Techtextil India: First hybrid edition moves to November 2021

Techtextil India, India’s leading trade fair in technical textiles, nonwovens and composites, originally scheduled in September 2021, has now been postponed to November 25-27, 2021. On account of the developments around the current Covid-19 situation and its relative impact on the safety, well-being and continuance of business, Messe Frankfurt India has taken this decision in consultation with industry stakeholders.

Even as companies look forward to economic revival, the continued difficulties posed by the pandemic makes it necessary for industries to recover, plan and prepare before they can get down to business. The organisers feel that moving the show ahead will allow this additional time and is a necessary step that will in-turn create a healthy business environment when the industry can finally come together.

Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, said, “We are glad to have the support from the industry and our exhibitors whose interests are at the centre of this decision. Exhibitors, just like organisers, are working around undefined parameters which require adequate planning flexibility. We are all committed to putting up a great show!”

Elaborating on working together with venue and service providers to align safety measures, he added: “Right now, our focus is on the well-being of our exhibitors, visitors, employees and all stakeholders and we pray for everyone to be safe and in good health. In the coming months, our efforts will be strongly focused on meeting the safety imperatives and working in co-operation with venue authorities and service providers to implement a comprehensive safety concept, aligned with government guidelines.”

Proving its growing importance in these critical times, technical textiles emerged as a power sector with advanced solutions in protective textiles, antiviral and air-purifying furnishing fabrics and home textile products, anti-microbial coating among others.

During the critical stages of lockdown when global trade came to a grinding halt, the medical textile industry proved its resilience in meeting demand for protective textiles while also providing a much-needed boost to the economy. From being a primary importer of PPE kits to becoming its “second largest producer” in just two months, India had exported over 20 million PPE kits and more than 40 million N-95 respirators around the globe including countries such as the US, the UK, the UAE, Slovenia and Senegal, by the end of 2020. Even in these challenging times, the industry remains future-focused and prepared to meet vital demand for med-tech, agri-tech, geo-tech, sports-tech, and infra-tech, home tech among others.