Techtextil returns to Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany, April 21-24 in conjunction with Texprocess. 

With over 1500 exhibitors from 49 countries, more than 120 first-time exhibitors and 16 country pavilions, Techtextil is once again the central meeting place for technical textiles and nonwovens. The leading trade fair is recording growth from European and intercontinental markets such as India, the Netherlands and Portugal. In addition, there are new exhibitors from Australia, Colombia, Nigeria, Hungary and Uruguay. At a time of recession, tariff pressures and geopolitical tensions, Techtextil brings together decision-makers from a wide range of industries to open up new markets, forge partnerships and accelerate the transfer of applications into practice.

The following is a look at what some exhibitors plan to showcase in Frankfurt this month.

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Andritz (Hall 12, Stand B95)

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International technology group Andritz will be presenting its innovative nonwovens production and textile solutions at Techtextil. Andritz will focus on technologies for durable and technical nonwovens, sustainable fiber processes, textile recycling and life-cycle services.

Andritz continues to advance industrially viable solutions for sustainable nonwoven and textile production. Key topics at Techtextil include textile sorting and recycling, natural fiber processing for durable nonwovens and complete manmade cellulosic fiber (MMCF) production plants. All innovations aim to support circularity and long-term value creation.

Andritz is introducing its competencies in production plants for MMCF, namely lyocell—a rapidly growing market driven by demand for sustainable materials. The solutions cover the full scope, from engineering to specialized equipment like flash dryers and pulp preparation systems. With decades of expertise in pulp and paper, Andritz also provides audits and upgrades for existing plants. The lyocell process stands out for its environmental benefits and high-quality output, making it a key technology for the future of textiles and nonwovens.

Andritz will also highlight the growing potential of bast fibers such as hemp, flax, jute and kenaf. These fibers offer a strong potential across industries including automotive, insulation, geotextiles, construction and technical textiles. With their low environmental footprint, local sourcing potential and zero-waste characteristics, bast fibers support the shift toward circular, climate-friendly production models. Andritz offers complete solutions, including dry cleaning, decortication and refining systems enabling energy-efficient processing and high-quality fiber production. This process can be perfectly combined with neXline airlay technology resulting in sustainable, durable nonwovens.

With over a century of expertise, Andritz Laroche provides solutions covering the entire textile recycling chain – from automated textile sorting and advanced fiber preparation to mechanical and chemical recycling, as well as integrated process combinations.

At Techtextil, Andritz places a strong focus on predictive and automated textile sorting—key elements in closing the gap toward true circularity in the textile industry. The AI-based Andritz teXscan unit evaluates fabric quality prior to recycling, enabling efficient material routing for chemical recycling, nonwoven or spinning. Complementing this, the automated sorting system classifies garments by composition and color, removes hard components such as buttons and zippers and prepares materials for further fiber processing.

Together, these technologies create an efficient pathway for transforming post-consumer and post-industrial textile waste into fibers suitable for spinning, nonwovens and composite applications.

Andritz is introducing the new X-Pro crosslapper, a groundbreaking innovation in the crosslapping process for needlepunch and spunlace lines. The company says this new machine sets unrivalled standards in speed, productivity and quality, overcoming traditional limitations. Its unique “X-path” design ensures precise fiber control, eliminating distortion and enabling flawless overlap regardless of web characteristics. The system maximizes throughput and fabric homogeneity while maintaining superior quality. Additionally, it is fully compatible with Andritz’s ProWin profile correction system, enhancing performance and efficiency to unprecedented levels.

Andritz will also present its technologies for processing technical fibers such as carbon, aramid, glass and ceramic fibers. Its complete needlepunch and wetlaid lines enable precise fiber control and consistent quality for demanding end uses, including filtration, composites, construction and industrial materials.

Andritz Synergy service agreements provide efficient and cost-effective solutions to ensure uninterrupted productivity by complementing customers’ in-house capabilities with customized service packages. These agreements are designed to match the life-cycle of the equipment, including regular expert visits, preventive maintenance, retrofits and upgrades to keep operations running smoothly and reliably. 

Asahi Kasei Advance (Hall 12.1, Stand C35)

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Asahi Kasei Advance will present its portfolio of high-performance nonwovens, flame-retardant fabrics and advanced textile and fiber solutions designed for various industries during its first-ever exhibition at Techtextil 2026. Asahi Kasei Advance will highlight 14 brands, with special focus on four key materials, at its debut at the exhibition.

Lastan is a non-mineral flame-retardant fabric made by air baking a special acrylic fiber at 200–300°C. Featuring a limited oxygen index (LOI) of 47.5-50, it is characterized by high flame resistance and good electrical insulation, and a special coating process allows the material to disperse sparks generated during welding or cutting operations, thereby suppressing ignition. This allows the material to provide effective protection against flames and particle exposure from venting gases. With these characteristics, Lastan has been used for many years as an optimal material for failure prevention and safety in various industries.

The 3D warp knitted fabric Cubit is an ideal material for applications that require durability, breathability, ease of care, and enhanced support and comfort. With front and back surfaces made of PET, it is available in types using connecting threads made of PTT, PET or nylon. The all PET monomaterial type provides an easy-to-recycle alternative to polyurethane foam in applications for the health care, furniture or automotive industry.

Bemliese is a cellulose continuous filament nonwoven sheet made from cotton linter. It becomes especially soft after moistening and drapes well over any surface it contacts with less abrasion. Its exceptional moisture absorption and retention make it a suitable material for hygienic applications and cosmetic applications like face and eye masks. In a dry state, Bemliese leaves virtually little lint, scratches or chemical residues on the surfaces it contacts, making it a material suitable for cleaning equipment in industrial, laboratory or medical environments where contamination must be minimized. TÜV Austria Belgium NV has certified the material’s biodegradability in soil, water and marine environment, as well as for industrial and home composting.

Eltas is a versatile spunbond nonwoven material available in various types made of polyamide, polyester or polypropylene. All three materials feature binder-free webs and are available in ultra-thin low-weight grades. These spunbond binder-free nonwoven fabrics feature filament evenness, air permeability and edge fray resistance. Eltas grades are used across a wide range of applications, including hygiene products, consumer and household items, automotive components, filtration, agriculture, housing materials and other applications such as tea bags and cable wrapping solutions.

Autefa Solutions (Hall 12, Stand C79)

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As a full-line supplier for nonwoven production lines, Autefa Solutions covers the entire process chain – from fiber opening to web bonding. With its LineONE line concepts, Autefa Solutions combines proven technologies into well-balanced, cost-efficient turnkey solutions. These concepts are ideally suited for capacity expansions, modernization projects or new production lines, and they unite robust design with high flexibility for a wide range of end uses such as filtration, geotextiles and automotive applications. 

The LineONE machines – in particular the UnilinerONE crosslapper and the Stylus ONE needle loom – stand for economical solutions across many applications and are a perfect fit for production upgrades or retrofits. Based on proven Fehrer technology, the Stylus ONE needle loom is a reliable, cost-effective solution for weights up to 1800 g/m². With speeds of up to 1500 strokes per minute, it delivers high productivity and long service life. Maintenance-free gearboxes support efficient operation and help minimize downtime. Stylus ONE is available in four working widths – up to 6.7 m – and is offered in configurations for pre-needling and finishing. 

A reference project in the filtration media industry highlights this approach: Zhejiang Heading Filter Material Co., Ltd. (China) ordered complete fiber preparation lines, cards and crosslappers as well as seven Stylus ONE needle looms, including winders and end-of-line equipment. The systems are currently being delivered. 

Driven by recycling and sustainability trends, airlay applications with natural fibers such as hemp, jute, flax and coconut are also gaining importance. In this field, Autefa offers compact, cost-efficient airlay solutions with the Airlay V12/R and V21/-K 12 web forming machines for processing recycled materials, tearing fibers and textile waste – designed to produce high-quality natural-fiber products with moderate investment costs.

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Hall 11, Stand A11)

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Freudenberg Performance Materials will showcase textile innovations that increase efficiency, performance and sustainability in industry and mobility at Techtextil 2026. For the first time since the merger of Mehler Texnologies and Heytex, the MehlerHeytex brand will make its debut as an expert in coated technical textiles. Moreover, Freudenberg Performance Materials Filc (Filc), a specialist for advanced needlepunch nonwovens and laminated materials, will present its groundbreaking solutions for automotive applications. Filc customers can benefit from the perfect combination of functionality, comfort and sustainability. 

Under the motto “Engineered solutions that move the world,” MehlerHeytex will introduce itself as the optimal partner, for example, in the development of special solutions. MehlerHeytex offers one of the most comprehensive technology platforms on the market and serves a wide spectrum of international industries. Following the merger, Mehler Texnologies and Heytex have joined forces, combining their know-how and offering broader expertise and greater customer centricity worldwide. Customers also enjoy the benefits of sales offices in an even larger number of countries, with contacts fluent in the national languages and short communication channels. 

Filc provides visitors with in-depth insights into its innovative nonwoven solutions for the automotive sector. These include efficient acoustic materials, nonwovens for seating and for luggage compartments.

With Finsol, Filc provides lightweight acoustic nonwovens that absorb sound, effectively reduce noise and improve comfort in vehicles. The materials support multiple automotive applications, including door panels, trunk liners, headliners, wheel-arch liners and many more. Their lightweight construction contributes to improved EV efficiency and range. They are available in 100% polyester versions or with recycled content. 

For complex seat designs, Filc offers low-emission, low-flammability and shape-stable nonwovens. They improve comfort and climate control and simplify manufacturing and assembly processes. Certain materials, such as FilFlex, are optionally made from 100% PET, thus providing recyclability. 

Filc has developed durable, abrasion-free, lightweight nonwovens designed for luggage compartment linings. These materials even perform in extreme environmental conditions and are fully recyclable. They provide broad design options – from custom colors and flexible embossing to easy-clean treatments.

Kuraray (Hall 9.1, Stand B11)

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Kuraray, a global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Japan with its European headquarters in Hattersheim, will present several product premieres from its Industrial Fibres Business Unit at this year’s Techtextil trade fair. 

One of Kuraray’s trade fair highlights is the new fiber Vectran MF. Under the brand name Vectran, Kuraray manufactures high-performance, highly successful liquid crystal polymer fibers (LCP). With a strength-to-weight ratio up to 10 times higher than that of aluminum, fibers in the Vectran family enable the construction of particularly lightweight ropes, textiles and composites. The latest variant, Vectran MF, was developed by Kuraray as a bicomponent LCP fiber that allows true piece dyeing while preserving the performance characteristics of LCPs. 

Also new to Kuraray’s textile fiber portfolio is a colorfast version of its flame-retardant polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, marketed under the brand name Vinarl, developed specifically for protective and flame-retardant workwear.

Under its umbrella brand Clarino, Kuraray manufactures and markets specialty products made from the world’s finest microfiber suede, using advanced microfiber and chemical technologies. Clarino stands out for its light weight, suppleness and durability. It is colorfast, breathable, water repellent, weather-resistant, washable and available in numerous colors. This sustainable, luxurious and durable nonwoven material matches—and even surpasses—the functional and aesthetic qualities of genuine leather. Clarino is used in a wide range of applications, from bags, gloves, clothing, decoration & display, footwear and sports equipment to interior components in both technical textile and lifestyle markets.

Innovation has always been at the heart of Kuraray’s 100-year history. Currently, a key focus of its research & development work in the Industrial Fibres division is developing sustainable, bio-based fibers for textile and industrial applications.

Cellulose acetate fiber is a bio-based material that Kuraray has developed to support more sustainable textile production. The new fiber is manufactured using a solvent-free melt-spinning process from bio-based raw materials and is biodegradable under specific conditions. The cellulose acetate fibers are moisture-absorbent, offer good dyeability and are machine-washable. They are therefore suitable for producing eco-friendly sportswear and lifestyle clothing, as well as innovative textile applications.

Polyvlies (Hall 12.1, Stand D74)

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At Techtextil 2026, Polyvlies will present itself with a trade fair appearance that deliberately sets new accents. Instead of highlighting individual product innovations or technical details, the European nonwoven manufacturer is placing the emphasis on what is becoming increasingly decisive for its target audience: collaborative development, application-specific solutions and reliable European value creation. 

Under the guiding theme “Solutions for every Field – Your European Producer of Technical Nonwovens,” Polyvlies positions itself as a development and production partner for a wide range of industries. Whether Automotive, Buildtech, Hometech or Agrotech, the focus is on nonwoven solutions precisely tailored to diverse processes, requirements and markets. For customers, this represents considerable added value: Polyvlies does not see nonwovens as interchangeable, commodity products, but as functional components within complex application areas and industries. 

The trade fair concept, presented in the new corporate design, deliberately reflects this approach. The company divisions, Automotive, Constructions, Systems, as well as Research and Development, do not appear in isolation but as specialists in different “fields” working together as one team. The underlying concept being that successful solutions are not created single-handedly, but through collaboration, and which topics take center stage are determined through direct dialogue, not on overloaded displays. 

In an increasingly volatile market environment, Polyvlies believes it stands out through European production, short decision-making paths and long-term partnerships. For companies that further process nonwovens, this provides planning security, reliability and the assurance of having a capable, yet flexible partner at their side, even for complex requirements. 

Technische Textilien Lörrach (TTL) (Hall 12.1, Stand D81)

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Technische Textilien Lörrach (TTL), a company of Yanpai Group, makes nonwovens and needlefelts for technical applications such as filter media for industrial dust collection, laundry textiles and technical solutions for the laundry and cleaning industry as well as industrial textiles for automotive, thermal insulation and other industrial sectors. The products are well known on the market under the brand name Tulona.

At Techtextil, Technische Textilien Lörrach will be present at a joint stand of the State of Baden/Württemberg where it will showcase its current range of nonwovens and needlefelts.