#Associations

2026-10-01

VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board

Newly elected Executive Board of VDMA Textile Machinery // Image source: VDMA © 2026

At the general meeting of VDMA Textile Machinery held in Hanover at the end of September, Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, was re-elected as Chairman of the trade association. Regina Brückner, managing partner of Brückner Trockentechnik, and Verena Thies, managing partner of Thies Textilmaschinen, will once again serve as vice-chairs for the next four years.

The general meeting of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association took place in the trade fair city of Hanover, one year ahead of the leading trade fair, ITMA. The event’s theme, “The world is moving forward – where is Europe?”, outlined the industry’s current landscape: increasing competition from Asia, coupled with challenging business conditions in Europe, has led to significant declines in order intake and turnover in recent years.

Although the turnover forecast for 2026 had to be revised downwards to -14 per cent (nominal), order intake appears to be stabilising.

“The discussions and workshops at our General Assembly clearly demonstrated that our industry is in the midst of profound change. The challenges are considerable, yet we possess the innovative strength, the expertise and the technological leadership to actively shape these changes. Together, we will work to support our customers even more effectively throughout the entire lifecycle of their machinery and equipment, to capitalise on the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, and to strengthen the competitiveness of the European textile machinery industry in the long term. ITMA 2027 in Hanover will be an important milestone in showcasing our industry’s capabilities to the world,” explained Dr Janpeter Horn.

Dr Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery, added: “I look forward to working with the newly elected Executive Board. The board’s wealth of experience, high level of technical expertise and broad positioning reflect the diversity and innovative strength of our sector. Together, we will actively drive forward the key future issues facing the European textile machinery manufacturing sector and provide important impetus for the competitiveness of our industry.”

The Executive Board for the term of office from 2026 to 2030 comprises:

Dr Janpeter Horn, A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Oldenburg (Chair)

Regina Brückner, BRÜCKNER Trockentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Leonberg (Deputy Chair)

Verena Thies, THIES GmbH & Co. KG, Coesfeld (Deputy Chair)

Riccarda Dilo, Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik KG, Eberbach

Peter D. Dornier, Lindauer DORNIER GmbH, Lindau

Volker Gingter, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen, Mönchengladbach

Andreas Lukas, ANDRITZ Küsters GmbH, Krefeld

Dr Jörg Morgner, Temafa Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Bergisch Gladbach

Benjamin Reiners, Reiners + Fürst GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach

Markus Settegast, Groz-Beckert KG, Albstadt

Alexander Stampfer, Trützschler Group SE, Mönchengladbach

Georg Stausberg, Barmag GmbH & Co. KG, Remscheid

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Young researchers recognised for cutting-edge work in recycling, fibre technology and textile mechanics

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VDMA members at ITMA ASIA + CITME in Singapore

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VDMA member companies on display at ITMA ASIA

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ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

Italian textile machinery at TITAS 2026: strategic partnership and tailor-made solutions for the Taiwanese market

The excellence and innovative capabilities of Italian textile machinery technology are coming to Taipei for TITAS 2026 (Taiwan International Textile & Garment Machinery Show), the leading event for the island’s textile industry and the wider Asian region, scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 October 2026.

An eco-friendly alternative to fluorocarbon treatments

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Rieter appoints Daniel Lippuner as new CEO as Thomas Oetterli steps down

Thomas Oetterli has decided to step down from his function as CEO, effective October 31, 2026, and hand over the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. “After the successful implementation of the Next Level performance program, the structural measures initiated to consolidate the sites and the acquisition of Barmag, the time has come to hand over responsibility to new hands,” explains Thomas Oetterli.

Kraig Labs ships first commercial spider silk yarn

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