More than 30 companies and organisations from Québec’s textile and apparel sectors are participating ITMA 2019, the most important international exhibition for technological innovations in manufacturing that is being held 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 these companies to learn about the latest technological advances.
Dany Charest, General Manager of TechniTextile Québecsays “Many Québec company leaders are preparing to invest heavily in implementing advanced technologies that integrate digitalisation 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 – being implemented 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 specialised in research, development and analyses of technical textiles and advanced materials, will guide companies to choose equipment and textile materials that enable them to stand out here and internationally,” saysValerio Izquierdo, Vice-President, Textile Laboratories and Expertise, CTT Group.
Marie Eve Proulx, Junior Minister for Regional Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions says, “the participating Québec organisations will benefit from this exceptional event in order to strengthen their international competitiveness and establish future partnerships for Québec, firmly focused on Industry 4.0 and new technology trends.”
The industry will benefit from an exclusive and attractiveexhibition stand strategically positioned at the heart of Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via(CTT Groupbooth#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 organisation responsible for the development of labour skills, is also accompanying the delegation to gather intelligence about the technologies thatwill enable it to identify the skills of the future and adjust its tailor-made training curriculum.
The Québec textile industry, comprising 420 companies, specialises in the manufacture of textile, textile-based apparel and knitwear products. The industry, which produces more than 50 per cent 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.
