Innovative Textile Recycling

Innovative Textile Recycling

Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A. from Italy has been collaborating with the Recycling Atelier Augsburg since September 2024. Savio will support the Recycling Atelier in the areas of winding and quality control of yarns. This cooperation completes the process chain for mechanical textile recycling and opens up new research possibilities.

Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A. specialized in the textile machinery sector for the yarn finishing segment. The Italian company offers a portfolio of winding, twisting, air-jet spinning, shrinking and bulking machines with manufacturing plants in Italy and Asia. It has been operating for more than 110 years. The partnership adds another step to the process chain for mechanical textile recycling, completing it and opening up research possibilities in the areas of winding and quality control of yarns.

The Recycling Atelier partner network consists of twelve industrial companies that together cover the entire process chain of mechanical textile recycling. The addition of Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A. is an important component for the high-quality recycling of textiles. Savio contributes not only by sharing their valuable know-how in the winding field. The company also provides Proxima Smartconer® winder to the Recycling Atelier. The winding process is crucial for the quality of the yarn. Winding is the last step of the spinning process where the yarn can be controlled and qualified before it goes to the downstream processes of weaving, knitting, dyeing, and finishing.

Dr.-Ing. Georg Stegschuster, Head of Recycling Atelier, says: “Savio winding machines offer high productivity, low energy consumption, premium yarn quality, automation, and data connectivity. Those criteria are ideal for the setup in the Recycling Atelier. Plus, we receive insightful know-how directly from the manufacturer. We are looking forward to the cooperation and the positive impact that Savio’s involvement will bring to our applied research.”

Mauro Moro, CEO of Savio Macchine Tessili, is delighted about the partnership with the Recycling Atelier Augsburg: “The collaboration with the Recycling Atelier Augsburg is a step forward to advancing research in winding technology and quality control within the recycling context.”


Prof. Mesut Cetin, Institute Director of ITA Augsburg and professor at the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, explains the impact and work of the Recycling Atelier: “The Recycling Atelier, ITA Augsburg and the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg see themselves as a catalyst for industry towards sustainability. We welcome innovation and progress in any form. Whether application-oriented content or basic research, whether publicly funded projects or direct contract research – we are open to any exchange between industry and research.”

Over its 110+ years history, Savio acted as technological leader and innovative player in attractive niches of the textile value chain. Savio has a consolidated presence in all relevant geographies with a local-for-local approach, allowing Savio to promptly address market demand and requirements. Savio is specialized in the textile machinery sector for the yarn finishing segment being the leading supplier of winding, twisting and air-jet spinning machines with manufacturing plants in Italy, China and India.

The Recycling Atelier Augsburg is the first model factory for mechanical textile recycling worldwide. The aim is to use expertise from science and industry to develop innovative solutions for high-quality textile recycling in the sense of a sustainable material cycle along the entire textile production chain. The research and development work at Recycling Atelier Augsburg covers the entire path of textile secondary raw materials – from used textiles back into high-quality products.

As part of the Augsburg AI production network, the Institute of Textile Technology Augsburg, an affiliated institute of Augsburg University of Applied Sciences, initiated this model factory for the sustainable material cycle together with THA and opened it in June 2022.

The Augsburg AI Production Network, set up by the Bavarian state government, is a network of AI experts in the greater Augsburg area. The network partners are the University of Augsburg, the Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology IGCV, the Center for Lightweight Production Technology (ZLP) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Augsburg and the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg (THA). Regional industrial partners are also involved. The aim is to conduct joint research into AI-based production technologies at the interface between materials, manufacturing technologies, data-based modeling and digital business models. The Free State of Bavaria is funding the project with 92 million euros as part of the Hightech Agenda Plus.

In the AI Production Network, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg translates findings and developments in the field of AI into applicable solutions for regional industry and the skilled trades. Transfer is one of the THA’s core competencies. It uses its good networking with companies in the region and beyond to integrate the developed solutions quickly and precisely – whether physically in production facilities and infrastructures or strategically in the existing business model.

Source: Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A.