Textile industry leaders gather in Austria for 62nd Dornbirn GFC

A crucial player behind the Congress’ successful trajectory is the GFC Organisation led by Friedrich Weninger, its managing director. As Weninger indicated a desire to step back in the coming years, a decision to initiate the recruitment process for a successor was approved. The collective vote of confidence ushered Andreas Dorner into a co-managing director role, envisaged to lead the transition smoothly in the next 2-3 years, Donbirn GFC said in a press release.

“The challenges currently facing the fibre industry require fundamental changes in the value chains. We see new strategic partnerships being formed to take advantage of new opportunities around innovation, circular economy, and new business models. The 62nd edition of the Dornbirn GFC shows once again that it is the perfect place for such new partnerships,” said Robert van de Kerkhof, chief sustainability officer of Lenzing AG and president of the Dornbirn GFC.

“That is why we are proud that leading representatives from politics, the energy sector, but also from many companies and start-ups from the entire fibre value chain will come together for three days to exchange ideas on how to accelerate our progress in greening our industry,” said Fritz Weninger, managing director of the Dornbirn GFC.

“For us, it is the conference of the year, where hundreds of ideas for shaping a green future for our industry can become reality,” said Andre Wissenberg, Oerlikon, confirming the importance and task of the Dornbirn GFC in the textile network.

This year’s congress initiated potent dialogues on the challenges looming over the textile industry, encouraging critical discussions inspired by expert presentations from international speakers. A notable address was by Dirk Vantyghem of the European Apparel and Textile Industry (EURATEX), Brussels, discussing the impending European Union Sustainable Textiles Strategy and its global repercussions. Vantyghem emphasised the need for a coherent regulatory framework to foster innovation and sustainability as stipulated in the new legislation.

On a similar note, 25 international innovators exhibited their company and advancements at the Dornbirn Kulturhaus Foyer, establishing a focal point for interactions and forging new connections. Reflecting the congress’ deep-rooted commitment to innovation, forward-looking dialogues were an essential feature, extending avenues for progressive discourse and networking.

A remarkable component of the event was the Paul Schlack/Wilhelm Albrecht Prize 2023 award ceremony conducted by Frederic van Houte of CIRFS. The award function celebrated pioneering dissertations in the fibre industry, honouring Henriette Grellmann and Tim Hohnemann for their contributions in textile-based actuator and sensor systems and polymer melt methodologies, respectively.

Lenzing AG further facilitated the nurturing of young talent by presenting the Young Scientist Award to Nina Siren and Clara Davis, each bagging prize money of €5,000. While Siren delved into the comparison of modal with recycled modal, Davis explored the potential of bacterial nanocellulose as a sustainable bio-based fibre in the textile industry.

A prominent feature retaining the audience’s attention is the online on-demand version of the Dornbirn GFC 2023, available until September 30, 2023. Despite offering a plethora of online resources, the platform strongly advocates for the irreplaceable value of personal contacts fostered in an on-site setting.

“The Dornbirn GFC is a great opportunity for innovators to meet the decision makers in the fibre and textile industry. The congress with its focus on innovation and research offers an inspiring environment for high-quality contacts,” stated Bjol Frenkenberger, MIR. The young company was one of the participants of the 3rd Dornbirn GFC Innovation Days.

Looking forward, the Dornbirn GFC maintains a steadfast focus on fibre innovation for its 63rd edition, scheduled from September 11–13, 2024 at the Kulturhaus, Dornbirn. The congress eagerly invites submissions revolving around circular economy, recycling, and sustainability through its ‘Call for Papers’ by the end of October, epitomising an interest in fostering a sustainable future.

As the curtains close on a successful 2023 edition, preparations for the 63rd Dornbirn GFC and the 4th Innovation Days are already underway, promising a constructive and fruitful forum for the global fibre industry in 2024. The event concluded on a note of gratitude, appreciating the sustained support of loyal sponsors, and the cooperation of the city of Dornbirn and the state of Vorarlberg, hinting at a bright future fostered through alliances and collaborations on a global scale.

“The early focus on sustainability, circular economy, and recycling made the Dornbirn GFC a very relevant idea and network generator for the fibre and textile industry. The holistic approach by integrating ‘startups’ or even ‘cross-industry’ is now bearing fruit,” said the managing director of the Austrian Fibres Institute.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)