The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is set to present a series of advanced textile testing innovations at the upcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition, scheduled to take place in Singapore from October 28 to 31, 2025. This event will highlight the latest advancements in textile testing, color assessment, and machine control technologies developed by BTMA members.
Jason Kent, CEO of BTMA, emphasized the significance of these developments, stating, “Many of our members are currently developing new technologies, either in-house or increasingly through joint projects, and there will be much to reveal by the time of ITMA Asia in Singapore. Some of the most recent developments are really going beyond what has previously been possible.”
Key Innovations to Be Showcased
1. Discovery of a New Color – OLO
VeriVide, a leader in color measurement and management solutions, has been intrigued by the recent scientific discovery of a completely new color named OLO. This hue is not a variant or pigment but a color never before perceived by the human eye. Scientists achieved this by using precise laser stimulation directly on the retina, bypassing the usual pathways the human visual system uses to interpret color. Although OLO can currently only be experienced under laboratory conditions, its discovery hints at a future where our understanding of vision and our ability to manipulate it expand dramatically.
2. Transition to LED Lighting for Color Assessment
In February, the sale of all fluorescent lighting officially ended in the EU and UK, impacting the entire supply chain from designers to retailers. VeriVide has spent the last decade developing and optimizing its industry-leading all-LED light booths, such as the Ultra-View, which have been adopted by leading retail brands including H&M, Marks & Spencer, and Tesco. These LED booths are part of an ecosystem designed for instantly communicating color decisions, color fastness gradings, test reports, and more, incorporating the DigiEye and DigiView digital color measurement systems.
3. Advanced UV Testing Lamps
Q-Lab Corporation, a global leader in lightfastness and weathering test equipment and services, has launched a new breakthrough in UV testing with the TUV-421 lamps. These lamps provide a broader spectrum for more accurate and reliable testing of textile materials, ensuring enhanced durability and performance.
4. Digital Fabric Handle Testing
The concept of ‘fabric handle’—the tactile sensation experienced when touching and manipulating fabric—is highly subjective yet critical in textile evaluation. New digital testing methods are being introduced to quantify this aspect, allowing designers and manufacturers to describe and share information about fabric aesthetics more effectively, reducing the need for physical samples.
5. Automated Patterned Fabric Inspection
Innovations in automated inspection systems for patterned fabrics are set to revolutionize quality control processes. These systems can detect defects and inconsistencies in complex patterns with high precision, improving efficiency and reducing manual inspection errors.
6. Next-Generation Martindale Motion Tester
The Martindale Motion Tester, a staple in textile abrasion testing, is receiving significant upgrades. The next-generation model offers enhanced accuracy, user-friendly interfaces, and improved data analysis capabilities, providing more reliable results for textile durability assessments.
These innovations collectively aim to enhance textile quality and efficiency, reflecting BTMA’s commitment to advancing the textile industry’s technological frontiers.
