Energy transition will be a key theme at the 63rd Dornbirn Global Fibre Congress (GFC) which takes place in the Austrian town from September 11-13.

In a keynote address on the opening day of the conference, Rudolf Zauner, senior innovation manager for Verbund AG, Austria’s largest electricity provider, will outline systemic solutions for the transition from fossil fuels to carbon-free and renewable energy sources and what can be achieved to maintain competitiveness when the worlds of industry, energy suppliers and start-ups come together.

“As a leading company in energy technology, we recognise the importance of innovation and sustainability in the global textile industry,” says Zauner. “By supporting this conference, we are investing in the future of fibre innovation, which aligns with our own ambitions to drive ecologically sustainable and energy-efficient solutions.”

On September 13^th, a block of lectures organised in collaboration with the Institute for Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University (ITA) and its industrial partners will further highlight a number of technology developments related to energy transition in textile manufacturing.

“By integrating natural principles and advanced technologies, we can address some of the most pressing energy challenges of our time,” says ITA director Thomas Gries.

The EU’s plans for new regulations and provisions for the fibre industry will be the theme of another keynote by Cornelia Mohor of the European Commission.

“A package of EU policies and upcoming regulations are redefining how textile products will made, sold and consumed in the EU in the near future,” she says. “A review of the EU Textiles Labelling Regulation has already  been launched and fibre innovations were an important consideration.”

Visitors to Dornbirn 2024 will have the opportunity to attend 125 specialist presentations over the three days of the congress in the following categories – Biopoymers, Biomaterials, High Performance, New Tech-nologies, Natural Fibres, Surface Treatment, Raw Materials, Nonwovens and the Circular Economy and Recycling.

“The current booking situation shows us that the interest of visitors in the Dornbirn GFC remains unbroken,” says new Dornbirn-GFC MD Matthias Gluth. “We highly appreciate this, especially in light of the current challenging economic situation. A special thanks goes to all the speakers who through their expertise and high standards form the foundation of a professionally outstanding congress.”

Full details of the prgramme are available at:

www.dornbirn-gfc.com