#Sustainability

2024-08-29

Lindauer DORNIER continues to rely on solar power

Lindauer DORNIER has put a new photovoltaic system into operation at its main plant in Lindau. Following the system at the Esseratsweiler plant, which was connected to the grid at the end of 2022, this is the machine and plant manufacturer's second photovoltaic system. In future, it will not only supply the company's own production, but also the public power grid with environmentally friendly solar energy. The family-owned company's aim is to cover its electricity needs entirely from renewables in the long term.

The aim of the family-owned company DORNIER is to cover its energy needs entirely from renewables in the long term and to reduce its CO2 footprint © Lindauer DORNIER

With a maximum output of up to 880 kWp (kilowatt peak), the new photovoltaic system can generate up to 880,000 kWh of solar power per year under optimal conditions. This amount could supply around 220 average four-person households with electricity for a year. Spread over six roofs and with a total area of around 4,000 m², the new system is the largest rooftop system in the district of Lindau, according to Energie-Atlas Bayern. ‘The project was a bit tricky because the feed-in points are spread across the entire factory premises, some of which are listed buildings – but the high planning effort paid off,’ says Franz-Peter Matheis, CFO at DORNIER. DORNIER uses the majority of the solar power generated for the production of its air-jet and rapier weaving machines. The surplus electricity is fed into the public power grid and thus also supplies private households in the region with environmentally friendly solar energy. ‘Our thanks go above all to Stadtwerke Lindau, who have supported us at all times, especially with the fast processing and certification of the system,’ says Matheis. If the company's own electricity supply is not sufficient, it obtains 100% green electricity from hydropower by cooperating with Stadtwerke Lindau as a regional electricity provider.

Aim: to cover energy needs entirely from renewables

The new photovoltaic system is part of large investments that DORNIER has recently made to strengthen sustainability and secure the future of its two production sites in Lindau and Esseratsweiler. In addition to the photovoltaic system on the roof of the film stretching system production hall in Esseratsweiler, which was commissioned in 2022, this also includes investments in the modernisation of the machinery, the expansion of digitisation, the self-supply of nitrogen (which eliminates CO2-intensive transport) and the construction of a new training centre for up to 75 trainees and dual students in Lindau.

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

From carbon to canvas: DORNIER presents flexible and reliable weaving technologies for 3D weaving and dynamic markets at Techtextil

At Techtextil from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt am Main (Hall 12.0, Stand D95), Lindauer DORNIER will be showcasing reliable and flexible weaving technologies for ever-changing market requirements. The machine and plant manufacturer will present retrofits for existing machines, the new TRITOS® FLEX 3D weaving technology, intuitive automation concepts and software solutions for data-sovereign networking of the weaving machine fleet.

40 years of the Peter Dornier Foundation: Four decades of non-profit commitment to people, culture and the environment in Lindau, Germany and worldwide

The “Haus Brög zum Engel” hospice, the historic farm “Haug am Brückele” and numerous other projects: for over 40 years, the Peter Dornier Foundation has been supporting social and cultural life in Lindau and beyond. The company-related foundation can look back on more than 500 projects it has supported in Germany and worldwide. It was founded in 1985 by Peter Dornier, founder and long-time Managing Director of the international machine and plant manufacturer Lindauer DORNIER, whose profits go into the foundation at a rate of ten percent annually via a holding company. In the future, the foundation intends to expand its commitment in an even more targeted way.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

Première Vision Paris expands innovation focus across fashion and beauty

From September 1–3, 2026, Première Vision Paris will bring together more than 900 exhibitors from across the global fashion value chain. This year's edition places a strong emphasis on Innovation-Tech, highlighting technologies and materials that are reshaping product development, manufacturing and sustainability.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).