In addition to many existing and potential Chinese customers who were welcomed, visitors also came from a diversity of countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Germany, France, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Mauritius and Japan, representing an array of product types such as denim and leather for upholstery, car seats and shoes.

Praise for instruments and stand design These visitors showed considerable interest not only in the quality of the innovative testing instruments on display and also in the well branded stand.

James Heal, who have been exhibiting at ITMA Asia since it started in 2001 in Singapore, developed a stand featuring many of the company's latest innovations of Textile Testing instruments.

These included the Titan universal strength tester which can accommodate tests up to 5000N and the TruFade Air-Cooled Light Fastness Tester, both of which were demonstrated to visitors on numerous occasions during the exhibition.

New Martindale revealed However the instrument which undoubtedly was the star of the James Heal stand which attracted praise and compliments for the quality of design and functionality from potential customers alike was the new James Heal Martindale - model 1309.

The company's latest Martindale is incredibly versatile and is proven to be ideal for testing the abrasion resistance and pilling properties of textiles and many different materials; nonwovens, carpets, leather, wood, high pressure laminates, painted surfaces and many other product types.

The Martindale, which exceeds the requirements of all known international standards and retailers' test methods, is available in three differently sized models, with 9, 5 and 2 stations respectively. The instrument allows easy access, via a hinged top plate (Maxi-Martindale only) to every station from the front which reduces time to load and unload. All models also have an intuitive control panel which maximizes testing and reduces errors.

Also on display from the company were the GyroWash - washing and dry cleaning colour fastness tester, the TruBurst, pneumatic bursting strength tester and the Orbitor, pilling and snagging tester.

Test materials One element of the James Heal stand which also attracted attention was a graphic of the world renowned Shanghai skyline, with many of the prominent buildings comprised of products from the company's extensive range of test materials and detergents.

James Heal supply test material to the highest standard of consistency, reliability and performance and as the company also design and manufacture testing instruments, they have incomparable knowledge of how these consumables integrate with the instruments.

James Heal look forward to exhibiting at the next ITMA Asia in 2016, again is located in Shanghai although at a new venue, the National Convention and Exhibition Centre in the Hongqiao area of Shanghai.