#Weaving

2021-09-15

Paris Arc de Triomphe to be wrapped: Fabric is made in Germany by SETEX

It all started in the mid-1990s in the reunified Berlin: SETEX-Textil GmbH supplied the fabric for the wrapping of the German Reichstag. For what was probably the last project of the artist couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude, the weaving machines were running at full speed again. For the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the world-famous artists relied on the expertise of the textile specialist for the fifth time. Blue and grey polypropylene fabrics were produced at the Greven production site, which will completely cover the Arc de Triomphe in Paris from 18 September.

SETEX supplies more than 25,000 square metres of fabric

First collaboration with Christo in 1994

Company has been involved in five works created by Christo

It is Christo's last gift to the city of Paris; he has been planning this project for 60 years. After his death last year, Christo cannot witness the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe at the weekend. In North Rhine-Westphalia the eyes are also on the French capital: SETEX-Textil GmbH, headquartered in Dingden, has supplied the fabric for the fifth time – but it was produced at the Greven site. "The relationship with Christo has grown over a long period of time - a very friendly cooperation, by the way," says Stefan Ott from the sales department for technical textiles of SETEX.

The cooperation began in the 1990s. The contact came about through Stefan Schilgen and his company of the same name, which was bought by SETEX in 2012. The company boss was an art lover and met Christo by chance when the artist was looking for a textile to cover the Reichstag. Schilgen was able to help - and the friendly conversations eventually turned into a partnership. Now, for the fifth time, the textile company has supplied the textiles for a project by the artist.

Stricter fire safety regulations after Notre Dame

Since Christo could no longer travel personally from his home in New York to Germany to plan the wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe due to his age, the coordination was done through confidants and mutual friends, as Ott explains. There were a few challenges to overcome. In addition to the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Notre Dame fire in 2019 led to fire regulations being tightened. "We had to re-sample everything again," Ott says. The fabric had to be coated accordingly to make it non-flammable.

The colour design also caused smoking heads at SETEX. "We are an industrial company that produces technical fabrics for technical applications, for example for the automotive industry. To us, for example, the colour of the textiles hardly plays a role.

It took a long time until the colour was finally right and until we had exactly the right feel," says Ott. "For Christo, visuals and haptics were naturally more important than technical properties. That's why we had to constantly make new designs. Until the final product was in the right colour and yarn thickness, there were several trials and numerous meetings." Even a new weaving machine was purchased for the project.

Fabric can be recycled – just as Christo intended

At the Arc de Triomphe, the substructure for the fabric panels is now completely finished, and on Saturday the approximately 25,000 square metres of fabric – a pure polypropylene fabric in the colours grey and blue – will be completely unrolled. The material used for the artwork is normally used for the filtration of food. "By changing the structure and colour, however, we were able to transform the fabric optimally for this project," says Ott. The material also has the advantage of being 100 percent recyclable. "That was always in Christo's mind: he wanted to create works of art that everyone could look at. But in the end, no one can take anything away from it. That's why this fabric will be recycled and can then be used for another purpose," the textile expert explains.

At SETEX, anticipation is growing more and more. "It is an exciting thing to know that you are working for a world-famous artist. It's not an everyday thing," says Ott. "I have my heart set on going to Paris to see the artwork, and I think some of our staff are planning to do the same."

More information:

http://www.setex-textil.de/en

http://www.setex.de/en/

“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.

"Dynamic markets do not only create uncertainty – they also create opportunities."

Volatile markets, increasingly complex materials and growing demands for flexibility are changing the weaving industry. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging in technical textiles, filtration, composites and many other specialised applications. Since taking over as Head of DORNIER's Weaving Machines Product Line at the beginning of 2026, Yvonne Schuberth has been helping to shape this development. In this interview with TexData, she explains why process stability and customer proximity remain the foundation of innovation, how digitalisation is transforming weaving mills, and why she believes the future belongs to technologically demanding applications.

More patterns, less effort: the MULTI-MATIC® at Rohleder

Rohleder is one of Europe’s most modern weaving mills. For over 80 years, the family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing premium fabrics for brands, retailers and private customers – 100% Made in Germany. This success is made possible by a consistent focus on design, quality, and functionality, as well as by continuous investment in state-of-the-art production facilities. Rohleder also relies on innovative technologies in warp preparation and has been collaborating with KARL MAYER for many years. As recently as 2023, a MULTI-MATIC® was delivered to the company’s headquarters in Konradsreuth.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

WHILL selects Teijin’s tough, lightweight Carbon Fiber Composite for new last-mile mobility

Teijin Limited announced today that WHILL Inc., a global leader in inclusive mobility technology, has selected Sereebo® P CFP series, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) material, for key structural components of the upcoming WHILL Model C Lite. Sereebo® P CFP series provides high strength, light weight, design flexibility and system cost advantages to the Model C Lite, which is a battery powered, single-seat, last-mile device. This new model combines maneuverability with light weight and one-handed folding to ensure ease of handling and operation.

ZymoChem secures $4 million in renewed federal funding to advance U.S. biomanufacturing of critical materials and their supply chains

ZymoChem, the specialty chemicals company dedicated to bringing decarbonization, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency to the chemical industry through innovative biological manufacturing, today announced the resumption and expansion of its federal research portfolio. The company has been notified that previously paused work under a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program is officially back on, to be joined by continuing collaborations with three of the nation's premier national laboratories.