ITMA 2015 Speakers Platform to feature 43 presentations on sustainable innovations and technical textiles applications

• Development of a Process for Recycling of Blended Fabrics by Marie-Isabel Popzyk, Institut Für Textiltechnik, Rwth Aachen University, Germany
• Biomimicry in Textiles and Sustainability by Tushar Ghosh, North Carolina State University College Of Textiles, United States Of America
• Recycling of Textiles: An Important Challenge by Chiara Besnati, Centro Tessile Cotoniero E Abbigliamento S.P.A., Italy
• Innovative Digital Textile Printing Applications – A Contribution to Sustainability and Customisation by Michael Korger, Hochschule Niederrhein, Germany
• Corporate Environmental Management for the Textile Sector by Albachiara Boffelli, Università Degli Studi Di Bergamo, Italy

Achievements in Innovation & Technical Textiles Applications
Papers within these two themes cover topics such as smart textiles and wearable technology, advanced materials and composites, and sports industry applications:

• Textiles for Health Monitoring by Marco Silvestri, Universita' Degli Studi Di Parma, Italy         
• Developing Innovative Integrated Smart Textile Applications through Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration by Frances Joseph, Auckland University Of Technology, New Zealand
• Comfort for Sportswear: An Essential Performance by Marco Beia, Centro Tessile Cotoniero E Abbigliamento S.P.A., Italy     
• Innovative Textile Technologies For Thermoplastic Composite Material by Francois Boussu, Ecole Nationale Supérieure Des Arts Et Industries Textiles, France                                

Dr Jeroen Vits, Secretary General of Belgian Textile Machinery Association (SYMATEX, Belgium) and Chairman of CEMATEX's research workgroup, said: "ITMA provides the impetus to research institutes and textile machinery manufacturers to develop breakthrough materials and sustainable innovations which are critical for textile and garment manufacturers to stay competitive. The ITMA Research and Innovation Speakers Platform is an excellent area where ITMA visitors can be the first to pick up the latest innovations from the world's leading institutions.”
Joining Dr Vits as members of the Speakers Platform Technical Committee are:

• Prof Vladan Koncar, Director of Research, GEMTEX, Head of Research, ENSAIT, France
• Prof Thomas Gries, Director, Institut für Textiltechnik, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• Dr Takeshi Kikutani, Manager, Environmental Design Education Service, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan
• Dr Behnam Pourdeyhimi, Director, The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University, USA

The Speakers Platform will be held at the Research & Innovation Pavilion from 15 to 17 November. Please visit www.itma.com for the full schedule of presentations. Participation in the Speakers Platform is complimentary for ITMA badge holders.

2BFUNTEX Final Conference
The Speakers Platform will also feature the 2BFUNTEX Final Conference on Technology Transfer of Functional Textile Innovations. The conference on 14 November will showcase successful cases of effective technology transfer between research and industry, with a special focus on antimicrobial textiles, smart textiles, nanotechnologies, flame retardancy, biotechnology, electrospinning, plasma, sustainable textiles and other functional textiles. Two winners of this year's 2BFUNTEX technology competition will also give their presentations at the event.
The conference is organised within the European Commission FP7 NMP Coordination Action aimed at exploiting the untapped potential in functional textile structures and textile related materials.
Concurrent events
Visitors will also be able to access a series of co-located knowledge-sharing activities held at ITMA 2015.

• BCI Responsible Cotton Sourcing Seminar

With the 'Art of Sustainability' in mind, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is providing a half-day seminar on 17 November. The aim is to educate the wider industry about the global challenges in cotton production and how BCI is providing leading retailers and brands with a mainstream option for more sustainably produced cotton. The Better Cotton Standard is designed to help mitigate risks and create opportunities in the existing cotton supply chain.

• Digital Textile Conference

This one-day conference on 15 November provides a comprehensive presentation of the most important new developments in the printing sector, in particular digital textile printing. Themed 'The Next Stage: Latest Advances in Production Inkjet Printing', it will offer detailed insights into these innovations across applications that include fashion, home and technical textiles. The conference is organised by World Textile Information Network.

• EURATEX Convention

On 18 November, industry and technology thought leaders will gather to discuss if the European Union textile and apparel sector has found enduring competitive advantages in its focus on quality, innovation and sustainability. Textile and clothing manufacturers will share experiences, and promising technologies and markets in a roundtable discussion.
ITMA 2015 will be held at the Fiera Milano Rho from 12 to 19 November 2015. It showcases end-to-end solutions for the entire textile and garment making chain. The exhibition has a gross size of over 200,000 square metres. To date, over 1,600 exhibitors from 50 economies have signed up to take part in the exhibition.
Visitors can purchase their ITMA 2015 badge online by 15 October in order to enjoy early-bird rates. For more information on the exhibition and conferences, please visit www.itma.com.