Technology

At Texprocess in Frankfurt am Main (21–24 April 2026, Hall 8.0, Stand A18), the VEIT Group will present its latest solutions and product highlights for the industrial production of clothing and the processing of technical textiles. The focus is on efficient technologies for ironing, pressing, fusing, laminating and textile refinishing processes – ranging from classic applications in the clothing industry to technical textiles and the interior and automotive sectors.

Under the motto “Pressing for Excellence”, VEIT has spent the past two years working specifically on the further development of existing systems and on new solutions. Despite now having 70 years of company history, the firm is consistently increasing the pace of innovation in order to offer its customers tangible added value in the areas of automation and process control, even in a challenging economic environment. The trade fair motto “LOVEIT” stands for the combination of technical precision, energy efficiency and a consistent focus on user requirements.

The trade fair presentation will focus on solutions to key industry challenges:
• Reducing manual labour in the finishing, ironing and laminating processes
• Increasing productivity for small and medium quantities
• Further automation for high throughput (up to 5,000 items per hour)
• Ensuring consistently high processing quality
• Energy efficiency and sustainable production processes
• Flexible, scalable production solutions – from decentralised steam generation to wide fusing and laminating systems (45–180 cm working width)

Electric steam generator 2381: Flexible, decentralised steam generation up to 90 kW
Particular emphasis is placed on the expanded 2381 series for electric steam generation. VEIT is thus responding specifically to rising energy prices and the growing demand for flexible, sustainable supply concepts in production.

A high-performance variant is now available with:
• 90 kW connected load (400 V)
• Up to 117 kg of steam per hour

The series’ power range now extends from 2.2 kW to 90 kW, enabling a precisely tailored design for a wide variety of applications.

The modular expandability is particularly practical:
• Combination of up to 4 x 90 kW systems possible
• Adaptation to rising demand without fundamental system changes

This opens up new possibilities for decentralised steam generation, where steam is supplied directly to the relevant process. This reduces energy losses, increases operational reliability and allows for more flexible production structures. At the same time, installation is possible without major infrastructural changes.

Technical advantages and operational reliability
The 2381 series is consistently designed for reliable continuous operation:
• 50 L water volume and 25 L steam chamber for a stable supply
• Electronic water level control with dual protection against low water levels
• Generously dimensioned heating elements with low surface load for a long service life
• Integrated high-temperature feed water pump as standard

Simple integration and operation
• Integrated stainless steel feed water and blowdown tanks reduce installation effort
• Clearly structured controls facilitate commissioning and maintenance
• Blowdown process can be carried out safely from the front
• No acceptance testing required during commissioning

With this solution, VEIT offers an economical and future-proof alternative to traditional central boiler systems.

Fusing and Laminating Machines (FM / LM): New working widths of up to 1800 mm for maximum flexibility
The new generation of VEIT fusing and laminating machines has been specifically developed with a focus on energy efficiency, ergonomics and digital integration. With the new FM 18 and LM 18 models, VEIT is expanding its portfolio to include machines with a working width of up to 1800 mm.

In doing so, the company is responding to growing demands in the processing of roll goods – both in traditional garment production and in the technical textiles sector. The larger working width enables more efficient processing of wider materials and broadens the range of applications in industrial production environments.

At the same time, users benefit from the advancements in the current generation of machines:
• Optimised energy efficiency thanks to a revised insulation concept
• Improved ergonomics and accessibility for maintenance
• Enhanced control systems and interfaces for digital production processes

With a range of working widths from 45 cm to 180 cm, VEIT offers solutions for a wide variety of requirements – from smaller-scale applications in studios or research facilities right through to industrial series production.

WR 16 Winding and rewinding device: Efficient Material Handling
The WR 16 complements fusing and laminating systems with a flexible solution for continuous processes.
Features:
• Tension-free unwinding and rewinding
• Electrically controlled movements
• Automated process control
Additionally:
• Optical web edge detection
• Integrated cutting device
• Roll widths up to 1600 mm

Steambox SB 10: Targeted pre-shrinking for consistent material properties
With the Steambox SB 10, VEIT is expanding its portfolio to include a compact solution for the targeted pre-shrinking or shrinking of textiles and nonwovens.

The controlled and locally limited application of steam specifically reduces tension within the material. This ensures improved dimensional stability and prevents undesirable shrinkage behaviour in subsequent process steps.

The SB 10 is particularly suitable for applications where precise material properties along the edges are crucial – for example, in the further processing of technical textiles or sensitive materials.

Advantages at a glance:
• Targeted steam application for reproducible results
• Adjustable steam intensity to suit different materials
• Improved process reliability in downstream work steps
• Easy integration into existing continuous production lines

With its compact design, the SB 10 offers an efficient addition to production environments where material stability and process control play a central role.

Shirt Finisher SF 27: Energy-efficient shirt finishing with heat recovery
The Shirt Finisher SF 27 has been further developed in collaboration with fluid dynamics engineers and specialists in emissions optimisation. The focus was on improving the quality of the finish, as well as significantly optimising energy consumption and ergonomics.

The integrated heat recovery system utilises radiant energy and feeds it back into the process. This not only improves efficiency but also working conditions.

Performance data:
• Up to 80 shirts per hour
• Approx. 20 kg/h steam consumption

Since the last Texprocess, the system has been further optimised in collaboration with key customers. In particular, the amount of necessary post-processing (‘touch-up’) has been significantly reduced compared to standard market solutions.

CF 20 Compact Finisher: Automated finishing on a compact space
The CF 20 Compact Finisher is designed for businesses with limited space and medium production volumes. The cyclical, automated process ensures consistent operations and reliable results.

Advantages:
• Easy integration into existing production lines
• Time savings in the finishing process
• Reproducible quality regardless of the operator

PF 50 Pants Finisher: Precise trouser finishing with digital process control
The PF 50 combines modern control technology with Industry 4.0 connectivity. In addition to consistent finishing quality, the system also enables the continuous recording of relevant process data.

Key functions include:
• Stretch Control for adjusting waist size and leg length
• 2-dimensional waist tension for an extended size range
• Repeatable adjustment of waist tension

Universal Finisher UF 30: Versatility in a minimum space
The UF 30 enables the finishing of a wide variety of garments with short processing times starting from 10 seconds. It is now available in five modular versions: Classic, Universal, Kids, Blazer and Extended. This machine thus offers solutions for almost any top garment and saves up to 80% of the ironing that would otherwise be required without the UF 30.
• Flexible applications (modular, for 60–250 items per hour)
• Space requirement of only approx. 0.5 m²
• Ergonomic operation thanks to an adjustable chest

VEIT Varioset Ironing Station
The Varioset series offers powerful suction and blowing functions, combined with low noise levels and high reliability in continuous operation.

VEIT at Texprocess 2026
At the trade fair, VEIT will demonstrate how textile finishing processes can now be efficiently automated, flexibly scaled and made sustainable – from individual workstations right through to integrated production solutions.

In this article we share some thoughts about how the design software development supports different sectors of the industry.

The embroidery industry has various areas
Export and domestic embroidery
Thirty years ago, the industry was dominated by exporters who sold decorated garments to OECD countries. Domestic manufacturing was relatively small and traditional garments were mostly created by the cottage industry. Today, it is quite the opposite, domestic production dominates the industry while the export quantities of embroidered garment are relatively less significant. The industry is mostly focused on the domestic market, and this relates to embroidery machines imported with special functionalities. India is the largest importer of specialised embroidery machines and therefore use of specialised techniques is the highest here.

Logo embroidery and traditional fashion garments
In the OECD countries embroidery is focused on the Logo business, uniforms for military, police, security agencies, also corporate identification, schools, clubs, using embroidery on their uniforms. Another group is “corporate and fashion branding”, famous and popular brands of sportswear, leisurewear. Here “value addition” is the key profit factor, a plain, T-shirt will sell at a fraction of the price of a branded T-shirt that has a piece of embroidery that may cost less than a dollar to produce. Another very profitable niche market is the “haute couture”, where individual dresses are created by design houses. A growing area is the “traditional, folkloristic, tribal” dresses. Embroidery decoration has been created by hand for hundreds of years by the local cottage industries. With urbanisation and fastgrowing middle class, the cottage industry can no longer satisfy the demands, and the embroidery machine industry brought this area into mass production. The Indian seasonal traditions, like the “wedding season” create a predictable design and production cycle with demand for decorated dresses.

In India, being the most populous country in the world, the uniform sector has strong demand for logo embroidery, also, leisurewear is a fast-growing sector that requires simple embroidery machines but efficient design systems for high quality embroidery lettering and monograms as well as special effects used in artistic emblems.

Contract Designers vs in-house designing
Today there are millions small embroidery operators with a single machine and very little embroidery training. They mostly use contract designers; India has many of these companies. These design companies require high level design capabilities that can support any of the industry segments and design types efficiently.

Hobby users
A fast-growing area is the embroidery hobby market. Here efficiency is not critical but artistic expression is and simple easy operation that does not require a yearlong course to operate the software and the machine.

Embroidery Software developers like Wilcom, need to cater for demands from all parts of the world. For example, Wilcom has over three hundred thousand customers in 192 countries who continuously satisfy requests in every sector. One way of fulfilling the frequently raised demands is annual software releases.

In the last three years Wilcom released a major new version every year. The latest EmbroideryStudio 2026 shown at the GTE 2026 Delhi, includes several new features and improvements. Here we can talk about one feature that addresses an issue where embroidery and printing are quite different: color shading, i.e. how we can express a grading of colors with embroidery stitches? With the new Multi Blend feature a much more artistic shading can be producted. The designer can continuously change the stitch density in the individual objects. Visitors can see the latest features at the GTE.

The Secret to Long-lasting and Vivid Colors
In a consumerism era that values both personalization and sustainability, the textile printing industry is facing unprecedented challenges: how to achieve longlasting and vivid colors, produce efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner, and control costs simultaneously? Traditional printing technologies often struggle to balance color fastness, environmental compliance, and the expressiveness of complex patterns, becoming an “invisible bottleneck” for many enterprises.

High-temperature disperse ink technology is innovating industry logic, helping companies build differentiated competitiveness in a highly contested market with several breakthrough advantages. High-Temperature Disperse Ink High-temperature disperse ink is an advanced ink system developed specifically for digital textile printing. With its excellent adhesion, color performance, and environmental characteristics, it is gradually becoming the preferred solution for the mid-to-high-end printing market.

Core Technical Principle: Why does it “stick” to fibers better?
High-temperature disperse ink utilizes nano-scale pigment particles combined with high-polymer synthetic materials and eco-friendly solvents. Under the influence of high temperatures, it can penetrate deeply into the interior of the fibers and form a stable ring-bonded structure with the fiber molecules. This process not only strengthens color adhesion but also utilizes thermal-melt lattice fusion technology to ensure the printed patterns possess superior physical and chemical stability.

Four Major Advantages Addressing Industry Pain Points
Vivid and Long-lasting Colors, No Fading or Deformation Suitable for fine patterns and high-saturation designs with extremely high color restoration. Resistant to washing and friction; colors remain as good as new even after multiple washes, greatly improving product lifespan and customer satisfaction.

Environmentally Friendly and Healthy, Aligning with Sustainability Trends Contains no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or heavy metals, reducing pollution at the source. Complies with global environmental regulations and green consumption demands, helping enterprises build a “green supply chain.”

Strong Adaptability with Wide Application Scenarios Applicable to various synthetic and blended fabrics, such as chemical fiber fabrics or materials with a polyester coating on the surface. Performs excellently in fields like sportswear, home textiles, and high-fashion apparel, supporting small-batch and quick-turnaround orders.

Controllable Costs and Improved Production Efficiency The ink itself is competitively priced and compatible with existing digital printing equipment, requiring low investment for upgrades. The printing process is simple and stable, reducing scrap rates and significantly lowering comprehensive production costs.

Market Prospects: Not Just a Technology, But a Strategic Choice
As the textile market transforms toward customization, environmental protection, and high quality, high-temperature disperse ink is no longer just a “printing tool” but has become a strategic resource for enterprises to achieve technological upgrades, brand value enhancement, and sustainable development. In the future, it will play an increasingly critical role in intelligent printing, functional textiles, and closed-loop production systems.

(By CS Wu, Director International Business Development, DPI china)

February 10th, the HIKARI 2026 Global Tour of Intelligent New Product Launch – Indonesia Stop was successfully held at the Gumaya Tower Hotel.

Mr. Wu Liangjie, Chairman of HIKARI, solemnly unveiled two AI‑powered next‑generation intelligent sewing machines: the H9VIII Intelligent Lockstitch Sewing Machine and the HT92V2 Intelligent Double‑Needle Lockstitch Sewing Machine. The event drew nearly 300 clients in attendance, with numerous industry professionals expressing keen interest in the application prospects of AI technology in the sewing sector.

HIKARI has consistently maintained its passion and commitment to technological innovation. Its proprietary Intelligent Thread Tension Control Technology has been widely adopted in mass‑produced equipment and has received positive feedback from customers worldwide. The integration of AI technology represents a further leap forward, empowering factories to boost production efficiency while effortlessly producing garments of superior quality.

The event garnered extensive coverage from local media. The successful launch not only fully showcased HIKARI’s technological prowess and innovative achievements in the field of intelligent sewing, but also significantly elevated HIKARI’s brand influence and industry recognition in overseas markets, laying a solid foundation for the brand’s continued advancement in its global expansion strategy.

KARL MAYER’s new RE 6 EL from KARL MAYER brings a breath of fresh air to raschel fabric production. The latest samples from the textile product development department of this innovative textile machine manufacturer demonstrate the extensive design possibilities on offer.

A series of fine filet articles showcase lace looks in Jacquard style, including a version with sequential patterning. To produce the lightweight fabrics, the two front guide lay bars worked fine hole designs through the EL pattern drive, while GB 3 and GB 4 jointly produced a ground from powernet or variants thereof. The two GBs at the back were threaded with heavy elastane.

A dense fabric with a power net look combines a pleasant, subtly grainy feel with high modulus in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, making it perfect for use in shapewear and corsetry. Its exceptional stretch properties are based on two-needle-overlap and a high proportion of elastane with different elongations, threaded in GB 3 to GB 6. For a second family of patterns, a two-needle-overlap was used but unusually with filet threading. The result was a fine, open-structure with extremely high width stretch and – thanks to symmetrical counterlapping – a remarkably regular fabric appearance.

A third family of patterns was produced providing of a more delicate appearance, more suited to elastomeric underwear products, with a geometric pattern on a filigree net base. The articles were manufactured with a power net setup and a GB 1 and GB 2 threading of 1 in, 63 out. The long shogging distances of the guide bars and the low number of threads resulted in a very thin, lightweight fabric.

All items were a mix of semi-dull Nylon (DTY) and elastane.

Indian apparel manufacturing is at an inflection point. Rising labor costs, tighter buyer compliance, shrinking margins, Competition and faster delivery expectations have changed how factories evaluate technology. What was once treated as a production upgrade is now a strategic financial decision. Cutting automation sits right at the center of this shift.

Today, decision-makers are no longer asking “Which machine is cheaper?”

They are asking “Which system will cost us less over the next 10 years?”

The real cost of cutting goes beyond CAPEX
Cutting directly impacts some of the most critical cost and performance drivers in a factory:
• Fabric utilization
• Output consistency
• Order turnaround time
• Rework and rejection
• Energy and consumables

Yet many cutting investments fail because they are evaluated only on upfront price, not total cost of ownership (TCO).

In the Indian market, manufacturers typically face two choices:
1. Low-entry-cost systems with rising maintenance and downtime
2. Premium systems with strong technology but heavy long-term operating expense

What progressive factories are now seeking is a third path: Proven cutting performance with controlled lifetime cost.

Why German cutting technology makes a difference
German industrial engineering follows one core principle: Machines must perform reliably for decades, not just during demos.

KURIS Spezialmaschinen GmbH embodies this philosophy in cutting and spreading technology. With over 100 years of engineering heritage, Kuris machines are designed for:
• Continuous industrial use
• High mechanical stability
• Long service life with predictable maintenance
This focus on durability and precision directly translates into lower operational variability and better cost control for manufacturers.

Precision at end , scale at the other
Modern apparel production requires flexibility. Kuris single-ply cutting systems deliver high accuracy and clean cut quality for sampling, short runs, and complex materials. At the same time, Kuris high-ply cutting systems are built for volume production, handling dense lays while maintaining speed and consistency.

This range allows manufacturers to scale operations without compromising output quality.

Proven at scale, relevant for India
One of the strongest validations of any cutting technology is where it already performs at scale.

Kuris systems are widely deployed in export-driven manufacturing hubs such as Bangladesh, where factories face challenges very similar to India:
• Large order volumes
• Tight buyer timelines
• Margin pressure
• High utilization requirements

Technology that performs reliably in such environments does not rely on theory – it relies on field-proven engineering.

Why cutting automation is now a CFO conversation
Cutting machines don’t just influence production they influence financial predictability.

Energy efficiency, consumables, service intervals, uptime, and machine life all compound over years of operation. This is why CFOs are increasingly involved in automation decisions.

When evaluated correctly, cutting automation becomes:
• A margin protection tool
• A risk-reduction investment
• A long-term productivity asset Not just a line item on the CAPEX sheet.

Looking ahead
As Indian apparel manufacturing becomes more competitive, success will depend on choosing technologies that scale reliably and cost predictably over time. The conversation is no longer about buying machines. It’s about building factories that performyear after year. And cutting automation is where that journey begins.

RAJEEV SHARMA, Co-Founder & Director Sales, Venntags