Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH

What Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH does

Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH (ITA Augsburg) is a non-profit applied research institute (gGmbH) based in Augsburg, Germany, founded in 2019 as part of the ITA Group organized around RWTH Aachen University's Institut für Textiltechnik. It also operates as an affiliated institute (An-Institut) of Technische Hochschule Augsburg (THA), with institute director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Mesut Cetin holding a teaching role at THA. The institute functions as a contract research service provider focused on three pillars: mechanical textile recycling (centered on the Recycling Atelier model factory), fiber-reinforced composite processing, and AI/digitalization for industrial production processes.

The institute operates specialized pilot-scale equipment including an Engel insert 1050H/200 thermoforming system (200 t closing force) and a Dilo Systems nonwoven production line for carbon fiber processing. Its technical differentiators include the Recycling Atelier (established 2019, claimed as a unique model factory for high-quality upcycling rather than downcycling), the KIPP platform (a model factory for AI applications in continuous processes, developed jointly with THA), and demonstrators such as RecyTape (recycled carbon fiber tape achieving up to 60% of virgin tape mechanical properties). Active projects span recycling cataloguing (TexReKat), circular knitwear systems (NEW KNIT), AI-driven sorting (TexSpread360), photonic AI elastane identification (Uncover Elastane), and municipal textile waste management (MaKoSaTex).

Revenue is generated through two streams: contract research services for industrial partners (component design, prototype development, recycling studies, nonwoven fabric production) and publicly funded research projects from sources including BMBF, BMWI/BMWE, BMWK, AIF, EU, DFG, and Bavaria state funding. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based, with free initial consultations. The institute does not publicly disclose revenue figures, and operates from two Augsburg locations: the headquarters at Am Technologiezentrum 5 and the technical center / Recycling Atelier at Werner-von-Siemens-Straße 6 in the Sigma Technopark.

Name

Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH

Legal name

Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH

Website

https://ita-augsburg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ITA Augsburg is a non-profit applied research institute in Augsburg, Germany, providing contract R&D in mechanical textile recycling, fiber-reinforced composites, and AI-driven process optimization for industrial manufacturers and the textile sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Textile and Materials Research Services

NAICS

Industrial Launderers (812332), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Laundry & Textile Waste Services (Non-hazardous) (EUAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ), Enterprise Architecture & IT Operating Model (BPAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Mechanical textile recycling
• Composite material processing
• AI production optimization
• Contract research services
• Nonwoven fabric manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Augsburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Direct research and development services for industrial partners, including component design, prototype development, recycling studies, and nonwoven fabric production. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with manufacturing companies.
2. Publicly Funded Research Projects: Revenue from government-funded research projects including BMBF, BMWI, BMWK, AIF, EU, DFG, Bavaria state funding, and other organizations. Projects include TTP-LB, aviation research programs, and various collaborative research initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ITA Augsburg is a contract research and development service provider specializing in mechanical textile recycling, sustainable composites manufacturing, and AI-driven process digitalization. Its flagship facility, the Recycling Atelier, operates as a model factory for sorting, tearing, and reprocessing technical and clothing textiles via spinning or nonwoven routes. The institute also delivers composite component development using recycled secondary raw materials on an Engel insert thermoforming system, and applies AI/robotics to continuous production processes through the KIPP model factory.

Product overview

Institut für Textiltechnik Augsburg gGmbH (ITA) is an international research service provider in high-performance materials and manufacturing technologies, part of the ITA Group around RWTH Aachen University. The institute offers a portfolio of research services organized around three main areas: Textile Recycling (through the Recycling Atelier model factory), Composites processing, and AI & Digitalization. Key offerings include rapid prototyping for sustainable products, process/product/machine development, and AI-supported solutions for textile, plastics, and composites industries. The institute also operates specialized equipment including an Engel insert thermoforming system and Dilo nonwoven production line.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recycling Atelier Model factory service offering for mechanical textile recycling of technical and clothing textiles, including rapid prototyping for sustainable products, workshops on textile recycling basics, proof-of-concept and prototype product development, and support for industrial implementation and scaling. Targets industrial partners and research collaborators in the textile, plastics, and composites industries.
• Composites Research & Development Services Research and development services covering processing of recycled composite secondary raw materials from material to final component, including process, product, and machine development plus training. Offered to industrial partners seeking sustainable composite solutions and access to pilot thermoforming equipment.
• AI & Digitalization Services Service offering for realization of AI-supported processes in the textile, plastics, and composites industry, covering digitalization, data acquisition, and AI integration from a single source. Includes process automation, anomaly detection, computer vision, predictive analytics, and optimization through industrial AI methods.
• Auftragsforschung (Contract Research) Contract research services including studies on recycling of components or materials, component design and prototype development, and nonwoven fabric production with all kinds of fibrous materials. Project-based engagements with industrial partners and research collaborators.
• RecyTape Demonstrator tape product made from highly oriented recycled carbon fibers, achieving up to 60% of virgin fiber tape mechanical properties with adjustable fiber volume content. Processable with modern wallpapering methods, intended for downstream composite manufacturers and product developers.
• KIPP (KI-Produktionsplattform für kontinuierliche Prozesse) AI Production Platform for continuous processes - a model factory combining expertise from THA and ITA Augsburg to develop and test cross-industry digitalization and AI solutions for continuous production processes. Open to industry partners for collaborative projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• RecyTape achieves up to 60% of mechanical properties of virgin fiber tape
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ITA Group / Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITA Augsburg is part of the ITA Group organized around the Institute for Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University, one of the largest textile research centers in Europe. This partnership provides access to extensive textile research expertise and network.
• Technische Hochschule Augsburg (THA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITA Augsburg is an affiliated institute (An-Institut) of Technische Hochschule Augsburg. Prof. Mesut Cetin serves as institute director and teaches at THA. Close collaboration exists for student supervision and research projects.
• a.m.sports GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in Eco2X project for development of sustainable kites and wings for water sports, combining ITA's material expertise with a.m.sports' market knowledge.
• Technische Hochschule AugsburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Eco2X project for sustainable water sports equipment development.
• Faser Institut Bremen e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in NICItA project for development of nonwoven materials for aviation structures. Collaboration on carbon fiber and thermoplastic hybrid nonwoven development.
• bifa (Bayerisches Institut für Abfallforschung und -beratung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on TREC H2 study examining economic potential of textile recycling and hydrogen production from textile waste in Bavaria.
• KI-ProNet AugsburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI/ML network in Augsburg region. Supported by Hightech Agenda Bayern. ITA Augsburg participates in AI research initiatives through this network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Renewcell: Swedish commercial-scale textile-to-textile recycling company producing Circulose pulp from discarded cotton textiles. An emerging commercial counterpart to ITA Augsburg's mechanical textile recycling R&D, validating industry demand for the institute's upstream research.
• ELG Carbon Fibre: Carbon fiber recycling company converting manufacturing waste and end-of-life CFRP into reprocessed carbon fiber products. Comparable to ITA Augsburg's recycled carbon fiber (RecyTape) and composites work, representing a commercial pathway for the institute's demonstrator IP.
• Worn Again Technologies: UK-based textile recycling startup developing chemical and mechanical processes to recover polyester and cotton from end-of-life textiles. Comparable to ITA Augsburg's Recycling Atelier in textile recycling mission, but at commercial-pilot stage rather than research institute stage.

Direct peers

• DITF Denkendorf (Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung): Major German textile and fiber research institute covering natural and synthetic fibers, textile chemistry, and recycling. Comparable in mission and operating model (contract research + public grants, pilot facilities) to ITA Augsburg's textile recycling and composites work.
• Hohenstein: Textile testing and research organization with deep expertise in textile performance, sustainability, and recycling validation. Comparable service-based, contract-research model and overlap with ITA Augsburg's textile recycling and material characterization work.
• TITK Rudolstadt (Thüringisches Institut für Textil- und Kunststoff-Forschung): German research institute focused on textile and plastics technologies, including polymer processing, fiber-reinforced composites, and sustainable material development. Directly comparable to ITA Augsburg's composites and AI-for-manufacturing portfolio.
• Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University (ITA Aachen): Parent organization of the ITA Group around RWTH Aachen University. Operates overlapping textile, composites, and manufacturing-process research programs and shares grant consortia and industry relationships with ITA Augsburg.
• Saxion (Next Fashion & Textiles research group): Dutch applied research university group focused on circular textiles, fashion technology, and sustainable material development. Comparable in textile recycling R&D and circular-economy positioning, though regional to the Netherlands.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute (relevant divisions, e.g., IAP, IZM, IWKS): Germany's largest applied research organization with multiple institutes covering polymers, materials, and production technology. Comparable in contract-research and grant-funded operating model but much broader scope and scale than ITA Augsburg's textile focus.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Nordic applied research organization with active programs in circular textiles, fiber recycling, and industrial AI. Comparable in mission and service offering, with broader industry coverage and similar European public-grant capture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ita-augsburg
• Instagraminstagram.com/itaaugsburg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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