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Techtextil, organised by Messe Frankfurt, opened its doors this morning, 23 April. A delegation of 22 Portuguese textile companies is attending the fair, the most important meeting point for the technical textiles sector.
TMG is one of the companies making its debut at the exhibition. “This is TMG’s first participation in Techtextil, which comes at a time when the company is strongly committed to the technical products markets, in addition to automotive applications, where it is already well established,” explains Hélder Rosendo, business director of TMG Textiles, to T Jornal. The area of fabrics and knitwear for sports and workwear will be added as strategic segments for TMG, always within the scope of the fair.
Among the products on display is, for example, a recycled polyester/linen armrest (Crüdus): “the combination of linen and recycled polyester offers an organic touch and a feeling of freshness to the mobility sector. The use of these types of fibres increases the product’s sustainability levels, as well as the perception of future innovation,” reveals Hélder Rosendo. And also a transparent dashboard: “the prototype consists of a translucent sheet of TPO, which acts as a touch-sensitive interface. A printed mask with symbols corresponding to the desired buttons is applied to the back of the film,” adds the TMG Textiles business director. The group’s participation in Techtextil thus combines “the integrated offer with the complementary offer of products and technologies from TMG Automotive and TMG Textiles”, he emphasises.
Participating for the second time, Bloomati by Carvema is continuing its commitment to sustainable products with added-value finishes. “We have finishes such as antibacterial, UV protection, insect repellent, skin carers, temperature regulators, water repellent and essences,” Domingos Ferreira, the techno-commercial manager, told T Jornal. The aim is to increase sales to the German market.
As well as new products in the coating and laminating area, Coltec had invested in bringing more ready-made items, as this is the most important trade fair for the company. “It’s a way for us to showcase what we do,” says designer Sara Barbosa, adding that they will also be demonstrating their membrane bonding services, with sustainable and compostable membranes, until Friday.
Endutex is another company with “very high” expectations. “During this week we have the opportunity to meet our customers and suppliers, show our products, make qualified contacts and boost sales. These interactions are crucial for us to understand market trends and adjust our commercial strategy,” summarises Aníbal Figueira, sales manager for the company, which is also specialised in coating.
As a result of Endutex’s diversification, the range of products on display at the fair covers a wide range of business areas, “from automobiles to digital printing, from protective clothing to textile architecture”, with this year’s highlight being a range of products with a lower carbon footprint.
“We have been carrying out important R&D work to reduce the environmental footprint of our materials. This work involves introducing new raw materials (whether recycled/organic textile fibres or PVC resins from renewable sources),” says Aníbal Figueira. Also in the area of sustainability, Endutex reports that it has a team dedicated to LCA (life cycle assessment) of materials in order to adjust product design.