CEMATEX Selects 20 Emerging Start-Ups For Grants To Showcase Their Innovations At ITMA 2027
Hanover, Germany – 24 September 2026 – CEMATEX has selected 20 emerging start-ups from nine countries to receive the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant and showcase their innovations at Start-Up Valley during ITMA 2027 in Hanover.
The selected start-ups span six product areas: Colourants & Chemicals, Fibres, Yarns & Fabrics, Garment Making, Recycling, Software & Automation, and Testing.
While they address different challenges across the value chain, they share a common focus on sustainability and circularity, with these principles increasingly embedded into the way new materials, processes and production systems are being developed, rather than treated as a standalone consideration.
Among them, Amphico is developing alternatives to substances the industry has long relied upon, including a PFAS-free membrane for waterproof, breathable performance fabrics and a colour platform that introduces colour through weaving rather than dyeing.
Others target the processing stages that consume the most water, heat and chemistry: SwitchDye's CO₂-switchable dyes reduce chemical, water and energy demand while working with existing dyeing equipment.
In recycling, Recyc'Elit turns blended fabrics back into pure monomers for new recycled polyester while recovering co-materials such as elastane and cotton, and Refiberd combines software and hyperspectral imaging to help recyclers identify fabric composition.
Mr Alex Zucchi, President of CEMATEX, said: "What strikes me about this group is not simply that they are working on sustainability, but that many cannot imagine innovating any other way. That tells us where the industry is heading. Through the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant, we are giving these companies the opportunity to bring their technologies directly to the manufacturers, brands and investors who can help take promising ideas towards industrial adoption and scale."
Dr Christian P. Schindler, Director General of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and a member of the Start-Up Valley selection panel, added: "The quality of the submissions reflected both the pace and breadth of innovation emerging across the sector. We saw solutions with strong potential for industrial application, scalability and measurable impact across different parts of the textile value chain. Selecting just 20 companies from such a diverse application pool was a highly competitive process."
The CEMATEX Start-Up Grant fully funds recipients' participation in Start-Up Valley, including a purpose-built exhibition stand and supporting services, together with promotion through ITMA's global marketing and PR channels.
Selected companies may also be considered for speaking and profiling opportunities at the Innovator Xchange.
At ITMA 2027, the 20 start-ups will showcase their innovations alongside established technology manufacturers, creating opportunities for direct engagement with manufacturers, brands, investors, research organisations and technology partners.
Company profiles for the start-ups are available on the ITMA 2027 website.
About CEMATEX & ITMA
The European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX) comprises national textile machinery associations from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
It is the owner of ITMA and ITMA ASIA.
Considered the ‘Olympics’ of textile machinery exhibitions, ITMA has a 75-year history of displaying the latest technology for every single work process of textile and garment making.
It is held every four years in Europe.
About ITMA Services
Headquartered in Brussels with a subsidiary in Singapore, ITMA Services is the appointed organiser of ITMA 2027 and future ITMA branded exhibitions.
It is managed by professionals with extensive experience in organising ITMA and other major trade exhibitions around the world.
It aims to maintain and expand ITMA’s unique selling proposition and relevance to a global audience.
About ITMA 2027
ITMA is the world's most established textile and garment technology exhibition, owned by CEMATEX.6
It serves as the primary platform for the global industry to explore fresh ideas, effective solutions, and collaborative partnerships that drive sustainable and ethical growth.
ITMA 2027 will take place in Hanover , bringing together global leaders to shape the future of manufacturing and advanced materials
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Hanover, Germany – 24 September 2026 – CEMATEX has selected 20 emerging start-ups from nine countries to receive the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant and showcase their innovations at Start-Up Valley during ITMA 2027 in Hanover.
Their participation will be fully funded by CEMATEX, giving promising early-stage companies access to the world's leading textile and garment technology platform.
The selected start-ups span six product areas: Colourants & Chemicals, Fibres, Yarns & Fabrics, Garment Making, Recycling, Software & Automation, and Testing.
Crewe = Cheshire – UK – September 2026 Three new UV flatbed printers with updated automation and productivity capabilities, all equipped with next generation RasterLink workflow and RIP software will launch on the Hybrid stand at The Print Show
Mimaki has announced the introduction of three new UV flatbed printers: the large-format JFX220-2515, and the small-format UJF200 Series (UJF200-3042 and UJF200-6042).
Developed to make advanced UV printing easier to operate and more accessible to print service providers, the new products combine simplified workflows and increased automation to support more efficient, productive print operations.
Frankfurt am Main, 23 September 2026 – Even more young design talent and creative ideas: at the upcoming Heimtextil, the New Talent Area returns for its second edition with a stronger presence.
From 12 to 15 January 2027, the curated area will welcome more than 30 participants, many of whom are presenting on the international stage for the first time.
In Frankfurt, they will showcase exciting textile designs, surprising materials and market-ready products.
Leicester – UK – September 23rd 2026 – Pantone has today announced the addition of 224 new colours to its globally recognised Matching System, marking one of the most significant expansions in the standard's history.
The update reflects a wider industry shift towards bolder, more expressive colour choices in design, and the new shades are now available through VeriVide's latest Pantone Formula Guide, Colour Bridge, and Solid Chips.
Cape Town, South Africa – September 2026 – FESPA has concluded a successful General Assembly in Cape Town, bringing together the Presidents of its 37 National Associations alongside the FESPA Ltd team for a week of strategic discussion and collaboration.
The annual gathering serves as a cornerstone event for the global print and signage community, offering leadership a dedicated forum to address the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the industry's future
Upper Caldecote - September 2026 – Print-Spec, a Bedfordshire-based provider of industrial screen printing and safety signage solutions, has announced a new equipment partnership that will see the business adopt the VelobladeNexus cutting system.
The move follows a collaboration between Spandex UK and Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, aimed at identifying the right technology to support Print-Spec's continued growth.
Paris, September 2026 – Lectra today announced the launch of Apogy, its cloud-based solution dedicated to product development, the critical phase between garment design and production.
Nearly fifty years after establishing the global standard for CAD solutions dedicated to the fashion industry, Lectra is opening a new chapter with Apogy, combining artificial intelligence, industry-specific agents and product data to revolutionise the way products are designed and developed.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Sun Chemical today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23-25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
Visitors are invited to booth C2880, where the company will present its latest advances in digital ink, textile, industrial, and sustainability-focused printing solutions designed to help printers transform their businesses.
At the heart of Sun Chemical's presence is a commitment to helping customers improve print quality, enhance sustainability, and optimise productivity.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Agfa will return to PRINTING United Expo 2026, one of the printing industry's most important events, to connect with print professionals from across North America and beyond.
The company will exhibit at Booths 1149 and 1161 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from 23–25 September 2026.
At the show, Agfa will demonstrate how its latest inkjet solutions help businesses increase productivity, expand application possibilities, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving print market.
Groningen, Netherlands – September 2026– Klieverik, a recognised innovator in sublimation calendaring technology will bring live sublimation production to PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas.
Visitors are invited to witness the Klieverik GTC101-3500 in action at Booth C2015, where the company will demonstrate the machine's capabilities in real time
Las Vegas, NV – September 2026 – Barbieri Electronics, a leading innovator in colour measurement and management solutions, today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, where the company will unveil its latest advancements in colour technology for digital and textile printing.
Attendees can visit Barbieri Electronics at booth C-841 to experience live product demonstrations and engage directly with company leadership.
Las Vegas, NV – September 2026 – Caldera, a leading provider of print workflow software solutions, has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23–25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Visitors can find Caldera at Booth C1469, where the company will showcase its latest innovations in print workflow automation, colour management, and apparel decoration.
Aarhus, DK & Milwaukee, WI — September 2, 2026 — FASTSEWN will showcase the next generation of its flatbed automated textile finishing at PRINTING United 2026 with the U.S. debut demonstration of its innovative full 3.3M width StitchNCut™ flatbed sewing and laser cutting solution.
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Brixen, 22 September 2026 – Durst Group, a leading manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, has reached a significant milestone with its P5 500 TEX iSUB.
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Blackpool, UK – September 2026– Standfast & Barracks has been named Global Business of the Year at the 2026 British Insurance Business Awards (BIBAs), recognising the company's sustained growth and impact across international markets, including its expanding presence in the United States.
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Garden Grove, Calif. – 21 September 2026 – Media One ("M1"), a leading full-service integrator and value-added distributor of wide-format printing solutions, today announced it has acquired the U.S. business and assets of Premex Solutions, a leading supplier of high-quality, print-ready fabrics for the digital textile printing industry.
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Las Vegas – Nevada – September 2026 – Greentex Global, a global provider of fabrics, blanks, sportswear, apparel and home textiles, has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place in Las Vegas from 23 to 25 September.
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Signal Iduna- Park Dortmund– Germany – FabricVision GmbH has confirmed the successful deployment of its STARFLAG and BLOCKFLAG textile solutions in a large-format giant flag application at the German Supercup, one of German football's most closely watched fixtures.
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Melville, NY – September 2026 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has announced it will return as title sponsor of PRINTING United Expo 2026, showcasing its latest innovations in production and large-format print.
Attendees can visit Booth #N5801 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 23-25 September to experience Canon's diverse range of equipment and solutions.
Thetford – Norfolk - September 21, 2026 - Norfolk-based graphics, signage and print business MultiSigns Ltd said its recent investment in a new Vivid VeloBlade Nexus digital cutting system from Soyang Europe has allowed the company to bring more production in-house and significantly reduce turnaround times for customers
London – UK – September 2026 – ARTS THREAD has announced the call for applications for the Designers in Residence Pforzheim 2027 programme, a fully funded three-month residency hosted at EMMA Creative Center Pforzheim.
The residency will run from 1 April to 30 June 2027, offering emerging designers a rare opportunity to develop their practice within a dedicated creative environment.
Applications close on 2 November 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Oberthausen – Germany – September 2026 – KARL MAYER has announced the launch of a new, highly productive model of its HKS 3-M EL, engineered to meet the escalating demands of the sporting goods market.
The extra-wide tricot machine combines a working width of 330", expandable by a further 10", with production speeds of up to 2,800 min⁻¹, setting a new performance benchmark for manufacturers of modern sporting goods.
Crewe – Cheshire - UK – 18 September 2026 – Hybrid Services Ltd, the official Mimaki distributor for the UK and Ireland, today highlighted how Mimaki's advanced white ink technology is setting a new standard for Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, addressing a critical challenge facing garment decorators across the industry.
Tonbridge – UK – September 2026 Compass Business Finance will return to The Print Show this year, inviting visitors to explore their game plans for growth and the strategic decisions that can help drive long-term success in an increasingly fast-moving market.
Located on Stand P580, Compass will deliver an immersive experience designed to explore the challenges, opportunities and key business decisions facing print companies today.
Rather than offering generic advice, the stand will encourage visitors to think differently about their ambitions, investment priorities, and the practical steps required to move their businesses forward with confidence
Anglesey – September 2026 – Nova Chrome UK has today announced the launch of the Filmjet Mini, a new series of all-in-one direct-to-film (DTF) printers designed to eliminate the complexity of running separate printing, powder application, and curing units.
Built by PolyPrint, a garment printer manufacturer since 2006, the Filmjet Mini brings together everything a business needs to start DTF production within a single, compact machine.
China Print Supplies has expanded its textile offering with nine Gongzheng Apsaras printers, covering dye sublimation, direct-to-fabric pigment printing and hybrid working.
The full range is available now, and adds textile to a Gongzheng line-up the company already sells across UV and eco-solvent.
You can learn more about these printers by talking to China Print Supplies at The Print Show later this month (stands S220 and S420).
Dorking – UK – September 2026 – FESPA has announced a new instalment of its FESPA Insights webinar series, focusing on one of the garment decoration industry's fastest-growing opportunities: personalised apparel.
The session, titled "Scaling Your Personalised Apparel Business", will take place on 29 September 2026 at 14:00 BST.
Burscough, UK, September 14, 2026: Quality Print Services (QPS) has announced it will showcase six printers from across the ColorJet and Roland DG ranges, alongside Nazdar's alternative digital inks, on its stand (150) at The Sign Show 2026.
Taking place in hall 1 of the NEC in Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October, The Sign Show, co-located with The Print Show, gives visitors access to both events with a single registration.