Techtextil & Texprocess score with growth and set as drivers of innovation the course for future-proof industries
26 aprile 2024
High-tech textiles in twelve application areas, the global innovative power of technical textiles and nonwovens as well as the digitalisation of the textile-processing industry: with 38,000 visitors from 102 countries and 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess have grown in terms of exhibitor numbers and recorded a 29 percent increase in visitor numbers. At the leading trade fairs, the density of forward-looking textile solutions that are transforming entire industries was particularly noticeable.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2024 ended with 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, 38,000 visitors from 102 countries and a 29 percent increase in visitor numbers. The top visitor nations were Germany, Italy, France, Turkey and the Netherlands. The top exhibitor nations were Germany, Italy, China, France and Turkey. Countries such as Egypt, China, Indonesia, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Moldova and Thailand contributed to the expansion of exhibitors, among others.
In times of emerging AI technologies, increasing legislative requirements and high energy costs, both trade fairs offered the markets the most important international marketplace for product innovations along the textile value chain at the right time: "With an overwhelming atmosphere and growth in size, exhibitors and visitors, Techtextil and Texprocess made it clear: textile innovation for a wide range of industries can only be found in this global width and strength here in Frankfurt. The textile industry, through both leading trade fairs, becomes the driving force and enabler for cross-industry transformations and a globally future-proof economy", said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
75 percent of visitors - including producers, engineers from various industries, architects, processors, industrial designers, clothing and construction material manufacturers, R&D decision-makers, medical developers, product developers and other top executives - thoroughly leveraged the cross-networking opportunities, spanning from the preliminary stages of Techtextil to the wide array of processing and clothing technologies offered at Texprocess. The trade fair duo thereby set the stage for numerous international collaborations and business initiations, fostering innovation across sectors and making them market-ready.
Visitor satisfaction at a very high level
Exhibitors and visitors made intensive use of the trade fairs as efficient sales channels, made new international contacts and gained a concentrated overview of the global spectrum of high-tech textiles that can be used across industries, as well as the latest machines and technologies for textile processing. Visitor satisfaction at both events was at a very high level: 95 percent of visitors were satisfied overall with their trade fair visit, achieved their trade fair objectives and were impressed by the range of exhibitors.
20 years of Techtextil: biggest edition sets new standards
In its anniversary edition, Techtextil set a record in terms of size and underlined the dynamic growth and innovative strength of the textile industry.
Studies confirm the enormous future prospects of technical textiles: Fortune Business Insights[1] estimates the global market at 225.99 billion dollars in 2023 and forecasts an increase to 346.67 billion dollars by 2030. Similar forecasts by Allied Market Research[2] expect an increase to 331.8 billion dollars by 2032. Within the EU textile industry, technical textiles are the most dynamic drivers of demand in sectors such as medicine, agriculture, construction, outdoor clothing and automotive.
Texprocess strengthens its pioneering role in digitalisation and automation
At Texprocess, a vast array of cutting-edge machines, processes, and services for textile and apparel processing were exhibited, spanning from innovative AI technologies to design systems and visualization tools, along with highly efficient cutting and state-of-the-art sewing machines. Texprocess presented pivotal solutions harnessing the latest technologies.
"For the Texprocess exhibitors, this trade fair was more important than ever before. The entire textile processing industry is facing enormous challenges worldwide, such as changing trade conditions or labor shortages. Many new technological solutions to these challenges were on show at Texprocess. There are great new developments, especially in the areas of digitalisation, automation and AI. Texprocess has thus focused on the future and highlighted many new opportunities", says Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabrics and Leather Technologies.
"Against the backdrop of the current industry situation, our expectations were rather muted. The trade fair really exceeded them. The visitors were very well balanced in terms of internationality and fields of application. Europe was there entirely, but also the Middle East, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the USA and Mexico. Our customers drive automation and process optimisation. We presented future-oriented solutions in this field - including our CNC sewing unit with rotating sewing kinematics, which won the Innovation Award, as well as an AI-based seam correction", says Michael Kilian, COO, Dürkopp Adler.
In the areas of sewing technology and cutting solutions, Texprocess offered the world's most comprehensive range of suppliers presenting pioneering solutions for efficient and advanced manufacturing processes - also through AI: "This year, we presented our latest innovation, which integrates AI directly on the machine. Texprocess is exactly the right platform for this: a meeting point for technology, partnerships, customers from all over the world and indispensable for the global fashion industry. We made numerous new contacts, including from markets new to us such as South Africa and Australia," emphasises Marta Maiandi, CTO, Orox Group. The exhibitor Eurolaser was also delighted: "The trade fair went excellently for us. Visitors came from all over Europe, the USA, Mexico and further interesting markets and, of course, from very diverse application areas such as protective clothing, medicine and automotive. The format trade fair is back in full force. Our biggest innovation is our camera system, which sits directly on the bar. It scans the entire table in three seconds and optimises the cut and contours," says Laura Capone, Chief Sales Officer, Eurolaser.
The exhibitor Assyst provided insights into what a completely digital, sustainable and profitable future for the fashion industry looks like - with AI-driven solutions that support design in the creative process and visualise styles in real time: "Texprocess 2024 was extremely successful for us. Our visitors were enthusiastic about how uncomplicated digitalisation becomes for the apparel industry when AI, 3D simulation and 2D CAD are seamlessly integrated. With a highly interested international trade audience, the trade fair offers the ideal environment to present this type of product innovation," says Hans Peter Hiemer, Managing Director, Style3D | Assyst.
Trade fair duo shines with research, knowledge transfer and high-quality content
A powerful mix of topics drove the intensive exchange between research and industry and provided visitors with important impulses on the newest textile solutions, intelligent materials and the latest research results in the sectors. Numerous exhibitors, start-ups and renowned research institutes demonstrated at both trade fairs that AI, digitalisation and automation are significantly advancing the industry. Whether textile recycling, fault detection in production and processing, networked production steps or smart clothing that monitors the wearer's physical functions - the new opportunities offered by AI and digitalisation are multifaceted. These technologies are paving the way for the future of the industry.
Latest materials and recycling technologies in times of legislative requirements
In times of upcoming legislative requirements as part of the EU strategy for sustainable textiles, Techtextil and Texprocess focussed on recyclable solutions and the latest research results on resource efficiency and recyclability. This was also reflected in the increased number of exhibitors in the Econogy Finder: more than twice as many exhibitors were checked against the criteria of recognised labels and certificates as well as the Sustainable Development Goals and were included in the Finder. In addition, the Econogy Talks provided a platform for dialogue on resource-saving solutions, while the Econogy Tours led by an independent expert provided first-hand insights on sustainable products.
The next edition of Techtextil and Texprocess will be held from 21 to 24 April 2026.
Press information and photographic material:
https://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press.html
https://texprocess.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press.html
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www.instagram.com/techtextil_texprocess
www.twitter.com/ttx_tp
Newsroom: Information about the international textile industry and Messe Frankfurt's global textile trade fairs can be found at: www.texpertise-network.com
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
www.messefrankfurt.com/background-information
Sustainability at Messe Frankfurt