Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress 2018 will present over 100 high-quality lectures from academic research and industry, when it opens its doors from 12-14 September 2018 to around 700 participants from 30 nations.

The congress has grown to become a “global brand” in recent years, promoting internationalisation, yet maintaining its European roots. A new rebranding initiative will to support this effort, according to the organisers. The event is now called Dornbirn-GFC – Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress, a change from the original Dornbirn-MFC – Dornbirn Man-Made Fiber Congress.

Growing in prominence, the congress has recorded a rising number of participants, with visitors from more than 70 new companies registered last year. Overall, more than 700 participants from 30 nations visited Dornbirn (80% from Europe, 15% from Asia, 5% from the Americas). For its 2018 edition, delegations from Asia and the USA have confirmed their participation.

Themes and highlights

More than 100 expert lectures will focus on the following key themes: fibre innovations; transportation and mobility; recycling – circular economy; energy generation and storage; and surface modification and additive technologies.

Some highlights of this year’s congress also include industry leaders participating at the event, including top management from the lead sponsor Lenzing Group, Indorama and Reliance, as well as other European, Asian and American fibre producers.

Agenda

Due to the vast interest from industry and trade and the strong support of the EU Commission, Circular Economy is a focal point this year again. After the lecture block on this relevant topic, a panel discussion is scheduled. ISWA – International Solid and Waste Association – will discuss new approaches with relevant players from the textiles value chain.

As a connoisseur of the automotive industry, AVL, the leading independent company for the development of powertrains, will illuminate the relevance and potentials of the fibre industry in the future development of the automotive industry.

The successful Canadian brand Lululemon Athletica will discuss forward-looking future trends for the industry and will also expand the innovation trend in interview sessions. Further renowned brands and retailers will meet at the congress.

The successful Young Scientist Forum will also take place for the third time. The workshop will be held on 11 September, under the leadership of the industrial consultancy Syngroup (AUT) on the issue of Open innovation and its relevant challenges.

International co-operations

In recent years, various co-operations have been initiated, which will be extended in 2018, including a collaboration with Messe Frankfurt (Avantex, Techtextil, Texworld). Within this synergy, research and the market place fair will be reinforced in order to support companies to facilitate the marketing and roll out of innovations.

Likewise, the partnership with the fair organised by Saltex, the community platform for smart textiles, composites and its industrial automatisation on the exhibition grounds in Dornbirn, will be intensified.

Long-time co-operations with associations and organisations will also be increasingly involved. EDANA supports Dornbirn-GFC actively in the organisation of international, high-quality lectures from the nonwovens industry and is also an active co-organiser of workshops.

www.dornbirn-gfc.com