The trendsetting textile industry event ITMA will return to Barcelona, Spain this year with the theme “Innovating the World of Textiles”. The ITMA Innovation Lab will be organized at the exhibition, featuring the latest raw materials and production technologies and discussing a bundle of hot topics such as digitalization and sustainability.

The upcoming International Exhibition of Textile Machinery (ITMA) will be held from June 20 to 26, 2019 at Fira De Barcelona, Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition will feature innovative technologies and sustainable solutions for the entire textile and garment manufacturing value chain, as well as fibres, yarns and fabrics.

More than 1,600 exhibitors will present their cutting-edge solutions for the entire textile-making chain, snapping up 220,000sqm of gross exhibition area. It is expected to draw around 120,000 professional visitors from 147 countries.

CEMATEX, the show owner of ITMA, is delighted with the response from the exhibitor as all the exhibition space has been booked and a waitlist has been added. “For this edition, Italian exhibitors will take up the largest exhibition space. And there will be more Asian participants at this event than in the past, including Chinese and Indian exhibitors,” Mr Fritz Mayer, President of CEMATEX told CTA.

“We have also successfully invited key partners to organize complementary events to add value to our visitors’ participation. With more than 160 supporting organizations from around the world, we are looking forward to a vibrant showcase, collaborations and exciting knowledge-sharing opportunities,” added Mr Mayer. 

To emphasize the innovation message to the textile, garment and fashion industry, CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, has launched the ITMA Innovation Lab this year.

“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 organizations and business,” said Mr Mayer.

The ITMA Innovation Lab will include 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 and ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award.

This year, the exhibition, will be complemented by several key forums, two of which are the ITMA-EDANA Nonwovens Forum and Textile Colourant and Chemical Leaders Forum.

ITMA-EDANA Nonwovens Forum

The Nonwovens Forum is jointly organized by ITMA and EDANA. To be held on 21 June 2019, it will highlight the latest innovations in nonwovens. The theme of the forum is “Nonwovens Manufacturing Processes for the 21st Century: More Flexible, More Efficient, More Sustainable”.

The forum will feature three sessions, including circular economy/challenges & opportunities for processing bio-based & recycled materials on nonwovens machinery; latest trends and innovation in nonwoven processes – including hybrids and composites; and innovations in nonwovens technology.

In addition, there will be a panel discussion with experts from leading centres of excellence in nonwovens who will exchange their views on the nonwoven processes of the 2030s.

Textile Colourant and Chemical Leaders Forum
 

The 3rd Textile Colourant and Chemical Leaders Forum @ ITMA 2019 on 23 June will focus on the circular economy and resource sustainability strategy and how innovation will drive future industry success. Launched at ITMA 2011, the forum is an industry initiative that draws lively participation from dyestuff, colour and chemical professionals from around the world.

Themed “Meeting Resource Challenges in the Circular Economy”, the 2019 forum explores how textile chemicals and innovative and cleaner technologies can help create a more sustainable future for the textile and garment industry.

Presentations at the forum are clustered into three sessions, including resource management and Industry 4.0; responding to sustainability challenges with innovation; and envisioning the future of the colourant and chemical industry.