Fiber Innovations: From Production to Application > Biopolymer & Natural Fibers

Advancing Sustainable Man-Made Fiber Research with Micro-Batch Spinner

Saal B
Donnerstag, 11.09.2025, 14:50 - 15:10 Uhr

The Micro-Batch Spinner is a novel lab-scale spinning device that enables the production of single filaments with industry-relevant properties using as little as 20 mg of initial material. This innovation facilitates spinning trials in research settings where novel bio-based plastic materials are synthesized in rather limited quantities.

Sprecher
Stefan Fliescher (Textechno H. Stein GmbH & Co. KG)
Co-Sprecher
Monika Oleksy (Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles – AME-BioTex, RWTH Aachen University)
Co-Authoren
Gunnar Seide (Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM), Maastricht University), Naveen Kumar Balakrishnan (Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Biohybrid & Medical Textiles – AME-BioTex, RWTH Aachen University), Kai Glassmacher (Textechno Herbert Stein GmbH & Co. KG)
The Micro-Batch Spinner is a novel laboratory-scale spinning device capable of producing single filaments with linear densities as low as 0.5 dtex at winding speeds up to 3500 m/min, using as little as 20 mg of initial thermoplastic material. This innovation addresses key challenges in the development of bio-based and sustainable polymers or additives, particularly in early research stages where material availability is often very limited. Developed collaboratively by AME-Biotex RWTH Aachen University and Textechno, the Micro-Batch Spinner enables the generation of filaments under relevant production conditions and with properties comparable to industrial multifilament yarns, allowing early-stage screening of thread-forming polymer candidates with promising spinnability. In this presentation, we will discuss the Mirco-Batch Spinner device in detail and showcase its capabilities, highlighting its potential to accelerate research and development of novel fiber materials. Using PLA as an exemplary material we will show measured fibre characteristics of filaments spun on this device. Additionally, the Micro-Batch Spinner will be on display during the conference, offering attendees a unique opportunity to explore this pioneering device in person.