Thriving on textile megatrends

Five megatrends are reshaping the textile industry and thus yarn manufacture. The Rieter strategy is designed to capture the growth opportunities that come with changing markets.

Sustainability is an overarching megatrend as the textile industry is a key contributor to climate change. With fiber consumption rising, recycling and resource-efficient technology will become ever more important. Rieter is developing state-of-the-art technology that achieves positive effects in the spinning process through a reduction in raw materials and energy, and promotion of textile recyclability. Rieter also offers the industry’s first fiber-to-fabric traceability technology. As a company, Rieter is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

Manufacturing is facing a major labor shortage that is set to worsen due to aging populations, loss of qualified workers and changing skill requirements. Spinning mills around the world struggle to recruit and retain skilled workers. Rieter’s automation technology enables mills to turn the labor crisis into an opportunity by helping to ensure consistent yarn quality, higher output and greater resource efficiency – thus improving the economic efficiency of spinning mills.

Digitization is transforming production processes in every industry, driven by the internet of things and artificial intelligence. Rieter machines record comprehensive data on material quality and machine status to optimize production quality and efficiency and enable preventive maintenance. Rieter’s vision is to create smart spinning mills with fully automated production – from fiber delivery to package palletizing.

As fiber consumption is projected to rise, the majority of growth will come from man-made fibers. The growth limitations of natural fibers such as cotton and linen is limited. Man-made fibers such as viscose or polyester will help to meet expanding demand for clothing, technical and home textiles.

The decoupling of the global economy is accelerating the trend towards a reshaping of the customer service footprint and a localizing of supply chains. Rieter has relocated production and R&D closer to customers, sharpening customer-centricity, accelerating the speed of product development and improving agility. The Campus with the industry's largest development and technology center is and will remain Rieter’s research and innovation hub.