U.S. & European technical textiles industry leaders: In global recession innovation becomes even mo

March 25, 2009 - PRLog -- Key U.S. and European leaders in the technical textiles industry will meet to discuss how the industry will recover and meet new, emerging challenges at the second Advanced Textiles '09 Conference, 2-3 April in Brussels. This select gathering includes influential representatives of the industry, government, textiles organizations and trade press.

Organised by the Industrial Fabrics Association International and IHOFMANN, the 1.5-day conference will take place at the Hotel Bloom in Brussels, and features an inspiring, high-level program.

Thirty experts from Europe and the U.S. will share their know-how and new technology applications, providing attendees with promising leads for cooperation and interdisciplinary business ventures. Five thematic sessions provide an outlook on the most auspicious applications of technical textiles in the next two to five years.  Hot topics include: Smart Textiles (wearable materials that incorporate electronics); Textile Membranes and Architecture (for sustainable design); Medical and Biomedical Applications; Safety and Protective Textiles (including high-performance applications for the military); Transportation and Logistics (how smart textile reinforcements in tires reduce cost and increase performance; light-emitting digital fabrics and nanotechnology sensors in transport systems).

Isa Hofmann, CEO of IHOFMANN and conference organizer explains the conference message, "There is no innovation without creative destruction. AT'09 invites executives from the textile industry to get connected to the future! Creativity and innovation fuel our contemporary economy, and this year's exciting program will fuel entrepreneurial spirits eager for knowledge and dedicated to business success."

"Crises always offer the opportunity for a fresh start, since we assess our environment in a different way and reconsider beaten paths. This allows 'the new' to prevail.  Trend experts predict a new wave for authenticity--authentic products that truly enhance our quality of life, and technical textiles in the various sectors will make a major contribution in this paradigm shift," Hofmann says.

Keynote Lectures will highlight new areas for growth and transatlantic cooperation--
•   Paul J. Kullman, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy, Belgium, presents: "Transatlantic Trade & Investment: Challenges and Opportunities."

•   Dr. Reinhard Büscher, Head of Unit, D2 Support for Innovation, EU Commission presents: "Transatlantic economic cooperation focusing on eco-innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve sustainable growth in a competitive world."  

•   Michèle Sioen, CEO of Sioen Industries and President of Fedustria, presents: "Technical Textiles processing and innovative coating technologies for various industrial applications."

According to Stephen Warner, President and CEO of the Industrial Fabrics Association International, "The worldwide economic troubles will not last forever. There are already signs that the worst is past. On 15 March, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he believed the current recession could be turning around by the end of this year. Now is not the time to be sitting on the sidelines. Our conference will help companies get ready to take advantage of a revived economy."  

Get complete AT '09 program information now at:  www.ifai.com/Home/AdvancedTextiles09.cfm

About the Organiser:

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is the only trade association in the world representing the entire technical textiles industry value chain. IFAI was founded in 1912 by 14 manufacturers of canvas and awnings, and is today comprised of 2,055 member companies in 55 countries.

According to a recent study from IFAI Research on the "State of the Industry" (Part I, and Part II) the world market for technical textiles/specialty fabrics was estimated to be about 21 million tons, with a value of approximately $115 billion in 2007.  It is projected to increase to 24 million tons, with a value of $127 billion by 2010. The U.S. textile industry continues to invest in new machinery and technology, spending more than $2 billion a year to maintain modern manufacturing facilities.

IFAI supports a global membership with world-class trade shows and conferences such as the annual IFAI Expo 2009 in San Diego, IFAI Expo Asia (2011 in Singapore), the Advanced Textiles Conference (2009 in Brussels), the IFAI Canada Expo, IFAI Japan Showcase; and specialty conferences and workshops in Australia, China and Mexico.
 
In addition to three country sectors (Canada, Japan and New Zealand), IFAI is organized into 12 niche end-market divisions including automotive, geosynthetics, marine, awning, light-weight structures, safety, medical and protective products. Members' products span the entire spectrum of the specialty fabrics industry, from fiber and fabric suppliers to manufacturers of end products, equipment and hardware.  IFAI also publishes seven award-winning industry magazines - in print and online at www.ifai.com.

Event Marketing Partners:

•   Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers  (ACIMIT)
•   Business Co-Ordination House (BCH)
•   Clubtex
•   Espace Textile
•   Fabric Architecture
•   Fachverband der Textilindustrie Österreichs
•   Fedustria
•   Forward Textile Technologies
•   Industrial Association for Yarns, Fabrics and Technical Textiles (IVGT)
•   International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)
•   JP International Industrial Consulting
•   Reseau Industriel d'Innovation du Textile et de l'Habillement (R2ITH)
•   Specialty Fabrics Review
•   Techtera
•   Union des Industries Textiles (UIT)
•   T.U.T. - l'INDUSTRIE TEXTILE
•   TechTex India
•   Textile Magazine
•   Technische Textilien

Event Sponsors:

- Bluestar Silicones
- Dienes - Partners for Special Fibers
- Norafin
- Transfertex GmbH & Co.

CONTACTS:

Jill M. Rutledge, Attending & Exhibiting
jmrutledge@ifai.com
tel: +1 651 225 6981
fax: +1 651 631 9334   

Dr. Isa Hofmann, European Press & Technical Presentations
info@ihofmann.com
tel: + 49 11 890 59 640
fax: + 49 611 87086   

Tracie K. Coopet, Registration Information
tkcoopet@ifai.com
tel: +1 651 225 6945
fax: +1 651 631 9334

# # #

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) is the only trade association in the world representing the entire technical textiles industry value chain. IFAI was founded in 1912 by 14 manufacturers of canvas and awnings, and is today comprised of 2,055 member companies in 55 countries.

IFAI supports a global membership with world-class trade shows and conferences such as the annual IFAI Expo 2009 in San Diego, IFAI Expo Asia (2011 in Singapore), the Advanced Textiles Conference (2009 in Brussels), the IFAI Canada Expo, IFAI Japan Showcase; and specialty conferences and workshops in Australia, China and Mexico.

Members' products span the entire spectrum of the specialty fabrics industry, from fiber and fabric suppliers to manufacturers of end products, equipment and hardware. IFAI also publishes seven award-winning industry magazines - in print and online at www.ifai.com.