“The industry is currently facing huge challenges and some of those taking part at Heimtextil have really felt this,” says Detlef Braun, CEO of Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the 50th anniversary edition of the global textiles trade fair held this month in Frankfurt, Germany. “No manufacturer will be able to avoid environmentally friendly materials and production processes in 2020. Even big names are placing value on textiles made of certified materials and avoiding plastic packaging.” HP showcased its LATEX and new STITCH technology at the show.
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| HP at Heimtextil 2020 |
“Sustainability was placed firmly at top of the agenda, outshining all other topics,” Messe Frankfurt says in a statement. “63,000 visitors gathered information about the major themes dominating the international industry from 2,952 exhibitors at the world’s leading trade fair for home and contract textiles. As expected, the unusually early date led to a drop in visitor numbers.”
Textile Technologies, with Digital Print Technology and Textile Processing sections, presented the textile technology of tomorrow – from digital printers, software and the corresponding accessories to machines for textile processing.
HP (Germany), Mtex Solutions, Aleph, Fotoba International, MS Printing Solutions and Sublitex were all represented.
Detlef Braun, CEO of Messe Frankfurt, said: ‘”The industry is currently facing huge challenges and some of those taking part at Heimtextil have really felt this. However, exhibitor satisfaction has remained at the same high levels as last year, and visitor satisfaction increased from 93 to 95 percent. In addition to the early date, the reasons behind the reduced visitor numbers are mainly down to strong consolidation of specialist shops and developments in the stationary retail trade in the direction of e-commerce. The trend has also experienced an economic slowdown.
“This is in line with the fact that as many as 34 per cent of our exhibitors rate the current economic situation in the sector as poor, compared with just 18 per cent the year before."
The anniversary edition of Heimtextil offered over 150 lectures and panel discussions. The United Nations Office for Partnerships presented its worldwide ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ at Heimtextil for the first time, inviting industry leaders to take part in an intensive dialogue.
“Heimtextil was the next step on our tour to present the Sustainable Development Goals in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt´s Texpertise Network and the Conscious Fashion Campaign,” says Lucie Brigham, chief of office at UNOP. “The United Nations Office for Partnerships welcomes and appreciates the innovative work of the exhibitors and the variety of sustainable textiles presented in Frankfurt.”
The ‘Sleep! The Future Forum’ presented know-how on all aspects of sleeping and product innovations in the fields of sleeping systems, bedding and bed linen. Experts again dealt with the challenges that manufacturers face if they want to operate and produce sustainably.
The next Heimtextil will take place from 12-15 January 2021.
www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
