TMAS Members Drive Growth and Innovation in Textile Machinery

Swedish textile technology companies are investing in new facilities, technologies, and solutions as the global textile machinery industry prepares for ITMA ASIA 2026 in Shanghai.

The Textile Machinery Association of Sweden (TMAS) says its members have had a busy 2026. Their developments cover automation, productivity, recycling, digitalisation, and resource-efficient textile manufacturing.

The industry is also facing growing competition from Asia, geopolitical uncertainty, new regulations, and the increasing impact of artificial intelligence.

ACG Kinna Expands Automation Operations

Following a record 2025 and several bolt-on acquisitions, ACG Kinna has expanded its headquarters in Skene.

The company has inaugurated a 1,000-square-metre expansion to meet growing demand for textile and finished-product line automation services.

The expansion is part of the company’s continued development of automation solutions for textile manufacturers.

Imogo Opens New Production and Testing Facility

Industrial spray dyeing specialist Imogo has opened a new showroom, test centre, and production hub in Kinnahult.

The facility allows brands and manufacturers to move from laboratory development to validated commercial production at one location.

Imogo introduced its first Dye-Max prototype in 2019 and completed its first industrial-scale installation in 2021.

The new centre features the company’s patented spray application technology.

It combines the Mini-Max laboratory system with an industrial-scale Dye-Max line for fabrics up to 2.4 metres wide.

The system has a production capacity of approximately 3 tonnes per day.

According to Imogo, Dye-Max uses as little as 0.7 litres of dye liquor per kilogram of fabric. The technology is designed to reduce water, energy, chemical use, and wastewater compared with conventional dyeing processes.

ReSpin Advances Textile Recycling

TMAS member ReSpin is also preparing to deploy its technology at Sweden’s first industrial spinning mill for recycled textile fibres.

The company has developed and patented RespinJenny, a mechanical recycling technology designed to transform textile waste into fibres suitable for new yarn production.

The technology addresses the growing need for recycling solutions within textile manufacturing and fibre production.

New Technologies Target Productivity and Efficiency

TMAS members have introduced several technologies during 2026 targeting productivity, automation, and resource efficiency.

BW Converting Develops Precision Textile Finishing

BW Converting’s Baldwin TexCoat G4 uses precision spray application technology to apply chemistry to one or both sides of a fabric.

The non-contact process replaces conventional bath-based methods.

The system can reduce wet pick-up by up to 50%, helping lower water consumption and the energy required for drying.

BW Converting is also showcasing Corona Pure, a surface treatment technology designed to improve adhesion and fabric performance.

As textile mills move from C6 fluorocarbon-based water repellents towards fluorocarbon-free C0 chemistries, Corona Pure is designed to improve fabric absorbency and support water-repellent performance.

Automatex Targets Quilting Productivity

Automatex has developed the P12-PB Automatic Lock Stitch Quilting Unit.

The system provides continuous programmable quilting with reduced manual intervention.

According to the company, it can double productivity compared with previous systems in bedding and padded home textile production.

Eton Systems Uses AI for Garment Sorting

Eton Systems has demonstrated its aUPS module for sorting used garments.

The system builds on the company’s UPS material handling system and ETONingenious Factory 4.0 software.

AI is used to grade individual garments by colour, size, and style. Where possible, it can also identify the manufacturer.

The system can identify damage, suggest possible repairs, and calculate a potential resale price.

This provides an automated approach to sorting garments for reuse.

TMAS Members Prepare for ITMA ASIA 2026

The development activity will continue later in 2026, with TMAS members Vandewiele Sweden and Eltex preparing to showcase their latest technologies at ITMA ASIA 2026.

The event will take place in Shanghai from 20–24 November 2026.

Eltex Focuses on Yarn Tension Control

Eltex will present its latest ACT-MULTI system.

The technology provides individual yarn tension monitoring and automatic control during heat-setting.

The system is designed to help manufacturers maintain consistent processing conditions across yarn positions.

Heat-setting is an important stage in the production of synthetic and blended yarns. It stabilises yarn structures and locks in twist and bulk.

Consistent heat-setting can support predictable yarn performance during weaving, knitting, tufting, dyeing, and finishing.

Vandewiele Sweden Advances Weft Feeding

Vandewiele Sweden has long-standing expertise in weft feeding and tension control for weaving and related processes.

Its technologies are designed to provide repeatable yarn delivery at high loom speeds.

The company is also continuing to develop data-ready weft feeders as textile manufacturing becomes increasingly digitalised.

These systems are designed to add operational data and intelligence to textile production while maintaining straightforward operation.

TMAS Sees Continued Industry Change

Therese Premler-Andersson, secretary general of TMAS, said the association’s members have made progress in facilities, technology development, automation, digitalisation, and resource-efficient production during 2026.

She said these developments demonstrate the range of Swedish textile technology and the focus on addressing changing requirements from manufacturers worldwide.

Premler-Andersson also pointed to changes in the competitive landscape.

AI, geopolitical uncertainty, regulation, and increasing competition from China are expected to influence the textile machinery industry in the coming years.

For Swedish textile technology companies, she highlighted continued innovation, specialist expertise, and customer value as areas of focus.

Textile Machinery Innovation Continues

TMAS members are entering the final part of 2026 with developments across automation, recycling, dyeing, finishing, garment sorting, yarn control, and digital manufacturing.

The technologies also reflect broader changes in textile production, including resource efficiency, circularity, automation, and the growing use of digital tools.

With ITMA ASIA 2026 approaching, further developments from Swedish textile machinery companies are expected to come into focus as manufacturers assess new technologies for future production.