ITMA Exhibitor Previews

with integrated floor plan. This interactive floor plan allows visitors to explore and locate exhibitors on the show floor while learning more about the product offerings.

ITMA offers plenty for visitors to do and see. The comprehensive range of exhibits spans some 20 sectors of the textile industry. The sector plan color codes exhibits to help visitors find what they are most interested in seeing at the show (See Figure 1)

Innovation is the name of the game, and ITMA offers several ways for visitors to learn about the latest textile innovations. The Start-Up Valley is a new initiative featuring companies in early stages of developments “with new and game changing solutions and technologies to support and inspire innovation for the textile, garment and fashion industry.” Sixteen start-ups were selected by an expert panel from a pool of applicants.

ITMA 2023’s Research & Innovation Lab forms a hub for innovation at the show. The lab features 20 organizations from 11 countries to showcase new developments from educational and research institutions as well as the industry. The Innovation Video Showcase also will highlight innovations in materials, and textile and garment technologies offered by exhibitors.

In addition, the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award will recognize the achievements of the global textile industry in advancing sustainability using innovative solutions and notable research.

Visitors to ITMA 2023 also can take advantage of the education offerings hosted by ITMA as well as partner organizations (See “Collo- cated & Associated Events”). This year, ITMA is hosting the complimentary Innovator Xchange event. The sessions will focus on the ITMA Innovation Award winners and finalists as well as the four ITMA subthemes of advanced materials, automation and digital future, innovative technologies, and sustainability and circularity. ITMA also is again offering the Textile Colourants and Chemicals Forum as well as the Nonwovens Forum. Partner events include the ZDHC Impact Day 2023 and Planet Textiles.

Organizers have launched the ITMAconnect platform for 2023 show participants. The year-round sourcing platform and knowledge hub is now open and comprises five main facets —an agenda to view, bookmark and register for ITMA events; artificialintelligence powered business matching to pair people, companies and products for in-person meetings; exhibitor digital space to learn more about the participating companies; a schedule to view and manage meetings and events; and a smart messaging system for chat and video calls with exhibitors. The platform allows visitors to engage prior to the exhibition, and conversations will also be able to continue after the event.

ITMAis hosting 45-minute onboarding webinars for visitors to learn about the ITMAconnect platform. Upcoming sessions take place April 11, April 27 and May 9. Visit the ITMAwebsite to learn more and RSVP for a session.

In addition, the ITMA website now features a smart exhibitor list

Visitor registration is currently open. To encourage visitors to register ahead of time, ITMA is offering an early bird rate through May 7, 2023, on its website. Visitors may purchase a one-day pass for 40 euros and a seven-day pass for 80 euros. After May 7, rates rise to 55 euros for a one-day badge and 95 euros for a seven-day badge. On site rates are 85 euros to attend for one day or 125 euros to attend for all seven. Students are welcomed anytime June 10-14 at a discounted rate of 25 euros for a five-day badge.

The show is open June 8-13 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. each day. On June 14, the show opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m.

“Our visitors can look forward to ITMA 2023 to preview the latest innovation,” said CEMATEX President Ernesto Maurer. “We hope that textile and garment manufacturers, brands and retailers will take this opportunity to meet at ITMA to source and collaborate with leading members of the textile industry. In addition, they can also gain insights into industry trends and developments at various complementary events.

“Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; the industry has to move faster to adopt the sustainability agenda to secure the future of their business,” Maurer also noted. “During the pandemic, many of our members channeled their resources into R&D activities. ITMA 2023 is perfectly timed to offer our exhibitors an opportunity to showcase these new products and cutting-edge technology. If, and when, R&D is paired with sustainability efforts, this will be the formula for success.” TW

IIt’s a tall order to organize a major trade show once every two years.

It’s an even bigger challenge to host a large, collocated event in back-to-back years. But to fall in sync with Germany-based sister shows’ Techtextil and Texprocess schedule, Atlanta-based Messe Frankfurt Inc. was tasked with hosting Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas in 2022 and again in 2023 to put the events on track with an odd-year biennial schedule.

It’s surely nerve-racking for organizers wondering if the industry will respond and support the show under the less-than-ideal circumstances, and in and ITMA year to boot! But Messe Frankfurt is optimistic that the textile industry will remain faithful and support Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas 2023 despite the back-to-back shows in consecutive years.

Techtextil North America is incorporated with ATME-I, and Texprocess Americas is coproduced by SPESA — the industry association for suppliers to the sewn products industry. Organizers expect more than 350 companies from more than 30 countries to participate in the events scheduled May 10-12, 2023, at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) in Atlanta.

Collocated events Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas return to the GWCC on their new, odd-year biennial schedule.

The two-in-one event gathers the entire textile value chain in one place giving visitors access to products, technologies and solutions for virtually any textile application.

Visitors will see a wide variety of product categories at Techtextil North America representing the value-added chain in the technical textiles and nonwovens sectors including Research, Development, Planning, Consulting; Technology, Machinery, Accessories; Fibers & Yarns; Woven Fabrics, Laid Webs, Braiding, Knitted Fabrics; Nonwo- vens; Coated Textiles, Canvas Products; Composites; Bondtec; Functional Apparel Textiles; Associations; and Publications.

Techtextil North America exhibits are further classified according to 12 application areas: Agrotech; Buildtech; Clothtech; Geotech; Hometech; Indutech; Medtech; Mobiltech; Oekotech; Packtech; Protech; and Sporttech.

Texprocess Americas is promoted as the largest North American trade show displaying equipment and technology for the development, sourcing and production of sewn products. Product groups and services covered include: design, product development and automation technology; contract manufacturing and sourcing; production preparation and organization; cutting room and automation technology; fabrics and materials; fusing, setting and manufacturing preparation; textile machinery; textile finishing; knitting technology; embroidery technology; stitching, joining and fastening technology and materials; product processing and finishing; energy, air conditioning, disposal and recycling; quality control; internal material