#Research & Development

2020-07-16

Halocline is a new partner

The Halocline GmbH & Co. KG and the Digital Capability Center Aachen (DCC) announce a cooperation between the worldwide leading management consultancy McKinsey & Company, the ITA Academy GmbH in cooperation with the RWTH Aachen University and other leading technology companies.

DCC welcomes Halocline as a new partner in the DCC network: Visitors of DCC Aachen can now experience and test the products of the Embodied Engineering Suite.

Embodied Engineering stands for the simplified planning of production processes that can be experienced with the body - with the help of Virtual Reality (VR). The Halocline software package has been on the market since January 2019 and offers new solutions for the manufacturing industry.

One of these VR software solutions is "Boxplan". It offers an environment for layout and workplace design for assembly planning. Boxplan enables the design, testing and optimisation of planning results in virtual reality. The planning of workstations and assembly processes up to the whole factory hall is continuously evaluated by direct experience. The comparison of different concepts, for example by means of the visualisation of movement data, ensures a high quality of results, avoids expensive planning errors and takes efficiency and ergonomics already in the conception into account.

Boxplan complements the technology portfolio and fits the DCC's motto "Explore - Try - Apply".

The DCC is a learning factory with a focus on Industry 4.0 manufacturing. Visitors are invited to explore this realistic factory environment to learn first-hand about solutions that companies can use to drive digital transformation, and how such solutions can be used along the entire value chain - from the initial customer inquiry to development, production, delivery and service. In hands-on workshops, participants will discover a systematic and targeted approach to unlock value from Industry 4.0.

The insights gained can be easily applied to a variety of practical applications in a wide range of industries. The DCC is designed to teach workshop participants how to use the latest digital technologies and how to increase productivity by applying them.

TCLF: Resilient value chains in times of crises

The textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industry was at the centre of the webinar “Resilient value chains in times of crises”, which took place on 28 April 2026. Global supply chains continue to face increasing pressure, raw material dependencies are growing and economic uncertainties are affecting the entire sector.

Elastic yarns to become more recyclable and environmentally friendly in future

On 29 April 2026, ITA student Tobias Dickmeiß was awarded a sponsorship prize by the Wilhelm Lorch-Stiftung for his innovative approach, to replacing conventional elastane with elastic yarns made from thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPC). Thanks to their thermoplastic nature and compatibility with typical polyesters used in the textile industry, elastic TPC yarns offer improved recyclability. Furthermore, the use of the melt-spinning process in yarn production eliminates the need for solvents that are harmful to the environment and human health.

Walter Reiners Foundation Prize awarded to three ITA graduates

Sabina Dann, Lukas Balon and Annegret Storm from the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University were awarded the Walter Reiners Foundation Prize by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) for their master’s and bachelor’s theses. Peter Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation, presented the awards during Techtextil at the VDMA stand in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Textile climate control system in workwear – exhibition at the 2026 SME Innovation Day!

Conventional protective workwear often reaches its limits during strenuous physical activity. In particular, the transport of sweat and excess body heat poses a problem. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) conducted research on flow-optimized, air-conducting textile structures that enable targeted climate control directly on the body. These structures can be integrated straight into protective work garments. The textile climate control system supports the body’s natural thermoregulation. This contributes to improved workplace safety and comfort.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Regional hemp bast for lightweight construction profiles

The cultivation of fibre hemp for the production of ropes and clothing has a long tradition in Saxony. Due to its excellent fibre properties, it is also suitable as a renewable raw material for reinforcement in fibre composites. At the STFI and IWU in Chemnitz, the CannaPul project is cur- rently investigating how a regional value chain for hemp-based lightweight construction profiles can be established. To this end, the technical processing of hemp fibres into continuous fibre strands and their embedding in a suitable bio-based matrix are being investigated.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles unveils Trends 2027 alongside new lifestyle zone and product expansion

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Autumn Edition 2026 will spotlight forward-looking design directions and evolving consumer demand, as the global home and lifestyle market continues to adapt to sustainability priorities, emotional well-being, and diversified living spaces. Taking place from 18 – 20 August 2026 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the fair will present its latest trend theme, ‘BREATHE UP!’, developed in collaboration with leading international trend forecaster NellyRodi™ Agency, alongside expanded product categories, and the debut of the Home Textiles Lifestyle Zone.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.