Precision, Performance And Progress ─ British Textile Machinery Innovations To Address Sustainability At Techtextil And Texprocess 2026
Frankfurt, Germany – March 2026 – As global demand accelerates for lighter, stronger, and more sustainable technical textiles, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) has announced that eight of its members will showcase advanced manufacturing technologies at the Techtextil and Texprocess exhibitions in Frankfurt this April.
BTMA CEO Jason Kent said, “Techtextil provides an ideal global platform to demonstrate the depth and diversity of British textile machinery expertise. From fibre extrusion and yarn handling to advanced inspection and testing, our members are delivering technologies that not only enhance performance but also support more sustainable and economically efficient manufacturing. We look forward to welcoming visitors to Frankfurt and to strengthening international partnerships across the technical textiles value chain.”
From the careful handling of ultra-high-value yarns to the forensic inspection of finished fabrics, these exhibiting members will demonstrate how forward-thinking engineering continues to shape resource efficiency and address critical sustainability challenges across the entire textile supply chain.
Advanced fabric inspection and colour management will be addressed by Shelton Vision and VeriVide.
VeriVide’s new DigiEye imaging system streamlines high-volume colour assessment using 100 per cent LED illumination, extending light source longevity tenfold, whilst Shelton Vision’s WebSpector automated inspection system compensates for real-time deformation to enable reliable fault detection.
Testing and verification also remain central to ethical and high-performance manufacturing. James Heal will present its Performance Testing collection,
including the TruRain water repellency tester, which dramatically reduces wastewater and energy consumption.
SDC Enterprises will support these standardised testing procedures with its premium consumables engineered for consistent colour fastness and physical performance verification.
Process stability and resource conservation are also at the forefront of this year's showcase. Airbond will highlight its latest patented 3D-printed pneumatic splicing technology, enabling the processing of yarns up to 16,000 tex, which safeguards material value in sectors where technical yarns represent a major cost.
Similarly, Ascotex will present its ceramic and hard-chromed yarn guides that minimise friction and heat build-up to ensure uniform winding density.
Furthermore, Dent Instrumentation will feature its contactless yarn sensors, engineered for durability and optical compensation to minimise cleaning, delivering dependable performance across diverse spinning processes.
Innovation in sustainable polymer processing will be demonstrated by Fibre Extrusion Technologies (FET).
As Managing Director Richard Slack explains, “the company's industrialised lab and small-scale gel spinning system responds directly to demand from biomedical customers for tailored fibre sizes without the constraints of large-scale infrastructure.”
The BTMA
Founded in 1940, the British Textile Machinery Association actively promotes British textile machinery manufacturers and their products to the world.
The non-profit organisation acts as a bridge between its members and the increasingly diverse industries within the textile manufacturing sector.
