High-tech textiles in twelve application areas, the global innovative power of technical textiles and nonwovens as well as the digitalisation of the textile-processing industry: with 38,000 visitors from 102 countries and 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess have grown in terms of exhibitor numbers and recorded a 29 percent increase in visitor numbers. At the leading trade fairs, the density of forward-looking textile solutions that are transforming entire industries was particularly noticeable.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2024 ended with 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, 38,000 visitors from 102 countries and a 29 percent increase in visitor numbers. The top visitor nations were Germany, Italy, France, Turkey and the Netherlands. The top exhibitor nations were Germany, Italy, China, France and Turkey. Countries such as Egypt, China, Indonesia, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Moldova and Thailand contributed to the expansion of exhibitors, among others.
In times of emerging AI technologies, increasing legislative requirements and high energy costs, both trade fairs offered the markets the most important international marketplace for product innovations along the textile value chain at the right time: “With an overwhelming atmosphere and growth in size, exhibitors and visitors, Techtextil and Texprocess made it clear: textile innovation for a wide range of industries can only be found in this global width and strength here in Frankfurt. The textile industry, through both leading trade fairs, becomes the driving force and enabler for cross-industry transformations and a globally future-proof economy”, said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board, Messe Frankfurt GmbH.
75 percent of visitors – including producers, engineers from various industries, architects, processors, industrial designers, clothing and construction material manufacturers, R&D decision-makers, medical developers, product developers and other top executives – thoroughly leveraged the cross-networking opportunities, spanning from the preliminary stages of Techtextil to the wide array of processing and clothing technologies offered at Texprocess. The trade fair duo thereby set the stage for numerous international collaborations and business initiations, fostering innovation across sectors and making them market-ready.
Visitor satisfaction at a very high level
Exhibitors and visitors made intensive use of the trade fairs as efficient sales channels, made new international contacts and gained a concentrated overview of the global spectrum of high-tech textiles that can be used across industries, as well as the latest machines and technologies for textile processing. Visitor satisfaction at both events was at a very high level: 95 percent of visitors were satisfied overall with their trade fair visit, achieved their trade fair objectives and were impressed by the range of exhibitors.
20 years of Techtextil: biggest edition sets new standards
In its anniversary edition, Techtextil set a record in terms of size and underlined the dynamic growth and innovative strength of the textile industry.
Studies confirm the enormous future prospects of technical textiles: Fortune Business Insights[1] estimates the global market at 225.99 billion dollars in 2023 and forecasts an increase to 346.67 billion dollars by 2030. Similar forecasts by Allied Market Research[2] expect an increase to 331.8 billion dollars by 2032. Within the EU textile industry, technical textiles are the most dynamic drivers of demand in sectors such as medicine, agriculture, construction, outdoor clothing and automotive.
Techtextil is the only platform in the world to showcase the entire range of high-tech textiles across 12 application areas. In addition to examples such as medical textiles with a virus barrier, fibre structures for sound insulation in the construction industry or technical nonwovens for the automotive industry, these also included innovative world firsts in 2024: from the latest weaving technology with an open shed from the start-up Casmue, a new type of coating for self-cooling textiles from the German Institutes of Textile and Fibre Research Denkendorf to recyclable insulating textiles made of bio-based aerogel fibres from the start-up SA-Dynamics. Techtextil also placed a clear focus on sustainable action and production. More than 15 percent of the exhibitors presented natural fibres and materials.
“Techtextil is the most important industry event of the year for us and went really well for us in 2024. Once again, we were able to showcase our technology expertise to visitors. The special aspect about this global industry meeting place is that it not only brings us potential new customers, but we also meet our partner companies and suppliers here. The connection with Texprocess creates fantastic synergies. Techtextil 2024 has made it clear that the industry is on the move and sustainability is the overarching theme. We were surprised and pleased that we were visited by a particularly large number of young visitors – students as well as young innovators – with very specific requests for cooperation, also with regard to our sustainable solutions,” says Holger Michael Steingräber, Senior Vice President Global Marketing & Communications, Freudenberg Performance Materials.
“Techtextil 2024 has shown: We are on the right track with investments in circular economy. The response to our scalable solution that recycles garments into multifibres was downright enthusiastic. The trade fair went very well for us. We met existing and new customers, especially from Scandinavia and Southern Europe. What we really appreciate about Techtextil: Our end customers come to the show and exchange ideas with us in order to understand the benefits of our developments for their employees. And last but not least, Techtextil is simply the right place to present your innovation,” says Amaury Sartorius, Managing Director, Klopman.
“Techtextil is extremely important and very valuable for us. We see and feel the market, meet our customers, suppliers and new interested parties from all over the world, especially from Europe and overseas. Sustainability is the hot topic here in the exhibition halls and is much more present than it was two years ago. Textile companies around the world are working hard to reduce CO2 emissions and comply with CSR regulations. The tightening European regulations are playing a large part in this. Accordingly, the demand here at Techtextil for our sustainable developments, such as our PVC alternative with fifty percent CO2 savings, is strong,” says Michèle Sioen, CEO, Sioen Industries.
“Techtextil was an outstanding experience for us at Lenzing. The trade fair was very well attended and we were able to maintain valuable customer contacts and gain new ones. The diversity of visitors was particularly impressive – from experienced experts to curious students who came to find out about our innovative and sustainable fibre technologies. It is clearly noticeable that the topic of recycling is becoming increasingly important. Techtextil was a complete success for us,” says Oliver Spöcker, Global Sales Director, Lenzing AG.
[1] Fortune Business Insights (2024): Market Research Report (Database: 2022)
[2] Allied Market Research (2024): Technical Textile Market by Material (Natural Fiber, Synthetic Polymers/Fibers, Mineral Fiber, Regenerated Fiber, Metal Fiber, and Others), Process (Woven, Knitted, Non-Woven, and Others) and End-Use Application (MobilTech, InduTech, SporTech, BuildTech, HomeTech, ClothTech, MediTech, AgroTech, ProTech, PackTech, GeoTech, and OekoTech): Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast, 2023-2032.
Source: Messe Frankfurt
