Webereien

Webereien are facilities where fabrics are produced by weaving warp and weft yarns on a loom. They range from small artisan workshops to large industrial plants and may specialize in particular materials or fabric structures. The term covers both the production of plain fabrics and complex weaves such as twill or satin, as well as jacquard fabrics produced by programmable looms.

Weaving has ancient roots, but mechanization transformed the industry during the Industrial Revolution. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, power looms and advances in warp preparation allowed higher output, followed by improvements in loom speeds, automated shedding, and integrated finishing. Today Webereien are part of global supply chains that often combine weaving with dyeing and finishing in multi-stage textile operations.

Core processes include yarn preparation (carding, drawing, and combing for fibers such as cotton or wool), warp preparation (warping and sizing), weaving on a loom (the warp threads crossing with the weft through the shed, followed by beating and take-up), and fabric finishing (bleaching, dyeing, printing, calendering, and sometimes coating). Modern looms may be rapier, air-jet, or water-jet types and can operate at high speed with automated quality control systems.

Materials commonly used are natural fibers like cotton, wool, linen, and silk, as well as synthetics such as polyester and nylon. Fabrics produced include plain weaves, twill and satin, and more complex jacquard patterns. Webereien are integral to fashion, home textiles, and technical textiles, but they face pressures from sustainability concerns, energy and water use, and global competition.