Tèxtils.CAT concluded its participation at Techtextil 2026 (Frankfurt, April 21–24) with a clear conviction: this has been the most impactful edition in the cluster’s seventeen-year history at the world’s leading trade fair for advanced textiles. A total of 24 member companies were present. Twelve exhibited at the joint booth in Hall 12.1 (D39) and twelve attended with their own stands across the exhibition. Together, they confirmed the vitality and international competitiveness of Catalonia’s advanced textile materials sector.
Numbers alone, however, do not tell the full story. What truly set this edition apart was the way the cluster operated: not merely as a shared stand, but as a genuine platform for collaboration. Members highlighted how easy it was to participate under the Tèxtils.CAT umbrella, the hands-on support from the cluster team throughout the fair, and above all the quality of connections forged. Connections with international visitors, yes, but also among the Catalan companies themselves. Tèxtils.CAT’s role at Techtextil goes well beyond visibility. It is about creating the conditions for its members to innovate, connect and grow together.
An active agenda of networking, reimagined
Tèxtils.CAT deployed its most ambitious networking programme to date. The cluster organised several happy hours at the booth, open to members, international collaborators and the wider community, designed as a relaxed setting to build personal connections beyond the transactional pace of a trade fair. These were complemented by networking dinners that brought together the Catalan delegation each evening, reinforcing the sense of shared purpose that defines the cluster. On April 23, the booth became a piece of Catalonia in Frankfurt: Tèxtils.CAT celebrated Sant Jordi, the traditional Catalan day of roses and books, decorating the space and offering visitors roses crafted from textile waste alongside traditional food. A small gesture that carried a big meaning, bringing Catalan culture and circular creativity to the heart of the world’s leading technical textiles fair.
The programme also included personalised tours to and from the booths of European partner clusters. French companies visited the Tèxtils.CAT booth as part of a cross-tour, and reciprocal visits took place with German, Italian and Czech counterparts. The cluster hosted a dedicated tour from the Textile ETP’s SmartX network, focused on high-performance textiles, and facilitated pitching sessions to connect visitors directly with the Catalan exhibitors. Each of these activities responded to the same philosophy: look outward, think innovatively and build bridges that drive the industry forward.
Strengthening international alliances
Techtextil also served as the stage for Tèxtils.CAT to deepen and expand its network of strategic alliances. The cluster held formal bilateral meetings with C2TM (Morocco) and the Canadian Textile Industry Association (CTIA), exploring concrete avenues of cooperation to help members access new markets and partners.
Alongside these, Tèxtils.CAT strengthened ties with its European counterparts, many of them fellow members of the EU-TEXTILE2050 Meta Cluster, of which Tèxtils.CAT is a founding member. Through formal and informal exchanges with clusters from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the Czech Republic, the cluster continues to consolidate its position as a reference hub in the European advanced textiles landscape.
Bridging industry and academia
Modernising the advanced textiles industry means investing in the people who will lead it tomorrow. With that conviction, Tèxtils.CAT hosted a delegation from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Terrassa campus, bringing together some fifteen bachelor’s and master’s students in textile engineering and five professors. The students engaged directly with companies at the booth, discovering first-hand the innovative products and advanced materials being developed by cluster members. This initiative repeats the highly fruitful experience of two editions ago. It reflects Tèxtils.CAT’s commitment to closing the gap between academia and the companies that are shaping the sector’s future.
Shaping the European roadmap for technical textiles
Tèxtils.CAT participated in the Textile ETP strategy and roadmap session for technical textiles, which addressed priority areas including defence, personal protective equipment (PPE) and aerospace. Being present in these discussions ensures that Catalonia’s voice is heard where the future direction of the European technical textiles sector is being defined.
A seat at the table: the Advisory Board milestone
This edition also marked a personal first. Ariadna Detrell, Cluster Manager of Tèxtils.CAT, attended the official wrap-up breakfast of the Techtextil Advisory Board for the first time since her appointment earlier this year. The Advisory Board is the body of renowned international experts that advises Messe Frankfurt on the strategic direction of the exhibition. Detrell is the first representative of a Spanish entity on this committee. The Board expressed strong satisfaction with the 2026 edition and its participation figures, underscoring the fair’s continued relevance as the global meeting point for the industry.
The cluster’s growing visibility was further underlined by the visits of senior Messe Frankfurt leadership to the Tèxtils.CAT booth. Both Sabine Scharrer, Director of Techtextil, and Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt, took time to meet with the Catalan delegation. A gesture of recognition that speaks to the standing Tèxtils.CAT has earned within the global Techtextil ecosystem.
TEXY: a new face for a forward-looking cluster
And then there was TEXY. The cluster’s brand-new mascot made its debut at Techtextil 2026, but she is far more than a friendly face. Crafted from textile waste and made of recycled polyester, TEXY was manufactured by our member Arpe and with the collaboration of Casa AVIDI, a project dedicated to supporting elderly women experiencing homelessness. She is circular economy, social consciousness and innovation in one small plush character. Every one of the 24 exhibiting members displayed a TEXY at their booth, turning her into a recognisable symbol across the exhibition halls. Visitors were invited to tour the member stands and collect their own, sparking curiosity, conversation and a playful sense of community. Even the trade fair’s own director posed with one. Behind the fun lies a deliberate message: Tèxtils.CAT believes that innovation thrives when the industry dares to think differently and look ahead with purpose.
Looking ahead
Techtextil 2026 has confirmed what Tèxtils.CAT has been building year after year: a model of cluster-driven internationalisation that combines market access, collaborative innovation and a bold approach to advancing the sector. From the networking happy hours to the European strategy sessions, from the student visit to the Advisory Board breakfast, every initiative shares the same conviction. The technical textiles industry will thrive by looking ahead, moving forward together and thinking out of the box. Tèxtils.CAT is ready for what comes next.
Members participating at the Tèxtils.CAT booth (12.1 D39):
- DEFIBER, S.A.
- DÚCTEL, S.A.
- EURECAT
- FINSA-JOB GROUP
- HILATURAS ARNAU, S.L.
- LEITAT
- POLISILK, S.A.
- PONT, AURELL Y ARMENGOL, S.A.
- A. HILADOS EGARFIL
- STOCKFIL, S.L.
- TORNÉ GRUP
- VELUTEX, S.A.
Members exhibiting at their own booth:
- ANTEX (1 B35)
- P. ALUART, S.L. (9.0 A06)
- CIMA, S.A.U. (12.1 D86)
- INCABO, S.A. (11.1 E48)
- MANUFACTURES INDUSTRIALS DE TORTELLÀ, S.A. (MITSA) (11.0 A35)
- MARINA TEXTIL, S.L. (9.0 D12)
- ROSICH Y PUIGDENGOLAS, S.A. (11.0 C71)
- TANATEX CHEMICALS (9.0 E50)
- TECHNITIGER, S.L. (9.0 D30)
- TEXFILTRA, S.L. (12.1 B62)
- TEXTIL OLIUS, S.A. (12.1 E81)
- VTS TECHNICAL TEXTILES – Velluts Group (9.0 G04)
