Cross Wrap has delivered an automated bale dewiring and infeeding solution to Circulose’s Ortviken textile recycling plant in Sundsvall, Sweden, supporting the company’s commercial-scale restart and reinforcing momentum in the global textile recycling sector.
Automated preprocessing technology for a new phase of textile recycling
As Circulose moves toward restarting production at its Ortviken facility in the fourth quarter of 2026, Cross Wrap’s role highlights the growing importance of reliable automation at the earliest stage of textile recycling. The Finnish company has supplied its Cross Dewiring Machine along with a tailor-made conveyor system designed to feed recycled textile bales into shredding and further processing lines safely and efficiently.
The solution is intended to improve material flow, reduce operational risks, and protect downstream equipment from damage caused by bale wires. In large-scale recycling operations, these early-stage efficiencies can have a major impact on overall plant performance, maintenance demands, and workforce productivity.
Circulose recently confirmed that it is preparing to resume operations at its Ortviken plant, a facility widely recognized as the world’s first commercial-scale chemical textile recycling plant. The site is set to produce CIRCULOSE®, a dissolving pulp made entirely from discarded cotton textiles, as part of the company’s broader ambition to expand access to sustainable raw materials for the fashion and textile industry.
According to Cross Wrap, the automation system has been designed specifically for recycled textile bales, helping create a safer and more streamlined start to the recycling process. Aino Saarelainen-Hukkala, Sales Manager at Cross Wrap, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to combining operational efficiency with sustainability goals. She noted that automating bale dewiring and infeeding not only improves safety and productivity but also helps shield shredding equipment from unnecessary wear and maintenance interruptions.
Read more: Circulose Joins Spinnova Ecosystem to Accelerate Circular Textile Fiber Production
From Circulose’s perspective, the investment in preprocessing technology is also a practical step toward smoother commercial operations. Henrik Dahlbom, Project & Maintenance Manager at Circulose, said the dewiring solution improves both efficiency and workplace safety while reducing the risk of damage to the shredder. By lowering maintenance needs, the system also allows plant teams to focus more effectively on other critical operational tasks.
The development is significant not only for the two companies involved, but also for the wider textile recycling industry, which continues to search for scalable, commercially viable pathways toward circular production. As more brands and manufacturers seek alternatives to virgin fiber inputs, infrastructure at recycling plants is becoming just as important as the recycling chemistry itself.
With Ortviken preparing for its next commercial chapter, the integration of automated bale handling technology underlines a broader industry reality: scaling textile-to-textile recycling requires not only innovative materials, but also dependable industrial systems capable of supporting efficiency, safety, and long-term plant performance.
Cross Wrap continues to strengthen its presence in recycling, waste management, and material handling applications by offering tailored automation solutions that support productivity and sustainability across the value chain.
