#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.

DyStar releases FY2025 sustainability report, marking a new milestone towards its 2030 targets

DyStar, a leading specialty chemicals company with more than a century of expertise in product development and innovation, today announced the release of its FY2025 Sustainability Report, marking a significant milestone in its sustainability journey and reinforcing its commitment to long-term value creation.

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.

STEELTOP®: A new benchmark in flat tops for spinning preparation

Modern carding generations achieve higher production performance, placing significantly greater stress on flat tops. Higher cylinder speeds and increased fiber density, combined with tighter carding gaps, create more demanding operating conditions. At the same time, poorer raw material quality and the increased use of recycled materials further intensify these challenges. With STEELTOP®, Trützschler introduces a new full steel flat top series developed for these demanding modern carding processes.

YKK develops concept EXCELLA® zipper tape using nonwoven fabric partially derived from used clothing

YKK Corporation has developed a concept version of its premium EXCELLA® zipper series made from nonwoven fabric sheets created by fiberizing used clothing and other textile materials. Based on a proposal by fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, this item was created as a result of collaboration between Nakazato, Seiko Epson Corporation and YKK. The concept zipper was incorporated as a material component for pieces in the newest YUIMA NAKAZATO Couture Collection, “INFERNO,” which was unveiled in Paris, France on July 8, 2026.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris highlights evolving global sourcing landscape

From 31 August to 2 September 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will bring together more than 1,000 international exhibitors at Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. This edition reflects the new global balance of textile and apparel sourcing, highlighting a strong diversity of sourcing countries — some unexpected.

Dedicated car seat model of SHIMA SEIKI’s P-CAM® R Cutting Machine unveiled

Leading Japanese textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, showed a special version of its P-CAM® R multi-ply computerized cutting machine dedicated to the production of car seats for the first time, at a private exhibition held over two days on Thursday, July 2nd and Friday, July 3rd at the Kariya City Industrial Promotion Center in Aichi Prefecture.