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#Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

The Digital Capability Center (DCC) welcomes Microsoft as a new partner at the DCC Network

Microsoft Deutschland GmbH and Digital Capablity Center Aachen announced a cooperation between the world’s leading management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, ITA Academy GmbH in cooperation with RWTH Aachen University as well as other leading technology companies. 
(c) 2020 ITA Aachen
(c) 2020 ITA Aachen


The DCC welcomes Microsoft as a new partner at the DCC Network: Visitors to the DCC Aachen can now experience and test the AI-based solution “Automated Quality Inspection”, which was developed with Microsoft's Azure Cognitive Services.

The DCC, with its motto Explore – Try – Apply, is a learning factory focused on Industrie 4.0 manufacturing. Visitors are invited to explore this realistic factory setting to learn firsthand about solutions that can enable companies to drive digital transformation and how to deploy such solutions along the entire value chain – from an initial customer inquiry through to development, production, delivery, and service. In hands-on workshops, participants will discover a systematic and targeted approach to unlock value from Industrie 4.0.


Sessions will also address management challenges around employee empowerment and acceptance of the changes brought about by organizational transformation. 

Participants can explore ways to tackle challenges they face in their own businesses and gain insight into key digital solutions and technologies such as real-time diagnostic tools and big data analytics, predictive maintenance, digital performance management, 3D printing, and robots.

DCC Aachen showcases the production of a smart wristband that can be individually customized by the workshop participants. The production line itself maps a typical brownfield scenario comprising a mix of older and modern machines, each with different controls and interfaces. The insights gained can be easily applied to a variety of practical applications in a wide range of industries. The DCC is designed to help workshop attendees learn how to use the latest digital technologies and increase productivity by applying them.


More News from Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University (ITA)

#Research & Development

Aachen Summer School: Strengthening German-Korean cooperation in 4D and robotics

The Aachen Summer School has established itself as an important platform for promoting cooperation between RWTH Aachen University and Seoul National University. The focus is on practice-oriented research projects in the field of 4D and robotics technologies, which have been successfully implemented for years at the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University.

#Research & Development

ITA postdoc Dr Leonie Beek is revolutionising oil filtration with a bionic textile

On various biological surfaces, oil is adsorbed from water surfaces and transported along the leaf. In her dissertation, ITA Postdoc Dr Leonie Beek transferred this effect to a technical textile using her Bionic Oil Absorber (BOA), which can remove up to 4 litres of diesel per hour from water at technological readiness level 4. For this development, Dr Beek was awarded the Paul Schlack Prize 2025 for her dissertation ‘Bionic textiles for oil-water separation modelled on superhydrophobic biological surfaces’ on 10 September 2025. The award ceremony took place during the opening event of the Dornbirn GFC Global Fiber Congress in Austria.

#Research & Development

Cooperation between Germany and India (Tamil Nadu) in the field of AI-supported manufacturing, robotics and smart textiles

The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University are planning to cooperate in the future in the field of AI-supported manufacturing, robotics and smart textiles. At the same time, the aim is to promote talent exchange and a sustainable Indian-German partnership.

#Research & Development

DigiCafé – Espresso meets Industry 4.0

Drink coffee and learn about Industry 4.0 in a fun way – that's what ITA PhD student Rosario Othen has made possible with his digital espresso machine. Rosario equipped the Quickmill espresso machine with a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, programmable pump, integrated scale and current measurement.

More News on Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

#Associations

Winners of the ITMF Start-up Award 2025

The winners of the ITMF Start-up Awards 2025 will present their business models at the upcoming ITMF & IAF Conference 2025 which will be held from 24 - 25 October in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and will be co-hosted by the Indonesia Textile Industry Association (API).

#Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

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.

#ITMA Asia + CITME Singapore 2025

Lenze at ITMA Asia 2025: Smart, Robust and Cost-Efficient Motor Drive System IE5/IE6 for the Textile Future

At the world's largest trade fair for textile and apparel technology, ITMA Asia (October 28-31, 2025 in Singapore), Lenze will be presenting innovative automation solutions for the textile value chain in Hall 7, Stand B201. The focus will be on energy-efficient drive packages, modular machine concepts and scalable software solutions - developed for mechanical engineers and end users who rely on sustainable technologies. Lenze has been a reliable partner to the textile industry for over 77 years.

#Industry 4.0 / Digitalization

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.

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#ITMA Asia + CITME Singapore 2025

T-CAN – Revolutionizing can transport

In virtually all spinning mills, transporting sliver cans is still done manually. Rising labor costs, lack of operators and increasing quality requirements make this a growing challenge. With T-CAN, Trützschler introduces a practical solution: a fully automated can transport system that will be presented live at ITMA ASIA 2025 in Singapore.

#Nonwovens

Francois Guetat joins Suominen as COO

Francois Guetat brings over two decades of global experience in operations, supply chain, and manufacturing excellence. Most recently, he served as SVP of Integrated Supply Chain at Kalmar, where he led business across sourcing, manufacturing, logistics and strategy. His leadership has been shaped by 22 years at Volvo, where he held key roles in Sweden, USA, and Poland.

#Sustainability

DuPont™ Nomex® plant in Asturias receives ISCC PLUS certification

DuPont announced today that its Nomex® production facility in Tamón, Asturias, has received International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) certification. This achievement underscores DuPont's commitment to advancing its sustainability goals and building capabilities to provide reliable Nomex® solutions from sustainable raw materials worldwide.

#Techtextil 2026

From concept to stage: Submit presentations for the Techtextil Forum and Texprocess Forum 2026 now

Anyone who wants to contribute to shaping the future of the textile industry can submit a presentation for the Techtextil and Texprocess Forum by 15 December 2025. Both stages represent innovation and practical solutions and promote exchange between research and industry. An international Programme Committee selects the contributions and curates a programme on key future topics in the textile sector. From 21 to 24 April 2026, the two leading trade fairs will once again be the centre of global business dialogue in Frankfurt.

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