Following the success of the largest ever Cinte Techtextil China in 2014, Asia’s leading biennial trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens returns to Shanghai later this year. The event is scheduled to take place October 12-14 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Last year’s fair saw 460 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions across an exhibition area of 35,000 square meters.

The 2014 event was the largest ever Cinte Techtextil China in the fair’s history and comprised pavilions from Belgium, Germany, Italy and Taiwan, as well as a European Zone. Together with regional pavilions from China, the fair displayed a full range of nonwovens and technical textiles in 12 different application areas. The fair also incorporated a debut Association Village bringing together 10 national technical textile associations from nine countries and regions.

Another forte of this fair is its fringe programme. The 2014 edition featured an Innovative Showcase Area which introduced the latest innovations and achievements from various fast-growing application sectors in the industry. What’s more, a range of seminars were held to help participants absorb new technologies through a series of informative presentations. The all-inclusive product profile of the fair, complemented by the innovative fringe programme, attracted 12,496 visits to the fair, with visitors coming from 61 countries and regions.

In light of the expanding infrastructure construction sector, accelerating urbanization and increasing awareness of environmental protection in China, it is expected that demand for technical textiles and nonwovens products will continue to rise in the coming years. The China Nonwovens & Industrial Textile Association (CNITA) anticipates the total output of technical textiles and nonwoven products in the country will reach over 22 million tons in 2020, double that of 2013.

Furthermore, certain sectors of the China technical textiles market are experiencing high demand at present according to Wendy Wen, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd. “While the technical textiles industry as a whole is encountering steady growth, textiles for filtration and separation, medical and hygiene, structural reinforcement and transportation are expected to be the main growth areas in the next 10 years as China’s economy continues to develop in these areas.”

Cinte Techtextil China is renowned for showcasing products of good quality and technological advantage, which is reflected in the popularity of European technical textiles products among domestic buyers.

“Buyers here definitely recognize European quality,” says Guy Decleer from Belgium’s Beaulieu Fibres International, a 2014 exhibitor, said. “Those manufacturers that are producing here for export in particular appreciate higher quality. And being in the Belgium Pavilion helps too as buyers automatically see us as Western, having a different quality level and offering new products,” he adds.

Jenny Seo from the Korea Textile Trade Association (KTTA) explains the demand for high quality products in China. She says, “There is a big demand in China for our products, and this fair is good to tap into this as we met 25 of our target buyers just on day one. Chinese buyers really like our products because of the good quality.”

Cinte Techtextil China is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).