Techtextil, the International Trade Fair for the Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Industries, will
run concurrently with Texprocess from June 11 to 13, 2013, at Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt am Main.
Techtextil continues to hold its position as the worldwide leading international platform for
technical textiles, nonwovens and functional apparel textiles. The colocated Texprocess trade fair,
to be held from June 10 to 13, will again present the latest technologies for processing textiles
and other flexible materials. More than 1,200 exhibitors from 50 countries and around 25,000
visitors from 96 countries will participate in the two events.
From A Shy Start …
It was in the mid-1980s that Messe Frankfurt invited some interested journalists to attend a
press conference regarding a new exhibition. It was to be called Techtextil. Most of the attendees
were sure that this concept would be successful in the future, because since the early 1980s,
textiles for industrial applications had become more and more important. In the beginning, the
industry was quite skeptical. Less than 200 exhibitors attended the first edition in 1985 — and the
show occupied just one floor in Hall 4 at Messe Frankfurt. At that time, DuPont was the only
man-made fiber manufacturer that believed in the future of industrial fabrics and was the only
exhibitor from that sector. However, the history of the event is rather quickly told: it was a
total success.
Today, it is common sense that technical textiles and nonwovens are gaining importance
throughout the global textile industry. In some, mostly Western, countries, technical fibers and
fabrics are the only growth drivers for the domestic textile industry. For decades, this sector has
reported constant double-digit growth rates.
… To A Huge Success
Messe Frankfurt reports that Techtextil’s success is based on an interdisciplinary spectrum
of products — as indicated by the show’s 12 diverse application areas — and mentions that technical
textiles, nonwovens and the associated textile technologies are applied in many industrial sectors.
The upcoming Techtextil will be the biggest ever. The event will also be characterized by an
increased number of exhibitors from outside Germany. For example, more companies have registered
from India, with an increase of 254 percent; Poland, 66 percent; Turkey, 14 percent; and Japan, 10
percent. To understand the mood of the event, the Rupp Report spoke to Techtextil Brand Director
Michael Jänecke about the current feelings and emotions.
RR
: Are you happy with the development of the show?
Jänecke: Very much so. We have a new record number of exhibitors, with more than
1,200.
RR
: Are you sold out?
Jänecke: It sounds funny for a professional exhibition, but we have a new record.
We are sold out. In 2011 we had 1,199 exhibitors.
RR
: Which halls are occupied by Techtextil?
Jänecke: Halls 3.0, 3.1 and 4.1 will be fully occupied by the show.
RR
: How many square meters is that?
Jänecke: Some 52,000 square meters.
RR
: Which countries will have country pavilions?
Jänecke: Up to now, 13 countries — these are Belgium, China, France, Great
Britain, India, Canada, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, the United States and
Italy. (Jürg, did Turkey cancel their pavilion?)
Big Italian Participation
As at other textile shows, Italy will be present with a lot of exhibitors. Some 100 Italian
textile machinery manufacturers are involved in the production of machinery for technical textiles
or nonwovens. According to the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT),
turnover in this sector is growing, accounting for a 20-percent share of the total Italian textile
machinery turnover. Techtextil will see 40 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, with 13 of
these companies presenting their expertise at Meeting Point Italia, an exhibition space set up by
the Italian Trade Promotion Agency and ACIMIT.
Complementary Program
Techtextil will have a complementary program, including the 17th International Techtextil
and 7th International Avantex Symposiums, presenting the latest trends from various technical
textiles, nonwovens and functional-apparel textiles application areas.
The Techtextil Symposium will offer eight blocks, each having six lectures presented by
experts. “Techtextil Symposium is almost as old as Techtextil itself and is used by many speakers
to initiate new developments and interdisciplinary collaborations between research and industry,”
Jänecke said. “At the same time, the subjects covered by the symposium illustrate the broad range
of applications for technical textiles.” The topics to be covered are oriented toward the user and
include sustainability and technical textiles, new fiber and fiber-based composite developments,
finishing and surface modifications, lightweight structures and a special block on
textile-reinforced concrete.
The Avantex Symposium will be targeted toward the apparel market, and will include three
blocks, each having six lectures, covering smart textiles and functional apparel developments.
Awards For Innovations And Students
The complementary program also will include the Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Awards
recognizing outstanding achievements in areas of research, development, material and product
development and new technologies.
The 12th Textile Structures for New Building Student Competition targets ideas and concepts
for future architecture. This year, a 2,000-euro Textile Exhibition Stand special award will be
presented. Messe Frankfurt has received support from the Brussels-based TensiNet Association for
the organization of this competition.
Techtextil And Texprocess Together Again
As mentioned above, Texprocess will be colocated with Techtextil. Next week’s Rupp Report
will include more information about that show.
Textile Industries Media Group will be present in Frankfurt am Main. Come by and have a chat
with us in Hall 4.1, booth FOY18.
May 7, 2013
