ITM 2020 International Textile Machinery Exhibition and HIGHTEX 2020 International Technical Textile & Nonwoven Trade Fair, which to be held in Istanbul Tüyap Convention and Congress Center on June 2-6, had been postponed to July 14-18, 2020. However, as Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact the world, the organizers announced the exhibitions are further postponed to June 22-26, 2021.

“We continue for preparation of ITM and HIGHTEX exhibitions at full steam. We believe that our textile industry will be revitalized and reach a better point with the end of the coronavirus pandemic,” the organizers said in a statement. “Turkey is among the largest manufacturers of nonwoven fabrics and sanitary outfits thanks to its strong infrastructure for the production of textiles, garments and nonwovens. We believe that this synergy and strength in the Turkish textile industry will have a positive impact on our exhibitions.”

The ITM 2020 is an international textile, yarn, knitting, weaving, dyeing, printing, finishing and hosiery machineries, sub-industries and chemicals exhibition, organized by Tüyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organization Inc. & Teknik Fairs Inc., in cooperation with TEMSAD (Turkish Textile & Machinery Industrialists Association).

According to the organizers, the ITM Exhibition, one of the largest textile machinery and technology fairs in Turkey and in the region, is expected to break new records this year thanks to its approaching 100% occupancy rate.

The last edition of ITM Exhibition in 2018 attracted 1,150 exhibitors from 64 countries and more than 14,248 international visitors from 94 countries.

HIGHTEX 2020, which to be held concurrently with ITM exhibition for the 8th time, is also an important meeting point in the Middle East and Eastern Europe in which technical textiles, nonwovens, technical textiles raw materials, semi and finished products, and production technologies will be displayed.

Turkish technical textile industry to flourish

Turkey, one of the important centres of the global textile industry, has seen a rise in the technical textiles market in the recent years due to the development of high value added products. The producer companies, which started their activities with simple products back in 1970s, now export tones of technical textile raw materials or end products to the world.

Technical textile manufacturers produce raw materials or intermediate products using meltblown, spunbond, spunlace, thermobond and waterlaid technologies for a variety of sectors, including construction, readymade clothing, geotextiles, home textiles, cleaning/cosmetics/hygiene, automotive, packaging and food industries.

Being pleased with the global demands for their products, the Turkish producers continuously make technological investments in order to renew their technologies and increase their capacities. Aiming to start smart textile production as well, the Turkish producers receive attention with the R&D and P&D investments they have increased recently.

Due to these developments in the country, many foreign companies bring production facilities in Turkey or become partners with Turkish companies, strengthening the position of Turkey in the technical textile market.