overseas markets. As a result, ShanghaiTex also expanded year by year; not only showcasing machinery from Chinese enterprises, but also introducing advanced technology from all over the world. It also transformed from a Chinese market-oriented exhibition to a more international and comprehensive textile machinery show. Today, ShanghaiTex focuses more on the world’ s latest automation trend, high-growth application sectors and cross-border technology. It also serves as a platform assisting textile industry to overcome challenges and spark new opportunities on the way to Industry 4.0.
The number of visitors and exhibitors also continue to grow by each edition. For the past five editions, the number of Chinese visitors has increased 63 per cent while overseas visitors increased 83 per cent in 10 years’ time. This remarkable growth laid the sound foundation for ShanghaiTex to be one of the biggest textile machinery trade shows in China. ShanghaiTex 2017 is expected to have a 103,500 + sq m exhibiting area, accommodating over 1,200 exhibitors and 60,000 + visitors of the textiles industry.
How much has the textiles world changed since the first time that ShanghaiTex was held? Could you elaborate? The textiles industry is one of the oldest, largest and most global industries in the world. It is the typical‘ starter’ industry for countries engaged in exportoriented industrialisation and was labour-intensive at the time ShanghaiTex was first held. With the development of technology, the textiles industry begins to play a major role in the industrialisation process of countries and their integration into the world economy. In recent years, the manufacturing world has been stepping into the Industry 4.0
Smart textiles are materials and structures that sense and react to environmental conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic or other sources.
The revolutionary integration of electronics and textiles has enabled smart textiles to sense and react to a changing environment which has triggered a revolutionary change in the industry.
phase, although it is still a theoretical stage for the textiles industry, although in developing countries, we can see the overwhelming trend of automation, smart production and wearable technology, etc, dominating the industry. Regions with an above average growth rate include Asia, South and Central America, and Africa. This year, ShanghaiTex is also focusing on Industry 4.0, bringing new technologies from around the world, besides inviting heavyweight speakers to share their experiences and latest market trends with industry players.
What role, according to you, has ShanghaiTex played in the growth of China’ s textiles and apparel industry? Could you please elaborate? China’ s textiles and apparel industry has entered a period of transformation, with fast-rising labour costs posing tremendous challenge to the labour-intensive textiles industry. Improving productivity and quality by using new textile technologies and exploring new markets are the key success factors for long-term development. As an industry pioneer and the grand showcase of the world’ s most innovative textile machinery, ShanghaiTex focuses more on automated textile technology application in different areas, and always presents the latest development of new textile technology applications in the fashion and apparel industry as well as footwear, functional wear, interior auto parts, medical care, health protection and many other sectors, thereby helping enterprises to save cost and improve efficiency and competitiveness during industry transition period.
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