#Weaving

2024-06-13

Leadership transition at Loepfe

Loepfe Brothers Ltd. has embarked on a new chapter with the appointment of Markus Kleindorp as the new CEO, ushering in a fresh era of leadership. Former CEO Ralph Mennicke's departure prompts restructuring, including the addition of Gregor Stalder as CFO. With this seasoned team, Loepfe aims to maintain its excellence in the textile industry.

Since the beginning of May, Loepfe Brothers Ltd. has been led by a new management team. The Board of Directors has appointed Markus Kleindorp as the new CEO of Loepfe. Markus Kleindorp brings a wealth of experience from his tenure within the Vandewiele Group and as the former CEO of MEMMINGER-IRO GmbH, offering deep insights into the textile industry.

After four years of dedicated service, the former CEO of Loepfe, Ralph Mennicke, has decided to embark on new professional endeavors, signaling a change in leadership for the company. The Board of Directors acknowledges Mennicke's resignation and extends gratitude for his contributions to Loepfe's journey.

Furthermore, Loepfe is seizing this moment to restructure its management team, reinforcing it with an individual possessing extensive business expertise. We are delighted to introduce Gregor Stalder as the new CFO of Loepfe. Gregor Stalder is a proven expert in finance and has long-term experience in the position of a CFO.

With this accomplished leadership team in place, Loepfe is poised to continue its trajectory of excellence in the textile industry. We thank our stakeholders for their ongoing support and partnership as we embark on this exciting journey together.

The new Loepfe CEO Markus Kleindorp © 2024 Loepfe

A tradition of innovation celebrated at ITMA 2025 in Singapore

For 70 years, Loepfe has embodied precision, technological excellence, and uncompromising quality. Join us as we proudly celebrate seven decades of innovation at ITMA 2025 in Singapore. Founded in 1955 by two visionary brothers, Helmut and Erich Loepfe, the company has been a pioneer in yarn quality control – continuously pushing technological boundaries to meet and exceed industry expectations.

Thermal fabric cutting system - Weftmaster cut-it for airbag fabrics

WeftMaster CUT-iT for airbag fabrics. In case of the unexpected while driving a car, people are relying on airbags for their life protection. Hence, airbag fabrics must have flawless quality. Renowned weavers of airbag fabrics take no risk; they rely on Loepfe's CUT-iT to ensure their top quality fabrics have a perfectly defined and uniform selvedge.

Loepfe will present groundbreaking technology at ITMA ASIA 2022

Loepfe has redefined the landscape in textile manufacturing with cutting-edge sensor solutions. At ITMA Asia 2023, Loepfe is taking a new approach and inviting visitors to witness firsthand the remarkable advantages Loepfe users experience with its cutting-edge sensor technology. Profitable, efficient, and easy with a high-quality output - that is what Loepfe stands for.

More safety and comfort for protective clothing thanks to auxetic fabrics

When everyday materials are pulled, they stretch or elongate in the direction of the pull and become narrower in cross-section. We can also observe this property in two-dimensional textiles. Auxetic structures behave differently here. They have the striking property of not changing under tensile stress or even increasing their width or thickness. These properties are advantageous, for example, in protective textiles or textile filter media. The DITF are researching auxetic fabrics for various applications.

Groz-Beckert showcases textile innovation at ShanghaiTex 2025

From December 16 to 19, 2025, the global textile industry will gather at ShanghaiTex at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC), where Groz-Beckert will present its latest highlights and innovations across its five product areas – Knitting, Weaving, Nonwovens, Sewing, and Spinning – at Hall N3, Booth A05.

Happy Holidays!

Dear reader, the year 2025 is drawing to a close. We are entering what we hope will be a peaceful holiday season, spending time with our families and taking a moment to pause and reflect. We hope we have been able to support you once again this year with relevant news and articles, and we look forward to surprising you with many innovations in the coming year. Enjoy the festive season, stay healthy, and we wish you a happy and joyful holiday season.

Texpertise Focus AI: Messe Frankfurt puts Artificial Intelligence centre stage at its international textile and apparel trade fairs

Under the banner 'Texpertise Focus AI, Messe Frankfurt will place a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its international textile and apparel trade fairs from 2026 onwards, setting a future-shaping signal for the industry. The initiative highlights the responsible use of AI along the entire textile value chain, from fibre production to the point of sale. The programme will launch at Heimtextil in Frankfurt in January 2026.

Autoneum and Polestar set new benchmarks for passenger experience and sustainability

As the global market leader in sustainable acoustic and thermal management, Autoneum is a key supplier of interior and exterior components for the highly anticipated Polestar 5 model. The successful collaboration between Autoneum and Polestar marks a significant milestone in sustainable automotive engineering: the electric grand tourer sports car features several innovations in lightweight, fully recyclable polyester-based components that ensure a superior driving experience. Polestar 5 was revealed at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich and is available in 24 markets.

Cashmere producers stress the importance of The Good Cashmere Standard®

At the invitation of the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), over 70 experts from the cashmere production and supply chain, as well as other specialists, met at the GCS Unit Meeting in Shanghai, China to discuss the progress and new objectives of The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS). The meeting focused on implementation and verification of the standard, important aspects of animal welfare and the importance of the standard in the global textile market.