#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

2017-08-31

Norafin receives the Innovation Prize of the Free State of Saxony 2017

On 28 August 2017, the award ceremony of the Innovation Prize of the Free State of Saxony 2017 took place at the Hellerau Festival Hall. Norafin received the award for the third place. A total of 23 Saxon companies representing a wide range innovations have applied for the Saxony Innovation Prize, from which ten companies were nominated.

Norafin, one of the nominated companies, has succeeded in transforming flax fibers into a tear-resistant flax veneer with positive eco-balance, which is characterized by high UV resistance as well as heat-insulating and sound-absorbing properties. Thanks to the natural main components flax and a small portion of natural viscose the wallpaper promotes a good, natural room climate and is compostable. "We are very proud to bring the price for our innovation into the Erzgebirge", say André Lang, Managing Director of Norafin Industries (Germany) GmbH and Johannes Loos, Business Development Manager. "This is a really nice award for a long-term development of a good team with members from production, technology, R & D and customer service."

Norafin has succeeded in entering into the end customer segment thanks to the low-rise wallpaper, thus opening up a new business segment. Personnel resources and high investments were spent to start an online shop as a sales platform. Subsequently, the intensive promotion through presentations at trade fairs or in print media, among other things, took place. The big breakthrough Norafin achieved through the contribution in the program "Einfach Genial" by the German TV station MDR.

As a result of the nation-wide broadcast of the show, it was not only possible to significantly increase sales in the end customer area, but also to generate demand from interior designers and painting shops. Due to the good cooperation in networks, the product range is currently additionally expanded with Plauener Spitze (Otto Dotzauer KG) embroidered and printed wallpapers - also with stain protection equipment.

“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.

ANDRITZ sets focus on textile recycling and durable nonwoven production technologies at ITMA Asia 2025

International technology Group ANDRITZ will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore, from October 28 to 31, 2025 (Hall 2, D106). ANDRITZ will showcase its MMCF production plants, textile sorting and recycling, bast fiber processing, needlepunch, airlay, and life-cycle service technologies, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Discover how these innovations can grow your business opportunities and support a greener future.

OUTLOOK™ 2025: Charting a sustainable and innovative future for the Nonwovens Industry

EDANA concluded its flagship event, OUTLOOK™ 2025, last week, marking it as a major success and addressing the biggest questions facing the industry. The three-day conference highlighted the urgent need for a unified approach to sustainability, regulation, and innovation in the absorbent hygiene and wipes sectors.

Global Nonwovens Alliance unveils Inaugural Board, advancing collaboration and growth worldwide

The Global Nonwovens Alliance (GNA), a tax-exempt federation jointly founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the Voice of Nonwovens, announces the appointment of its founding Board of Directors. This group of leaders represents some of the most influential executives across the nonwovens value chain and reflects GNA’s mission to foster global collaboration, innovation, and growth in the industry.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

#Nonwovens / Technical Textiles

Norafin receives the Innovation Prize of the Free State of Saxony 2017

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