Success In Atlanta For Collocated Shows

Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas, held recently in Atlanta, presented opportunities for learning and networking through a variety of programs and comprehensive exhibit floor.

TW Special Report

TTechtextil North America and Texprocess Americas, two well established textile industry exhibitions, were held recently at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Organized by Messe Frankfurt Inc., the unified edition of these events attracted more than 350 exhibitors from 30 countries and witnessed the participation of numerous attendees representing the entire textile supply chain. This collaborative platform facilitated business development and showcased the latest innovations, products, and technologies in the industry. 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.

Highlights

Kristy Meade, vice president of Technical Textiles & Technology

Shows for Messe Frankfurt Inc., expressed positive thoughts about the diverse exhibitors and attendees who participated in the show. “This year, we were excited to bring together a variety of exhibitors and attendees from across the industry spectrum,” Meade said. “We were able to provide a space where they could not only showcase their innovations and learn about industry trends, but also develop new business relationships and find opportunities for growth in the market.”

During the three-day event, visitors had the chance to explore products up close, witness live demonstrations, attend educational sessions, and engage with exhibitors offering cutting-edge solutions across the supply chain. This collaborative environment also provided exhibitors with the opportunity to connect with suppliers and strategic partners, leading to tangible sales opportunities.

Exhibitors praised the event for its ability to showcase their products and innovations to a global audience, while also facilitating networking and business promotion. Justin Hershoran, director of real-time analytics for Alpharetta, Ga.-based Aptean highlighted the positive outcomes of participating in the show. “The reason that we are here is to interact with new clientele,” Hershoran said. “We actually see great results from this show. Every time we have done it, it leads to solid sales for us. It’s not just the marketing, it’s the real dollars that come in as a result.”

Jacob Blackburn, in global marketing for Mount Holly, N.C.-based American and Efird (A&E), also expressed enthusiasm, emphasizing how Texprocess Americas provides a platform to showcase A&E’s diverse line of thread products. “From staying up-to-date with the latest trends to learning about new innovations within the textile industry, Texprocess Americas supplies a great platform to network and promote our business,”Blackburn noted.

Exhibitor Steve Bassetti, director of Global Marketing, Cincinnatibased Michelman, shared: “Michelman sees considerable potential for growth in the technical textile industry, and the energy we saw at Techtextil confirms that belief. The show was well attended and allowed us to network with many current and potential partners while learning more about the industry. And of course, it was a great opportunity to share how our solutions can improve textile performance in a planet-positive way.”

“We found the traffic at Techtextil North America this year to be better than expected,” said Rick Stanford, vice president of global market development, Baldwin Technology Co. Inc., Rock Hill, S.C. “Also, this is the first year that we exhibited with our new North American sales partner, Fi-Tech.In the few months that we have worked with Fi-Tech, we could not be more pleased with their connection and reputation to the tex- tile industry.We had numerous visitors from engineers to senior leaders and decision makers who spent quality time with us discussing how they can lower their carbon footprint by transitioning from pad finishing to TexCoat G4’s precision spray finishing, saving money on gas, electricity, chemistry and water.”.”

Attendees also shared their positive experiences. “This is an excellent show to meet new suppliers and firm up some relationships from the past,” commented Paul T. McCabe, owner, Marietta, Ga.-based McCabe Textile Co. “Now that COVID is in the back window, this show and similar fairs will hopefully get rebuilt and thrive. Several of my suppliers were very satisfied with the traffic, requests for samples and eventual follow ups. If there were additional mills and converters showing I feel the attendance would grow.”

Associated Features

Notably, the 2023 edition featured symposium sessions, Tech Talks, Tech Zone, and introduced the new Career and Training Center. The Innovation Awards, another new addition to the collocated event, recognized outstanding achievements in new technologies, concepts and sustainability efforts.

The symposium sessions, held away from the show floor in a classroom setting, were a crucial component of the educational track. Sessions featured industry experts who delved into critical topics such as aerospace and defense, supply chain evolution, manufacturing innovation and sustainability.

Jennifer Guarino with the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC) highlighted the importance of these sessions. “More than ever, these conversations are about real solutions,” Guarino said. “We’re talking vertically with big and small retailers and big and small manufacturers at the table. So, I thought [the discussions] were very inspiring and very challenging, which is exactly what we need at Texprocess Americas.”