|
|
|
 |
Techtextil 2011 reinforces as the world's foremost innovation powerhouse
|
|
|
|
The technical textiles and nonwovens sector appeared in thebest light at Techtextil 2011. Product, technology and service innovations are spurring the textile industry and meeting the demand for in-novations in expanding areas of application such as the automobile industry, functional textiles and civil engineering. "Techtextil is the world's foremost venue for initiating business between manufacturers and users of technical textiles and nonwovens. And, this year, it has confirmed and expanded this leading position", said Detlef Braun, Member of theExecutive Board of Messe Frankfurt, at the close of Techtextil 2011.
"More than 24,500 visitors from 96 countries saw a host of innova¬tions presented by 1,207 exhibitors from 50 nations – this is a great success from both the national and international standpoint. To¬gether with the extraordinarily high degree of satisfaction on both the exhibitor and visitor sides, Techtextil 2011 was more popular than at any time for many years", added Detlef Braun. Additional synergies for both visitors and exhibitors were generated by the Material Vision trade exhibition and conference on materials for product develop¬ment, design and architecture, which was held concurrently with Techtextil. Additional attention for the range of products and services to be seen at Techtextil and Material Vision also came from visitors to Texprocess, Leading International Trade Fair for Processing Textile and Flexible Materials, held parallel to them at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The resulting synergy effects are clearly to be seen in the results of the visitor poll: 96 percent of visitors rated their visit to the fair as having been good to very good (2009: 94 percent). The echo from the exhibitor side is similar. Exhibitors of many years' standing reported that the 2011 edition was the best Techtextil ever. 90 per¬cent of all exhibitors awarded the fair top marks in terms of goals achieved at the fair and their overall presentation (2009: 83 per¬cent).
The worldwide significance of Techtextil is demonstrated by a further climb in the proportion of international visitors – 55 percent com¬pared to 46 percent in 2009. After Germany, the ten best represented visitor |
|
|
| nations in terms of visitor numbers are Italy, France, The Nether¬lands, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, Poland and the USA. Other top visitor nations from overseas include India, South Korea, China and Japan. |
|
 |
|
The positive mood among both exhibitors and visitors was the result of growing demand from the various areas of application and the improvement in the general economic situation, which has triggered an investment and employment upsurge in the sectors represented at Techtextil. 91 percent of visitors con¬sider the economic situation in their sector to be good, a huge leap from 61 percent in 2009. 86 per¬cent of exhibitors take the same view, which also represents a jump of approx. 30 percentage points over 2009 (57 percent).
■ New momentum for manufacturers and users of technical textiles due to on-going investment and innovation upsurge
Multi-functionality and energy efficiency are the determining factors behind the trends in this innovative sector. New fibres, materials, tech¬nologies, finishes and potential applications – these and other in¬novations give manufacturers of technical textiles innumerable ideas for offering materials for every conceivable industrial area of appli¬cation and for greater energy efficiency in use. Depending on com¬position and processing, technical textiles offer product qualities that are equally as good as solid or flexible materials, such as steel, con¬crete and rubber. However, they also have the advantage of being lighter and thus able to reduce fuel and material consumption. And, in addition to their benefits in terms of strength and elasticity, they also have protective functions, such as antimicrobial protection, or repellent or |
|
| barrier qualities. A high level of satisfaction was also reflected by the suppliers of technology and machines in Hall 3.0. Christina Mallin, Marketing Manager of Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG (Switzerland), said, "We have had significantly more visitors to our stand than in the past and been able to conduct highly productive discussions with im¬portant customers. In view of the constant, large number of visitors, we are considering enlarging our stand next time. Techtextil is the most important trade fair for the field of technical nonwovens and fibres. For us, it is of great worldwide significance. Prior to coming to Frankfurt, we took part in Techtextil North America and will also be represented at Techtextil India in October." |
|
 |
|
The Techtextil concept of structured product groups and areas of application helps many exhibitors reach their target groups at the fair. Companies that bank on making business contacts and inter-national expansion were in exactly the right place at this year's Techtextil. Laurence Mauro-Morisetti, Marketing Communication Representative of Du Pont de Nemours International S.A. (Switzer¬land), said, "This was our first time at Techtextil since 2007 and we are very pleased with the results. We have seen how im¬portant Techtextil is for our company and there is no doubt that we will be back as exhibitors again in 2013. For us, the fair has been very good. The number of visitors to our stand and the quality of the contacts made are excellent. There has been a good mix of visitors from Germany, Europe and East |
|
| Europe. With our examples of different applications, we can show here the innovative products that can be made from our fibres."
Claus Habbicht, Sales & Marketing Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland of Polygiene (Sweden), sees the broad spectrum of potential applications as representing a unique opportunity for com¬panies. "The segments covered by Techtextil open up a huge spectrum of potential applications. Thus, the fair gives exhibitors the chance to broaden their horizons and to discover new uses for their products. Nowhere is that easier than here. Therefore, Techtextil is much more important that it would seem at first glance."
"We are highly satisfied", said Gertrud Müller, General Manager of the Association of the Technical Textiles, Roller Shutters and Sun Protection Industry (Industrieverband Technische Textilien, Rolladen, Sonnenschutz e. V. – ITRS). "The positive atmosphere prevailed throughout the whole fair. At our exhibition stand, we were able to welcome not only many visitors but also numerous members. Another highlight was that we successfully passed on a variety of external inquiries to our members. For us, taking part in the fair was extremely worthwhile."
The combination with Texprocess, which made its debut con¬cur¬rently with Techtextil this year, also generated new impulses for Techtextil exhibitors. Tim Elissen, Sales Director, Technical Products, Prym Fashion (Germany), said, "The course of business at the fair has been a very positive surprise for us. Our stand was always very busy from first thing in the morning to the end of the day and we were able to reach our target groups, mainly manufacturers and proces¬sors of awnings and advertising materials. We have been taking part in Techtextil to present new products for many years. This year, we presented a new press fastener and, for the first time, exhibited products especially for Texprocess visitors. Thus, we profited from new groups of visitors who did not attend Techtextil in the past." |
|
 |
|
Sabine Duttenhofer, Manager Global Communications, Freudenberg Nonwovens (Germany) and member of the Techtextil Advisory Board, sees the combination of Techtextil and Texprocess as offering a variety of far-reaching opportunities: "We are more than pleased with the number of visitors to our exhibition stand, especially on the last day. Holding Texprocess parallel to Techtextil gives us new presentation options. All in all, Frankfurt is an impressive venue and, although a day shorter than competing fairs, Techtextil is bigger and more extensive. The event itself is very well organised and is fully oriented towards the needs of its exhibitors." |
|
| Summarising on behalf of the domestic industry, Werner Zirnzak, Deputy General Manager of the Association of the Yarns, Woven Fabrics and Technical Textiles Industry (Industrieverband Garne - Gewebe - Technische Textilien e.V. – IVGT, Germany), said, "The mood is very good, the quality of the trade visitors is outstanding and the discussions have all been success oriented. For us, Techtextil here in Frankfurt is the world's leading fair for the sector – and a must!"
Both exhibitors and visitors also aim to use the momentum created by the fair for the coming business year. According to Gregory Vas Nunes, President Europe, Performance Fibres (Luxemburg), taking part in Techtextil is extremely productive: "The fair was really very well attended. The positive view of the overall market pervaded the whole event. For us, the event was highly productive and synergy-charged. The organisation of the fair was excellent and we are looking forward to taking part again in the 2013 edition, from which we expect an even greater response."
Extensive complementary programme and special shows
In addition to the presentations by companies, organisations and research institutes, Techtextil was also distinguished by an extensive complementary programme and special shows. For example, over 500 participants attended the restructured Techtextil and Avantex Symposiums in the Congress Centre Messe Frankfurt, which offered a future-oriented overview of the trends and developments in the worldwide sector. Top speakers discussed the latest developments in the fields of products, materials and technologies in around 60 lectures.
Pioneering product innovations were honoured during the official opening ceremony on the Monday evening before the fair opened. Altogether, ten exemplary developments that epitomise the potential of the sector for creativity and development were presented with the Techtextil and Avantex Innovation Awards. An international jury of experts selected these innovative products from 85 entries (2009: 53). Seven Techtextil and three Avantex Innovation Awards were given.
Eleven national pavilions were spread evenly throughout the three halls at Techtextil 2011. The aim of these joint presentations is to give visitors an impression of the innovative power of the individual countries and, therefore, to attract more attention. The national pavilions came from Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the USA.
Techtextil 2013
The next Techtextil, International Trade Fair for Technical Textiles and Nonwovens, will be held in association with Material Vision – Trade Exhibition and Conference on Materials for Product Develop-ment, Design and Architecture – in Frankfurt am Main from 11 to 13 June 2013.
Techtextil will once again be held concurrently with Texprocess, Leading International Trade Fair for Processing Textile and Flexible Materials, the second edition of which will also run a day longer, from 11 to 14 June 2013.
|
|
|
