Automation Caffeine

In this episode of Automation Caffeine, Jesse welcomes Max Easton, Global Innovation Director at Smartex, for a deep dive into how AI and advanced hardware are transforming one of the most traditional industries: textiles.

Max shares how Smartex integrates AI-powered cameras into textile machines, enabling real-time defect detection, reducing fabric waste, and cutting costs. With a focus on sustainability, Max explains how their technology addresses critical inefficiencies while making fabric production faster, smarter, and more eco-friendly. The conversation also explores the unique challenges of modernizing an industry that still relies heavily on manual labor, with insights into why outdated processes persist.

Max delves into the impact of legislation on shaping the textile industry, highlighting the U.S. ban on Xinjiang cotton. This policy, driven by grassroots movements raising awareness of large-scale forced labor linked to Xinjiang internment camps, has had a ripple effect on supply chain transparency and innovation. Max points to companies like Oritain, a New Zealand-based leader in cotton traceability, as a prime example of how innovation has surged in response. Using advanced lab techniques, Oritain can analyze a T-shirt or fabric sample and determine exactly where the cotton was grown—a game-changer for enforcing ethical sourcing.

Beyond technology, Max provides a candid look at the business realities of working in low-margin industries, explaining how Smartex balances selling hardware with exploring potential subscription or leasing models. He also unpacks the “Jevons Paradox”—why making processes more efficient can sometimes lead to higher overall resource consumption—and the importance of thoughtful innovation in tackling this issue.

With a long-term vision of creating eco-efficient, data-driven supply chains, Max offers a compelling case for why sustainability must align with commercial success. Whether you're passionate about the textile industry, sustainability practices, or the future of manufacturing, this episode is a must-watch!