#Associations

2023-11-23

Registration now open for AATCC’s haptics and textiles digital lab

AATCC, a leading organization for textile testing and standards, will host a comprehensive two-day virtual event focused on haptics and textiles on December 13-14, 2023. Registration is now open for industry professionals interested in attending.

This online event will bring together a range of textile industry experts, including researchers, product developers, lab technicians, chemical suppliers, and other relevant roles to discuss methods and best practices for measuring the tactile properties and feel of textiles and nonwovens.

A major highlight of the two-day event will be the in-depth exploration of haptic testing methods and instruments. To start, attendees will receive an introduction to the fundamentals of haptics, providing critical context on terminology, concepts, and industry applications. Building on that foundation, presenters will give a comprehensive overview of the most widely used techniques and devices for measuring tactile properties, including details on how each method works along with comparative advantages and limitations. The sessions will take a deep dive into interpreting results from different haptic tests, examining how to best leverage the data to enhance quality control and guide product development decisions.

Visit https://www.aatcc.org/aatcc-events/haptics/ to learn more about this virtual event and register.

AATCC members receive a discounted registration rate.

Reduced early registration rates end November 29, 2023.

Hands-on demonstrations will showcase innovative new solutions for digitizing, organizing, and communicating haptic sample data through online platforms and marketplaces. One of the most anticipated elements will be a live demonstration of the advanced TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer created by emtec Electronic, giving attendees valuable insights into utilizing and making sense of the output from this state-of-the-art haptic analysis instrument. Throughout the methods-focused segments, experts will lead thought-provoking discussions about real-world applications and best practices for harnessing the wealth of information haptic testing can provide and best practices for harnessing the wealth of information haptic testing can provide.

To provide diverse viewpoints, the event will feature presentations from experienced professionals representing prominent companies and institutions in the textile industry globally, including adidas, Lenzing, Black Swan Textiles, Cotton Incorporated, the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, and Dokuz Eylül University in Turkey. Read more about the presenters here: https://www.aatcc.org/aatcc-events/haptics/#presenters

The overarching goal of this virtual textile lab is to advance the practice of haptic testing by enabling beneficial knowledge sharing between leaders across the textile sector. With registration now open, spots are expected to fill quickly for this educational two-day event centered around the latest methodologies and future directions in haptics evaluation for textiles.

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.

New funding available for textile research

The AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Grant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing textile-related projects. Students may submit proposals now for funding to be awarded January 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1, 2025, to be considered.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

Driving digitalization, efficiency, and Smart Manufacturing across textiles and carpets

At this year’s ITM, BMSvision proudly showcases its next leap forward in digital manufacturing excellence. As a long-standing global pioneer in Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) for the textile and plastics industries, BMSvision continues to accelerate digital transformation by delivering powerful, data-driven solutions that boost productivity, enhance quality and support sustainable growth. Visit BMSvision at the Vandewiele booth in Hall 7, Booth 710, to experience the future of textiles manufacturing.

The Good Cashmere Standard expands Animal Welfare Assessment on audited farms

With the Animal-related Animal Welfare Assessment (ARAWA), the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) conducts a pioneering project for the second consecutive year in 2025, parallel to the independent verifications of The Good Cashmere Standard® (GCS). ARAWA assessments provide a comprehensive overview of the health status of a herd on an audited farm, going beyond standard verification procedures. They are inherently complex, which still makes them a rarity in the standard sector, but offer support in identifying non-conformities and provide a holistic overview of the herd's well-being. Therefore, the Aid by Trade Foundation will continue this crucial project and even further expand it by 2027.