Features

The recent staging of Techtextil, Texprocess and Heimtextil was perfectly timed, as the technical textiles industry wrestles with a long list of challenges. As Editor James Bakewell reports, the shows illustrated that strong partnerships will be vital if these problems are to be solved. 

Freudenberg Performance Materials used Techtextil, which was held in Frankfurt, Germany, on 21–24 June 2022, to showcase its ever-expanding portfolio of nonwovens and technical textiles. During the show, Nonwovens Editor Adrian Wilson spoke to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Weinheim, Germany-based company, Dr Frank Heislitz, about progress since the last edition of Techtextil.

Established in 1883, Aurora Specialty Textiles specialises in applying coatings and finishes to textiles. In an interview with John McCurry, Aurora’s President, Marcia Ayala, describes the company’s business philosophy, the challenges posed by the human coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic and her plans for the future. 

Examples of innovation from manufacturers of knitted, woven and laminated fabrics will be plentiful at Techtextil. James Bakewell provides a guide to companies to look for on the show floor.

The development of high-performance fibres, yarns, filaments and threads continues to create a myriad of opportunities for manufacturers of technical textiles. James Bakewell offers some highlights to look-out for during Techtextil.

It is likely that many machinery builders will present their most important developments at ITMA (which will be held in Milan, Italy, on 8–14 June 2023), but Techtextil and its sister show, Texprocess, still provide them with a vital opportunity to showcase their technologies to the technical textiles market. Editor James Bakewell picks-out some highlights.   

The importance of testing, and quality assurance and control, for manufacturers of technical textiles cannot be overstated. It is fortunate, then, that Techtextil will provide attendees with numerous opportunities to discover the latest equipment and instruments to help them maintain and prove the standards of their products. James Bakewell describes a few places to look among the extensive halls.

A wide range of functionalities can be imparted to textiles through the use of finishing, coating and laminating technologies. Editor James Bakewell picks-out some of the highlights from the busy show floor at Techtextil.

While the recent IDEA exhibition (held in Miami Beach, Florida, USA, on 28–31 March 2022) principally catered for hygiene markets, Techtextil offers nonwovens manufacturers the chance to show a range of technical applications for their products. James Bakewell picks his highlights. 

Belgian manufacturer of weaving machinery, Quality Machines Textiles (QMatex) BV, has almost 80 years of heritage, but this year it will exhibit at Techtextil for the first time. Editor James Bakewell speaks to the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Henk Lambrecht, about QMatex’s systems for the production of technical textiles, the challenges and opportunities presented by this market and his plans for the future.