Techtextil 2013 closed its doors after setting unequivocal new records on both the exhibitor and visitor sides. 1,322 exhibitors from 48 countries (2011: 1,199), an increase of ten percent over the last event, presented new products for all product groups and areas of application for technical textiles and nonwovens.

Around 27,500 visitors (2011: 24,915) from 97 countries, also an increase of ten percent, ensured busy exhibition stands and numerous contacts throughout the fair. “Techtextil has once again been able to expand its unique position as the world’s leading trade fair and a must for the sector”, said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

“Together with Texprocess, we see a bright future for Techtextil. The records set by both fairs confirm the seminal concept of this combination of technical textiles and textileprocessing technologies.”

At the leading trade fair for the sector, visitors had the chance to discover innovations in all areas of application for technical textiles. The products on show took account of the latest trends, e.g., lightweight construction, functionality, sustainability and mobility. The novelties included sensory systems for apparel, extremely light textile reinforced concrete and natural-fibre-based composites for automobiles.

In addition to the great innovativeness of the sector, synergistic effects generated by the range of products at Texprocess were very much in evidence, as reflected by the statistics on visitors from Texprocess, which reveal that around 5,400 trade visitors of the leading trade fair for textile-processing technologies took advantage of this unrivalled opportunity to attend Techtextil.

96 percent of visitors rated their visit to Techtextil as having been good to very good (2011: 96 percent). The values on the exhibitor side are similar. 90 percent of exhibitors said they had achieved their goals for the fair (2011: 90 percent).

Speaking on behalf of the German industry, Werner Zirnzak, Deputy Director of the Association of the Yarns, Woven Fabrics and Technical Textiles Industry (Industrieverband Garne - Gewebe - Technische Textilien e.V. – IVGT), said, “Our member companies are unanimous – this was the best Techtextil ever. The increased number of exhibitors attracted more visitors to the fair. The first day of the fair was particularly good. Visitor quality was also excellent.”

Besides the growth in visitor numbers, there was also an increase in the proportion of visitors from outside Germany to 57 percent (2011: 55 percent), which enabled Techtextil to consolidate its position as the world’s foremost meeting place for the sector.

After Germany, the biggest visitor nations were Italy, France, Turkey, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Poland and the Russian Federation. There were also significantly more visitors from China, Japan, Taiwan and the USA. 13 countries (2011: 11) made presentations in national pavilions. In addition to Belgium, China, France, Italy, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, the Czech Republic und the USA, Great Britain, India and Croatia were represented. On behalf of the French pavilion, a satisfied Pascal Galli, Technical Textile Project Manager of Ubifrance, said, “Nearly all the 73 companies of the French pavilion had very good meetings with many visitors, mainly from Europe. Techtextil 2013 was very good.”

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