Visitors to ITMA in Milan may see what happens when three cutting-edge businesses that are all focused on enhancing sustainability in the textile value chain meet and decide to exhibit how a new innovative sustainable fibre is transformed into yarn on the Saurer booth in Hall 2 B 101. The circulose fibre for Renewcell, made by Inovafil for Saurer, is being spun concurrently in three different spinning machines: air, rotor, and on some days, ring.
The ITMA2023 slogan, “Transforming the World of Textiles,” is a wise choice given that the future European Union (EU) directives, which are a part of the EU textile vision 2030, lay the groundwork for positive change and the development of a more resilient and sustainable textile industry within the EU. The sector of textiles willLook for fresh sustainable approaches and fresh business paradigms. Utilising textile waste as a raw source, new fibres are being created and introduced to the market. Scandinavia, with its long history of paper making, is a case in point. A thorough grasp of pulp processing methods, tools, and technology has been fostered by this industry. The region has a head start because to its vast expertise in pulp processing, and vacant paper mills have provided space where used textiles can be given a second chance.
Renewcell from Sweden is one of the pioneers in the new textile recycling technologies and the first for industrial scale up of production. The award-winning, Swedish sustaintech firm was established in 2012 by pioneers from Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology. circular. Utilising a unique technique, Renewcell is able to recycle cellulosic-rich textile waste, including manufacturing waste and worn-out cotton clothing, into CIRCULOSE®, a brand-new substance that can be processed into fibres and spun into fresh yarn for the textile industry. One of these spinners in the early stages of commercialisation is Inovafil in Portugal.
The spinning mill Inovafil Fiaço, S.A. was established in Portugal in 2011. CEO of the company Rui Martins is certain that collaboration at every stage of the process is the only way to realise circular textile fashion. As a result, he established a platform to encourage collaboration on closed-loop textile projects and to spark original concepts for novel textile uses. Inovafil has been a Saurer client for a long time and has confidence in Saurer’sRecycled fibre autocoro rotor spinning machine.
Sustainability has played a significant role in Saurer’s future plans for many years. Saurer is now set up to process recycled and regenerated fibres because it is the sole manufacturer of spinning equipment for all five end-spinning applications for staple fibre. Saurer relied on Inovafil’s expertise for the continual improvement when it released the new air-spinning machines Autoairo for field tests, shipping one of the very first machines to Inovafl. In order to achieve the best processing efficiency, Inovafil was successfully spinning viscose manufactured with CIRCULOSE® on Autoairo.
The ITMA Milano was easily selected as the ideal venue for showcasing the possibilities of the new sustainable fibre when the team from Inovafil, Renewcell, and Saurer came together to exchange ideas. Thanksto Renewcell’s kind support and the excellent fibre preparation of Inovafil, the visitors at ITMA can see CIRCULOSE® being spun daily on the Air- and Rotor-spinning machines, and on selected days on the ring-spinning machine as well. Renewcell has proven over and over again with its partner that the CIRCULOSE® is suited for a multitude of textile applications. Saurer is grateful for the opportunity to show the flexibility of the fiber on its spinning portfolio, recognising again what a great source of inspiration our innovative customers are.
