#Technical Textiles

2026-03-26

Mattes & Amann Group unveils TE-PAC at AIX

A new era for aircraft cabin interiors — Seven years in the making

What began as a bold idea inside the Mattes & Amann Group has, after seven years of relentless development, become a tangible product that could redefine how aircraft cabins look and feel. At the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2026 in Hamburg — the world's leading trade fair for aircraft cabin products, celebrating its 25th edition — Blanke textech GmbH presents TE-PAC: the Advanced Textile Laminated Cabin Panel.

Developed in close collaboration with Airbus and Diehl, TE-PAC is not an incremental update — it is a fundamental rethinking of the aircraft interior surface. By laminating a premium textile directly onto a lightweight honeycomb composite panel, the system creates a seamless, joint-free cabin surface that simultaneously meets the strictest aerospace performance requirements.

“This premiere represents the result of seven years of intensive development within our group. We are proud to bring TE-PAC to AIX — the right stage for a solution of this scope. At the same time, we know the reality of aviation: market entry barriers are high. Certification processes, qualification requirements, and supply chain integration demand patience and sustained commitment. We are prepared for that path", says Anton Schumann, Board / Sales / Communications at Blanke textech GmbH.

A product that transforms cabin panels into design statements

Traditional wrapped panels have long frustrated aircraft manufacturers and airlines alike: excessive material waste, time-consuming manual finishing, visible seams and wrapping edges. TE-PAC eliminates all of that. The result:

A smooth, seamless textile surface — no joints, no wrapping edges visible

Flexible design language for airline branding and premium cabin segments

Significant CAPEX advantages through reduced textile waste and faster installation

Textile-based acoustic dampening and premium tactile quality for passengers

Innovation rooted in partnership — and built for the long haul

The collaboration with Airbus and Diehl was not incidental — it was essential. Aviation demands more than clever materials; it demands verified, certified, integrated solutions. The Mattes & Amann Group has invested seven years in exactly that: understanding the aerospace supply chain, aligning with OEM requirements, and engineering a product that works not just in a lab, but on an aircraft.

TE-PAC creates tangible value across the entire value chain — for aircraft manufacturers, cabin integrators, airlines, and ultimately, passengers who experience a more refined and comfortable cabin atmosphere.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Keeping products moving with Swedish automation at FILTECH 2026

At FILTECH 2026, taking place in Cologne from June 30th to July 2nd, members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery association – will highlight how the country’s engineering expertise is enabling filtration manufacturers to increase productivity, improve traceability and reduce dependence on labour-intensive manual processes.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.