IFAI announces Smart Fabrics Program at Expo 2017

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) has announced an expanded Advanced Textiles Program for its annual Expo, scheduled for Sept. 26-29, 2017 in New Orleans, La. Among the additions is a  Smart Fabrics Program designed to channel the excitement around smart fabrics into new product development, providing attendees with access to experts, materials and education.

This special program seeks to facilitate new partnerships, discussions and ideas; showcase innovative suppliers to the e-textiles market; and create common understandings among industry segments.

Conference sessions
The program will include expanded offerings in the Advanced Textiles Conference, covering many types of technology that fall under the “smart fabrics” moniker. An E-Textiles Standards Roundtable, open to all, is scheduled for the morning of Sept. 28. The discussion will be moderated by representatives from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce and provides a forum to bring together organizations that are creating standards, as well as others who are impacted by decisions that will be made in the future.

Show floor workshops
The E-Textiles Workshop, located on the Expo show floor, will serve as a central meeting area for participants to network and learn from each other. This designated area will launch a number of specific opportunities:

• Beginners’ Kits. Those new to the field can assemble simple e-textiles devices from components with guidance from experts
• Hackathon/Design Challenge. Advanced participants, can “show what you know” in this fun competition
• Topic-specific discussions. Experts will facilitate 30-minute market discussions specific to e-textiles during show floor hours. Topics are expected to include apparel, biomedical, health and fitness, military, aerospace, automotive, packaging, virtual reality, and home-use products.
• Ask the Experts. Scheduled for Sept. 27, this two-hour, Q & A will feature experts in electronics, materials, testing and product development fielding questions from attendees.

The AT Conference will offer four tracks: military, medical and testing, in addition to smart fabrics. Information on these offerings will be available on this site in the coming weeks, and you may visit IFAIexpo.com/advancedtextiles and IFAIexpo.com/Smart for updated information.