In the dynamic and global textile fiber industry with its various manufacturing processes and end-uses, news and information is breaking on a daily basis. International Fiber Journal is tracking stories relevant to our industry from manmade to natural to bio-based fibers, innovations in nonwoven, woven, braided and technical textiles, technologies for additives, bonding, coatings and polymers, and applications from apparel to hygiene to transportation, and more. Here we will post news stories relevant to textile fibers and their downstream applications on an ongoing basis. Please check back for regular updates. If you have news that you feel should be added to this summary report, please email it to Ken Norberg at [email protected].
Most recent update: November 05, 2026
Spinnova Signs Letter of Intent with Outlast to Develop SPINNOVA® Fiber
Spinnova Plc., a materials technology company producing textile fiber from side streams and wood pulp, announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent with Outlast Technologies GmbH – a Germany-based specialist in temperature regulation and insulation technologies – to explore the development of high-performance textile materials combining SPINNOVA® fiber with Outlast’s technologies.
The collaboration could expand the potential applications of SPINNOVA® fiber into higher-value technical textiles, including performance apparel and insulation, where temperature regulation and comfort are key product requirements. SPINNOVA® fiber is produced with a mechanical process without harmful chemicals or dissolving, while Outlast® Temperature Regulation brings established temperature-regulation technology based on innovations originally developed for NASA. This technology uses phase change materials (“PCMs”) to absorb, store, and release heat, while Outlast’s AERSULATE® aerogel technology provides effective insulation in lightweight, thin materials.
Together, the companies will explore whether these technologies can be combined to create differentiated textile materials.
Nonwovenn and Technical Materials Group appoint Ned Dorbin as CEO
Ned Dorbin has been announced as Chief Executive Officer of UK based Nonwovenn and of Technical Materials Group (TMG), as the combined businesses look to accelerate growth, working towards ambitious targets over the next few years.
Ned is familiar with Nonwovenn having spent six years as a non-executive director between 2016 and 2022. He has 19 years of experience as a private equity investor, supporting the growth of businesses across a wide range of sectors with funding and strategic board input.
Nonwovenn and TMG plan to significantly increase their scale over the coming years through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. As CEO, Ned will be responsible for leading the businesses through this next phase, providing strategic direction and driving commercial performance. His experience of working with management teams, supporting investment decisions and scaling businesses will be central to delivering these ambitions.
Former CEO Andrew Brownlow remains an important part of the leadership team, with an increased focus on strategic projects, capital investment programmes and operational development.
Ned Dorbin, Chief Executive Officer at Nonwovenn and Technical Materials Group, said: “I’m delighted to be joining Nonwovenn and TMG. Having previously worked with Nonwovenn, I know how well positioned the business is to expand and capitalise on the opportunities ahead. I’m excited to work with the team to build on what has already been achieved and deliver our ambitions for the future.”
David Lamb, Executive Chairman at Nonwovenn, said: “Appointing Ned is an important step for Nonwovenn and TMG as we look to deliver our ambitious growth plans. We have known Ned for many years and have seen first-hand the commercial insight and strategic leadership he brings to businesses. His experience, combined with his existing knowledge of Nonwovenn, makes him the right person to lead us through its next phase. I would also like to thank Andrew for his leadership and the significant role he has played in creating the strong foundations that we will continue to build on.”
Georg Stausberg Takes Over as CEO of the Rieter Group
Georg Stausberg, CEO of Barmag, will assume the position of CEO of the Rieter Group with effect from November 4, 2026. Georg Stausberg has more than three decades of experience in the international textile machinery industry and has shaped the development of Barmag in various leadership positions.
Under his leadership as CEO, Barmag consolidated its position as the world’s leading supplier in the man-made fiber sector. After Barmag was acquired by Rieter in February 2026, Georg Stausberg became a member of the Rieter Group’s Executive Committee.
With his extensive industry expertise and his international network, Georg Stausberg is one of the most prominent leaders in the global textile machinery industry.
Autoneum to Acquire Trèves Group
Autoneum will acquire Trèves Group, a leading supplier of automotive acoustic, thermal insulation, interior trim and trunk solutions with approximately 4’600 employees and annual revenue of approximately EUR 720 million in FY2025. The company operates 26 production sites in 15 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa and serves a broad range of global automotive customers.
The acquisition will complement Autoneum’s existing manufacturing footprint and product portfolio while creating opportunities to realize operational, commercial and procurement synergies. The transaction is expected to create a combined organization with pro-forma revenue of more than CHF 2.9 billion in FY2026. Pro-forma leverage at closing is projected at approximately 2.0x net debt/EBITDA, declining to below 1.5x in the medium term. This deleveraging profile is expected to be achieved through timely synergy realization, disciplined restructuring and strong cash generation. The combination is expected to become EPS-accretive from 2028.
Harrisons Unveils Refreshed Brand, Website and Strapline: “Set the standard with every wipe”
Harrisons, a leading UK manufacturer of nonwoven wipes, has unveiled a new brand identity, strapline and website.
The change marks the next chapter in the company’s 135-year history while staying true to the values that have carried the business through several generations.
The refreshed identity brings an updated colour palette and a cleaner, more modern look across the Harrisons family of brands, including Harrisons Hygiene and Harrisons Industrial. The visual change is deliberately evolutionary rather than a departure: the heritage, the UK manufacturing and the focus on proven quality that customers rely on all remain firmly in place.
At the centre of the refresh is a new strapline: Set the standard with every wipe. It reflects Harrisons’ own ambition to aim high across quality, innovation, sustainability and customer service. It also reflects the people who use the products: the cleaning operatives, engineers, chefs and healthcare workers who are themselves working to set high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, one task at a time. And it sets a clear direction for the business – a commitment to keep improving for customers, and something Harrisons has always worked towards throughout its history.
Alongside the strapline, Harrisons has set out a new mission: to set the standard with every wipe by partnering with customers to deliver expert solutions, uncompromising quality and a cleaner world. In practice, that means treating distributors as long-term partners rather than accounts, and backing them with reliable supply, proven quality and expert advice.
Stephen Harrison, Managing Director at Harrisons, said: “I’m delighted to launch our refreshed brand, which we see as the launch pad for the next phase of our growth. With the new mission we’ve set out, we want our partners and customers to know that when they work with us, they get quality products and advice they can rely on, every time.”
PET Spunbond From China – EDANA Welcomes Imposition of Definitive EU Anti-Dumping Measures
The European Commission published October 30th, 2026, a regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of PET spunbond originating in China, following the imposition of provisional measures on 12 May 2026. The definitive duties imposed on imports from China, applicable as of 31 October 2026 for a period of five years, range from 39.8% to 48.1%.
The Commission’s final decision confirms that Chinese imports increased significantly during the period examined while being sold at unfairly low prices, causing substantial harm to the EU PET spunbond industry. It furthermore found that the imposition of anti-dumping measures is in the Union interest. The definitive duties will help to restore a level playing field, safeguarding industrial capacity in Europe.
Jacques Prigneaux, Market Analysis & Economic Affairs Director at EDANA commented: “We welcome the Commission’s decision to impose definitive anti-dumping measures. The adoption of definitive anti-dumping duties sends an important signal that the Commission is determined to effectively address unfair trade practices on the EU market. Restoring fair competition is essential not only for safeguarding EU production, but also for supporting the investments in innovation, sustainability and employment that are required to meet the EU’s strategic industrial ambitions.”
As the anti-dumping measures enter into force, EDANA will maintain its cooperation with the EU and national customs authorities to monitor the application of the measures.
Everra Global Aarks 50 Years of Growth, Innovation and Textile Industry Leadership
Everra, a global supplier of textile fibers and polymers, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of growth, adaptability and service to the textile industry.
Founded in 1976 as Stein Fibers, the company has evolved from a traditional textile fiber distributor into a diversified global enterprise serving a broad range of markets. Today, Everra operates two primary business segments, textile fibers and polymers, with approximately 170 employees and an extensive international sourcing and distribution network.
The company commemorated the milestone Oct. 20 with a private anniversary dinner in Charlotte, bringing together current and former employees, company founders, family members and industry partners.
“For 50 years, first as Stein Fibers and today as Everra, our company has grown by adapting to change,” said Jaren Edwards, co-CEO of Everra. “We’re proud of that history, and equally proud of the steps we’ve taken since our founders passed us the baton.”
Over the past decade, Everra has pursued a growth strategy combining organic expansion into new markets with strategic acquisitions. Its fiber portfolio has expanded into specialty materials, including aramids, while its polymers business focuses on recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).
The company’s largest textile fiber markets include upholstered furniture and automotive, with growing opportunities in nonwovens, geotextiles, medical products and specialty applications. Its polymers business serves markets including food and beverage packaging. Headquartered in Charlotte, Everra operates company-owned warehouses in Georgia, South Carolina and New Jersey, along with more than 28 third-party locations across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its USI manufacturing facility in LaFayette, Ga., employs approximately 75 people, while international offices in China and Mexico support global
sourcing and commercial operations.
FiberTect Nonwoven Wipe Gets Singular Recognition by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Nonwoven wipe, “FiberTect,” has become a valuable tool to save lives and enhance defense capabilities. On October 28, 2026, Lubbock-based Texas Tech University System [TTUS] inducted inventors whose work have made an impact into its inaugural “Inventor Hall of Fame.”
Among the recognized inventors, are researchers who hold memberships in prestigious academies such as the National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Inventors. Increasingly, university research enterprises are recognizing the need for translational research, and start-ups as they create jobs and grow the economy.
Highlight of the event was the keynote by Reynaldo Vasquez, Reginal Outreach Officer, Southwest Regional Office of the United States Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO] which emphasized the importance of turning hard problems into solutions. Mr. Vasquez highlighted how universities matter to innovation stating,” in universities, basic research collides head-on with applied problem solving, and labs feed into industry relationships.”
While telling story about Texas Tech’s research commercialization, Mr. Vasquez singled out the success of FiberTect nonwoven wipe that evolved out of Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory mentioning it as an engineered fabric that finds applications in protection and environmental technologies.
FiberTect wipes are manufactured by Waco-based Hobbs Bonded Fibers and are exclusively marketed by Fredericksburg, VA-based First Line Technology for emergency response and decontamination applications. “FiberTect research drives home a key truth, breakthroughs rarely happen in isolation,” stated Reynaldo Vasquez.
FiberTect is a vital component in dry and hybrid decontamination processes, which are lifesaving protocols championed by First Line Technology. Dry decontamination using nonwoven absorbent-adsorbent wipe is the first line of decontamination which is crucial to saving lives of soldiers, emergency personnel and public. Due to the nature of the wipe, FiberTect can be used in regions which are normally in sub-zero temperature like Alaska. Recently, these wipes were found to trap and clean fine particles such as Fentanyl indicating its broad-based applications.
Smartlog Joins the Smartlogistix Group
Smartlog, founded in 2005 by Alberto Barbieri, brings its expertise and track record in automated warehouses, strengthening the Group’s offering. The Group can now provide integrated solutions for material handling, storage and management, with a single point of management and responsibility.
Smartlog has joined the Smartlogistix Group, part of the industrial holding company Italia Technology Alliance, expanding its expertise in the design and construction of automated systems.
Based in Villorba, in the province of Treviso, Smartlog specialises in the automation of logistics processes and shipping order preparation. Its offering includes automated warehouses for pallets and packages, picking systems and robotic palletising solutions, including for mixed loads.
The integration combines these skills with the technologies and capabilities already present in Smartlogistix, with the aim of bringing together in a single integrated offering automated vehicles, handling and material movement solutions, automated warehouses and management software. For customers, this means being able to take on complete automation projects with a single point of contact who guarantees the full functionality of the chosen solution and the achievement of the contractual performance levels.
Americhem Acquires Noble Biomaterials
Americhem, a global designer and manufacturer of custom polymer solutions, announced the acquisition of Noble Biomaterials, an advanced materials company specializing in antimicrobial and conductivity solutions for soft-surface applications.
The acquisition adds Noble Biomaterials’ differentiated technologies and deep specialization to Americhem’s broader global platform, strengthening its ability to support customers from concept through scalable commercial production.
Noble Biomaterials provides proprietary materials technology for mission-critical applications across high-growth markets, including apparel and textiles, healthcare, and aerospace and defense. Its flagship platforms, IONIC+®, X-STATIC® and CIRCUITEX®, deliver advanced functional capabilities backed by U.S. manufacturing and a robust intellectual property portfolio built over two decades.
Noble Biomaterials’ antimicrobial, odor-control and conductive technologies strengthen Americhem’s position in fiber and polymer solutions, creating opportunities for significant growth across healthcare and other high-demand markets.
