While topics such as sustainable production models, digitalization, high-performance materials and smart manufacturing systems will form the main agenda of HIGHTEX 2026, a strong showcase will be presented for companies aiming to make a difference in the global competitive environment.

Organized in cooperation with Teknik Fuarcılık and Tüyap, and held concurrently with the ITM International Textile Machinery Exhibition, HIGHTEX holds the distinction of being Türkiye’s and the region’s first and only specialized exhibition in the field of technical textiles and nonwovens. Organized since 2005, the event has, over more than 20 years, personally witnessed the technological evolution experienced by the industry and has become one of the most important platforms where innovative solutions are introduced to the global market. Thanks to being held simultaneously with ITM, textile machinery, production technologies and the technical textiles ecosystem will come together under the same roof, offering visitors an integrated exhibition experience.

The indispensable element of strategic industries: Technical Textiles

Today, technical textiles have a wide range of applications extending from automotive to defense industry, from medical applications to infrastructure projects, and from agriculture to the energy sector. Distinguished from conventional textile products thanks to their superior properties such as high strength, lightness, durability, heat and chemical resistance, these materials directly affect the performance criteria of strategic industries. The solutions to be exhibited at HIGHTEX 2026 will reveal not only product-based innovations but also the transformation in production processes. A broad exhibitor profile, ranging from raw material producers to machinery manufacturers, from software developers to end-product manufacturers, will represent the entire value chain of the sector.

This comprehensive structure transforms the exhibition into not only a display area but also a strategic platform in terms of information sharing, business development and investment planning. While professional visitors will have the opportunity to examine new technologies on-site and establish direct contact with manufacturers, participating companies will gain the opportunity to enter new markets and strengthen their brand positioning.

A new era in Nonwoven technologies

Nonwoven production technologies have achieved a significant leap in recent years in terms of both capacity and quality. Based on the principle of bonding fibers through mechanical, thermal or chemical methods without weaving or knitting, this production model is rapidly expanding on a global scale due to the flexibility, speed and cost advantage it offers. Nonwoven solutions have become indispensable especially in hygiene products, medical consumables, filtration systems and automotive interior trim applications.

The next-generation nonwoven lines to be exhibited at HIGHTEX 2026 will contribute to sustainability targets with criteria such as lower energy consumption, optimized raw material usage and high production speed. Solutions for recyclable and biodegradable raw materials will also be among the prominent topics of the exhibition. These developments demonstrate that the nonwoven sector simultaneously carries growth potential along with environmental responsibility.

Artificial Intelligence and Industry 4.0 integration comes to the fore

Digital transformation has become one of the fundamental elements of competitive advantage in technical textile and nonwoven production. The Industry 4.0 integrated systems to be exhibited at HIGHTEX 2026 will enable real-time monitoring of production processes, performance optimization through data analytics, and the minimization of error rates. Thanks to artificial intelligence-supported quality control systems, defects that may occur on production lines will be detected instantly, thereby reducing cost losses.

Automation solutions will increase production speed and standardization while minimizing human error; at the same time, smart infrastructures that provide savings in energy and resource usage will strengthen the understanding of sustainable production. These technologies will offer companies not only operational efficiency but also the opportunity for strong positioning in the global market.

Fabrics of the future: Smart textiles

Smart textiles developed at the intersection of textiles and advanced technology stand out as one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing fields of the sector. Nanotechnology applications, conductive fibers, sensor-integrated fabric structures and materials capable of responding to environmental conditions offer a wide range of applications from health monitoring to defense uses, from sports technologies to industrial safety. These innovations transform textiles from being a passive material into a structure capable of generating data and interacting. At HIGHTEX 2026, geotextiles, medical and hygienic textiles, high-performance composite structures for aviation and automotive, and technical solutions specific to the agriculture and food sectors will also be exhibited together. Thus, the exhibition will present a holistic panorama of innovative materials responding to the needs of different industries.

New collaborations and global trade opportunities

HIGHTEX 2026 will not only provide participating companies with the opportunity to exhibit their products but will also create a strong business development platform that will expand international trade networks. Bilateral business meetings and sectoral contacts to be held throughout the exhibition will prepare the ground for generating concrete commercial outcomes ranging from machinery sales to technology transfers, from joint production agreements to new investment decisions. For sector representatives coming from a wide geography extending from America to Asia, from Europe to Africa, Istanbul will become a global meeting point in the field of technical textiles and nonwovens. HIGHTEX 2026 will continue to position itself at the center of information sharing, strategic vision and technological transformation, maintaining its role as an international reference platform guiding the sector.