#Raw Materials

2022-05-19

COTTON USA SOLUTIONS technical seminar in Bangkok targets spinning mill decision-makers

Cotton Council International’s (CCI) first “U.S. Cotton & The Golden Triangle of Spinning Profitability” seminar in Bangkok, Thailand, had 51 attendees from 17 mills. Twenty-eight executives, primarily mill owners, joined the seminar in person while 23 joined online. The presentations targeted owners, mill managers, supply chain and sales representatives that make up the “Golden Triangle” of decision-makers.

According to the results of a post-event survey, 82% of participants are very likely to purchase U.S. cotton as a result of attending. Future purchases are estimated at 75,946 bales of U.S. cotton.

Five companies indicated they would be interested in scheduling a COTTON USA SOLUTIONS™ 1:1 Mill Visit after the event, and four said they would be interested in scheduling a Mill Mastery™ Course.

Ms. Kelly Stange, Regional Agricultural Counselor, U.S. Embassy Thailand, delivered welcome remarks and nine presentations followed:

• “CCI Update by William Bettendorf, CCI Director • “Update on the Thai Textile and Garment Industries” by Yutthana Silpsanvich, Chairman, Thai Garment Manufacturers Association (TGMA) • “Global Cotton Supply & Demand” by Steve Dyer, ACSA/LDC • “U.S. Cotton Supply & Demand” by Darren Long, ACSA/ECOM • “The Golden Triangle of Spinning Profitability” by Joerg Bauersachs, CCI Technical Team Leader • “Global Transportation Situation” by Richard Cash, Country General Manager Thailand, Hapag Lloyd • “Review of U.S. Transportation Situation” by Hope Brooks, AMCOT/Staplcotn • “The Importance of Cotton Bale Management” by Dr. Muhammad Tausif, CCI Technical Team Consultant • “The Environmental Footprint of U.S. Cotton in the Manufacture of Knitted Garments” by Roger Gilmartin, CCI Technical Team Special Advisor

The group found the topics presented by the U.S. exporters very useful, and these presentations rated particularly high with those who identified themselves as the CEO/president/owners of their companies.

“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.

Dr N Vigneshwaran is named 2026 ICAC Researcher of the Year

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr N Vigneshwaran, Principal Scientist and Head of the Chemical and Biochemical Processing Division at the ICAR–Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (ICAR-CIRCOT), Mumbai, India, as the ICAC Researcher of the Year 2026.

New U.S. cotton study uses real-world grower data to reveal where fiber impacts occur

Cotton Incorporated has released a critically reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) of U.S. cotton fiber production that examines how cotton’s environmental impacts are measured and where meaningful improvements can be made across the value chain. The new data, grounded in real‑world grower inputs, measures what drives U.S. cotton’s environmental footprint from field to gin.

ATCO Hygienics, Uzbekistan, orders baby diaper production line from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from ATCO Hygienics to supply a new baby diaper production line for its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The order is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the first quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the production line is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.