#Recycling / Circular Economy

2026-04-23

Efficient recycling of textile PET

VacuFil® Visco+ testing plant in BB Engineering‘s tech-nical centre © 2026 BBE

At the upcoming Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam on May 5–6, BB Engineering will present its portfolio of PET recycling technologies. The German machinery manufacturer will once again focus on textile recycling and melt filtration.

Versatile portfolio with a focus on textiles

BB Engineering’s product portfolio includes components and systems for the production of films and synthetic fibers, as well as for PET recycling. With extruders, various filters, and com-plete spinning and recycling plants, the company possesses ex-tensive expertise in plastics processing and can offer compre-hensive PET recycling solutions from a single source. Based on its experience in the synthetic fiber industry, BB Engineering places a special focus on textile recycling (PET). BB Engineer-ing will highlight its VacuFil® and COBRA® systems at PRSE.

VacuFil® Visco+ - PET LSP recycling at the highest standard

The VacuFil® PET recycling plant combines gentle large-area fil-tration with precise IV adjustment, thereby ensuring consistent-ly outstanding rPET melt quality.

From bottle-to-bottle to 100% fiber-to-fiber: Thanks to its modu-lar design, VacuFil® can be exactly tailored to individual re-quirements. A wide variety of PET feedstocks — such as flakes, textile waste, fiber waste, or start-up lumps — are processed re-liably, while the IV is specifically adjusted to the desired end product.

At the heart of the system is the patented Visco+ component. Using liquid-state polycondensation, it reliably removes volatile contaminants and delivers an exceptionally homogeneous melt with a viscosity of ±0.01 dl/g — up to 50% faster than compara-ble LSP systems. Depending on the throughput, a viscosity in-crease of up to 30% can be achieved.

Continuous process monitoring via an online viscometer en-sures a stable and reproducible output. VacuFil® has a capacity of 150 to 4,000 kg/h.

COBRA® sets new standards in melt filtration

With the development of its latest melt filter COBRA® BB Engi-neering has created a clear solution to the growing demands of the recycling industry. The goal: to reliably handle even high lev-els of contamination, simplify filter changes and cleaning, and at the same time significantly reduce operating costs.

The result is a high-performance system that combines contin-uous large-area filtration with automated, chemical-free inter-mediate cleaning. Two filter cartridges with automatic switch-ing ensure stable, safe, and uninterrupted operation — even at high contamination levels where conventional candle filters or screen changers reach their limits.

A key advantage lies in the integrated cleaning system: it signif-icantly extends the service life of the filter media while simul-taneously reducing operational effort, melt losses, and energy consumption — all without the use of chemicals. This not only enhances process reliability but also sustainably lowers operat-ing costs.

Thanks to its high flexibility, COBRA® is suitable for both coarse and fine filtration. In addition to its use in PET recycling, the system also offers great potential for increasing efficiency in other applications, such as plastic spinning, and can be easily retrofitted there.

New spinning package with two-step filtration for recycled yarns and more

At the ITM in Istanbul, BB Engineering unveiled its new, patented ValuePack spinning package for the first time, which features a two-stage filtration system. This is particularly beneficial for re-cycling processes. Until now, spinning packs have used either metal powder (“sand”) or filter candles as filter media. Both options are suitable for differ-ent applications, and each has its own specific advantages and dis-advantages.

BB Engineering unveils new, patented “ValuePack” spin pack at ITM

At the upcoming ITM in Istanbul, taking place June 9–13 at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Hall 7, Booth 702B, BB Engineering will once again be represented at a joint booth with its parent company, Barmag, and its representative, Tekstil Servis. The German machine manufacturer will show-case its expertise in man-made fiber and recycling technology, presenting its entire product portfolio, which includes compo-nents such as extruders and filters, as well as complete sys-tems for spinning synthetic fibers, air-texturing, and PET recy-cling.

Development of bio-based polyethylene fibers for textile applications – BB Engineering partici-pates in the bioPEtex research project

In the German research project bioPEtex, BB Engineering (BBE) is working with other partners to develop textiles made from 100% bio-based polyethylene (PE). The aim is to make use of this poly-mer, which has hardly been used in the chemical fiber industry to date. BBE is contributing its spinning and texturizing expertise and developing the texturing process on an industrial scale. The first promising results are already available – opening up new opportu-nities for sustainable and economically attractive applications in the textile industry.

Managed workwear services are providing a blueprint for the circular textile economy

Managed workwear service providers are demonstrating how commercial success and circularity can go hand in hand by extending garment lifespans through repair, laundering, reuse and recycling, according to “Managed workwear services—a circular textile economy ahead of the game”, a new 14‑page report from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence.

Eco-design as the foundation of circular textiles

Based on the results of an extensive European analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is currently developing three practice-based training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. This was preceded by a comprehensive company survey and a joint analysis conducted by the project partners under the leadership of IVGT. The results show that the greatest challenges lie not so much in a lack of technology as in skills gaps.

Usha Yarns secures growth equity investment from Fullerton Carbon Action Fund

Usha Yarns Limited (“Usha Yarns”), a producer of high-quality recycled yarns with advanced, well established production processes, announced a growth equity investment from the Fullerton Carbon Action Fund (“Fullerton”), a private equity strategy managed by Fullerton Fund Management that backs established mid-market companies across Emerging Asia to accelerate decarbonisation.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.