#Technical Textiles

2026-03-26

Mattes & Amann Group unveils TE-PAC at AIX

A new era for aircraft cabin interiors — Seven years in the making

What began as a bold idea inside the Mattes & Amann Group has, after seven years of relentless development, become a tangible product that could redefine how aircraft cabins look and feel. At the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2026 in Hamburg — the world's leading trade fair for aircraft cabin products, celebrating its 25th edition — Blanke textech GmbH presents TE-PAC: the Advanced Textile Laminated Cabin Panel.

Developed in close collaboration with Airbus and Diehl, TE-PAC is not an incremental update — it is a fundamental rethinking of the aircraft interior surface. By laminating a premium textile directly onto a lightweight honeycomb composite panel, the system creates a seamless, joint-free cabin surface that simultaneously meets the strictest aerospace performance requirements.

“This premiere represents the result of seven years of intensive development within our group. We are proud to bring TE-PAC to AIX — the right stage for a solution of this scope. At the same time, we know the reality of aviation: market entry barriers are high. Certification processes, qualification requirements, and supply chain integration demand patience and sustained commitment. We are prepared for that path", says Anton Schumann, Board / Sales / Communications at Blanke textech GmbH.

A product that transforms cabin panels into design statements

Traditional wrapped panels have long frustrated aircraft manufacturers and airlines alike: excessive material waste, time-consuming manual finishing, visible seams and wrapping edges. TE-PAC eliminates all of that. The result:

A smooth, seamless textile surface — no joints, no wrapping edges visible

Flexible design language for airline branding and premium cabin segments

Significant CAPEX advantages through reduced textile waste and faster installation

Textile-based acoustic dampening and premium tactile quality for passengers

Innovation rooted in partnership — and built for the long haul

The collaboration with Airbus and Diehl was not incidental — it was essential. Aviation demands more than clever materials; it demands verified, certified, integrated solutions. The Mattes & Amann Group has invested seven years in exactly that: understanding the aerospace supply chain, aligning with OEM requirements, and engineering a product that works not just in a lab, but on an aircraft.

TE-PAC creates tangible value across the entire value chain — for aircraft manufacturers, cabin integrators, airlines, and ultimately, passengers who experience a more refined and comfortable cabin atmosphere.

Techtextil 2026: KARL MAYER impresses as an innovative sector partner

KARL MAYER looks back with satisfaction on its participation in Techtextil 2026. From April 21 to 24, the international industry leader used the trade show in Frankfurt to meet with numerous key customers at its booth and, at the same time, establish many new contacts. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by major markets such as Poland, the United Kingdom, Turkey, France, and Portugal.

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Aditya Birla Group showcases integrated technical textile capabilities at Techtextil 2026

As global industries rethink supply chains and accelerate the adoption of advanced materials, the Aditya Birla Group, a US$67‑billion global conglomerate, headquartered in Mumbai, India, showcased the full strength of its technical textiles portfolio at Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt today. The Group’s presence underscored India’s transformation into a hub for high-value, performance-driven textile solutions within the global ecosystem.

Europe’s textile future at a turning point: New 2030 Circularity Blueprint aims to scale recycling and unlock investment opportunities

The EU textile system is at a critical crossroads. Today, less than 1% of discarded garments are recycled into new garments, despite EU-wide obligations for separate collection. In response, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) is launching the 2030 Circularity Blueprint, in partnership with ReHubs. This ambitious initiative is designed to support the transformation of the EU textile ecosystem to advance textile-to-textile recycling and drive the transition to a circular economy.

Regional hemp bast for lightweight construction profiles

The cultivation of fibre hemp for the production of ropes and clothing has a long tradition in Saxony. Due to its excellent fibre properties, it is also suitable as a renewable raw material for reinforcement in fibre composites. At the STFI and IWU in Chemnitz, the CannaPul project is cur- rently investigating how a regional value chain for hemp-based lightweight construction profiles can be established. To this end, the technical processing of hemp fibres into continuous fibre strands and their embedding in a suitable bio-based matrix are being investigated.

Kornit Digital launches Konnections 365

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT) (“Kornit” or the “Company”), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production today announced the launch of Konnections 365 - a year-round movement designed for the people moving the apparel, print, and retail industries forward. The strategy is built on the overwhelming success of Konnections 2026 held in Hollywood, Florida, featuring more than 500 customers, partners, and collaborators who together are driving the future of apparel and textiles.

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.