#Spinning

2018-10-04

STC Spinnzwirn is a new company of the Starlinger Group

Already in May 2018, the Austrian Starlinger Group announced the successful acquisition of the Chemnitz-based business unit Barmag Spinnzwirn from Oerlikon. With the closing (final transfer of ownership) effected on October 1, Oerlikon Barmag Spinnzwirn now turns into the independent company STC Spinnzwirn GmbH (Starlinger Textile machinery Chemnitz).

“With STC Spinnzwirn, we welcome a new member to our group of companies that ideally complements our portfolio. This means that we can offer our worldwide customers even more individual solutions from a single source,” says Starlinger Managing Partner Angelika Huemer. “With this strategic step, we strengthen our position as world market leader in plastic fabrics and expand it with related product areas.”

Steffen Husfeldt, designated Managing Director of STC Spinnzwirn, adds: “The next years will show that this change of ownership holds tremendous opportunities for everyone involved. All of us – the management as well as the 160 employees of STC – look forward to getting started and realizing our full potential. The family-owned company Starlinger is the ideal partner in this venture.”

STC Spinnzwirn was founded in 1866 under the name “Workshop Carl and Anton Hamel” and thus looks back on more than 150 years of textile machinery engineering. In the center of activities of the Chemnitz-based long-standing company are turnkey extrusion plants for the production of tape and monofilament yarns such as artificial grass, baler twine, or carpet backing.

In the market for these sought-after special applications, STC Spinnzwirn was formerly a competitor of Starlinger; from now on, customers will benefit from the bundled expertise in research, development as well as worldwide sales and service. Another asset for the new owner is the winder technology of STC Spinnzwirn, as the group of companies already includes a winder technology specialist with Georg Sahm GmbH & Co. KG based in Eschwege/Germany. The combined know-how of the two companies encourages a focus on core competencies and key markets, allowing the Starlinger Group to offer an even broader, customer-oriented product range in the future.

The first joined trade show appearance of Starlinger, SAHM and STC Spinnzwirn will take place at the textile machinery exhibition ITMA 2019 (June 20-26) in Barcelona.

Steffen Husfeldt / STC Spinnzwirn (c) 2018 Starlinger

Barmag and Hitech Automation enter into partnership for an auto-doff system for texturing machines

Barmag (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. and Hitech Automation Solutions PVT LTD. of Surat, India, have agreed to an exclusive partnership to jointly market Hitech’s Doffmatic automation solution for Barmag’s proven manual eFK texturing machines. In many texturing facilities, manual doffing processes remain heavily operator-dependent – resulting in issues such as increased scrap, inconsistent quality, and limited productivity.

Uster’s new Recycling Opening Index guides spinners to the perfect blend

Uster AFIS 6 now offers the key data for better decisions when blending recycled fibers. Process control is decisive in determining the quality and economic outcome. The new R Recycling Module of AFIS 6 introduces the Recycling Opening Index (ROI), so spinners can optimize their circularity credentials. It was officially launched at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

ITM 2026 makes happy participants with its international and qualified visitor profile

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious meeting points of the textile machinery sector, attracted attention in its first three days, particularly with its diverse international visitor numbers. Industry professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to closely examine the latest technology machines and solutions displayed in operation. Thousands of visitors from approximately 100 countries, primarily Egypt, Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, met at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center for new investment and cooperation opportunities.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.