“It’s been a good show for us,” he said. “The traffic hasn’t been that heavy, but the quality of visitors has been great. We’ve met a lot of great companies and have made some good prospects for our software, so we’ve been extremely happy.”

 

Davis added that attending this show and other events like it is a no-brainer for PA Group.

 

“We go to the trade shows and conferences that focus on textile and apparel because that’s who we are,” he said. “Companies that have a software need – whether it’s ERP, CRM for the sales staff or manufacturing software to give executives better insights into the manufacturing operations – are interested in what we can provide.”

 

Matt Llewellyn, vice president of knitting machine provider Shima Seiki, was similarly impressed.

 

“The people who have come by are inquisitive and involved,” he said. “It seems like much more serious people are here, though a smaller volume of people. On our first day, we had as many leads at this show as we had on our first day in Atlanta last year.”

 

He added: “We’ve had a lot of weaving companies and other industrial companies inquiring more about 3D-shaped composite material products. And we’ve had suppliers to aerospace companies coming to see us.”

 

Dan McCoy, president of McCoy Machinery, Monroe, N.C., exhibited on the JEC Americas side, but provides equipment for customers throughout the combined show floor.

 

“It’s a good combination of customers for our traditional technology in the textile field and our customers in the composites field,” he said. “This is our third show in composites. So this show being a combined show, we’re able to hit about all of our customers. It’s been a really good show.”

 

For composites, McCoy offers a creel for pre-preg and laminations, as well as direct weaving equipment for carbon or glass.

 

Dornier, a longtime weaving machine supplier, also exhibited at JEC Americas and highlighted its Dornier Composites Systems equipment. Peter Brust, president of American Dornier, Charlotte, N.C., said traffic was slower than expected but “we’ve had good traffic and high-quality customers, as well as great conversations.”

 

Other activities

 

During a press conference on opening day, Michael Jänecke, director of Brand Management for Techtextil & Texprocess, Messe Frankfurt, provided an overview of the technical textiles market. He pointed out that China and India account for almost half of global production of technical textiles, and the market is growing worldwide.

 

Technical textiles, he said, accounts for 27 percent of worldwide fabric production, and the market is expected to hit $175 billion by 2020.

 

Meanwhile, Frederique Mutel, president & CEO of the JEC Group, Paris, said the composites market is enjoying similar growth.

 

“The market is driven by innovation,” she said. “A lot of analysts think the composites market could grow very rapidly.”

 

Techtextil North America also offered four special feature areas: an 18-company German Pavilion, a symposium that was well attended each day, a Graduate Student Poster Program and a Job Center.

 

Related story: Aurora Specialty Textiles announces new U.S. plant during TTNA