First time and returning exhibitors confirm the trade fair's leading position worldwide

Range of congresses and symposiums expanded

From 16 to 18 June, Techtextil will be the foremost platform for users and developers of technical textiles in the fields of research, industry, architecture and other technical areas of application throughout the world. Over recent months, the indications have been pointing to further growth at Techtextil with the number of exhibitors at the last event (1,119) having already been matched.

Thus, the trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens confirms once again its position as the world's leading event for the sector. “We are particularly pleased that, despite the world economic crisis, many exhibitors who did not exhibit in 2007 have decided to return for Techtextil 2009. Additionally, twelve percent of the exhibitors are taking part in Techtextil for the first time”, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textile Fairs of Messe Frankfurt. “With Techtextil, we offer not only an overview of the latest products but also a platform for orientation and information”, adds Olaf Schmidt.

The exhibitors will present their products and their potential uses in relation to twelve areas of application in Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1 of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. The biggest segment of the fair is Indutech with applications for the mechanical engineering, chemical and electrical engineering sectors being shown by over 500 exhibitors. Second and third places in the list of best-represented applications are held by Mobiltech and Clothtech with a total of over 450 exhibitors. Also very well represented are suppliers for the Sport-tech, Medtech and Buildtech segments.

In the past, Techtextil has concentrated fully on potential technical applications. From 2009, however, the range on show is being expanded to include the segment covered by Avantex, International Forum for Innovative Garment Textiles, the aim of which is to boost technology transfer under the motto ‘Avantex Integrated’.

Additionally, Material Vision, Materials for Product Development, Design and Architecture, International Trade Fair and Lecture Forum, will be held parallel to Techtextil for the first time. Together, these two trade fairs represent an optimum platform for modern materials, product innovations and material technologies, and present an assortment that his unique in terms of both depth and breadth.

The complementary programme of Techtextil 2009 is more extensive and informative than ever before. Thus, the Techtextil and Avantex symposiums will take place as in previous years. In view of the additional conferences to be held, they have been shortened to two days and, on 16 and 17 June, will offer trade visitors insights into the following subjects: Materials and Technologies, Buildtech: Innovative Building with Textiles, Protech: The Latest Protective Clothing Developments; and Medtech: New Textile Products in the Medical Field. Moreover, EURATEX - European Apparel and Textile Organisation will hold an information event about research initiated and partially funded by the EU, which aims to encourage innovations in the technical-textiles sector.

Another highlight during Techtextil will be the Natural Fibres Conference, which is being organised by Messe Frankfurt and will take place on 17 and 18 June. The main themes to be covered at the conference are innovative functions, natural fibres in automobiles and natural fibres in architecture and building. The aim of the conference is, inter alia, to link natural fibres more closely with technical applications and thus generate new ideas and impulses for the sector.

In line with the aims of the Natural Fibres Conference, the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) will hold a congress on the subject of ‘Wool – Smart, Natural, Technical’. The IWTO Congress begins on the day before the fair opens, 15 June, and ends on the same day as the fair, 18 June 2009.

In addition to the symposiums and congresses, the Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Awards will also be presented during the fair. With these awards, Techtextil honours extraordinary achievements in connection with unconventional and pioneering applications for materials and technologies. Moreover, the awards of the ‘Textile Structures for New Building’ competition for students will also be given during the fair. This is the tenth time that the international TensiNet association and Techtextil have organised the competition, which aims to help students and newcomers to make their way in the sector.

Rounding off the Techtextil complementary programme are exclusive special shows with the award-winning products of the Innovation Awards and the student competition.