news +++ Techtextil Texprocess

Techtextil and Texprocess: strong start with 1,700 exhibitors
and a panel discussion on new opportunities with AI, from textile
production and processing to recycling
Frankfurt am Main, 23 April 2024. With 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, Techtextil
and Texprocess 2024 are underscoring their pioneering significance for the globalindustry. At the opening event, the leading international trade fairs focused on thehighly relevant subject of AI and thus generated future-oriented impulses. AI offers
new opportunities along the entire value chain – from production and processing torecycling. In the panel talk, experts explained how AI is energising the textile
industry.
With 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2024 are the centre
for future-oriented innovations by the international textile industry – from progressive
technologies to revolutionary materials. Moreover, for its 20th edition, Techtextil presents
itself in a new dimension. Texprocess is also strongly positioned across all productgroups. The materials, products, machines and processes presented at the two trade
fairs, as well as the newly forged business alliances, are paving the way for the future ofthe industry. “Frankfurt is once again the centre for textile and technological innovations,which are often presented to the public for the first time at Techtextil and Texprocess.
These are an important indicator and driving force for the future of many other branches ofindustry. On its 20th anniversary, Techtextil has become larger than ever before and,
together with Texprocess, is in great shape,” said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive
Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, in his speech.
At the opening event, Techtextil and Texprocess generated forward-looking impulses in apanel talk entitled: From textile recycling to garment processing – the role of AI.
Discussing about the opportunities of using AI in the fields of textile production andprocessing were Chloé Salmon Legagneur, Director, CETIA, Prof. Dr. Ingo Rollwagen,
AMD Akademie Mode & Design / Hochschule Fresenius, Senior Advisor IMP Consulting,
Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabrics and Leather Technologies,
and Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt.

Photo: Messe Frankfurt / Thomas Fedra

Artificial intelligence in the textile industry
Identifying new approaches, utilising potential and improving existing processes – AI
represents a great opportunity for progress in the textile industry. Those who engage with
the new developments today are well positioned for the future. The advantages of AI
solutions are evident: greater efficiency, competitiveness, transparency and sustainability.
However, making the most of AI calls for expertise, investment and the suitable
technologies. The panel talk looked at how AI can be used to best effect in the textile
industry from a variety of perspectives.
New opportunities with AIArtificial Intelligence offers new opportunities for innovation. On the one hand,developments are emerging that use AI to improve traditional textile manufacturing andprocessing operations and to make them more efficient, e.g., intelligent fault detection
during production or optimised material calculations make production and processing
faster, better and more sustainable. On the other hand, AI can be used to create
completely new products. “AI expands the scope for innovations. In addition toaccelerating and increasing the efficiency of existing processes, it creates added value by
improving products. For example, in the form of circular, regenerative textile solutions withlonger life cycles. In the future, AI will make it possible to not just do the same thing fasterbut also to create completely new, better, more individual and more sustainable textile
solutions that are better tailored to the customer and also better for the environment,”
explained Prof. Dr. Ingo Rollwagen in his keynote speech.
Textile recycling reimagined with AI
Most textile waste is either returned to the retail trade as second-hand fashion, ends up in
landfill sites or is incinerated. Hence, demand for recycling solutions, e.g., for old clothes,remains high. Moreover, the EU Green Deal also calls for scalable recycling solutions.
New developments with AI integration promise to provide a remedy for this in the future,for example, by differentiating between textile and non-textile materials, such as zips, andseparating them automatically. The French innovation platform CETIA is developing
industrial solutions that prepare textiles for the recycling process. "Efficient, innovativetechnologies are needed to enable textile recycling on a large scale. Automation, robotics
and AI increase profitability and competitiveness. Interdisciplinary cooperation between

research and industry is essential for this," explains Chloé Salmon Legagneur in the paneltalk.
Techtextil and Texprocess driving new technologies
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a buzzword for companies. Indeed, it is rapidly changing
the industry and finding its way into more and more applications. This also means that theindustry has to get involved with AI to remain competitive and utilise the many advantages
that it offers. As international meeting places for the industry, Techtextil and Texprocess
are the first ports of call for gathering information and exchanging ideas. “The industry isfacing major changes. Although AI creates many new opportunities, it also confronts
companies with a variety of transformational challenges. We look forward toaccompanying the international industry through this process and highlighting potential
solutions at Techtextil and Texprocess. Together, we can leverage the unique potential forthe future,” said Olaf Schmidt.
At the two trade fairs, participants find innovative solutions and partners that will propel
their companies forward and make them ready for the future – whether progressive startups or top-class research institutes. Expert knowledge is available at first hand from theTechtextil and Texprocess forums, e.g., on the subject of ‘Textile value chain digitalisationand data driven AI business models’ or ‘AI-Based Real-Time Energy Optimization in theTextile Industry’, as well as a guided tour of Texprocess exhibitors focusing ondigitalisation and AI. Additionally, two Texprocess Innovation Award winners werehonoured in the ‘Digitalisation + AI’ category.
Examples of AI integration can also be found in the portfolios of ever more exhibitors.
Visitors can look forward to intelligent systems that analyse fashion trends using AI, forexample, use image analysis to identify faults or sort old clothes, as well as to network
different production steps intelligently with one another. "Advances in the field of AI havecome at exactly the right time for the textile processing industry. New technologies offer
genuine opportunities to tackle challenges such as labour shortages, the demand for
greater sustainability and resource scarcity," says Elgar Straub.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2024: Innovations and networking on subjects of majorsignificance for the future of the industry
Innovative materials and disruptive technologies – Techtextil and Texprocess present themost comprehensive spectrum of technical textiles, functional apparel textiles,
nonwovens, production and processing technologies at the same time and place. In
twelve areas of application, the unique innovative strength offered by textile solutions for awide range of sectors is reflected – from construction to medicine. As an international
meeting place for the industry, the programme of events at Techtextil and Texprocess
generates a host of important impulses.
Visitors will find a list of expert lectures, guided tours, special shows and events in theevent calendar. The thematic spectrum covered ranges from denim processing, via
recycling to functional apparel textiles. Areas focusing on functional natural fibres, startups and campus & research combine subject-specific presentations for visitors. Products,processes, solutions and information relating to sustainability can be found under theEconogy label. The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards represent anotherhighlight for visitors. The pioneering research, new products, materials, processes andtechnologies selected by a jury of experts represent the future of the industry. The exhibitsselected for the Techtextil Innovation Award can be seen in Hall 9.1 up to and including 26April 2024. Additionally, the jury is offering guided tours to the stands of the winners of theTexprocess Innovation Award on 23 and 24 April.
The events Techtextil and Texprocess will be held from 23 to 26 April 2024.
Press information and photographic material:
https://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press.html
https://texprocess.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/press.html
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www.twitter.com/ttx_tp

Texpertise Network:
Information about the international textile industry and Messe Frankfurt's global textile
trade fairs can be found at www.texpertisenetwork.messefrankfurt.com.

Your contact:
Ivonne Seifert
Phone: +49 69 75 75-6157
ivonne.seifert@messefrankfurt.com
Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 160327 Frankfurt am Main
www.messefrankfurt.com

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Sustainability at Messe Frankfurt
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