#Research & Development

2024-07-17

NIRI strengthens fibre, filament and fabric extrusion capabilities with the appointment of Dr. Javier Vera Sorroche

Dr. Javier Vera Sorroche will lead NIRI’s extrusion research and development capability. His extensive background in polymer extrusion, sustainable textile innovation, and business development will be pivotal in helping NIRI to deliver their customers’ next-generation products.

Prior to joining NIRI, Javier managed the Polymer Business Unit at CETI, overseeing advanced extrusion lines. Leading a team of engineers and technicians to deliver innovative advancements for the fibre and nonwovens industries, his work focused primarily on reducing environmental impacts through circular business models – topics that are becoming increasingly important for NIRI’s clients. His responsibilities included implementing chemical recycling processes for cellulose, casein, and keratin fibres and developing eco-friendly methods for products containing fibres and nonwovens. Previously, Javier was an assistant professor at UMass Lowell, managing R&D projects with the U.S. Department of Defence, AFFOA, and ANTEA GROUP. He holds a PhD in Thermoplastics Extrusion from the University of Bradford and a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Murcia, with expertise in single screw extrusion of polymers, extrusion scale-up, and rheometry.

Focus at NIRI: Javier will enhance NIRI’s extrusion capabilities by integrating advanced know-how and techniques into the company’s research and development projects, driving significant progress in NIRI’s capabilities to provide enhanced support to clients. He will lead projects to refine processes and develop products for both high-value and commodity-based industries. Javier’s work will focus on sustainable textile processes, including developing new methodologies for circular business models within the textile industry. His extensive network of industry contacts and deep understanding of textile recycling and sustainable practices will be crucial to these projects. Javier comments,

"I am thrilled to join NIRI, the industry's leading innovation partner. Their unmatched expertise and capability to develop next-generation products set them apart. NIRI's approach to innovation and sustainability aligns perfectly with my values. I look forward to working with their talented team to tackle industry challenges and drive sustainable solutions.”

At the forefront of extrusion innovation: Javier’s expertise aligns with NIRI’s focus on improving extrusion capabilities to meet future customer requirements, including process development of new biopolymers and biodegradable polymers; development of fabrics (spunbound and meltblown), filaments (mono and bico), and stable fibres (mono and bico); development of new masterbatches; lightweighting and replacing multi-layers with innovative single layers, and thermo-mechanical and chemical recycling of polymers.

Dr Matthew Tipper, CEO at NIRI, said, "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Javier Vera Sorroche to NIRI. His expertise in polymer extrusion and sustainable textiles will be invaluable as we continue to expand our capabilities. Javier's addition to our team reflects our dedication to attracting top talent and staying at the forefront of industry innovation."

To find out more about NIRI’s services and capabilities, please visit NIRI’s website.

https://www.nirigroup.com/

NIRI to exhibit at IDEA25

NIRI is excited to announce that they will be exhibiting at IDEA2025, the premier event for nonwovens materials and their applications, taking place at Miami Beach Convention Center from April 28 to May01, 2025. The event also hosts FiltXPO, the North America exhibition dedicated exclusively to filtration and separation.

Replacing PFAS – NIRI’s latest white paper explores the challenges and opportunities for sustainable nonwoven product development

The nonwovens sector embraces innovation and environmental and social responsibility perhaps more than any other industry. As the EU and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bring in further regulations to restrict the use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), we face significant challenges – and the ubiquity of PFAS means these changes will affect industries across the board, from construction to filtration, from medical to food and beverage.

Fraunhofer IAP paves the way for "Green" carbon fibers

A new pilot plant in Guben is set to enable the production of bio-based carbon fibers. The plant is part of the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz and will make an important contribution to the transformation of the Lausitz region—from a traditionally raw material- and basic industry-oriented region to a hub for innovative high-performance materials. The German federal government and the state of Brandenburg are providing the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP with 53.3 million euros for this purpose.

Hof University develops sustainable textile coating for the fashion of tomorrow from mushrooms

Clothing is often treated as disposable: T-shirts for events, general merchandise, or short-term campaigns frequently end up in the trash after only a few uses. This is particularly problematic given that their production still largely relies on fossil-based materials. This is precisely where a new research project at Hof University of Applied Sciences comes in.

Textilfabrik 7.0 launched: Mönchengladbach becomes a real-world lab for sustainable textile production

With the official kick-off event of the Textilfabrik 7.0 (T7), a major transformation project for the German textile and apparel industry has been launched in the Monforts Quarter in Mönchengladbach. At the “Textile Roundtable,” an event format organized by the Zukunftsagentur Rheinisches Revier, representatives from industry, research, politics, and the regional economy came together to jointly lay the foundation for CO₂-neutral, circular, and economically viable textile production in Germany.

VANDEWIELE Group at Techtextil 2026 – Textile innovations together

The VANDEWIELEGroup will showcase its latest technologies for technical textiles at Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt from April 21–24 (Hall 12.0, Stand C21). As a global leader in textile machinery, the group brings together specialised brands to support the evolving demands of high-performance textile applications. Visitors will discover solutions in laboratory testing, yarn joining, yarn feeding and thread tension monitoring, designed to create measurable value across the textile value chain.

LineONE – Smart performance, smart investment at Techtextil 2026

At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt (April 21–24, Hall 12, Booth C79), AUTEFA Solutions will present its LineONE concepts for cost-efficient nonwoven production. As a full-line supplier for nonwoven production lines, AUTEFA Solutions covers the entire process chain – from fibre opening through to web bonding. With its LineONE line concepts, the company combines proven technologies into well-balanced, cost-efficient turnkey solutions. These concepts are designed for capacity expansions, modernisation projects and new production lines, offering robust design and high flexibility for applications such as filtration, geotextiles and automotive.