Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, concluded in Frankfurt this month, hosting 1,789 exhibitors together with Texprocess, held concurrently at Messe Frankfurt. Over 47,500 visitors from 114 countries, an increase of around 14% compared to the 2015 edition, made their way to Frankfurt to discover the most innovative products in the field of technical textiles and the latest processing technologies.

“Industry 4.0, smart and functional textiles and digitalisation are no longer tomorrow’s trends. Today, the textile industry is in the thick of it. If any industry is fit for the future, it’s the textile industry. Nevertheless, even in this age of digitalisation, a personal exchange of ideas and opinions is essential. Accordingly, we are delighted that so many visitors came to Techtextil and Texprocess,” commented Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.

“Anyone who was not here in Frankfurt over the last four days has missed experiencing the dynamic nature of the textile industry for themselves.”.

Innovation on display

At Techtextil, international trade visitors jammed the exhibition halls looking for high–tech textiles for use in applications such as folding textile headlights, smart knee bandages, warming or cooling fashions, as well as garments with integrated LEDs, fire-resistant fibres, bicycle frames made of carbon and textile membranes for stadium roofs.

“We expected numerous visitors before the doors opened. But that there would be so many was a great surprise. On occasions, we even had trouble in answering all inquiries,” said Sebastian Feges, of Texprocess exhibitor Efka, confirming the record number of visitors.

From scanning body dimensions of tomorrow’s apparel customer, via IT-aided fashion design, automatic cutting, ever faster sewing and joining, as well as embroidering innumerable parts simultaneously, to delivering the garments: at Texprocess, the degree of interaction between man and machine reached a new level, organisers report.

“The garment manufacturing and textile industries set course for the future at an early stage and, during the two fairs, once again demonstrated that they rank among the most viable and progressive of sectors,” said Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, conceptual partner of Texprocess.

Feedback and participation

After Germany, the three main visitor nations at Techtextil were Italy, France and Turkey. At Texprocess, they were Italy, Romania and Portugal. Many young professionals attended the fairs – another indication of the positive and dynamic mood in the textile sector, according to organisers.

“Techtextil and Texprocess provide the setting for a lively exchange of ideas and opinions, as well as networking between the players, especially from the industry and start-ups, as well as the research and scientific fields,” said Parliamentary Undersecretary of State Dirk Wiese of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, during his visit to the two fairs.

The good mood at the fair was underscored by the visitor poll on the economic climate in the sector. According to 33% of Texprocess visitors, the current economic situation can be described as good. In the case of Techtextil visitors, the figure was even higher with 42% holding this opinion, compared to 32% in 2015. Also, 96% of Techtextil visitors said they were very pleased with the results of their visit to the fair. In the case of Texprocess visitors, the figure was even higher: 97%.

Special exhibitions and events

Also, very well received were the numerous special exhibitions and events, which offered insights into the whole textile value chain and highlighted the synergistic effects between the two fairs, organisers report.

Opened by ESA astronaut Dr Reinhold Ewald, the space-travel oriented exhibition, Living in Space attracted numerous visitors. The Innovative Apparel Show was also well received and drew packed crowds to the foyer of Halls 5.1 / 6.1 with a display of high-tech textiles live on the catwalk several times throughout the fair. Showing a complete textile production line in operation, the Digital Textile Micro Factory was also praised as having been a complete success.

The next Techtextil and Texprocess will be held in Frankfurt am Main from 14 to 17 May 2019.

www.techtextil.messefrankfurt.com