Energy efficient membranes, silicone-coated textile fibres, a new master batch for tintable polypropylene or new technologies for integrating systems into apparel – these are just some of the inventions of the ten winners of the Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Prizes.

The awards will be presented for outstanding achievements and new developments in various categories and disciplines at Techtextil, the trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens to be held at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre from 11 to 13 June 2013. All award winning products will be on show in two special exhibitions at the fair.

From over 80 entries, a jury of renowned experts selected seven winners and one honourable mention for the Techtextil Innovation Prize and two projects for the Avantex Innovation Prize.

“The award winning products cover all areas of applications for technical textiles and are indicative of the great innovative power and variety in the sector”, says Michael Jänecke, Brand Manager Technical Textiles / Techtextil, at Messe Frankfurt.

“All award-winning companies will be honoured fittingly during the official opening ceremony in the Congress Centre Messe Frankfurt on 10 June.”

Techtextil Innovation Award winners

Four projects have been selected for an award in the ‘New applications’ category. The Institute for Textile and Process Technology in Denkendorf, Germany, four German companies – TAO Trans- Atmospheric Operations GmbH, TINNIT Technologies GmbH, Wagner Tragwerke and Arnold Group – and the Blum Laboratory have succeeded in producing an energy self-sufficient textile based membrane construction based on the fur of a polar bear (see above).

The Italian companies D'Appolonia and ZipLast, AIMPLAS – Instituto Tecnològico del Plastico und Industrial Sedò from Spain, the Spanopoulos Brothers Group from Greece and the Czech company Safibra developed REFRESH, a textile-based water bag, which makes it possible to transport large quantities of fresh water by sea.

Then there is the EMPA research institute from Switzerland together with the Swiss Paraplegic Centre and Schoeller Textil AG from Switzerland, who presented their new type of a medical bed sheet for decubitus prevention, which reduces friction for people who are bed-ridden for lengthy periods. Finally, there is the Belgian exhibitor, Beaulieu Technical Textiles, who won over the judges with their product Ökolys, a woven, bio-degradable and compostable agro textile that combats weeds and protects the soil.

The Techtextil Innovation Prize in the 'New Technologies' category goes to German exhibitors, Liba  Maschinenfabrik, for their new 'multi-compact' woven fabric. An honourable mention in this category goes to the Textile Research Institute of the State of Saxony, Germany (Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V.) for their circular woven fabric with variable cross section.

There are two prize-winning projects in the 'New Materials' category that are in a position to celebrate an award. Massebeuf Textiles, Bluestar Silicones and MDB Texinov from France have developed silicone based warp knitted textiles which is said to be remarkable for the elasticity of its structure and its excellent resistance to temperature changes. Devan Chemicals from Belgium has developed a new masterbatch formula for dyeable and printable polypropylene, which, for the first time, enables the fibre to be coloured by conventional processes.

Avantex Innovation Prize winners

In the 'New Processes' category, the Textile Research Institute of Thuringia-Vogtland, Germany (Textilforschungsinstitut Thüringen- Vogtland e.V.) received its award for a new and fully automated process for manufacturing luminous textiles, with embedded LEDs.

The manufacturing technology, which was developed in collaboration with the Tajima enables the completely automated assembly of building components on a textile base. CEA-Leti / DSIS from France receive the second Innovation Prize in the 'New Materials' category for their innovative e-thread technology, which incorporates electronic component materials in threads.

The presentation will be held in the ‘Harmonie’ Hall of Congress Centre Messe Frankfurt at 18.30 hrs on 10 June 2013. During the fair, visitors will be able to see the award-winning inventions in two special exhibitions. The winners of the Techtextil Innovation Awards will be on show in Hall 4.1 (Stand J21) while the winners of the Avantex Innovation Awards will be in Hall 3.1 (Stand B11).

www.techtextil.com

Texprocess

Techtextil is held concurrently with Texprocess, Leading International Trade Fair for Processing Textile and Flexible Materials, and runs from 10 to 13 June 2013. At Texprocess, manufacturers from all over the world will present their high-tech solutions for the apparel industry and textile processing. The spectrum of products ranges from design, pattern development and cutting, via sewing and joining, to embroidery, textile finishing, IT and logistics. The première of Texprocess in 2011 attracted 326 exhibitors and 17,000 trade visitors, 6,500 of them from Techtextil.

www.texprocess.com