Institute of Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University
On March 7, Ina Brandes, Minister of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, visited Institute Director Prof. Dr. Thomas Gries to gain a personal impression of research at the Institute of Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University. Her tour took her through the central steps of the textile process chain – from primary spinning and fiber spinning processes to modern composites such as fiber composites and textile concrete. The ITA focuses on sustainability, circular economy and bioeconomy and offers a comprehensive range of training courses, from industrial training to doctorates. As a technology driver in textile technology, the ITA focuses on digitalization and automation and the use of artificial intelligence (AI), especially neural networks, which have been developed at the ITA for more than 30 years.
Science Minister Ina Brandes: “Thanks to Prof. Thomas Gries and his team for the great insight into the outstanding work of the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University. Interdisciplinary research, development and design have been carried out here for over 90 years – for example on sustainable fibers to reduce the use of petroleum-based materials. Overall, the range of applications for the materials researched is impressive: from artificial soccer turf to sportswear, medical materials such as heart valves and textile concrete for the construction of buildings. With state-of-the-art technology and a strong network of science and industry, the ITA is setting standards for textile solutions of the future.”
The ITA researches and develops technical textiles for the needs of today and tomorrow. This includes, for example, the BIO-TURF project. It is part of the BIOTEXFUTURE innovation area for bio-based textile research funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The aim here is to convert the textile value chain from petroleum-based to bio-based. Another major project is the WIRKsam competence center. By designing AI-supported work, WIRKsam aims to improve the competitiveness of companies and make work healthier and more attractive. Other project examples include sustainable pipeline systems for the future, textile recycling and reducing the CO2 footprint. For example, the ITA is researching how recyclable insulation textiles can contribute to thermal insulation or how textiles can be used to automatically and sustainably remove oil spills from water. To this end, the ITA is active worldwide and internationally, including in cooperation with South Korea on industrial digitalization and renewable energies, to name just a few examples.
With more than 100 doctoral students and a total of around 400 employees, the ITA is one of the five largest institutes at RWTH Aachen University.
Further information can be found at www.ita.rwth-aachen.de
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