FET-500 Series enables safer, small-scale UHMWPE gel spinning for R&D.
Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) has won the Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category for its breakthrough gel spinning system. The award, presented at Techtextil, recognises outstanding innovations in textile technology, sustainability, artificial intelligence and the development of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts.
The Techtextil Innovation Award highlights progressive solutions ranging from advanced materials to next-generation production technologies, supporting multiple end-use industries such as automotive, medical and construction.
FET received the recognition for its newly developed FET-500 Series, a system that enables rapid, small-scale gel spinning of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) without relying on the toxic solvents traditionally associated with the process. The company said the innovation addresses a key limitation in UHMWPE yarn development, where production has typically been restricted to large-scale setups, making research and experimentation costly and difficult.
With the new system, manufacturers and researchers can undertake R&D and product development more efficiently, while reducing operational costs, production footprint and environmental impact. The equipment is expected to significantly improve accessibility for innovation in UHMWPE yarns, widely used in high-performance applications.
Commenting on the achievement, Richard Slack, Managing Director, said, “We are proud that the Techtextil Innovation Award recognises our intensive work. It shows that we are at the forefront of technological developments supporting the textiles of tomorrow.”
FET stated that the award further strengthens its track record in processing more than 130 polymer types across multifilament, monofilament and nonwoven formats. The company continues to collaborate with specialist organisations globally to advance sustainability through innovative and cleaner manufacturing technologies.