A conference on the European textile and clothing industry will be held in Belgium on October 12 and 13, 2016. This will showcase the high-tech materials, advanced production technologies, new business models and growth markets for the textile industry of the future. The European textile and clothing industry is rapidly adopting advanced digitised manufacturing processes and technologies, using smart materials and exploring new high value added growth markets for textile based solutions.
The event is expected to bring together innovators, technology providers, researchers, clusters and other actors from the textile and clothing sectors from across Europe. A series of sessions will be dedicated to key technology developments in the major manufacturing stages such as fabric formation, textile surface processing and assembly and fashion production, market opportunities and technology trends in key technical textile application areas such as construction, health care, sports, protection, environment and agriculture.
Textiles and clothing play an important role in the European manufacturing industry, employing 1.7 million people. To maintain its competitiveness the sector has made a move toward products with higher value added. The sector accounts for a three per cent share of value added and a six per cent share of employment in total manufacturing in Europe.
