#Techtextil 2024

2024-04-11

The DITF will be present in Frankfurt with a booth and five presentations

The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) will be providing information on new developments along the entire textile value chain.

This year's focus is on smart cycles, pneumatic textiles, fabrics with integrated light guides and textile pressure sensors, ceramic fibers, self-cooling surfaces, lignin coatings for geotextiles and protective gloves, sensor work gloves, bio-based and biodegradable nonwovens and sound insulation.

Lectures by the DITF:

Self-cooling textiles – energy-free method using radiative cooling technology

Lea Zimmermann, Cigdem Kaya, Thomas Stegmaier, Götz Gresser

Wed, 24 April 2024 from 3:50 pm to 4:10 pm

Meltblown-processing of polyhydroxyalkanoates: 100% bio-based and 100% biodegradable nonwovens

Tim Höhnemann

Thu, 25 April, from 9:30 am to 9:50 am

Lignin: waste becomes a promising raw material for textile coating

Cigdem Kaya, Thomas Stegmaier, Götz Gresser

Thu, 25 April 2024 from 10:10 am to 10:30 am

Gloves coated with Lignin in 3D printing process

Andreas Scherrieble

Thu, 25 April 2024, from 12:50 pm to 1:10 pm

Holistic Calculation of the Product Carbon Footprint along the Textile Supply Chain

Thomas Fischer

Thu, 25 April 2024 , from 2:50 pm to 3:10 pm

25 years of medical devices: ITVP combines experience with innovation

ITV Denkendorf Produktservice GmbH (ITVP) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. On October 1, 2001, ITVP was founded as a subsidiary of the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), Europe’s largest textile research center. This spin-off company made it possible to consolidate expertise in medical technology and significantly expand production, which had previously been initiated mostly in the DITF’s cleanrooms.

Reducing development times for technical textiles by accelerated thermo-oxidative aging in a high-pressure autoclave

Synthetic polymers used in technical textiles can be effectively protected against degradation caused by heat, oxygen, and water through the use of stabilizer systems. This enables service lives of several decades, extending to more than 50 years. As the use of durable technical textiles continues to grow, so does the demand for reliable methods to predict their service life within economically feasible testing periods. For the first time the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) developed methods for robust service life prediction for textiles in an IGF research project.

Europe is committed to recycling end-of-life wind turbine blades

Starting in 2026, Europe’s wind energy industry has committed itself to ensuring that wind turbine blades do not end up in landfills once they reach the end of their service life. The EU-funded research project REWIND is exploring ways to reuse this composite waste. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are one of 13 project partners from seven countries.

Smart textiles reversibly change shape in an energy-efficient manner in response to ambient temperature

Self-actuating textile structures are used in a wide range of applications, such as medical technology, automation, architecture, agriculture, and the apparel industry. An example is the use of shading nets in greenhouses, which can be deployed and retracted depending on the sunlight intensity. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) are developing textiles based on shape-memory polymers with reversibly controllable geometry.

Successful trade fair appearance of the IVGT members

With a total of 38,000 visitors from 102 countries and 1,700 exhibitors, the 20th Techtextil 2024 from 23 to 26 April in Frankfurt am Main once again maintained its position as the world's largest trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. The Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles also draws a positive conclusion about the course of the trade fair for its members.

Archroma and Prosperity Textile to collaborate on denim innovation

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, and Prosperity Textile, an international fabric manufacturer with production bases in China and Vietnam, have announced a partnership to drive denim innovation. They will collaborate to develop, evaluate and implement new approaches to improve denim aesthetics, durability and performance, with a shared commitment to sustainability.

Eastman Naia™ highlights circularity and responsible sourcing at Textile Exchange 2026

Scaling sustainable practices across businesses, supply chains and landscapes is one of the defining challenges facing the textile industry. At the 2026 Textile Exchange Conference, held October 12–16 in Vancouver under the theme “The Implementation Era,” Eastman Naia™ showcased how its commitments to circularity, responsible sourcing and forest conservation translate into practical action.

From textile waste to spinning-grade fiber: STADLER Group engineers integrated sorting solution for IGERS in Italy

As technology partner, STADLER worked alongside IGERS on its new plant in San Pietro Mosezzo, Novara, from the first process discussions to the final layout – integrating key treatment equipment into one system and supplying the fully automated sorting line. Together, the two companies have taken IGERS' patented textile recycling process from vision to industrial reality.

Aachen Summer School: Textiles become smart through 3D printing and origami

From 21 to 29 September 2026, the Aachen Summer School will transform Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University into a laboratory of the future: over the course of a week, students will use origami folding techniques and 3D printing to develop active textile structures capable of performing programmable movements. This interdisciplinary event combines theoretical foundations with practical prototyping – from digital modelling right through to functional textile prototypes.