#Associations

2020-12-10

WHO references AATCC in face covering guidance

The World Health Organization (WHO) now advises manufacturers wishing to produce product with consistent performance to follow guidance from AATCC or other standards organizations. On December 1, 2020, WHO issued interim guidance for “Mask use in the context of COVID-19.” The Annex provides information on fabric face coverings, including reference to AATCC M14, Guidance and Considerations for General Purpose Textile Face Coverings: Adult.

AATCC staff participated in a series of weekly meetings of the WHO group that compiled the latest guidance. The language and thresholds for several essential face covering parameters are consistent with the recommendations in AATCC M14. While various national and regional bodies have issued similar guidance, AATCC M14 was the first global standard to address general use face coverings. The AATCC recommendations for filtration and breathability are similar to those cited in other standards. Further alignment of standards was discussed and encouraged by the WHO advisory group. In addition to testing parameters, AATCC M14 includes practical consideration for fabric and design selection. This is particularly valuable for manufacturers pivoting from unrelated products with minimal background in textiles or public wellness.

WHO also references AATCC TM100, Test Method for Antibacterial Finishes on Textile Materials: Assessment of, for antibacterial testing, though the organization advises caution in making antimicrobial claims for non-medical face coverings.

AATCC M14 is under the jurisdiction of committee RA113, Emerging Technologies Test Methods. The committee met in November and plans to develop a new standard to address the specific needs of face coverings for children. Participation in AATCC research committees is open to all.

WHO Guidance: https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1319378/retrieve

AATCC M14: https://members.aatcc.org/store/m014/3085/

AATCC COVID Resources and Information: www.aatcc.org/covid/

“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.

Meadow Grove Research joins ITMF as Corporate Member

Meadow Grove Research is a commodity research firm specializing in supply, demand, and trade analysis in cotton and other soft commodities. Providing clarity to the complex nature of the global fiber supply chain is one of its most formidable services. The firm thrives on customer engagement and providing the best framework for critical decisions.

Sustainability: European industry calls on EU to keep Single-Use Plastics Directive unchanged

A broad coalition of European industry associations, including EDANA, Euratex and Plastics Europe, has urged EU institutions to maintain the current legal framework of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). In a joint statement, the organisations argue that reopening the Directive at this stage would create legal uncertainty, increase regulatory complexity and undermine investment, while its implementation across the European Union is still incomplete.

Textile machinery: Italian technology charts the course for revival

Operating in a scenario characterized by geopolitical instability, slowing industrial investments, and new protectionist pressures. This is the main challenge for the Italian textile machinery industry that emerged during the General Assembly of ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), held today in Milan at the Shareholders’ Hall of Palazzo Edison.

New skills for a circular textile economy

Based on the results of a comprehensive analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is developing three practical training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. The content of the first module, Recycling Technologies, has now been developed and validated together with industry representatives. The module provides participants with knowledge of regulatory requirements, material sorting and the preparation of textile waste for recycling.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.