Technical Textiles are becoming the growth engine of global industry 

The global textile industry is undergoing a decisive transformation phase. Rising costs, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological change are reshaping competitiveness across the entire value chain. Against this backdrop, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026, organized by Messe Frankfurt GmbH, continue to stand as leading global platforms where innovation, technology, and industrial application converge.

Figure 1: Olaf Schmidt, Vice President - Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

Recently, Team Textile Today covered the exhibitions firsthand, engaging with global industry leaders and innovators driving the next phase of textile evolution. In this conversation, Olaf Schmidt, Vice President - Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt GmbH shares insights on macro shifts, emerging technologies, and the evolving role of Techtextil and Texprocess.

Textile Today: Techtextil & Texprocess are often seen as barometers of the global textile industry. What macro shifts are visible in 2026?
Olaf Schmidt: The industry is under strong pressure from rising energy, raw material, and logistics costs, along with geopolitical uncertainties. At the same time, technical textiles and processing technologies are becoming central drivers of innovation and growth.
What stands out most is the acceleration of transformation. Innovations are expected to move from concept to industrial application much faster than before. This is where Techtextil and Texprocess play a key role—showing that innovation is only relevant when it can be rapidly translated into market-ready solutions.

Figure 2: Amzad Hossain Monir, Head of Business Development, Textile Today with Olaf Schmidt.

Textile Today: Texprocess highlights strong momentum in automation, AI, and smart manufacturing. How close are we to a fully integrated intelligent production ecosystem?
 Olaf Schmidt: AI and automation are already widely present in manufacturing environments, especially in quality control and production monitoring. Digital tools are increasingly supporting real-time decision-making and improving operational efficiency across production systems.
At the same time, automation technologies are becoming more deeply integrated into manufacturing workflows, improving precision and consistency. However, most solutions still operate in isolated stages. The next step is full integration into seamless, end-to-end intelligent production ecosystems.

Textile Today: Technical textiles are expanding into healthcare, mobility, construction, and defence. Which sectors will drive the next wave of demand?
 Olaf Schmidt: Industrial applications are emerging as key growth drivers, particularly mobility, construction, healthcare, and environmental sectors. Among these, the defence segment is showing strong momentum, with rising demand for advanced protective textile solutions. A significant portion of exhibitors is now focused on defence-related innovations, reflecting its growing strategic importance.

Textile Today: For countries like Bangladesh, how should Techtextil 2026 be interpreted in terms of diversification?

Olaf Schmidt: For apparel-dependent economies, diversification is becoming a strategic necessity.
Rising cost pressures make it clear that reliance on a single export segment is no longer sustainable.
Technical textiles offer opportunities in sectors such as construction, mobility, healthcare, and industrial applications. This shift requires moving beyond traditional

apparel manufacturing toward new industrial value creation and partnerships.
Textile Today: What defines a "recognizable innovation" today?
Olaf Schmidt: Innovation today is defined less by novelty and more by scalability. The key question is whether an idea can move from development to industrial-scale application. Successful innovation requires a combination of material advancement, technological integration, and real-world usability. This is increasingly reflected in innovation platforms, where impact and scalability matter more than concept alone.

Innovation alone is no longer enough—speed, scalability, and industrial adoption now define leadership

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