Industry Events
Technical Textiles and Nonwovens Came Together in Raleigh
Techtextil North America 2026 (TTNA) welcomed professionals from across the technical textiles and nonwovens industries to a show filled with innovation, collaboration, and discovery.
For three days – August 4-6 – the Raleigh Convention Center became the meeting place for the technical textiles and nonwovens industries. Thousands of professionals came together to discover new products, experience live demonstrations, strengthen business relationships, exchange ideas, and explore the technologies shaping what's next.
The exhibit hall came to life as attendees connected with exhibitors, explored new technologies, attended educational sessions, and exchanged ideas that will help shape the future of the industries.
Innovation Across the Show Floor
Exhibitors showcased their advancements ranging from high-performance fibers and textile testing to nonwovens research, manufacturing technologies, and product development. Visitors explored advanced material solutions, learned about cutting-edge research and workforce initiatives, and connected with physical properties testers to discover testing technologies that help improve product quality and performance.
Education That Drives the Industry Forward
Industry experts led a full day of Symposium sessions and Tech Talks. Discussions explored topics including transportation textiles, nonwovens, reshoring, digital product passports, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation materials—giving attendees practical insights they can apply after the show.
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Symposium sessions and Tech Talks designed to address today's challenges while preparing the industry for tomorrow.
Celebrating Innovation
One standout event was the presentation of the 2026 Innovation Awards, recognizing the groundbreaking companies and organizations shaping the future of technical textiles and nonwovens. The achievements of these 2026 Innovation Awards winners showcase the ingenuity, research, and engineering excellence driving technical textiles forward.
Plasmagear, Inc. (New Concept) specializes in waterproof and flame-resistant textiles, using plasma technology to deliver superior material properties and nanofiber-based filtration media that ensure high-efficiency air and water filtration. PlasmaGear’s Fire Retardant (FR) Nanofiber Membrane is a material developed for applications requiring advanced fire safety, PFAS-free chemistry, and exceptional filtration efficiency.
Syniform Inc. (New Production) deploys fully automated, containerized apparel manufacturing product lines to traditional factories or into shipping containers. While its lines can easily be integrated into traditional factory floors, they can also be housed entirely within shipping containers as true “plug & Play” micro-factories. With just basic utility connections, they can be deployed rapidly in locations closer to the markets it serves but where a traditional factory never could.
Lei Lin, Syniform CEO & Founder
NC State University Wilson College of Textiles (New Product) is committed to the full range of textiles education, research, innovation, and service. No other university can match our facilities, faculty talent, industry connections, or the STEM-based rigor of our academic programs. That’s why top employers, from Nike to NASA, seek its graduates. For more than 120 years, the College of Textiles has been an essential component of the state and national economies. It supports textiles—a multibillion-dollar global industry—and everything that depends on textile technology, including air filters, artificial heart valves, and wearable electronics. From sustainable fashion to protective gear for first responders, they cover it all.
NC State University Wilson College of Textiles Student Research Exhibition.
IND HEMP (New Material) is a vertically integrated, certified U.S. hemp ingredient supplier. They undertook a structured development program with the NC State University Nonwovens Institute and Southeast Nonwovens to prototype a novel hemp fiber exfoliating facial wipe. That program produced a critical insight — one that ultimately clarified the strongest near-term commercial fit for both products — and generated a body of application knowledge that positions IND HEMP as a ready, informed ingredient partner for personal care brands exploring hemp-based formulations.
Focused on Sustainability
Techtextil North America brought the industry's attention to one of its most important priorities: building a more sustainable future. Exhibitors demonstrated the capabilities of sustainable materials while showcasing manufacturing processes and technologies designed to reduce environmental impact and improve performance and efficiency. From circular textile solutions and resource-conscious production to recycling innovations and next-generation materials, attendees explored practical approaches shaping the future of technical textiles. Econogy (Economics and Ecology) Sustainability programming reinforced that sustainability is no longer a future goal — it’s an active part of today's conversations, collaborations, and business strategies.
The conversations will continue next year at Techtextil North America & Texprocess Americas in Atlanta on May 11-13, 2027.