#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.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.