More than 30 Québec companies are in Barcelona for ITMA 2019, the most important international fair for manufacturing technologies
More than 30 companies and organizations from Québec’s textile and apparel sectors have joined forces to participate in a special mission to ITMA 2019, the most important international exhibition for technological innovations in manufacturing that is taking place in Barcelona, Spain, from June 20 to 26, 2019. This initiative, led by TechniTextile Québec, the CTT Group, the Fashion Cluster mmode and the Workforce Sector Committee in Textile (CSMO Textile), will enable the companies to learn about the latest technological advances.
ITMA 2019 brings together under one roof more than 1,600 exhibitors and 120,000 participants from the textile and apparel industry global value chain. “We intend to take advantage of this unique opportunity to support companies in their 4.0 shift,” says Dany Charest, General Manager of TechniTextile Québec, Technical Textile Materials Cluster. “Many company leaders are preparing to invest heavily in implementing advanced technologies that integrate digitalization to increase their productivity and meet the growing demand for new technical products. The purchase of high-performance equipment will allow companies to maintain their value-added manufacturing activities here in Québec, and to continue their growth.”
This initiative – carried out in partnership with the ACCORD initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (MEI) – represents a first concerted action for the industry and its members. “A team of experts from the CTT Group, a technology transfer leader specialized in research, development and analyses of technical textiles and advanced materials, will be on hand to guide companies in the strategic choice of equipment and textile materials that will enable them to stand out here and internationally,” says Valerio Izquierdo, Vice-President, Textile Laboratories and Expertise, CTT Group.
The industry will benefit from an exclusive and attractive exhibition stand strategically positioned at the heart of Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via (CTT Group booth #UL-D108). This space offers an exceptional platform for holding meetings and collaborations as well as for highlighting the know-how and expertise of Québec companies.
CSMO Textile, the organization responsible for the development of labour skills, is also accompanying the delegation to gather intelligence about the technologies that will enable it to identify the skills of the future and adjust its tailor-made training curriculum.
CDRM, Beaulieu Canada, Distribution Club Tissus, Duvaltex, Eko-Terre, Filature Lemieux, FilSpec, General Recycled, Logistic Unicorp, Niedner, Oratex, Produits Belt-Tech, Quartz Co., Rayonese Textile, Régitex, RJAM, Stedfast, STEPHAN/H, Tapis Venture, Techno Diesel, Texel Matériaux techniques, Textiles Monterey, TM Couture, Tricots Duval et Raymond, Tricots Maxime, Vêtements Flip Design, Vêtements SP and Vêtements Wazana are part of the mission.
About Québec’s textile and apparel industry
The Québec textile industry is composed of 420 companies specializing in the manufacture of textile, textile-based apparel and knitwear products. The industry, which produces more than 50% of Canada’s textile, stands out because of the wide range of its capabilities. It has been one of the key sectors of Québec’s economy for more than 150 years and continues to excel through the remarkable advances it has achieved in the development of value-added technical materials. The textile industry employs more than 12,000 people.
Montréal is one of the three North American leaders in apparel manufacturing, along with Los Angeles and New York. The fashion industry in Québec generates sales of $8 billion in manufactured goods and in wholesaler-distributor sales. With more than 1,850 players, including manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and designers, it is a strategic pillar of Québec’s economy, generating more than 83,000 jobs.
About ACCORD
The ACCORD project is a government priority for developing the economy of Québec’s regions. The MEI is responsible for its implementation. ACCORD is designed to enable the regions of Québec to stand out as world-recognized centres of industrial competencies. This approach is based on regional strengths as well as on the mobilization and dynamism of businesspeople in the regions.
