#ITMA Asia + CITME 2020

2021-03-04

Belgian Textile Technology Industry gears up for strong showcase at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020

Despite the fact that the coronavirus pandemic continues to have an impact on international business travel, the Belgian textile machinery technology industry is gearing up for what is expected to be the first major Asian showcase towards the post-pandemic relaunch of the economy. Preparations for the seventh edition of ITMA ASIA + CITME are going as planned!

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 will take place from 12 to 16 June 2021 at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. It will be held over 6 halls with a gross exhibition space of 170,000 square metres. Among the major Belgian exhibitors are Picanol, Vandewiele, BMSvision, Bonas and Hammer-IMS.

Luc Tack, CEO of Picanol and President of Symatex commented: “The trade show represents an important platform to help us connect with the Asian buyers at a time when the global economy is improving. ITMA ASIA + CITME is, without doubt, the most important trade show for the textile industry in Asia. As China is one of the most important markets for textile machines, it gives us the ideal opportunity to be closer to our customers. And we can only realize this objective by being present in the very heart of this market. Missing the show in June is simply not an option for the Symatex members, and we are extremely confident that our presence will have a positive impact in terms of realizing our ambitious commercial goals for 2021!”

Stijn Pauwels, Secretary General of Symatex agrees: “Our Belgian companies are eager to resume their international marketing and sales efforts. The positive economic growth is excellent news for the industry, recovery will take some time but we fully embrace opportunities like ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 to accelerate the commercial relaunch. Our Belgian exhibitors are certainly gearing up for a strong showcase in Shanghai!”

Answering the Asian industrial needs

As offering the most performing technology is the key to customer success, the Belgian machinery industry is strongly R&D driven, and is one of the nation’s biggest investor in R&D. It invests 8% of its added value in R&D and employs over 11% of the total Belgian manufacturing industry research head count. The industry accelerated its research efforts on energy efficiency in the last decade and achieved an average energy consumption reduction for its products of 18%. The long term strategy directs the Belgian machinery industry towards continuous strategic and open innovation to accelerate its product development pace and to provide its customers with cutting edge technology. Symatex, managed by Agoria (the Belgian federation of the technology industry), is active in both the economic and technical areas to support its members. The ITMA ASIA + CITME 2020 visitors will have the privileged opportunity to find out about the latest innovations.

VANDEWIELE exhibit at last ITMA in Barcelona (c) 2021 TexData

PICANOL booth at last ITMA in Barcelona (c) 2021 TexData International

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Première Vision Paris expands innovation focus across fashion and beauty

From September 1–3, 2026, Première Vision Paris will bring together more than 900 exhibitors from across the global fashion value chain. This year's edition places a strong emphasis on Innovation-Tech, highlighting technologies and materials that are reshaping product development, manufacturing and sustainability.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).