February 2021
As a start-up, you have developed an innovative solution that helps automate more processes in professional textile care? How did you come up with the idea?
Dirk Siegmund: "In my department at Fraunhofer IGD, which deals with 3-D data and artificial intelligence, we conducted applied research and managed projects for textile service providers and textile reycling. In the process, we discovered that our algorithms from other fields work very well for the requirements of textiles, and indeed for use cases that are needed in industry. And that's how we came up with the idea of founding our own company. In addition, we received requests from industry that go beyond the services of Fraunhofer IGD, for example, the maintenance of a machine."
What is new about your innovation?
Dirk Siegmund: "The special thing about the technology is that we can also analyze textiles that are not spread out flat. Our algorithms can handle surfaces that have wrinkles and high variances, for example. So far, we have used our technology in sorting and quality control. For textile recycling, the system distinguishes up to 60 different categories such as pants, jackets, etc. In textile care, we use the technology for quality control: For example, we use it to check whether high-visibility clothing still complies with the applicable standards. We have also developed a control box that inspects textiles such as cleaning cloths, towels or bed linen in free fall from all sides and provides feedback as to whether the textile is still in good condition. Unusable textiles are then sorted out immediately. Thanks to ultraviolet sensors, we can also detect whether there are still organic substances in the tissue, such as blood or microorganisms. An interesting application in medical facilities."
What other plans do you have for the future?
Dirk Siegmund: "The topics of sustainability and ecology interest us very much. We want to try to contribute to a more frequent use of textiles. What I have in mind is that we refine our algorithms so precisely that shipping returns can be reused more frequently. There is also potential for the technology in textile recycling: Of the more than one million tons of old clothing collected in Germany each year, the majority has been thrown away up to now. If we can increase the recycling rate here through automation at a reasonable cost in terms of time and money, that would be a big step."
At Texcare International from November 27 to December 1, 2021, Messe Frankfurt will offer a start-up area for the first time, promoting young innovative companies with their solutions for textile care.
#Texcare International, #startups, #automation, #sustainability, #3DVisualization
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Tags
- Sustainability
- Trade Show