100 years of ANDRITZ LAROCHE

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ANDRITZ Laroche: Hit the century mark!

It is still something special to celebrate a company's 100th anniversary. Over the decades, ANDRITZ Laroche has distinguished itself above all through its adaptability, its excellent instinct for trends, and, of course, its first-class team.

Founded in 1926 by the grandfather of Robert Laroche, who later became the company's long-standing managing director, ANDRITZ Laroche developed machines for breaking down old textiles into fiber components and is now one of the most influential companies in the ANDRITZ Group. It is the center of excellence for state-of-the-art textile recycling, airlay, and bast fiber technology and supplies high-demand machine components all over the world for the textile and nonwovens industry.

A century of innovation rooted in Cours‑la‑Ville

The story of ANDRITZ Laroche begins in 1926 in the small industrial town of Cours‑la‑Ville, France, where the company laid the foundation for what would become one of the world’s leading specialists in textile recycling, fiber treatment, and nonwoven technologies. From the very beginning, Laroche set itself apart as a pioneer. Its journey started with the development of the first tearing machine designed specifically for regenerating textile waste, a groundbreaking technology at a time when the reuse of textiles was still in its infancy.

Building a strong relationsship with the nonwovens industry

Laroche built its reputation by specializing in opening and cleaning operations for natural fibers, supporting both spinning mills and the emerging nonwovens sector. Over the decades, the company refined its expertise in processing challenging fiber materials, laying the foundation for a long-standing culture of innovation. By the early 1990s, this development culminated in Laroche’s entry into the nonwovens market with the launch of its first airlay machinery, expanding both its technological capabilities and customer base.

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Vintage tearing machine of ANDRITZ Laroche in the 20's of the last century

From 1926 to now: Most important milestones in the history of ANDRITZ Laroche

“Reaching 100 years is more than an anniversary — it is a tribute to the people, the passion, and the constant innovation that shaped Laroche from a small workshop in Cours‑la‑Ville into a global reference for textile recycling and fiber technologies. I am deeply proud of this legacy and even more inspired by the responsibility we carry for the next century. Together with ANDRITZ, we continue to push boundaries, rethink materials, and build a more sustainable future for our industry.”

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Alexandre Butté

Vice President Engineered Textiles & General Manager, ANDRITZ Laroche

Expansion and acquisition by long-term partner ANDRITZ

Between 2016 and 2026, ANDRITZ Laroche experienced a decade of accelerated development, marked by major technological achievements, strategic integration, and growing global relevance in textile recycling and nonwoven innovation.

A defining turning point came in 2021, when Laroche officially joined the ANDRITZ Group, becoming ANDRITZ Laroche. This integration combined Laroche’s long‑standing leadership in fiber treatment and recycling with ANDRITZ’s extensive nonwoven and textile technologies, creating a uniquely comprehensive portfolio for circular fiber processing and industrial recycling solutions.

Following the integration, 2024 and 2025 were characterized by strong industry momentum. As global brands and manufacturers intensified their focus on sustainability and circularity, ANDRITZ Laroche’s recycling technologies gained increasing recognition as essential enablers of fiber‑to‑fiber material loops. Industry commentary emphasized the company’s role in addressing textile‑waste challenges and supporting large‑scale recycling initiatives.

At ANDRITZ Laroche in the Technical Center: Innovative spirit is just as much a part of it as modern automation and digitization of the machines

Since merging with ANDRITZ, Laroche's old logo is now history. What remains is the innovative spirit.

Classic print advertising from the first half of the last century for Laroche equipment

Even the world was still black and white, 100 years ago guys worked on innovations

Outlook: ANDRITZ Laroche is poised to evolve in the coming years

A major milestone occurred in 2021 when Laroche joined the ANDRITZ Group as ANDRITZ Laroche. The merger unified Laroche’s expertise in fiber treatment and recycling with ANDRITZ’s broad nonwoven and textile technologies, creating a strong, end‑to‑end portfolio for circular fiber processing and industrial recycling.

In the years that followed, particularly 2024 and 2025, growing global pressure for sustainability strengthened the market relevance of ANDRITZ Laroche. As brands increasingly pursued circular material strategies, the company’s recycling technologies became essential for enabling fiber‑to‑fiber systems and tackling textile‑waste challenges across the industry.

Laroche’s airlay technology, refined over more than two decades, further reinforced this position. Designed to process natural, synthetic, and recycled fibers, these solutions support rising demand for sustainable nonwovens in sectors such as packaging, automotive, and construction. This innovative strength is also supported by Laroche decortication technology, which uses natural fibers such as hemp or flax to produce fibers for further processing, e.g., in the field of mattress, furniture, and other upholstery.

With ongoing advancements toward higher capacity, improved energy efficiency, and greater versatility, ANDRITZ Laroche is well equipped to scale the next generation of sustainable nonwoven and textile production.