#Technical Textiles

2026-03-26

Mattes & Amann Group unveils TE-PAC at AIX

A new era for aircraft cabin interiors — Seven years in the making

What began as a bold idea inside the Mattes & Amann Group has, after seven years of relentless development, become a tangible product that could redefine how aircraft cabins look and feel. At the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2026 in Hamburg — the world's leading trade fair for aircraft cabin products, celebrating its 25th edition — Blanke textech GmbH presents TE-PAC: the Advanced Textile Laminated Cabin Panel.

Developed in close collaboration with Airbus and Diehl, TE-PAC is not an incremental update — it is a fundamental rethinking of the aircraft interior surface. By laminating a premium textile directly onto a lightweight honeycomb composite panel, the system creates a seamless, joint-free cabin surface that simultaneously meets the strictest aerospace performance requirements.

“This premiere represents the result of seven years of intensive development within our group. We are proud to bring TE-PAC to AIX — the right stage for a solution of this scope. At the same time, we know the reality of aviation: market entry barriers are high. Certification processes, qualification requirements, and supply chain integration demand patience and sustained commitment. We are prepared for that path", says Anton Schumann, Board / Sales / Communications at Blanke textech GmbH.

A product that transforms cabin panels into design statements

Traditional wrapped panels have long frustrated aircraft manufacturers and airlines alike: excessive material waste, time-consuming manual finishing, visible seams and wrapping edges. TE-PAC eliminates all of that. The result:

A smooth, seamless textile surface — no joints, no wrapping edges visible

Flexible design language for airline branding and premium cabin segments

Significant CAPEX advantages through reduced textile waste and faster installation

Textile-based acoustic dampening and premium tactile quality for passengers

Innovation rooted in partnership — and built for the long haul

The collaboration with Airbus and Diehl was not incidental — it was essential. Aviation demands more than clever materials; it demands verified, certified, integrated solutions. The Mattes & Amann Group has invested seven years in exactly that: understanding the aerospace supply chain, aligning with OEM requirements, and engineering a product that works not just in a lab, but on an aircraft.

TE-PAC creates tangible value across the entire value chain — for aircraft manufacturers, cabin integrators, airlines, and ultimately, passengers who experience a more refined and comfortable cabin atmosphere.

Dornbirn GFC 2026 expands conference program with new thematic sessions

For 65 years, Dornbirn GFC has stood for innovation and is one of the world’s leading conferences in the fiber industry. From September 16 to 18, 2026, the international fiber community will meet in Dornbirn, Austria, to discuss current trends, technological developments, and forward-looking solutions. More than 600 experts from industry and academia from over 30 countries are expected to attend. With around 100 presentations by renowned speakers, a 2,5-day conference program, and three parallel presentation rooms with moderated sessions, Dornbirn GFC provides a first-class platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and international collaboration. Together, participants will generate ideas and impulses that will sustainably shape the future of the global fiber industry.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

The new RJ 4/2 EL revolutionizes body mapping and expands creative possibilities – from smart lingerie to sporty athleisure designs

With the addition of another member to its successful RASCHELTRONIC® family, KARL MAYER is opening up new possibilities for creative product development for warp knitting mills and brands. The RJ 4/2 EL offers with two stitch-forming Jacquard bars entirely new design options for functional sportswear and bi-elastic lingerie. Available in gauges E 28 and E 32, this new model helps manufacturers set their collections apart from the competition. The fine E-32 gauges, in particular, impress with their clean surface, a pleasantly soft feel, and an exceptionally elegant look.

AUDI E5 earns Whole-Cabin OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification, reinforcing a new benchmark for healthier vehicle interiors

Following the successful certification of the AUDI E7X, the AUDI E5 has now achieved OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification for its entire vehicle cabin, making it the world's second vehicle to receive whole-cabin certification. With this latest achievement, AUDI remains the only automotive manufacturer whose complete model portfolio has obtained OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification for whole-cabin interiors.

Expansive innovations converge in Shanghai as Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 opens doors next week

With just days to go, industry enthusiasm is building for the opening of Yarn Expo Autumn, Asia’s premier yarn and fibre trade fair, running from 25 – 27 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Across 27,000 sqm in Hall 8.2, buyers will find nearly 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, spread across seven specialised zones that range from cutting-edge man-made and regenerated fibres to time-honoured cashmere and silk. Beyond the extensive sourcing options, a fringe programme of trend showcases, presentations and product launches rounds out the three¬day event with design, innovation and market intelligence.

DOMOTEX Southeast Asia 2026 - Building the Gateway to ASEAN's fast-growing flooring market

From 11–13 November 2026, the inaugural DOMOTEX Southeast Asia will take place at BITEC (Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre) in Bangkok, Thailand. Jointly organized by GLOBUS Events Limited and Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd., with Worldex G.E.C. Co., Ltd. as the local partner, the exhibition marks the expansion of the internationally recognized DOMOTEX brand into Southeast Asia. As the newest addition to the global DOMOTEX portfolio, the exhibition has been developed specifically to serve the rapidly evolving ASEAN market, creating a dedicated business event for the flooring and interior finishing industry.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.