#Recycling / Circular Economy

2025-01-30

Innovation in textile recycling: new ANDRITZ tearing line supports research at Aitex center, Spain

International technology group ANDRITZ has supplied and commissioned a state-of-the-art reXline tearing installation at Aitex in Alicante, one of Europe’s largest textile research and development centers.

New ANDRITZ reXline tearing line in operation at Aitex © 2025 ANDRITZ

This customized line enhances Aitex’s capabilities for textile recycling trials and expands its portfolio of innovative recycling solutions.

Aitex is Spain’s leading center for research, innovation and advanced technical services for the textile industry and the only Spanish center accredited to issue OEKO-TEX® certifications. With the installation of the new ANDRITZ equipment, Aitex strengthens its support for customers from various industries including geotextile and agrotextile, automotive, and fashion.

The reXline tearing equipment can process a large variety of raw materials and has been customized to meet Aitex’s specific needs for R&D projects focused on recycling post-industrial and post-consumer waste.

“This collaboration with ANDRITZ allows us to expand our trial capabilities and enhance services we provide to our customers,” said Vincent Blanes, CEO of Aitex. “The new equipment efficiently supports the growing demand for textile recycling solutions and ensures our R&D remains at the forefront of innovation.”

Cut textile pieces before tearing process © 2025 ANDRITZ

A Penteadora starts up ANDRITZ textile recycling and needlepunch nonwoven lines in Portugal

A Penteadora SA has successfully started up a complete mechanical textile recycling line and a needlepunch nonwoven line supplied by ANDRITZ at its production site in Unhais da Serra, Portugal. This investment enables A Penteadora to expand its industrial capabilities and develop a new generation of solutions based on pre- and post-consumer recycled textiles. The input materials originate from its own production waste and other textile waste streams. Both lines are fully operational, and the first products are expected to reach the market in July.

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.

Kruger, Canada, orders first nonwovens line for sustainable wipes from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from newly established Kruger Nonwovens to deliver a complete WetlaceTM hybrid line for the Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. With this investment, pulp and paper producer Kruger is preparing to enter the nonwovens market with a new generation of plastic-free, chemical-free materials for sustainable wipes. The line is the first of its kind in Canada and is scheduled to start production in 2028.

Reju expands textile-to-textile recycling network with six international fabric manufacturers

Reju, a textile-to-textile regeneration company, is expanding its industrial network through collaborations with six fabric manufacturers in Europe and the Americas. The initiative aims to accelerate the integration of regenerated polyester into textile manufacturing and support the development of finished fabrics for commercial applications.

Trützschler expands technical service capabilities for spinning mills in Pakistan

Faster support, shorter downtime and advanced repair capabilities: customers across Pakistan can now benefit from the Trützschler Service Station at its new location in Lahore. By combining Trützschler service expertise with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, the new facility helps spinning mills resolve technical issues more quickly and maintain reliable production.

DITF develops bio-based binding fibers for wood-fiber insulation materials

As part of the CelluWoodFlex project, the German Institutes of Textile- and Fiber-Research in Denkendorf (DITF) are developing bio-based cellulose ester fibers as alternative binding fibers for flexible wood fiber insulation materials. In addition to the spinning process and the production of suitable staple fibers, the institute is also investigating how wood and cellulose fibers can be separated and recycled at the end of their useful life.

Magnera highlights HighPleat™ filtration media technology at FiltXPO 2026

At FiltXPO 2026, held on October 28–29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Magnera highlighted advances in air filtration media architecture, with a particular focus on its HighPleat™ platform for MERV 8–10 applications. The technology combines a lofted fiber structure with optimized pore architecture to address the challenge of balancing filtration efficiency, airflow resistance and contaminant-holding capacity.

Ahlstrom expands depth filtration media production capacity at US facility

Ahlstrom has completed a major investment in its Kingston manufacturing facility in New York, USA, expanding production capacity for high-performance depth filtration media. The modernization of Line 3 is designed to improve manufacturing efficiency, enhance quality control and increase flexibility in producing different product widths.

Autoneum to acquire Trèves Group, creating automotive supplier with over CHF 2.9 billion in revenue

Swiss automotive supplier Autoneum has announced an agreement to acquire the French Trèves Group, a specialist in automotive acoustic and thermal insulation, interior trim and trunk solutions. The transaction is expected to create a combined organisation with pro-forma revenue exceeding CHF 2.9 billion in 2026, strengthening Autoneum's position in the global automotive supply industry.