#Textile chemistry

2023-02-02

Borealis appoints Stefan Toader as Vice President Reliability, Turnarounds and Projects

Borealis announces the appointment of Stefan Toader as Vice President Reliability, Turnarounds and Projects effective 1 December 2022. In this position he is in charge of Borealis’ management and operations of plant maintenance, turnarounds - scheduled events for a plant revamp and/or renewal - and related projects.

Before joining Borealis, Stefan Toader worked in several managerial positions at OMV Petrom, where he started in 1998. He brings with him vast experience in the areas of maintenance, asset management, operations and projects in Romania and Kazakhstan. In 2019 he joined OMV in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, as Head of Asset Management Middle East and Asia. From January 2021 he held the position of Vice President Asset Management Ruwais Refinery, based in the UAE.

Stefan Toader appointed Borealis Vice President Reliability, Turnarounds & Projects © Borealis

Stefan Toader holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer and Automation Science from the University Politechnica in Bucharest, Romania, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Université Paris-XII in France and University of Economic Studies from Bucharest, Romania.

“Stefan Toader is an experienced leader with exposure to different cultures and ways of working and we are very pleased to welcome him to Borealis,” says Wolfram Krenn, Borealis Executive Vice President Base Chemicals and Operations. “We look forward to bringing his experience in maintenance, asset management, operations and projects to Borealis as we continue to improve the performance of our operations and the reliability of our assets for the future.”

Stefan Toader succeeds Johann Berger, Vice President Projects & Expert Support, who will retire in March 2023 after a long and successful career at Borealis.

“I would also like to warmly thank Johann Berger for his outstanding contributions to the success of Borealis for almost 35 years,” says Wolfram Krenn. “He has been instrumental in defining the way we operate today, setting the path for future success.”

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

SOKO presents low-impact denim finishing innovations at Denim PV Milan

SOKO will present a range of sustainable denim finishing technologies and collaborative projects at the upcoming Denim Première Vision Milan on 20–21 May in Milan. At booth G27 in Superstudio Più, the company will showcase new chemical solutions designed to combine fashionable denim effects with reduced environmental impact.

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.