating with Stadtwerke Lindau as a regional electricity provider.

Aim: to cover energy needs entirely from renewables

The new photovoltaic system is part of large investments that DORNIER has recently made to strengthen sustainability and secure the future of its two production sites in Lindau and Esseratsweiler. In addition to the photovoltaic system on the roof of the film stretching system production hall in Esseratsweiler, which was commissioned in 2022, this also includes investments in the modernisation of the machinery, the expansion of digitisation, the self-supply of nitrogen (which eliminates CO2-intensive transport) and the construction of a new training centre for up to 75 trainees and dual students in Lindau.

DORNIER celebrates its anniversary at ITMA Asia + CITME

To mark its 75th anniversary, machine and plant manufacturer Lindauer DORNIER will be presenting the latest developments in its rapier and air-jet weaving machines at ITMA Asia + CITME in Singapore (Hall 2, Stand B401) from 28 to 31 October 2025. The focus will be on energy-efficient weaving technologies, new IoT solutions for networked textile production and systems for the series production of modern fibre composite components.

From the Venus flytrap to foldable aircraft wings: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2025 honours bionic research on 3D weaving technology

Long wings with foldable tips have the potential to reduce aircraft fuel consumption and make aviation more sustainable. An interdisciplinary research team has now developed a new solution based on the Venus flytrap: Freely movable wingtips made of fibre composites which are produced using innovative 3D weaving technology. For this pioneering combination of textile technology, aviation and bionics, researchers Patrick Meyer (TU Braunschweig) and Michael Vorhof (TU Dresden) were awarded the Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2025 in mid-July.

Pattern-controlled “pic-a-pic” setting of rapier release timing on right-hand side

DORNIER PIRO enables the operator to set the timing of the rapier release on the right-hand side of the machine “pic-a-pic” and pattern-controlled. For applications with weft yarns of different fineness or elasticity, the optimum timing can be set for each weft channel. This offers great potential for reducing weft waste on the right-hand side.

Global Standard gGmbH launches second public consultation for GRTS Draft 2 for the textile industry (1–30 April 2026)

Global Standard gGmbH is pleased to announce the release of Draft 2 of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS) for its second public consultation. The consultation will be open from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2026, inviting stakeholders across the textile and apparel value chain to provide input and contribute to the further development of this new Standard.

Textile Exchange publishes cotton Life Cycle Assessment study to strengthen impact data

Textile Exchange has published the first in a series of seven Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies designed to improve the quality and robustness of environmental impact data for raw material production across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. The first LCA study focuses on cotton and addresses critical data gaps and methodology variability through new high-quality data across key producing countries. The study includes organic, regenerative, recycled, and country averages for conventional cotton production systems, providing a clearer picture of the associated environmental impact.

Experts publish APAC policy priorities

Cascale today announced the publication of its APAC Policy Priorities Paper, developed by the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Policy Member Expert Team (MET) to identify key regional sustainability challenges and provide practical, aligned recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders across Asia-Pacific.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.