#Yarn & Fiber

2020-10-01

Ulrich Scherbel new Chief Operating Officer of AMSilk

AMSilk GmbH, the world's first industrial supplier of synthetic silk biopolymers, has appointed Ulrich Scherbel as its new COO as of October 1, 2020. In the newly created position, he will support the expansion of the company’s value chain from the production of the fibers to distribution to internationalbrands.

Ulrich Scherbel has more than 25 years of expertise in innovative textiles. After his studies of textile chemistry and finishing, he worked in various functions in business development, production and sales in the textile industry, for "Freudenberg Performance Materials" as General Manager Global Apparel Division. Freudenberg is one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-quality technical fabrics for a wide range of markets and applications such as automotive, construction, clothing, energy, filter media, healthcare, interior design, shoes and leather goods, and special applications.

Regarding his new position at AMSilk Ulrich Scherbel says: "AMSilk's innovative and world-leading biotechnological production method, from plant-based raw materials, creates fascinating silk biopolymers, which not only have unique properties, but are also biodegradable and recyclable. The implementation of the company's growth goals regarding the production of silk biopolymers on an industrial scale enables our customers for the first time to make broad use of sustainable silk biopolymers instead of conventional, often unsustainable materials. This is an extremely exciting task for me".

Jens Klein, CEO of AMSilk, adds: "We are very pleased to have Ulrich Scherbel on board as COO. With his many years of experience in the field of innovative textiles, he will drive the large scale production of our high-quality performance products even further. He is a great enhancer for our sales expansion strategy over the coming years“.

The Chairman of the Board, Dr. Wolfgang Colberg, explains: “AMSilk is now on the move to large scale production for global customers and we have found an excellent addition to the management board. Ulrich Scherbelwill use his expertise and experience to help shape the processesand will drive the development and optimization of the value chain from production to the customer”.

“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.

Lenzing and Kaihara to debut REMOD denim collection at Kingpins Amsterdam

The Lenzing Group, a global producer of wood-based fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, has partnered with Japanese denim manufacturer Kaihara Corporation to launch the “REMOD Collection”. The collection combines three of Lenzing's fiber offerings for denim applications: TENCEL™ Lyocell Standard, TENCEL™ Lyocell – HV100 and TENCEL™ Lyocell dtex 2.2.

Circ and Huafon partner to scale textile-to-textile recycling in China

Circ® and Huafon, a leading spandex producer in China, are partnering to build and scale a new multi-phase textile-to-textile recycling site in China, expanding Circ's global pathway to industrial scale. The project will be located within Huafon's industrial footprint and will use Circ's technology to process polycotton textile waste and recycle both inputs, recovering recycled PTA, recycled MEG and recycled cellulosic pulp for use in new textiles. The site will be developed in phases, with Phase 1 designed for approximately 200 metric tons of textile waste per day and additional capacity planned.

Mayer & Cie. Global gears up tor ITMA Asia 2026

Mayer & Cie. Global will focus on mattress fabric production at ITMA Asia, taking place in Shanghai from 20 to 24 November 2026. The company will showcase one of its flagship models for this application: the OVJA 2.4 EM. Joining the mattress fabric specialist will be an OV 3.2 QCe, presented at ITMA Asia in a configuration for knitting double-face fabrics in E40. This gives the OV 3.2 QCe a combination of capabilities rarely found in the market. The German textile machinery manufacturer will also introduce its new portfolio strategy and share updates from its development team at its Albstadt headquarters.

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.