#Yarn & Fiber

2021-04-15

Spinnova appoints seasoned corporate finance expert Harri Sundvik as Board Member

Spinnova has invited Harri Sundvik to join its Board of Directors. Sundvik’s appointment adds valuable international financial markets and corporate finance experience to Spinnova’s already strong Board.

MBA, LL.M Harri Sundvik has had a long international investment banking career, as Managing Director Investment Banking with JP Morgan in London from 1987 to 2006, followed by ten years with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London as Vice-Chairman of Global Investment Banking. During his career, Sundvik has worked with Nordic companies to introduce them to international capital markets, and advised emerging sustainable technology leaders to tap into international pools of growth capital. In the last couple of years, Sundvik has held various Chairman and board positions, particularly in the technology sector and emerging companies such as Spinnova.

“Spinnova is a very exciting entrant to the global scene of natural sustainable materials. The unique Spinnova technology combined with a highly skilled and ambitious team, joined by world-class strategic partners, serve as a springboard for what can be expected to be an exceptional and truly transformational success on a global scale. I am delighted to join the Spinnova team from the board perspective as the company is ready to take multiple key steps in is development,” says Harri Sundvik.

“Harri is a great addition to the team that supports Spinnova. This year, we are looking to speed up the company’s growth and scaling, which means we are actively exploring multiple, substantial financing alternatives. Here, Harri with his extensive corporate finance background and international network can add a lot of value,” says Spinnova’s CEO and co-founder Janne Poranen.

In February 2021, Spinnova announced its commercial production scaleup and 50/50 joint venture with Suzano, Spinnova’s long-term strategic partner and investor and the world’s largest wood pulp producer. The total investment, encompassing all needed infrastructure such as real estate, is some 50 million euros.?

Spinnova’s materials are being commercialized in close collaboration with leading industry brands such as the H&M Group, Bestseller, Marimekko, and Bergans, to support their sustainability and CO2 reduction targets. Commercial production of SPINNOVA® is estimated to commence by the end of 2022.

In addition to Sundvik, Spinnova’s Board members now include Chairman, Board professional and entrepreneur Timo Soininen, New Business Executive Officer of Suzano Vinicius Nonino, Founding Partner of Maki.vc Ilkka Kivimäki, Vice President, Global R&D of Lenzing AG Gert Kroner, private investor Hanna Liiri, and Spinnova’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Juha Salmela.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Grasim Industries announces fresh investment of ₹3094 Crore to expand Lyocell capacity

Grasim Industries Limited, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group and a global leader in cellulosic fibres, today announced an investment of ₹3,094 crore, for Phase II Lyocell capacity of 110K TPA at Harihar, Karnataka. This expansion will consist of 2 lines of 55K TPA (150 Tons per day) each. The first line is expected to be commissioned by 2028, and the second line is expected to be commissioned by 2030.

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

ITM 2026 makes happy participants with its international and qualified visitor profile

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious meeting points of the textile machinery sector, attracted attention in its first three days, particularly with its diverse international visitor numbers. Industry professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to closely examine the latest technology machines and solutions displayed in operation. Thousands of visitors from approximately 100 countries, primarily Egypt, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, met at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center for new investment and cooperation opportunities.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.