British innovation is setting new industry standards
Founded in 1940, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) champions UK textile machinery manufacturers and promotes their products worldwide. As a non-profit, it connects its members with diverse textile manufacturing sectors and fosters innovation, global partnerships, and industrial excellence.
Ahead of ITMA Asia + CITME 2025 in Singapore, BTMA’s CEO Jason Kent shares with Fibre2Fashion the latest breakthroughs from British textile machinery manufacturers, covering everything from advanced composites and fibre development to AI inspection and testing instrumentation.
What developments can we expect from BTMA members at ITMA Asia + CITME 2025?
Our members are unveiling a series of innovations designed to enhance efficiency and reduce resource consumption for fabric manufacturers. One standout is Fibre Extrusion Technologies’ (FET) new process for manufacturing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres using CO2. UHMWPE is incredibly strong—ten times stronger than steel by weight—but until now, the supply chain lacked flexibility. FET’s 500 series gel spinning system changes that, allowing for scalable, small-batch development and product innovation in this high-performance segment.
What role are BTMA members playing in the composites sector?
There is great news from our member Cygnet Texkimp, whose facility in Northwich, Cheshire, has been chosen by the UK’s National Composites Centre (NCC) for a new open-access carbon fibre development hub. It will house two digitally enabled lines for carbon fibre production and will be instrumental in scaling up the UK’s advanced materials capabilities. Several of our other members—Airbond, Autofoam, Roaches, Slack and Parr, Strayfield, and Tatham—are also deeply involved in composite reinforcements and technical textiles, and their contributions will be on display in Singapore.
How are BTMA members leading in testing and instrumentation?
British companies are continuing to raise the bar here. Verivide has released an upgraded version of its DigiEye imaging system with 100 per cent LED lighting, significantly improving the precision of colour assessments and supporting sustainable practices. Meanwhile, Q-Lab Corporation has launched the TUV-421 lamp, a major advancement in UV testing technology for detecting fading and colour changes. Both these innovations reflect a strong focus on quality, accuracy, and environmental responsibility.
What’s new with the Martindale testing standard?
Martindale testing has long been the go-to for abrasion and pilling testing, and James Heal has now re-engineered it for today’s needs. The new Martindale Motion features nine stations with individually operated lifting heads, allowing for different textile tests to run simultaneously without interruption. It is a game-changer for labs wanting to increase throughput and flexibility.
Any other recent announcements from BTMA members that you would like to share?
Yes, Shelton Vision has announced a cutting-edge AI Classifier that detects defects in patterned textiles at high speed. What is exciting is that this classifier can be retrofitted to existing third-party inspection systems that do not currently offer classification or grading. It is a brilliant way to extend AI capabilities to more manufacturers and further automate quality assurance.
What would you like to tell visitors to the ITMA Asia + CITME 2025?
The BTMA companies continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in several areas, including textile testing. They are each making solid contributions to the quality and performance properties of today’s textile products, and just as importantly, enabling manufacturers to prove their claims. We look forward to meeting customers— both old and new—in Singapore.
