#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.

Pellet press enables thermomechanical textile recycling on a pilot scale at ITA

Since the end of 2025, the technical centre of the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University has been equipped with a pellet press from the manufacturer Amandus Kahl GmbH & Co. KG, Reinbek, Germany. This press can efficiently compact shredded synthetic textiles at a throughput of up to 25 kg/h and process them into pellets with a diameter of 4 mm.

Solid Air Dynamics wins second place at RWTH Innovation Award

On 30 January, RWTH spin-off Solid Air Dynamics was awarded second place in the RWTH Innovation Awards for its research in the field of aerogel fibres. Manufactured from renewable raw materials, aerogel fibres offer outstanding thermal insulation, are extremely lightweight and completely biodegradable, and can consist of over 90 per cent air.

Award-winning research for sustainable carbon fibre cycles

Sustainable recycling of carbon fibres is possible through targeted electrochemical surface modification, which makes the sizing of carbon fibres resistant to solvolysis. ITA PhD student Sabina Dann was awarded the MSW Award from RWTH Aachen University for her master's thesis on this development. The award ceremony took place on 12 November 2025 in Aachen.

Pioneer of the first hour: Michael Carus steps down after more than 30 years from nova-Institute’s Management

After more than three decades at the helm, founder and CEO Michael Carus is set to step down as head of the Renewable Carbon division on 1 March 2026. Lars Börger as the new CEO, will take over this key position of the nova-Institute together with COO Linda Engel, while Carus will remain with the research and consulting company as a senior advisor and shareholder. This change takes place after a one-year transition phase, as planned.

The nova-Institute establishes new Renewable Feedstock Department to lay the groundwork for industrial defossilisation

The transition from fossil-based to renewable carbon – sourced from biomass, CO₂ utilisation and recycling – is the cornerstone of a climate-neutral chemical industry. The nova-Institute’s new department is dedicated to providing the essential data, analyses and strategic roadmaps required to secure a reliable future feedstock supply and make this transition a commercial and ecological reality.

Knowledge that drives progress: Techtextil and Texprocess forums strengthen the global textile industry with a future-oriented programme

From AI-supported production optimisation and digital manufacturing solutions to circular technologies and bio-based high-performance materials: the Techtextil and Texprocess forums provide answers to the key challenges of the global textile industry with a curated content programme. As hubs for innovation and knowledge, they enhance competitiveness and offer orientation in changing markets. From 21 to 24 April 2026, Frankfurt is once again the global meeting point for thought leaders from industry, research and business.

Enhanced protection without added weight: Innovative technology for flame-retardant textiles doubles reaction time and ensures high wearing comfort

Flame-retardant textiles have long faced the same dilemma: the higher the level of protection, the greater the compromise in comfort, weight and breathability. This is especially important for workwear and protective clothing worn for long hours, where comfort is crucial to wearer acceptance and satisfaction. At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, Swiss company Textilcolor AG will unveil pyroshell™, an innovative flame-retardant technology designed to tackle this challenge. Protection is provided by a graphite-based functional layer integrated into the textile structure, which doubles the reaction time before burns occur while significantly enhancing comfort. The material does not release any toxic fumes and offers textile manufacturers entirely new opportunities to design and produce protective and functional garments. It is also durable enough to withstand up to 50 industrial washes.

JEC WORLD 2026 opens: Paris becomes the World Capital of composites

JEC World 2026 opens tomorrow, March 10, at Paris Nord Villepinte, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem for three days of exhibitions, conferences, technical sessions, strategic industry gatherings, and business meetings. As the “festival of composites”, JEC World is also a destination for a broad spectrum of other professional visitors, eager to discover how these advanced materials can offer sustainable solutions to their industries.