#Textile processing

2024-10-24

HeiQ announces return to private company structure

HeiQ, a leading innovator in materials technology, announced its decision to return to private company structure from the London Stock Exchange as part of a strategic move to focus resources, streamline operations, and accelerate growth, effective November 19, 2024 (LSE:HEIQ). HeiQ shares will continue trading on the JP Jenkins securities or a similar matching platform from November 20, 2024.

A new chapter for growth and value creation by innovation

Returning to a private company structure marks a key milestone in HeiQ’s evolution. Since its listing on the London Stock Exchange in December 2020, the company has expanded into four new technology platforms, including precision fermentation, cellulosic fiber extrusion, particle synthesis, and chemical vapour deposition. Today, besides operating as an innovative leader for the textile industry, HeiQ functions as a venture incubator, advancing several high-potential technologies at various stages of technology readiness.

Rationale for returning to private ownership

The unanimous decision by HeiQ’s board to return to being a privately held company from the London Stock Exchange aligns with the company’s focus on innovation, long-term growth and value creation. As HeiQ continues to develop advanced technologies, private financing offers more flexibility to invest into the value creation of its high-potential ventures like HeiQ Synbio, HeiQ AeoniQ™, HeiQ GrapheneX, and HeiQ Xpectra.

“Our four years as a public company have seen us acquire four companies and change from a yield focused specialty chemicals player with a narrow textile focus to a multi technology platform innovation incubator with diversified market channels and long-term value creation opportunities. Returning to private company status will enable us to better focus on scaling and financing innovation and technology,” said Carlo Centonze, Co-Founder and Group CEO of HeiQ. “With game-changing ventures like HeiQ Synbio, HeiQ AeoniQ™, HeiQ GrapheneX, and HeiQ Xpectra, we are well-positioned to seize emerging opportunities and achieve our value creation and sustainability goals.”

Commitment to core businesses

HeiQ remains dedicated to its commercialized core business of value-adding textile technologies and synbiotics for cleaning and personal care. With a solid foundation in these areas, HeiQ will continue to deliver advanced innovations that enhance sustainability, durability, and functionality of our everyday products. HeiQ’s global partnerships in textile finishing remain a vital part of its strategy, as the company leads the way in solutions that benefit industries and consumers worldwide. Alongside textile innovations, HeiQ’s unique synbiotic technology platform provides advanced solutions in cleaning and personal care, supporting microbial balance on surfaces and on skin.

Support for shareholders and stakeholders

HeiQ remains committed to transparency and engagement with its shareholders. HeiQ’s shares will be available for trading on the JP Jenkins securities or similar matching platform starting on November 20, 2024.

HEIQ expands in ASIA with BIG SUNSHINE as key partner

HeiQ, a global leader in materials and textile innovation, is strengthening its presence in Asia by onboarding BIG SUNSHINE CO., LTD. as a key full-service partner in the region. This collaboration aims to further improve HeiQ’s overall service capabilities in Taiwan and across the wider Asian region, furthering its vision of global expansion and footprint in Asia.

HeiQ and GQ Apparel bring biobased cooling to denim in Thailand

HeiQ, a global leader in textile and materials innovation, proudly announces a strategic cooperation with GQ Apparel, a premier Thailand-based tech apparel brand. GQ Apparel enhances it denim offering with HeiQ’s advanced cooling solution, marking a significant milestone in the Southeast Asian market.

HeiQ expands application of HeiQ Allergen tech to upholstery fabric through collaboration with CULP

HeiQ partners with Culp to apply HeiQ Allergen Tech, a 100% biobased* solution that reduces allergens on textiles, onto interior upholstery fabric. HeiQ announces the extended application of HeiQ Allergen Tech to bring the benefits of this biobased textile technology to the interior upholstered furniture market, marking a unique launch into this segment.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI reshape textile processing

Investment decisions in textile processing have become increasingly complex. Rising energy prices, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing companies to prioritise technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and process stability. This applies not only to apparel production, but also to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. Modernisation projects are therefore being evaluated more selectively – but the pressure to upgrade production systems continues to grow. Texprocess 2026 reflects this tension between cautious investment behaviour and increasing technological demand.

SAHM Winding Solutions and Vandewiele Automation present integrated automation solution for winding processes

For the first time at the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany (21 - 26 April), SAHM Winding Solutions (Hallo 12.0. / Booth 95) and Vandewiele Automation will be showcasing their combined automation expertise for industrial winding processes. Under the motto “Combining Automation. Maximizing Flow”, the two companies will demonstrate how automated package handling and robot-assisted yarn knotting can be integrated into a continuous production flow.

UNIFI celebrates recycled and circular Innovation with ninth annual REPREVE® Champions of Sustainability Awards

Unifi, Inc. (NYSE: UFI), the makers of REPREVE® and one of the world’s leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today announced the winners of its ninth annual REPREVE Champions of Sustainability Awards, recognizing brands and mills that are advancing circularity and responsible manufacturing across the global textile industry.

Teijin Frontier announces new Stretch Polyester yarn offering exceptional compatibility with high-performance Polyester materials

Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd. announced today that it has developed a new stretch polyester yarn that offers new opportunities to create comfortable, all- polyester fabrics for sports and outdoor wear. The new polyester yarn demonstrates exceptional compatibility with high-performance polyester materials. Further, Teijin Frontier’s proprietary polymer design and spinning technology impart excellent elasticity to the new yarn. In turn, this yarn adds stretchability and recovery to the advanced functionality and excellent texture of high-performance polyester materials.

Lenzing commissions 14 MW power‑to‑heat facility, strengthening grid stability and heat management

The Lenzing Group has successfully commissioned a new power‑to‑heat (P2H) facility with an electrical capacity of 14 megawatts. The installation converts renewable electricity directly into process heat, is fully integrated into the existing heat network at the industrial site, and represents a key building block for a fossil‑free heat supply. As project partner, VERBUND was responsible for the energy‑market integration and will operate the facility for balancing energy marketing, enabling it to respond flexibly to short‑term fluctuations in the power grid.