Press-release
High-Tex from Germany
German Industry Show at Techtextil Russia
Moscow, 12 to 14 March 2012
Interview with Dr Klaus Jansen, Director, German Textile Research Association, about the symposium at 'High-Tex from Germany' in Moscow and textile research in Germany and Russia
Dr Klaus Jansen: "Textile research in Germany in an outstanding position"
From 12 to 14 March this year, 56 exhibitors will make presentations at the first 'High-Tex from Germany' to be held in Moscow. Following Atlanta, Shanghai and Mumbai, the industry show will pave the way into the Russian market. As at the previous event, the textile-research segment will be extremely well represented at the Moscow edition of 'High-Tex from Germany'. In addition to a total of eleven research institutes, there will also be a one-day scientific symposium with twelve lectures. Dr Klaus Jansen, Director of the German Textile Research Association (Forschungskuratorium Textil e. V.), discusses the symposium and the significance of textile research in Germany and Russia.
"Dr Jansen, why are textile research institutes taking part in 'High-Tex from Germany' again?"
Dr Klaus Jansen: "Thanks to their close working relationship in the field of technical textiles, industry and research lead the world. Together, we have created genuine innovations. Hence, new products account for an above-average proportion of turnover in the textile and apparel industry. And we have not tried to hide this achievement but have always made a point of drawing attention to it with the aim of opening up new international markets.
With our activities outside Germany, we also want to identify new areas of research and close existing gaps in our knowledge. We can best exchange knowledge through a personal dialogue. And this is where High-Tex from Germany comes into play. At trade fairs, I want to meet researchers seeking new knowledge, areas of application and markets.
A symposium at a trade fair is the ideal setting for this, as we can see every two years at Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main – and will be able to see at 'High-Tex from Germany' in March. There, recognised experts will present their insights into four main themes – Lightweight & E-Mobility, Medicine, Protective Clothing and Architecture. The main areas of research in Germany are undoubtedly of interest to the Russian market, too."
"Dr Jansen, what are the aims of textile research in Germany, and what are the latest developments?"
Dr Klaus Jansen: "There is a high degree of awareness in German textile research that research is not an end in itself but always a contribution to added value. We simply need products which attract both domestic and foreign customers.
Textile research in Germany is in an outstanding position for this. Our resources include a network of 16 institutes, 1,200 employees and a highly international orientation. And then there are the advantages of Germany as a business location – in addition to a very good industrial structure with a broad middle class and qualified workers, the trade associations and authorities support our research activities.
The German Textile Research Association is supported by 20 economic organisations with over 1,200 members, most of them small to medium-sized companies, from the mechanical engineering, medical technology and synthetic-fibre sectors. Everywhere, the focus is on fibre functionality and this functionality requires intensive research.
A highly promising area of growth comprises textiles for the health-care sector. Apart from dressings that actively help the healing processes, there are many encouraging developments relating to implants with sensory and actuatory qualities. Moreover, the integration of electronic systems in medical textiles is generating new impulses for the care of older and ill people, a market segment for which experts forecast annual growth of over five percent. And this applies to both Germany and Russia."
"Dr Jansen, what is the significance of textile research in Russia? What contribution can German research make to this market?"
Dr Klaus Jansen: "The German and Russian markets are quite different. Textile research is not yet established in Russia. However, I hope that Minister President Putin's announcement that several world-class universities are to be founded by 2020 will have a positive impact on textile research.
The lively exchange of information with Russian colleagues has already produced positive results with some good ideas coming, for example, from the field of finishing for technical textiles and fibres. Additionally, Russian scientists have worked successfully at German institutes.
Many fields of German research are also relevant for the Russian market. Besides medical textiles, I am thinking about the use of textiles as a sustainable replacement material in the construction industry. After all, we are all affected by global changes, such as demographic shifts and the need for environmentally friendly production.
Thus, one of the main tasks of textile research is to promote the exchange of knowledge, for example, at fairs around the world. We can only profit from an international exchange of ideas, opinions and knowledge."
High-Tex from Germany
The 'High-Tex from Germany' initiative is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in cooperation with the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (Messeausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V. – AUMA), and supported by the Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry. Responsibility for organising the event has been given to Messe Frankfurt. 'High-Tex from Germany' has already been held successfully in conjunction with Techtextil India (2007, Mumbai), Cinte Techtextil China (2002, Shanghai) and Techtextil North America (2000, Atlanta). In 2012, the special event will open up the Russian market to manufacturers of technical textiles as part of Techtextil Russia. The focus of their presentations will be on the automobile industry, the infrastructure and on nonwovens for use in the medical field. Additionally, special attention will be paid to ecological and sustainable aspects.
Further information: www.high-tex-from-germany.de.
You can also follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hightexgermany.
Techtextil / Techtextil Russia
Techtextil, the leading international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens, which is held every two years in Frankfurt am Main, is the world's foremost marketing and sourcing platform for users and manufacturers in this field. At Techtextil, the industry presents not only the complete spectrum of technical textiles and technologies but also the multifarious areas of application. Also biennial, Techtextil Russia spotlights the latest developments in the fields of materials, production and applications for technical textiles, nonwovens and protective clothing. From 12 to 14 March 2012, Techtextil Russia with High-Tex from Germany will bring together in Moscow the great potential of the Russian market for technical textiles with the professional organisational experience of Messe Frankfurt. Further information can be found on the internet at www.techtextil.com and www.techtextil.messefrankfurt.ru.
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie – BMWi)
The foreign fairs programme of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology gives small to medium-sized companies the chance to present their products and services at important trade fairs in selected countries. Within the framework of this programme, the Ministry is planning participations in around 260 fairs and exhibitions in 39 countries in 2012 – and € 42 million has been budgeted for this. The foreign fairs programme is organised by the 'Fair Policy and Expo Participations' department of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology in cooperation with several different fair and exhibition companies. Further information can be found on the internet at www.bmwi.de.
Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (Messeausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft e.V. – AUMA)
As the central organisation of the German trade fair industry, AUMA is the combination of all those forces which are partners shaping the trade fair market, in other words, exhibitors, visitors, trade fair organisers and service companies. Thus, the main task of AUMA is to reinforce German trade fairs at home and abroad. To this end, the association promotes the quality of German trade fairs by creating greater market transparency, by promoting cooperation between the market partners, by encouraging the exchange of information and experience between its members and by organising joint projects with its members. AUMA supports, in particular, the market activities of small and medium-sized German companies via participations at trade fairs in Germany and abroad. Further information can be found on the internet at www.auma.de.
Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry (Gesamtverband textil+mode)
With around 1,200 companies and 400,000 employees, the German textile and fashion industry is the country's second biggest consumer-goods industry. It has a turnover of approximately € 27 billion (60 % textiles, 40 % fashions), which makes it the biggest textile and fashion industry in Europe. The Confederation of the German Textile and Fashion Industry is the umbrella association of the German textile and fashion industry. It represents the interests of the industry in different questions of economic, wage, social and educational policy with offices in Berlin and Brussels and cooperation offices in Moscow and Shanghai. The Confederation and its member associations also belong to the Textile Research Board. With 16 textile-research institutes throughout Germany, the Research Board conducts joint industrial-research projects and supports the transfer of knowledge and technology on a practical level. Further information can be found on the internet at www.textil-mode.de.
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is Germany's leading trade fair organiser with € 457* million in sales and 1,769* employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 52 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events 'made by Messe Frankfurt' take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2011, Messe Frankfurt organised 101 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany. Messe Frankfurt's exhibition grounds, featuring 578,000 square metres, are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Centre. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*Provisional figures (2011)