13 June 2025

Canada-based Solmax Group is sharpening its focus on high-performance technical textiles with the launch of its new Performance Materials platform, which brings together the industrial fabric expertise of legacy brands TenCate Geosynthetics and Propex. The goal: create a globally coordinated, innovation-driven offering for a diverse set of markets – from agriculture to infrastructure.

“We wanted a modern, global platform that reflects the technical fabric expertise already present in our companies and puts it in front of the customer in a clearer, more accessible way,” commented Jan-Willem Heezen, Managing Director Solmax in EMEA and APAC, in an exclusive interview with MoveTheNeedle.news.

TenCate and Propex have both been active in industrial textiles for decades, supplying engineered fabric solutions for civil engineering, erosion control, and environmental protection. Their expertise is now brought together under the Performance Materials banner, signalling a strategic move to unify strengths and present a more cohesive offering to the market.

“They’re well-established brands, and that depth of experience naturally shaped what we’re building today,” Heezen added. “Many of the facilities within the group already had industrial activities, and the people involved brought with them a strong sense of customer focus. We’ve kept that culture – being close to the customer, solving real-world challenges – and combined it with a more global structure.”

A Platform for Versatility and Growth

Performance Materials now serves a wide spectrum of end markets – including agriculture, aquaculture, building materials, trampolines, and other specialty applications. Heezen sees this as both a strength and an opportunity.

“The industrial textile market is broad. Performance Materials is our way of responding to that. It’s a generalist platform that brings together these diverse products in one place, so people can more easily see how our solutions perform technically, economically, and environmentally.”

A recent innovation that reflects this approach is the integration of TOPTEX covers into the offering – a durable, breathable fabric that protects straw and hay bales from mould. Farmers using TOPTEX benefit from better forage quality, reduced spoilage, and product lifespans that can reach up to 10 years – extending value while reducing both operating costs and environmental impact.

Focus on Innovation, Sustainability and Lifespan

Solmax’s approach to performance materials is increasingly defined by sustainability, recyclability, and longer product lifecycles. Recent product development initiatives include cow comfort fabrics for livestock operations, high-strength coated membranes for liquid containment, and reinforced materials that integrate advanced geotextile technology from its geosynthetics division.

“Our Performance Materials solutions are designed to reduce waste, minimize raw material use, and last longer,” said Heezen. “For example, we look at how to optimize material quantities and increase the service life of each product. In some cases, we also support recycling partnerships at the end of product life.”

Internally, Solmax has ramped up collaboration between its R&D teams and external technology partners. Materials are now developed through a more coordinated cross-brand process that incorporates life-cycle thinking from the outset. The Group’s environmental performance criteria are not treated as add-ons but integrated into core product engineering.

“This isn’t just a one-off initiative. It’s part of how we think – balancing cost, performance, and environmental goals.”

Global Coordination, Local Agility

The move to a unified platform also supports Solmax’s global delivery ambitions. Customers should expect not just more transparency across the portfolio, but also improved logistics and product availability.

“We’ve streamlined how we work across the group,” Heezen said. “There are also real product-level benefits.”

Solmax is investing in digitisation, platform integration, and supply chain upgrades to ensure customers worldwide have better access to its performance fabrics. In parallel, its existing regional operations continue to respond to local needs – an important dual focus that Heezen believes will help accelerate growth.

What’s Next for Performance Materials?

Looking ahead, Solmax sees two primary growth vectors: deepening penetration in established markets such as agriculture, recreation, and specialty textiles, and expanding into new sectors where technical fabrics can add value.

“We see strong growth potential on two fronts... At the same time, we’re actively exploring new sectors where technical textiles can offer value, from advanced liquid containment to green infrastructure or climate-resilient construction,” said Heezen. “Because we’re working from a globally coordinated platform, we’re in a better position than ever to move into more spaces and scale quickly when the opportunity is right.”

With an integrated platform, sustainable materials strategy, and a legacy of engineering excellence, Solmax’s Performance Materials division is positioning itself to become a leader in high-value industrial fabrics—solving complex problems across multiple industries, one application at a time.

 

 

TOPTEX protective covers safeguarding hay bales in a field against weather damage, spoilage, and UV exposure. (PRNewsfoto/Solmax)