#Yarn & Fiber

2020-06-18

DOMO to stop and close BOPA production at Leuna plant

DOMO Chemicals, a leading producer of high-quality engineering materials for a diverse range of markets, has announced plans to stop and close its third line of Biaxally Oriented PA films (BOPA) from DOMO in Leuna (Germany), effective from August 2020. Affected employees have been informed and other operations at the Leuna plant will not be impacted by the move. The difficult decision was reached as a result of global overcapacity for nylon films.

Biaxally Oriented PA films (BOPA) production at DOMO’s Leuna (Germany) plant to be stopped and closed during summer 2020

DOMO’s Nylon Film business has proven to be a key asset, serving essential market segments during COVID-19 period: Italian branch, DOMO Film Solutions Spa (DFS), will keep on operating its Cesano Maderno BOPA and CPA plants and continue serving the market, without impacts for customers and suppliers

DOMO Chemicals maintains its Nylon 6 core operations hub in Leuna, continuously developing sustainable and innovative solutions for EP and other key industries worldwide

Attilio Annoni, Managing Director at DFS states: “In these extraordinary circumstances of high business volatility, we have opted to continue to focus on quality and flexibility through cautious and smart asset management, rather than reacting with short-term volume strategies.”

With the acquisition of Solvay’s European PA66 business at the beginning of this year, DOMO Chemicals has become a leading integrated Nylon 6 and 66 player worldwide. Despite the current market slowdown, which is affecting the automotive and other industrial segments served by DOMO’s “Polymers & Intermediates” and “Engineering Materials” units, the company remains on course to achieve its global growth objectives. These include, among others, the continued development of sustainable solutions for customers, in accordance with the highest corporate, social and environmental responsibility standards.

DOMO to stop and close BOPA production at Leuna plant. (c) 2020 Domo

DOMO’s Nylon Film business remains a key asset. It forms an integral part of the supply chains related to segments such as pharmaceuticals, medical, and food packaging, which have all proven to be so essential during the COVID-19 period.

“We continue to focus on flexibility and competitiveness, and have not been impacted in how we support our customers in successfully meeting current and future market challenges with specialized and sustainable solutions. As ever we will continue to partner with our customers in developing and supplying nylon films for high performing and sustainable flexible packaging structures,” Mr Annoni concludes.

“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.

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

Sorona® and WGSN announce top bio-based material trends of 2027

Sorona®, the partially bio-based polymer from Covation Biomaterials (CovationBio™), and global trend forecasting authority WGSN today release the material trends shaping the textile industry through 2027 and beyond following a comprehensive examination of bio-based functional fiber applications and global data.

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.

Networking Day 2026: Industry stakeholders unite around textile recycling

In 2026, the Industry Research Group (IRG) Polymer Recycling once again brought together some of the key stakeholders in textile recycling for its annual Networking Day. This year, the event took place at EREMA’s premises in Ansfelden, Austria. It brought together key players from across the textile recycling value chain for a day of structured exchange and in-depth discussions.

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

Stylish, functional, and efficient to produce – spacer fabrics are the all-arounders among textile materials. These versatile fabrics are particularly in demand in the sports and casual footwear sector, as they combine comfort, breathability, and design freedom. At the same time, this industry is trend-driven, dynamic, and price-sensitive like few others. Innovations are therefore a decisive factor for success. With the RDJ 7/3, KARL MAYER offers a solution specifically tailored to these requirements. The particular strength of the new double raschel machine: its exceptional flexibility, thanks to its three jacquard bars.