Speakers' bios

21/10/2025 (09:00)

Welcome address

Pol Lombaert holds a PhD in Chemistry and is Centexbel’s new CEO since September 2025. After finishing his PhD, Pol has worked in the industry. During four years he worked at Remedent as R&D and production manager focusing on dental bleaching treatments. In 2007 he joined Beaulieu International Group where he was successively responsible for innovation in cushion vinyl, hard flooring and finally for the whole group. Pol has a strong belief in innovation, defined as change that creates value, and he’s a firm believer in collaboration as catalyst for innovation.

21/10/2025 (09:15)

Opening speech

Myriam holds a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry and a PhD in Polymer Chemistry. She began her career at Centexbel as a researcher in yarn engineering and, for nearly two decades, has led the R&D group focused on finishing and coating of materials such as textiles, paper, and plastics. Her team’s research spans a broad range of topics, including bio-based materials for coatings and inks, composites made from natural textiles and bio-based resins, innovative drying and curing technologies, conductive coatings and inks for smart textiles, and advanced recycling methods for coated textiles through layer separation technologies.

21/10/2025 (09:30)

The Safe and Sustainability by Design Framework 

Pieter Deckers earned his MSc in Biology from KU Leuven in 2012 and began his career in agricultural research and wastewater treatment. In 2021, he joined Normec OWS as an LCA Engineer, contributing to multiple EU-funded research initiatives and commercial LCA projects. His expertise and leadership led to his appointment as Division Manager of the Sustainability Assessment Services division in 2024.

21/10/2025 (10:00)

Designing PU for the future

David De Smet holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He joined Centexbel in 2011, where he is part of the “Coating and Finishing Technologies” research group. His current research focuses on ecological repellent textiles and the development of bio-based, biodegradable, and recyclable materials for textile coating and finishing. David has published extensively in the fields of sustainable materials and textile recycling, contributing significantly to innovation in eco-friendly textile technologies.

21/10/2025 (11:00)

Quality Control Systems – Indispensable in Modern Coating Processes

Matthias Wulbeck holds a degree in Textile Engineering from the Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences (1984–1987). He began his career at Mahlo GmbH & Co. KG in 1987 as an Area Sales Manager, overseeing markets in Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe, and was also temporarily active in India and China.

In 2010, he transitioned into the role of Product Manager within the Online Measuring Systems division. Since 2017, he has served as Sales Manager for the same division, bringing decades of experience and technical expertise to the global market.

21/10/2025 (11:30)

From Web to Roll: End-to-End Lamination, Slitting & Winding Solutions for Technical Textiles

Martijn van Dorp is the Technical Commercial Manager at Crest Dutch Machinery. With a background in engineering, he brings together technical expertise and commercial acumen to seamlessly connect sales, engineering, production, and customer needs. In his role, he oversees the development and delivery of both standard and custom-built machines for end-to-end lamination, ensuring that each solution meets technical specifications and aligns with client requirements.

21/10/2025 (12:00)

Magnet Roll Coating Technology

Rupert Lerchner is the Technical Director at Zimmer Austria. He studied Mechanical Engineering in Graz and Aberdeen, and began his career in the automotive and energy sectors. For the past 12 years, he has specialized in the development of advanced machinery for the coating industry, combining engineering expertise with a strong focus on innovation and industrial application.

21/10/2025 (14:00)

AGXX – Anti-Odor and Anti-Microbial Efficacy with a Non-Leaching Catalytic Effect

Maximilian Fritz holds a PhD in Chemistry with a specialization in inorganic chemistry, focusing on nitrogen functionalization. He has been part of the innovation team at Heraeus Precious Metals for the past three years, serving as Project Manager for the AGXX® technology platform.

In his role, he coordinates laboratory activities related to the development of AGXX® particles and leads research efforts in various application areas, with a particular focus on antimicrobial solutions for textiles.

21/10/2025 (14:30)

Advances in PFAS-free Water Repellent Coatings and Crosslinkers for Textile Applications

Luka Kovacevic earned his PhD in Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. He joined Rudolf GmbH, a leading German textile chemicals company, in 2014.

Initially serving as Technical Manager, he played a key role in transitioning customer aftercare applications—such as waterproofing sprays—to fluorine-free solutions. In 2019, he was appointed Senior Technical and Business Development Manager, taking responsibility for Rudolf’s water repellents product portfolio used in textile mills worldwide.

21/10/2025 (15:00)

Functional Finishes for Sportswear: Products for Better Performance & Recovery-Focused Finishes

Roberto Teixeira, Ph.D., serves as Chief Technology Officer at Devan, a global leader in textile innovation. He holds a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Warwick and completed postdoctoral research at Ghent University, specializing in polymeric materials and nanocomposites. This academic foundation equipped him with deep expertise in polymer synthesis, material characterization, and technology transfer.

Following his postdoc, Roberto transitioned into industry, where he has held several senior roles in R&D and innovation. His career has focused on advanced materials, functional chemistry, and sustainable product development, resulting in multiple patents and the successful launch of cutting-edge technologies. At Devan, he blends scientific rigor with strategic insight to drive technological advancement and global innovation.

21/10/2025 (16:00)

More Matt, More Resistant to Abrasion: Rethinking Coated Textiles with a Multifunctional Additive

I am Maud Basset, Business development manager and technical support at Arkema for Orgasol® and Rilsan® fine powders used as additives in coatings. I am in close contact with our R&D team to better support our customers to use our powder according to their needs, specifications, and constraints. 

I joined Arkema in June 2021 after 13 years at BASF in coatings division for automotive paint. I worked in different jobs, from the lab to the business development for OEM customers.

I am a Chemical engineer.

21/10/2025 (16:30)

UV/EB: A Sustainable Solution for Artificial Leather

Pablo Marín currently serves as the Technical Service & Business Development Manager for the EMEA region at Allnex, with a focus on radiation curing applications. He joined Allnex in 2021, bringing with him valuable experience from his previous role as a Technical Service Specialist at Huntsman. Pablo holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and combines his technical expertise with a strong commitment to customer-focused innovation.

21/10/2025 (17:00)

Mind the Gap – Bio-based Coating for Sustainable Textiles

I connect governments and companies with our material chemistry teams and explore new international markets for TNO innovations in biobased materials. In addition to my Business Development work, I also serve as EU Manager for the Energy and Materials Transition Unit, where the globally leading Dutch expertise in renewable and sustainable energies and materials is showcased. I am active in the EU Partnerships A.SPIRE, Circular Biobased Europe, and Innovative Advanced Materials, and I represent TNO at the European Composites, Plastics and Polymer Processing Platform and Euroheat & Power. Furthermore, I am the Business Developer for the Sugar Horizon of the Shared Research Programme Biorizon

22/1/2025 (09:00)

PHA Plastisols: Sustainable Alternatives to PVC in Coating and Print Technologies

Brecht Demedts is a researcher in Centexbel’s Coating & Finishing Technologies team, where he focuses on applied research that drives sustainable innovation in the textile and plastics industries. His expertise lies in developing advanced bio-based and biodegradable formulations, contributing significantly to Centexbel’s progress in textile printing technologies. Brecht plays a key role in pioneering new coatings and inks based on PHA and PLA, which open up exciting possibilities for renewable surface treatments. His work not only supports the shift toward a biobased economy but also helps reduce microplastic pollution and ensure safer, more environmentally responsible products.

22/10/2025 (09:30)

Bio-Inspired Coatings: the Potential of Lipid-Based Medical Device Coatings

Jasper van Weerd is the founder and CEO of LipoCoat BV, a biotechnology company specializing in bio-inspired coatings for medical applications. He holds a PhD in supramolecular chemistry and brings over a decade of experience in venture building. In addition to LipoCoat, he has co-founded Sono-Coat BV and ScoutinScience BV.

22/10/2025 (10:00)

More Sustainable High Performance Textile Coatings

Torsten Pohl holds a PhD in Chemistry and is the Head of Global Textile Coatings at Covestro based in Leverkusen, Germany. As the general manager he oversees all global textile coatings businesses and functions. With over 29 years of experience in various technical, marketing & business roles, he has developed a comprehensive understanding of both the technical and market dynamics of polyurethane coatings including textile coatings. His career included assignments with increasing responsibility in Leverkusen (Germany), Boston (USA) and Pittsburgh (USA).

22/10/2025 (11:00)

Recyclable Coatings to Improve Circularity in the Textile Industry

Roy Lubbers holds a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a specialization in Materials Science from the University of Twente. He began his career in 2015 as a Project Manager at Schmits Chemical Solutions in Almelo, the Netherlands, focusing on textile coatings and finishes. Since 2018, he has been serving as R&D Manager, leading innovation in chemical formulation and product development. Roy brings a strong background in applied materials science and excels in cross-functional project coordination, driving forward-thinking solutions in textile chemistry.

22/10/2025 (11:30)

Influence of Dyeing on Thermal and Rheological Behavior of PET during Fiber-To-Fiber Recycling

Alexandra Glogowsky is a research assistant at the Research Institute for Textile and Clothing at Hochschule Niederrhein – University of Applied Sciences, where she has been active since 2016. She holds a Master’s degree in Textile Engineering from the same institution (2018) and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on the functionalization of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

Her research centers on the development of innovative technical textiles, including glass fibre-based backings for tufted structures, the integration of 3D printing on textiles for applications in smart textiles, personal protective equipment (PPE), membranes, and other technical fields, as well as the chemical and thermomechanical recycling of PET. Her work bridges advanced material development with cutting-edge processing technologies.

22/10/2025 

12:00: Extrusion-Coated & Multilayer Sandwich Textiles for Healthcare Mattress Covers

Pramod Agrawal is a seasoned technopreneur with 24 years of experience spanning multidisciplinary education, research, sustainable innovation, and entrepreneurial ventures. He has a proven track record in both fundamental (TRL 1–3) and applied (TRL 4–6) research and development, with strong industry collaborations. Currently, Pramod serves as a project leader in the research group for Sustainable and Functional Textiles at Saxion University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, where he focuses on developing forward-thinking textile solutions with real-world impact.