For three decades, emtec Electronic GmbH has been at the forefront of innovation in the field of testing and measurement technology. Since its foundation in 1995 in Leipzig, Germany, the company has grown from a small team of four to a dynamic organisation of 40 employees at its headquarters, supported by a global network of around 30 representatives. With a reputation for precision and customer-oriented solutions, emtec has established itself as a leader in the paper industry and, since 2015, has been making strong inroads into the textile sector.

Celebrating 30 Years of Innovation
This year marks the 30th anniversary of emtec Electronic GmbH—a milestone that highlights the company’s long-standing commitment to innovation, professionalism, and customer satisfaction.

Giselher Gruener

Founder and Managing Director

“The key success factors for our company have always been innovation, intensive sales and service activities worldwide, the highest level of professionalism, customer friendliness, employee satisfaction, flexibility, and cost awareness. These values remain the foundation of our success.”

What began as a small business has transformed into a globally recognised provider of high-tech solutions. As of 2025, emtec attends more than 25 international trade fairs annually—14 in the paper sector and 12 in the textile sector— bringing its devices directly to the people who use them. The highlight of this year will be the company’s 30-year anniversary celebration at its Leipzig headquarter in Germany with all its representatives around the world—a testament to its strong roots and global reach.

20 Years of the TSA – first the Tissue Softness Analyzer, now Tactile Sensation Analyzer
The company’s flagship innovation in the textile sector is the Tactile Sensation Analyzer (TSA), which celebrates its own 20th anniversary in 2025. Originally developed for the paper industry, the TSA was first introduced as a prototype in 2005, accompanied by the filing of a patent. Since then, more than 550 devices have been installed worldwide, making the TSA the industry standard for softness measurement in the tissue sector. It has even been recognised as the recommended test method for tissue softness by TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry).

Building on this success, emtec has adapted and enhanced the TSA for the textile industry. The second generation of the device, the TSA2, combines state-of-the-art measurement technology with a groundbreaking digital ecosystem: the Virtual Haptic Library.

TSA2 and the Virtual Haptic Library
The TSA2 objectively measures the individual parameters that determine fabric hand feel and comfort, including:

  • Surface softness (micro-surface variations)
  • Surface smoothness (macro-surface variations)
  • Flexibility and elasticity (stretch and recovery behaviour)
  • Friction
  • Compressibility and crumple resistance
  • Thermal insulation and haptic
  • Drape behaviour and air permeability

This comprehensive measurement approach overcomes the limitations of traditional hand panels, which are often subjective, time-consuming, and costly. With the TSA2, results are objective, reproducible, and available within minutes.

By digitising haptic and optical data, the TSA2 enables brands, mills, and retailers to store and exchange fabric information via the cloud-based Virtual Haptic Library. This innovation transforms how the global textile supply chain communicates:

  • Improved accuracy and transparency by using numeric haptic specifications.
  • Faster fabric development cycles, reducing lead times from months to weeks.
  • Lower courier and logistics costs by minimising the need to ship physical samples.
  • A reduced environmental footprint, aligning with global sustainability goals.

The TSA2 and the cloud-based Virtual Haptic Library offer a unique solution to one of the textile industry’s most pressing challenges: ensuring consistency and quality across a complex, international supply chain.

Looking Ahead
As emtec Electronic GmbH celebrates 30 years of innovation, the company is poised to accelerate its impact in the textile industry with the TSA2 and Virtual Haptic Library. Just as the TSA became the benchmark for softness measurement in the tissue paper industry, emtec now aims to set a new standard for objective and digital hand feel testing in textiles.

With its strong foundation, dedicated team, and global network, emtec continues to embody its motto: Innovative Testing Solutions – Successfully for 30 Years!

Meet emtec’s TSA at ITMA 2025!
As part of its anniversary year, emtec will be present at ITMA 2025 – the world’s leading textile machinery exhibition. At booth H3-B303, visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to experience two TSA2 devices live in action. Both devices will be available on-site for hands-on testing, enabling visitors to evaluate their own fabrics and see firsthand how objective, digital hand-feel measurement will transform the development process. Markus Amthor from Global Business Development at emtec Electronic will showcase this hand-feel innovation to the textile industry, as experts bring their samples and discover the future of textile testing together.