#Associations

2015-06-04

Swissmem: Swiss Textile Machinery Group elects Ernesto Maurer as new President

The board of the Swiss textile machinery group (from left): Robert Reimann, Ernesto Maurer, Norbert Klapper, Urban Germann, Ralph von Arx (c) 2015 Swissmem

The Swiss textile machinery group within Swissmem elected a new president during their meeting held end of May. After the resignation of Peter Gnägi, who has been member of the board since 2002 and president since 2013, the members of the group elected Ernesto Maurer as his successor.

The connoisseur of the international textile machinery industry has held various management positions in leading companies over the last years. Today, he is CEO of SSM Schaerer Schweiter Mettler AG in Horgen. The new board consists of Ernesto Maurer, vice president Urban Germann (Stäubli Sargans AG) and the new board members Norbert Klapper (Rieter AG), Robert Reimann (Jakob Müller AG) and Ralph von Arx (Retech AG). This year, the Swiss textile machinery group will celebrate its 75th anniversary.

Since 1940 the group supports its member companies–over the years many of them gained international market leadership. The planned activities for this year include participation in ITMA show in Milan. In addition workshops on “Innovation” and “Additive Manufacturing” will be organized.

Turkmenistan: Italian textile machinery focuses on high technology and specialization

The Italian textile machinery industry flies to Ashgabat to participate with a large “Made in Italy” delegation at TURKMEN TEXTILE EXPO 2026, the major international showcase taking place from June 4 to 6, 2026. The Italian presence, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), aims to consolidate Italy’s primary technological role in a highly strategic market with interesting prospects.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

SHIMA SEIKI to show complete knitting and cutting workflow at ITM 2026

Leading computerized flat knitting technology provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Turkish representative TETAS IC VE DIS TICARET A.S., will participate in the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye this month with a full product lineup. In addition to flat knitting machines and design software, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the full range of SHIMA SEIKI textile machinery with its automatic cutting machine exhibit, all geared toward the fashion apparel market as well as non-apparel related businesses.

European Flax-Linen & Hemp step into advanced manufacturing: Enabling filament winding, 3D printing and high-performance composite processes

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp announces a new wave of technological advancements demonstrating how flax-linen and hemp fibres are now being successfully integrated into advanced composite manufacturing processes. These developments mark a transition beyond traditional hand lay-up techniques, positioning natural fibres as credible, scalable solutions for high-performance industrial applications.