#Associations

2024-12-19

Promoting sustainability, digitalisation and resilience

The EU project ADDTEX has reached an important milestone with the two publications White Book and E-Book. Both publications contain comprehensive guidelines, findings and policy recommendations to support the sustainable, digital and resilient transition of the textile industry. The focus is on technical textiles, whose innovations are considered key to the competitiveness and resilience of the European industry.

The ADDTEX project brings together partners from a total of twelve European countries. The IVGT, Frankfurt is a partner for Germany and represents the interests of its members and the entire technical textiles sector. The aim of the project is to sustainably promote close co-operation between industry, science, politics and civil society. This innovative approach, known as the ‘quadruple helix model’, is intended to help prepare the industry for the challenges of a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment (VUCA), which have been exacerbated by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘By focusing on green technologies, digitalisation and continuous training, we are making the technical textiles industry fit for the future,’ says Stefan Schmidt, IVGT project manager. ‘We want to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of this important sector.’

Industry clusters such as the IVGT play a crucial role by strengthening networks between companies, educational institutions and governments. They promote the exchange of knowledge, support the introduction of new technologies and help to drive forward circular economy projects. Picture: IVGT

Workshops as a basis for policy recommendations

Between September and October 2024, the ADDTEX partners organised interactive workshops in Germany, Greece, Italy and Spain. These served as a platform for a broad dialogue between industry, science and politics, in which innovative approaches and concrete strategies for action were developed. The participants focussed on topics such as sustainable practices, digital transformation and promoting resilience in the textile industry.

The future is digital! The IVGT offers a range of programmes to make you fit for the digital transformation. Image: IVGT

Key competences for change

A central aspect of the White Book is the emphasis on education and training to promote the dual transition - green and digital. The most important skills required of employees to shape a sustainable future for the industry are expertise in renewable energy, recycling, environmentally friendly materials and sustainable production (green transition), skills in data analysis, cyber security, IT and the ability to use AI-supported technologies (digital transition), as well as adaptability, innovation, risk management and cross-functional collaboration (promoting resilience). Ten aspects emerged as the most important political recommendations for action (see chart). These include, in particular, the promotion of sustainable practices in companies, investment in digital infrastructure along the textile value chain, support for collaborative research projects and industry-specific training funds to impart the essential skills mentioned.

Further information www.addtex.eu; www.addtex.eu/resources/

To promote both the double transition and the resilience of the industry, policy should incentivise sustainable practices and investment in green technologies. The developed recommendations for action as a graphic. Picture: ADDTEX

IVGT joint stand brings innovation and networking to Techtextil 2026

At Techtextil 2026 and the parallel Texprocess 2026, key transformation topics such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, sustainability, recycling and the circular economy will be reflected across the show. Against this backdrop, the IVGT, together with 16 member companies, will present its joint stand in Hall 12.1 (Stand D62) as a platform for exchange and networking.

IVGT: AddTex final meeting in Terrassa

From 25 to 26 June 2025, the final meeting of the ERASMUS+ project AddTex took place in Terrassa, Spain, which aimed to train workers, pupils and students in the textile industry. Over a period of three years, eleven partners from Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic and the IVGT association for Germany were involved in the project.

IVGT on tour in Albstadt

For the second edition of the Albstadt ID industry event on 10 October 2024, more than 300 school students from all over Germany and around 200 other interested parties from the industry came to Albstadt to find out about new training and employment opportunities in the textile and clothing industry through numerous presentations. The IVGT was also there! In room 205-141, Iris Schlomski reported on the current status of the ADDTEX Erasmus+ project and explained in particular the content of the ADDTEX Academy and the Hackathon and Bootcamp programmes that have now been successfully implemented.

IVGT with the ETT Club at HANNOVER MESSE 2025

Technical textiles are highly developed materials that have been specially optimised for industrial applications. They are indispensable in many areas, even though they are often invisible. As "hidden champions" in the manufacture of numerous innovative products, technical textiles are a real alternative to conventional materials! HANNOVER MESSE, which will take place from 31 March to 4 April 2025, will bring together these important aspects for the first time and present the joint stand "Technical Textiles" in the innovative Future Hub in Hall 2.

Turkmenistan: Italian textile machinery focuses on high technology and specialization

The Italian textile machinery industry flies to Ashgabat to participate with a large “Made in Italy” delegation at TURKMEN TEXTILE EXPO 2026, the major international showcase taking place from June 4 to 6, 2026. The Italian presence, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), aims to consolidate Italy’s primary technological role in a highly strategic market with interesting prospects.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Fifteen years of Autoneum – From spin off to global technology leader

What started as a strategic carve‑out has since become the success story of a global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management solutions for vehicles. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, Autoneum supplies leading automobile manufacturers worldwide with innovative, lightweight and increasingly sustainable solutions.

Kruger, Canada, orders first nonwovens line for sustainable wipes from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from newly established Kruger Nonwovens to deliver a complete WetlaceTM hybrid line for the Wayagamack mill in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. With this investment, pulp and paper producer Kruger is preparing to enter the nonwovens market with a new generation of plastic-free, chemical-free materials for sustainable wipes. The line is the first of its kind in Canada and is scheduled to start production in 2028.

Picanol to present its leading weaving technology at ITM 2026

Picanol is pleased to announce it will be participating in ITM 2026 in Istanbul. This is a key event for industry professionals to engage with the Turkish textile industry as well as the extensive international audience attending the fair. During the event, Picanol will present its latest innovations to the visitors in Hall 8, booth 802.