CEN/TC 466 has established a new working group focused on product information, labeling, and digitalization. Experts and stakeholders are invited to contribute to standards that support more circular and recyclable fishing gear and aquaculture equipment.
This month's patent alert highlights recent innovations in PFAS-free technologies for textile materials. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their extreme persistence in the environment, are among the most concerning classes of contaminants found in a wide range of consumer and industrial products.
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Centexbel welcomes David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Agriculture, to its site in Kortrijk. During the visit, the minister gains insight into the role Centexbel plays as the Belgian competence center for the textile and plastics industry.
This month's patent alert highlights recent innovations in conductive textiles and smart clothing systems. Conductive textiles are a rapidly evolving field that combines textile engineering with electric properties, enabling wearable systems for health monitoring, motion sensing, data transmission, and personal protective equipment (PPE). As demand for textile-integrated electronics continues to grow, innovation is increasingly focused on improving conductivity, stretchability, durability, washability, and signal reliability.
This month's patent alert highlights recent innovations in protective clothing and specifically firefighter clothing systems. Protective clothing is a rapidly evolving field that combines textile engineering with the search for ultimate properties combinations, such as comfort and protection against different hazards. Centexbel plays a key role in both the testing and certification of protective clothing.
