#Techtextil 2019

2019-05-29

Great success at TEXPROCESS / TECHTEXTIL 2019

With a total of 1,818 exhibitors from 59 countries and, in all, some 47,000 trade visitors from 116 countries, thetwo biggest editions of Techtextil and Texprocess ever to be held, ended today in Frankfurt. Accordingly, for fourdays, the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre once again became the leading international platform for users of technical textiles from the widest variety of sectors, as well as for manufacturers of apparel, fashionwear, upholstered furniture and leather products.

VETRON|TYPICAL presented itself once again with great success at the TEXPROCESS. Newest sewing and welding solutions, an operator friendly workplace design, the v_sion product-management-system as all-in-one industry 4.0 solution, as well as first-time 3D-Sewing and Welding-Systems did let the visitors venture in world full of innovation and German engineering art on an almost 800 sqm area.

The newly developed VETRON VIPER 3D-Robotic-System did not only impress the visitors, but also won the popular TEXPROCESS INNOVATION AWARD. The Viper won the professionally qualified judges over with its ultra-light sewing machine, working with a weight of approx 7 kg and in cooperation with a 6-axis-robot as ultra-flexible and compact robotic-cell for various 3D applications. Thus, beside the award-winning sewing-system, a hotair-welding-system for dashboards was shown as well. It was the fifth award in a row, manifesting VETRON | TYPICALS position as the industrys leader of innovation.

In addition to the robot-systems, VETRON | TYPICAL presented the new robotic range as well as a unique material gripper. The VETRON VARIOGRIP can differ between flexible materials such as leather or fabric, and switches automatically between a vacuum- or needle-system to grab the material. The hub-arms of the VARIOGRIP identify different forms, which makes it a powerful addition for the transport between single processes within a production.

The market launch of the VETRON 5656 AutoSeam was long awaited. Awarded with the TEXPROCESS INNOVATION AWARD in 2015, the automatic sewing machine was developed to the point of market maturity in the years since. For the first time, non-congruent contours can be merged automatically.

The market launch of the AutoSeam is another big step forward for VETRON | TYPICAL as a pioneer in the man less sewing segment.

The Automation segment was complemented by two turning-head-systems with automatic shuttle tables for an overlapping operation. The VETRON 5412 turning-head-system also led to large visitor interest a part of the „SMART TEXTILES MICRO FACTORY“ of the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University, short ITA. The ITA in cooperation with multiple partners showed a way to produce a smart textile from a design to an actual finished product for the first time.

TEXPROCESS 2019 will go down as another great success of VETRON | TYPICAL. Thanks to the steady extension of the product portfolio and the promising start of the new robotic segment, the company presented itself once again as a strong and reliable partner for the future.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

HeiQ & Archroma and Lenzing & Armedangels win ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has named two industry partnerships as winners of the ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026. The awards go to collaborations between HeiQ and Archroma as well as Lenzing and Armedangels, highlighting joint approaches to innovation and sustainability across different parts of the textile value chain.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.