Frankfurt am Main, 23 April 2024. With 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2024 are underscoring their pioneering significance for the global industry. At the opening event, the leading international trade fairs focused on the highly relevant subject of AI and thus generated future-oriented impulses. AI offers new opportunities along the entire value chain – from production and processing to recycling. In the panel talk, experts explained how AI is energising the textile industry.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2024, with 1,700 exhibitors from 53 countries, are the hubs for the international textile industry’s forward-thinking developments, ranging from advanced technology to breakthrough materials. Furthermore, for its 20th edition, Techtextil presents itself in a different way. Texprocess is likewise well-positioned across all product groups. The materials, products, machines, and processes showcased at the two trade exhibitions, as well as newly formed business ties, are paving the way for the industry’s future. “Frankfurt is once again a hub for textile and technological innovations, which are frequently showcased to the public for the first time at Techtextil and Texprocess.” These are crucial indicators and drivers for the development of many other industries. On its 20th anniversary, Techtextil has grown greater than ever before and, along with Texprocess, is in excellent shape,” remarked Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, during his speech.
At the opening event, Techtextil and Texprocess presented on the role of AI in textile recycling and garment processing. Several experts, including 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, discussed the potential of AI in textile production and processing.
Artificial intelligence in the textile industry
Identifying new techniques, leveraging potential, and optimizing existing processes – AI represents a significant possibility for advancement in the textile industry. Those who participate in new advancements today are well-positioned for the future. The benefits of AI solutions are clear: increased efficiency, competitiveness, transparency, and sustainability. However, making the most of AI requires skill, commitment, and the right technologies. The panel discussion looked at how AI may be used most effectively in the textile sector from a range of angles.
New opportunities with AI
Artificial intelligence creates new potential for innovation. On the one hand, new developments are emerging that use artificial intelligence to improve and streamline traditional textile manufacturing and processing operations, such as intelligent fault detection during production or optimised material calculations, making production and processing faster, better, and more sustainable. On the other hand, AI can be utilized to develop entirely new goods. “AI broadens the scope of innovations. In addition to speeding up and enhancing the efficiency of existing processes, it adds value by improving goods. For example, consider circular, regenerative textile solutions with longer life cycles. In the future. AI will enable us to not only accomplish the same thing faster, but also to build completely new, better, more individual, and more sustainable textile solutions that are better tailored to the client while also being better for the environment,” explained Prof. Dr. Ingo Rollwagen in his keynote address.
Textile recycling reimagined with AI
The majority of textile waste is either resold in the retail trade, disposed of in landfills, or burnt. As a result, there is still a strong demand for recycling options, such as old clothing. Furthermore, the EU Green Deal advocates for scalable recycling options. New advancements with AI integration promise to address this in the future, for example, by distinguishing between textile and non-textile items, such as zips, and automatically separating them. CETIA, a French innovation platform, is creating industrial solutions to prepare textiles for recycling. “Efficient and new technologies are required to enable large-scale textile recycling. Automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) improve profitability and competitiveness. “Interdisciplinary collaboration between research and industry is essential for this,” adds Chloé Salmon Legagneur during the panel discussion.
Techtextil and Texprocess driving new technologies
Artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword among businesses. Indeed, technology is fast transforming the industry and making its way into an increasing number of applications. This also means that the sector must engage with AI in order to remain competitive and take advantage of the numerous benefits it provides. Techtextil and Texprocess are the industry’s initial stops for gathering information and exchanging ideas on an international scale. “The industry is seeing significant changes. Although AI opens up new potential, it also presents businesses with a number of transformational problems. We are excited to guide the international industry through this process and showcase potential solutions at Techtextil and Texprocess. Olaf Schmidt stated, “Together, we can leverage the unique potential for the future.”
At the two trade exhibitions, participants find new solutions and partners to move their enterprises forward and prepare them for the future, whether they are progressive start-ups or world-class research institutes. The Techtextil and Texprocess forums provide firsthand knowledge on topics such as ‘Textile value chain digitalisation and data-driven AI business models’ or ‘AI-Based Real-Time Energy Optimization in the Textile Industry’, as well as a guided tour of Texprocess exhibitors focusing on digitalisation and AI. Furthermore, two Texprocess Innovation Award winners were recognized in the ‘Digitalisation + AI’ category.
Examples of AI integration can be seen in the portfolios of an increasing number of exhibitors. Visitors can expect clever systems that employ AI to evaluate fashion trends, such as using image analysis to find flaws or sort outdated garments, as well as smartly networking multiple production phases. “The textile processing sector has benefited greatly from advancements in artificial intelligence. Elgar Straub believes that new technologies provide actual opportunity to address difficulties such as worker shortages, the drive for greater sustainability, and resource constraint.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2024: Innovations and networking on subjects of major significance for the future of the industry
Innovative materials and disruptive technologies – Techtextil and Texprocess offer the most comprehensive range of technical textiles, functional garment fabrics, nonwovens, and production and processing technologies all at the same time and location. Textile solutions’ distinctive inventive strength is demonstrated in twelve application areas, ranging from building to medicine. As a worldwide industrial meeting place, the Techtextil and Texprocess event programming creates a slew of vital impulses.
Visitors will find a list of expert lectures, guided tours, special shows and events in the event calendar. The thematic spectrum covered ranges from denim processing, via recycling to functional apparel textiles. Areas focusing on functional natural fibres, start-ups and campus & research combine subject-specific presentations for visitors. Products, processes, solutions and information relating to sustainability can be found under the Econogy label. The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards represent another highlight for visitors. The pioneering research, new products, materials, processes and technologies 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 26 April 2024. Additionally, the jury is offering guided tours to the stands of the winners of the Texprocess Innovation Award on 23 and 24 April.