ABB has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swedish textile impact company Syre to examine technologies for textile-to-textile polyester recycling. The collaboration will support the development of Syre’s first recycling plant in Vietnam. It will focus on evaluating automation, electrification and digital solutions for industrial-scale operations.
ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Swedish textile impact company Syre to jointly explore technologies aimed at supporting the development of Syre’s first textile-to-textile recycling plant in Vietnam.
The agreement establishes a framework to assess how ABB’s automation, electrification and digital technologies can contribute to safe, efficient and scalable plant operations. It will also examine opportunities to enhance process optimization and quality control as Syre advances its objective of producing circular polyester at an industrial scale.
The proposed facility, to be located in Gia Lai province, Vietnam, is designed to recycle polyester derived from used textiles and industrial waste into new recycled polyester material. Polyester remains one of the most widely used fibers globally and is typically produced from fossil-based sources. Recycling polyester reduces dependence on virgin fossil inputs, lowers environmental impact and supports material circularity within the textile industry.
Under the terms of the MoU, both companies will evaluate how ABB’s technologies, including distributed control systems, digital industrial software and electrification solutions, can be adapted to meet the specific requirements of textile-to-textile polyester recycling. These activities are expected to proceed alongside the detailed engineering phase of Syre’s first plant.
“This agreement reflects ABB’s role in supporting emerging industrial applications where automation and electrification can enable greater resource efficiency,” said Wilson Monteiro, Global Business Line Manager for Pulp, Paper and Fiber in ABB’s Process Industries division. “Together with Syre, we will explore how our experience in fiber processing, chemicals and advanced process industries can be applied to polyester recycling. We’re excited to discover what’s possible as we embark on this new technological collaboration.”
“As we now move into full industrial deployment, partnerships like this become critical,” said Dennis Nobelius, CEO of Syre. “Industrializing textile-to-textile recycling is a complex undertaking, and while strong customer demand is essential, it must be matched with best-in-class industrial partners. ABB brings exactly the depth of expertise and execution capability needed; they are a cornerstone of the industrial ecosystem we are building.”
Since its public launch two years ago, Syre has expanded its technological capabilities, including the establishment of an R&D facility and a pilot production line in Mebane, North Carolina. In 2025, the company advanced to multi-ton production of circular PET chips, demonstrating the viability of its textile-to-textile recycling process. Syre is currently progressing plans for its first large-scale production facility in Vietnam, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027.
While the collaboration remains exploratory, it reflects ongoing efforts to develop next-generation fiber-based industrial processes. ABB continues to apply its expertise in automation, electrification and digitalization to support scalable and efficient production systems.
ABB operates as a global technology company in electrification and automation, with over 140 years of history and approximately 110,000 employees worldwide. The company’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).