#Dyeing, Drying, Finishing

2021-11-25

The new and smart way of weft-straightening | PLEVA SL smart

A high quality fabric is an essential requirement for any finisher who intends to ensure a consistency in quality and resource-efficiency. A particularly important quality criterion in this respect is fabric with straight weft and course. In order to achieve this in an optimum manner, the automatic straightening machine StraightLiner SL smart by PLEVA offers an extremely high level of efficiency which makes it possible to correct distortions over the shortest length of fabric.

Overview of key features

The straightening machine SL smart is designed particularly for knitted and light woven fabrics with a plurality of new design solutions. SL smart is customizable to directly fit the individual customer needs and all at the most efficient cost. According to PLEVAs many years of expertise in the textile industry, the focus of the product is on individual processes and fabrics with their specific needs. To optimally address these needs of the respective applications, several options for customization like fully-integrated accessories for tension-sensitive fabrics, Industry 4.0 applications and more are possible.

The heart of the SL smart system is the well-established advanced traversing camera technology which is unique in weft-straightening. The universal high-resolution camera captures up to 20 measuring points per meter of fabric width. Advanced evaluation algorithms ensure an ultra-precise distortion analysis which enable perfect straightening results in a blink of time.

To get the most out of the ultra-precise distortion detection, PLEVA also offers an innovative solution for the positioning drives. This enables customers to get perfectly straight results out of the fabrics.

To further enhance the production process, a new customizable user-interface was designed. It displays all important information at one glance, so customers can work more efficiently and stress free.

Meet the highest standards of sustainability and efficiency

Nowadays, products have to meet economical as well as ecological standards. Thus, the new PLEVA weft-straightener SL smart not only helps customers to get the best quality out of their goods, but also improves the sustainability of production.

Due to the first-time-right-principle, the customer only has to go one round through the production line with the fabric and produces directly the aimed result. This saves energy and valuable resources. In addition, due to the higher quality of the goods, there are no more costly readjustments or wasted fabrics and complaints can be reduced drastically. This is not only good for textile producers and customers, but also for the environment.

Finally, a modular control system (PLEVATEC smart) can be directly integrated into the machine. This allows to measure, control, visualize, and protocol the critical parameters of the specific process, for instance:

- Exhaust humidity (FSX)

- Fabric temperature (TDS)

- Pick/course density (CAM)

- Residual moisture (RR)

Textile Chemicals & Dyes: Innovation in Textile Chemistry moves into focus at Techtextil 2026

From PFAS-free finishes and water-saving dyeing technologies to advanced coatings and recycling-compatible formulations, innovation in textile chemistry is accelerating across the industry. Reflecting this development, Techtextil 2026 introduces Textile Chemicals & Dyes as a dedicated product segment, highlighting the growing role of chemical solutions in shaping the next generation of technical textiles.

textile.4U publishes special edition “Top 100 Textile Recycling Companies 2025”

With a comprehensive 176-page special edition, textile.4U is dedicating its latest issue entirely to one of the most dynamic and influential topics in today’s textile industry: textile recycling. The new issue, published exclusively in high-quality print, presents the Top 100 textile recycling companies researched and selected by TexData – organizations that already play a key role in the transition to circular textiles or are expected to have a significant impact in the near future.

Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024 signed by Governor

Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) is proud to announce that Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, has been signed into law by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. This groundbreaking legislation establishes the country’s first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) textile recycling program, marking a significant step forward in the state’s efforts to combat waste and promote sustainability.

Modtissimo promotes sustainability with 28 coordinates in the Green Circle

Modtissimo is proving more and more to be a textile and clothing show that delivers the latest innovations in the area of sustainability, with the iTechStyle Green Circle being the main showcase for companies' creations. In this 60+4 edition, taking place on 12 and 13 September, 28 coordinates will be exhibited in a section organised by CITEVE and curated by Paulo Gomes.

BW Converting expands Southeast Asian presence with new agency partnerships in Vietnam and Indonesia

BW Converting is strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia through new agency partnerships in Vietnam and Indonesia, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting textile manufacturers across the region. The expansion comes as BW Converting prepares to exhibit at SaigonTex 2026 (April 8–11, Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam) and INDO INTERTEX 2026 (April 15–18, Jakarta International Expo, Indonesia).

Orthopac RVMC-20 plus: German Engineering for Smarter Weft Straightening

In times of rising cost pressure and growing quality demands, textile producers worldwide are searching for solutions that combine precision, efficiency, and sustainability. With its latest innovation, the Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, Mahlo once again demonstrates the strength of German engineering: improving proven technology to meet today’s challenges.

DIENES at Techtextil 2026: Flexible pilot lines for bio-based fiber development

The growing relevance of bio-based materials in technical textiles is accompanied by increasing demands for reproducibility, high-quality data, and scalable process routes. Especially when working with cellulose and its derivatives, chitosan, lignin-based approaches, or bio-based PAN as a carbon-fiber precursor, R&D teams face variable feedstock quality, tighter process windows, and the need for reliable comparability across trials. This calls for flexible, data-driven experimental setups that can be reconfigured efficiently when recipes, solvents, and raw-material batches change.

Gunold showcases embroidery product range and services at Texprocess

At Texprocess 2026, GUNOLD will present numerous hands-on examples related to embroidery in Hall 8, Booth E20. The focus is on creative embroidery designs as well as the extensive product range of threads, nonwovens, and accessories for embroidery and embellishment. “Trade visitors can once again look forward to many new and creative embroidery designs. Of course, we will also showcase the matching products required to bring these ideas to life,” announces Marketing Manager Stephan Gunold.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.