The First International Conference on Digital Technologies for the Textile Industries will take place at the University of Manchester, from 5-6 September 2013, organised by TexEng Software in association with University of Manchester.

The conference will feature 40 discussions, with more than 30 experts in the advisory committee, from countries like USA, UK, Germany, Russia, China, India, Canada, France and Belgium.

The topics covered at the event will include fabric and fashion design, engineering applications, wearable electronics, computational modelling, visualisation, prediction of performance, control of machines, commercial organisation, 3D body scanning and computer aided colour.

Digital technology

Nowadays the computer-aided design (CAD) is commonplace, whether for fabrics or garments. CAD is linked to computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), whether in machine control of patterning, whole garment production, or cutting for making-up.

Commercial operations benefit in planning and the control of the flow of material from manufacture through retail to consumers. These facilities are well developed, but still advancing, and software is available from commercial companies, which will be on display at the conference featuring keynote speeches and plenary papers.

This conference will discuss two aspects related to the production of the high tech garments. The focus will be on the subjective approach of designers, who wish to have easy-to-use programmes and the technical approach of engineers and modellers, who need to understand the links to digital technology.

Challenges

For structural mechanics of textiles and related topics, challenges remain for the full exploitation of digital technology in the textile industries.

• Performance prediction for technical textiles in engineering uses, strength, stiffness, fatigue.
• CAD linked to prediction of consumer fabric attributes such as comfort, softness and drape in garments.
• The exciting opportunities of ‘the virtual catwalk’ and then tailoring the fit and appearance of garments for individual customers.
• The almost untouched modelling of textile processes.
• The reducing cost of super-computers and cloud computing, which will make the more complex tasks possible.

www.texeng.co.uk