#Techtextil 2017

2017-05-04

ITA presents four innovations at Techtextil

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University shows at the Elmatex booth (hall 3.0, D05) the exhibits „PolyTube“, „ScaffBag“, “Tailored Non-crimp Fabrics (T-NCF)” and a “hybrid reinforced Organo-sheet”.

These exhibits demonstrate how textile non-crimp fabrics could be designed tailor-made, how staple fibre nonwovens made of Carbon with 3D fabric could for the first time be used as a reinforcement structure, how to use the electronic conductivity of carbon fibres and recycled carbon fibres und how to apply an airbag for personal protective equipment in the building industry.

1. PolyTube

Carbon Fibres are used as reinforcement in the automotive and aerospace sector. EoL components and production waste fibres can be recycled to rCF (recycled carbon fibres). rCF may then be used to produce new components. An appropriate process is the fabrication of semi-finished nonwovens for further processing.

The exhibit is a GFP-tube with layers of rCF-nonwoven. The aim is the electrical functionalization of GFP-tubes using the electrical conductivity of rCF-fibres. It is thus possible to discharge static charges, to realise a cost-efficient heating of the tube and to detect defects within the pipe’s wall. For further information please contact christian.moebitz@ita.rwth-aachen.de.

Picture 1: PolyTube, Glass fibre reinforced plastic tube with rCF on the interior side, source: ITA

2. ScaffBag – sensor based airbag for protection from damage induced by falling

The personal protective equipment consists of an airbag system combined with a sensor-based inflation. The airbag is an OPW (one-piece-woven) structure with complex geometry. An important feature is the seamless textile structure, but with higher tensile strength and higher security standard than conventional products.

In addition, a purchase incentive can be created by "safety made in Germany". Optionally new standards for safety at work (in cooperation with professional association BG Bau) can be achieved. For further information please contact gesine.koeppe@ita.rwth-aachen.de.

Picture 2: Prototype of sensor-based airbag, source ABS Peter Aschauer GmbH

3. Tailored non-crimp fabrics

The production of tailored non-crimp fabrics (T-NCF) has a huge potential as a key technology for the fibre composite industry due to its high flexibility and low process costs.

The state-of-the-art production of structural fibre composite components in the automotive and aerospace industry is the production of non-crimp fabrics as rolled goods. They are tailored in accordance with the component geometry, the required component properties and mechanical and assembled via preforming.

Manual labour and a large amount of cutting waste account for 50 % of the process and component costs.

The T-NCF process integrates the presently cost-intensive preforming process within the non-crimp fabrics production and thereby leads to high cost savings. The high cost savings make the T-NCF technology interesting for large serial production e.g. in the automotive or aerospace industry.

On completion of the validation phase, the technology can be used in industrial scale within 3 or 4 years. For further information please contact Wilko.Happach@ita.rwth-aachen.de.

Picture 3: Tailored Non-crimp Fabrics, source: ITA

4. Hybrid-nonwoven reinforced organo sheet

The demonstrator shows a PA6-sheet that is reinforced with carbon staple fibres. Novelty of this material is the application of a combined nonwoven structure, which allows the individual design of nonwoven reinforcement structures. The demonstrator shows different possible reinforcement-structures by different surface materials. This product is the first of its kind worldwide. Staple fibre nonwovens can be combined to design a 3D-reinforcement-structure for composites.

Therefore, this development leads to the development of a novel material class. This material will be applied as functional surface material in lightweight construction. Besides good optic and haptic, the application of heat generation and EM-shielding for transportation and design applications is expected. For further information please contact frederick.cloppenburg@ita.rwth-aachen.de.

Picture 4: Polished section of a hybrid reinforced Organo-sheet, source: ITA

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.

Carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre proves its worth – NRW Minister for Science Mona Neubaur congratulates ITA start-up TERNAfil

MAXCarbon technology, a novel carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre developed by ITA spin-off TERNAfil, secured third place at the HIGH-TECH.NRW Demo Day on the TÜV NORD campus in Essen. The technology combines the strength of carbon fibres with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Science in North Rhine-Westphalia, congratulated the team on their success and on winning prize money of 4,000 euros.

TCLF: Resilient value chains in times of crises

The textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industry was at the centre of the webinar “Resilient value chains in times of crises”, which took place on 28 April 2026. Global supply chains continue to face increasing pressure, raw material dependencies are growing and economic uncertainties are affecting the entire sector.

A Penteadora starts up ANDRITZ textile recycling and needlepunch nonwoven lines in Portugal

A Penteadora SA has successfully started up a complete mechanical textile recycling line and a needlepunch nonwoven line supplied by ANDRITZ at its production site in Unhais da Serra, Portugal. This investment enables A Penteadora to expand its industrial capabilities and develop a new generation of solutions based on pre- and post-consumer recycled textiles. The input materials originate from its own production waste and other textile waste streams. Both lines are fully operational, and the first products are expected to reach the market in July.

ReHubs elects new Board of Directors to lead the next phase of ReHubs’ strategy to recycle 2.7 million tonnes of textile waste annually by 2035

ReHubs has elected its new Board of Directors, marking an important milestone as the industry alliance continues to accelerate the industrial scale-up of textile-to-textile recycling across Europe. The election took place during the ReHubs Annual Event in Brussels on June 23rd, held alongside the Textile Recycling Expo and Future Fabrics Expo. The newly elected Board combines expertise from across the textile value chain, reflecting ReHubs' collaborative approach to solving the industry’s textile waste crises.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.