The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many a pivot, and trade show schedules are no exception.
After a 2020 postponement, co-located trade shows Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas will return in-person May 17-19, 2022 in Atlanta, but will shift their cycle permanently going forward. Beginning in 2023, this major North American event for sewn products and technology will pivot to an odd-year cycle with the next shows taking place from May 10-13, 2023. The change is in response to moves made by parent shows Techtextil and Texprocess Frankfurt, which switched their sequence to an even-year schedule starting in 2022.
“The shift in cycle for Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas may take some getting used to,” Kristy Meade, group show director – technical shows at Messe Frankfurt North America, said in a statement. “But given the changes being made in Frankfurt in response to the pandemic, we must act with the best interest of the industry in mind. As the premier events for the textile and sewn products industries, we know that many companies rely on a presence at our shows for global exposure. Hosting the Frankfurt and North American events within the same calendar year would make it hard, if not impossible, for many companies to participate in both, and the last thing we want to do is limit our customers’ ability to do business.”
Techtextil North America’s standalone event schedule is also impacted. The next edition will run this August in Raleigh, N.C., switching to even years commencing in 2024.
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A forward-looking chronological clarification is as follows:
- August 23-25, 2021, Techtextil North America (standalone event), Raleigh, N.C.
- May 17-19, 2022, Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas, Atlanta
- June 21-24, 2022, Techtextil and Texprocess, Frankfurt
- May 10-13, 2023, Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas, Atlanta
- April 9-12, 2024, Techtextil and Texprocess, Frankfurt
“Two of the most important lessons we learned this past year are that nothing can replace the value of live trade shows when it comes to making personal connections, and that the ability to adapt is key to success,” said Michael McDonald, president, SPESA, in a statement. “We are confident that making the switch to odd years will allow Texprocess Americas to continue to be the best equipment trade show in the Americas and an invaluable resource for our industry.”
To keep the industry connected and informed between shows, the organizers have been producing a monthly virtual webinar series that runs through April 2021, with speakers and subjects addressing current industry topics across technical textiles, nonwoven and sewn products. The next sessions include Smart Textiles (March 25) and High Performance Fibers (April 29). Attendees who missed the earlier sessions—including talks on 3D printing, sewing technologies, sustainability and “The Factory of the Future”—can register to view the recordings.