#Spinning

2025-05-27

Uster Technologies wins another infringement lawsuit

In a ‘victory for innovation in China’ Uster Technologies has secured a decisive judgment in a patent infringement lawsuit against a competitor. The final ruling by the Supreme People’s Court of PR China confirms that the competitor’s actions in copying the patented yarn feeder of the Uster Tester 6 constitute unlawful infringement.

Uster Tester 6 © 2025 Uster Technologies

Protecting innovation with patents

Uster Technologies has established itself as a pioneer in the field of textile quality control, by diligently investing in research and development since the 1940s. The company now holds over 250 active patents – a testament to its commitment to being the innovation leader. Each patent provides Uster with a temporary, exclusive right to exploit the relevant invention, ensuring that the considerable resources the company invests in research and development are protected and that competitors are barred from illegal imitation.

Victory for justice

A Chinese competitor of Uster launched its yarn evenness tester incorporating a feeder device copied from Uster Tester 6. Uster initiated legal action, leading to a ruling by the First Instance Court that the competitor is liable for patent infringement. After an appeal, the Supreme People’s Court of PR China reaffirmed that decision as final. As a result, the competitor must immediately cease its infringing activities and compensate Uster.

Confidence in the Chinese market

“We are glad to experience once again that China has a well-functioning and fair intellectual-property protection system that treats right holders of different origins equally,” says Dr. Paul Pliska, Intellectual-Property Manager at Uster. “This judgment reinforces our commitment to protecting our innovation power. Not only our company, but also our customers, deserve this.”

This is not Uster’s first intellectual-property victory in China. Last year, an earlier lawsuit against the same company, concerning the infringement of the Uster Tester 6 console design, ended in Uster’s favor. Notably, that design – honored with the 2016 Red Dot Award for Industrial Design – underscores Uster’s recognized innovation.

With the Chinese government's efforts to foster a favorable business environment, Uster emphasizes its dedication to elevating the quality and technological progress of China's textile industry. The company will persist in channeling resources into innovation at its Suzhou Technology Center, catering for both global and local customers.

Uster presents novelties at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025

There’s news from Uster Technologies to be announced for the industry’s upcoming event in Singapore. The Uster 360Q universe is growing with new products, solutions and services. Innovation developments can also be recorded in the fields of man-made fiber testing and fabric inspection. Uster innovations address the industry’s trending topics as mill management and process control, optimization of delivered fabric quality and yield.

Challenges of making yarn from recycled fibers

What does it take to spin quality yarn from recycled fibers? Uster Technologies brought textile industry leaders together to discuss the role of technology, data and automation – as well as the current challenges in using recycled raw material. Experts from Rieter, Säntis Textiles, Otto Yarns, and TVU commented on the current situation and looked into the future of spinning in a panel discussion organized at Uster headquarters.

Uster Technologies introduces its new fiber process control system

Uster, Switzerland, 15th May 2025 – Fiber quality measurement in spinning preparation is crucial for optimizing waste and meeting yarn quality specifications. The brand-new Uster AFIS 6 – the next-generation laboratory instrument from Uster Technologies – uniquely tests man-made fiber properties in addition to cotton. It provides critical data to optimize fiber process control for cotton, man-made fibers, and blended yarns.

Rieter adjusts group structure in preparation for Barmag integration

The planned acquisition of the “Barmag” Division of OC Oerlikon will create the leading system provider worldwide for natural and man-made fibers. Rieter is confident it will receive all regulatory approvals to complete the acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2025. The Rieter Group is therefore adjusting its Group structure as of January 1, 2026, to take this acquisition into account and to be able to provide an even more agile response to market challenges.

FET prepares for final exhibition of 2025

Fibre Extrusion Technology Ltd (FET) of Leeds, UK has completed its second major exhibition of 2025 at ITMA ASIA in Singapore, which is aimed at the textile and garment industry in South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Once again, this trade show proved to be a successful one for FET, with considerable interest from several countries surrounding China.

T-CAN – Revolutionizing can transport

In virtually all spinning mills, transporting sliver cans is still done manually. Rising labor costs, lack of operators and increasing quality requirements make this a growing challenge. With T-CAN, Trützschler introduces a practical solution: a fully automated can transport system that will be presented live at ITMA ASIA 2025 in Singapore.

Mayer & Cie. to shut down after failed search for investor – 270 jobs affected

Mayer & Cie., the long-established German manufacturer of circular knitting and braiding machines, will cease operations after its international search for an investor ended without success. The company, based in Albstadt-Tailfingen, had been undergoing insolvency proceedings in self-administration since its filing on 23 September 2025. As Schwarzwälder Bote reports, the insolvency court has now formally opened the proceedings, triggering the decision to wind down the business in an orderly process.

European research project addresses textile waste through integrated recycling technologies

A major European research initiative coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT has been launched to develop integrated solutions for textile waste recycling. The AUTOLOOP project aims to create a comprehensive system that could process 1.24 million tonnes of textile waste annually by 2050, whilst potentially creating over 130,000 green jobs across the EU. This project aims to develop, test and integrate automated sorting, tracing, and closed-loop recycling technologies for polyester-based textiles (NRT), addressing the pressing challenge of textile waste management.

CARBIOS and Wankai sign strategic PET biorecycling pact

CARBIOS (Euronext Growth Paris: ALCRB) and Wankai New Materials (“Wankai”), a listed subsidiary of Zhink Group, the 3rd largest PET producer in China and 4th worldwide, announce the signing of the definitive agreement establishing a strategic partnership for the industrial rollout of CARBIOS’s PET biorecycling technology in Asia. The first milestone will be the construction of a PET biorecycling plant in China.