#Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

2019-07-11

Less waste and better quality with data analytics from Reifenhäuser

Every user is familiar with this: One wrong parameter in the production process and in the worst case scenario, the product is completely unusable. Waste costs time and money, but is a problem that can be avoided. With correctly applied knowledge of plastics, processes, digitalization, and scientific data analyses, productivity and product quality can be improved, and the waste of resources simultaneously minimized. Reifenhäuser Digital (RD) makes the demanding topic of data science/data analytics tangible for its customers.

Data analysis helps reduce waste

Automated lines constantly produce a myriad of data sets, which frequently remain unused. "Our customers accumulate and possess heaps of data but they lack the expertise to deal with it. This is something that we hear time and time again," commented Dr. Benedikt Brenken, Head of Business Development at the Reifenhäuser Digital business unit. This is exactly where the company comes in, with its expertise in digital production. The "Extrusioneers" from Troisdorf don't see digitalization as a trending topic, but as a logical next step in further development. The company works together with its customers to analyze the problems using data analysis methods (big data, machine learning, AI). The data constitutes unique company knowledge and is the basis for a wide variety of software solutions and services. As a result, it creates added value for customers. Nowadays, this is the area in which competitive advantages are generated.

Top performances through self-learning lines

"We fine tune those areas that are now known in the production process at an early enough stage to prevent production faults," explained Brenken. Reifenhäuser is constantly further developing this topic and already offers initial products based on machine learning methods. Brenken advises users to change their thinking: "The crucial question shouldn't be how I can make a profit using data analysis, but whether I can afford not to get started with data analysis here and now."

Want to know more about data analytics and digitalization? Our digitalization experts will be happy to provide you with plenty of information at K 2019 in Düsseldorf from October 16 to 23. Come and see us at our stand in hall 17, C22.

INDEX 2026: Reicofil introduces RF 5.10 upgrade boosting output by 10 percent

At INDEX 2026, Reifenhäuser Reicofil will present its latest developments for the nonwovens industry under the guiding themes “Grow Together”, “Expand Together” and “Transform Together”. On this occasion, the leading manufacturer of nonwoven machinery will be unveiling two brand-new technology advancements – RF 5.10 upgrade and RF Core – at the show.

Reifenhäuser wins German Design Award for new user interface

At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, the Reifenhäuser Group unveiled its new company-wide machine user interface, which offers a uniform design language for blown film, flat film, and nonwoven lines – and stands out for its particularly simple operation. The overall concept impressed not only customers, but also the jury of the German Design Awards, who honored the system with the prestigious design prize during the trade fair.

Reifenhäuser NEXT: Tackling the skills shortage and achieving operational excellence with industrial AI

At K 2025, the Reifenhäuser Group will demonstrate Industrial AI's full potential for productivity in plastics processing. At the heart of the dedicated “Reifenhäuser NEXT” brand is a powerful AI chatbot that enables even inexperienced line operators to quickly solve complex tasks in their daily work, thereby maximizing availability, productivity, and quality.

Driving digitalization, efficiency, and Smart Manufacturing across textiles and carpets

At this year’s ITM, BMSvision proudly showcases its next leap forward in digital manufacturing excellence. As a long-standing global pioneer in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for the textile and plastics industries, BMSvision continues to accelerate digital transformation by delivering powerful, data-driven solutions that boost productivity, enhance quality and support sustainable growth. Visit BMSvision at the Vandewiele booth in Hall 7, Booth 710, to experience the future of textiles manufacturing.

Textilfabrik 7.0 launched: Mönchengladbach becomes a real-world lab for sustainable textile production

With the official kick-off event of the Textilfabrik 7.0 (T7), a major transformation project for the German textile and apparel industry has been launched in the Monforts Quarter in Mönchengladbach. At the “Textile Roundtable,” an event format organized by the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier, representatives from industry, research, politics, and the regional economy came together to jointly lay the foundation for CO₂-neutral, circular, and economically viable textile production in Germany.

OnceMore® from Södra brings end-to-end traceability for circular Man-made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCF) using TextileGenesis

OnceMore® from Södra, the world’s first large-scale process for recycling blended fabrics into high‐quality dissolving pulp, will begin using TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to strengthen traceability from raw material to retail across the value chain. OnceMore® produces dissolving pulp made from blended textile waste and wood sourced from responsibly managed Swedish forests. By integrating TextileGenesis, OnceMore® supports the growing need for verified data and secure, transparent tracking throughout increasingly complex supply 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.