#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.”

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

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.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.