#ITMA 2019

2018-10-18

CEMATEX underscores ITMA 2019 theme with innovation lab feature

To emphasise the innovation message to the textile, garment and fashion industry, CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has launched the ITMA Innovation Lab. The focus on innovation at ITMA 2019, which will be held in Barcelona, further underscores the ITMA 2019 theme: Innovating the World of Textiles.

“Innovation is vital for the industry’s success as Industry 4.0 gains momentum in the manufacturing world. The shift towards open innovation has resulted in increased exchange of knowledge and new types of cooperation among education institutions, research organisations and business,” explained Mr Fritz Mayer, President of CEMATEX.

He added, “ITMA has been a catalyst and showcase of ground-breaking innovation since 1951. We hope participants will be able to share new developments, discuss industry trends and spur creative efforts, thus ensuring a vibrant innovation culture in a global context.”

The ITMA Innovation Lab includes well-received features from previous editions, in addition to new initiatives and enhancements. The four main components of the Innovation Lab are:

Research & Innovation Pavilion (R&I Pavilion)
ITMA Speakers Platform
Innovation Video Showcase
ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award

Mr Charles Beauduin, Chairman of ITMA Services, elaborated: “By launching the ITMA Innovation Lab feature, we hope to better drive industry focus on the important message of technological innovation and cultivate an inventive spirit. We hope to encourage greater participation by introducing new components, such as the video showcase to highlight our exhibitors’ innovation.”

ITMA Innovation Video Showcase

The video showcase will provide a new channel for visitors to learn more about innovative exhibits at ITMA 2019. Exhibitors can submit videos based on the following topics:

Raw materials and manufacturing technology
Automation and digitalisation: Creating new opportunities in the textile and fashion industry
Technical textile innovations and manufacturing technology
Sustainable textile and garment manufacturing in the circular economy

A panel of judges from the global industry will select the videos to be shown at the Speakers Platform.

Speakers Platform

The Platform is an excellent avenue for participating R&I Pavilion institutes to present their latest research projects and cutting-edge technological developments. For the first time, guest industry speakers will be invited to share their knowledge and experience with ITMA participants. Some members of the judging panel will also be invited to lead discussions on various topics, thus adding to the vibrancy of the Platform.

R&I Pavilion

A total of 27 organisations are participating in the R&I Pavilion which will showcase cutting-edge textile and related research and development projects. Since ITMA 2007, the R&I Pavilion also serves to encourage collaboration among companies, research centres and universities in order to develop novel materials and technologies which will transform the textile, garment and fashion industry.

ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award

The Award was created by CEMATEX in 2015 to recognise the collaborative efforts by the global textile industry to advance business sustainability through innovative solutions, and promote outstanding industry related research. The Award comprises two categories: Industry Excellence Award for textile and garment makers, and brands who leverage ITMA exhibitors’ solutions to create green products; and a Research & Innovation Excellence Award, open to Master’s degree students.

ITMA 2019 will be held from 20 to 26 June at Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via venue. The exhibition will feature over 1,600 exhibitors who will be showcasing their latest technologies and sustainable solutions for the entire textile and garment manufacturing value chain, as well as fibres, yarns and fabrics. Visitor registration has started and an ITMA app has been launched. Please visit www.itma.com for more information.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.