Driving efficiency and objectivity in textile development: emtec showcases the Tactile Sensation Analyzer at ITM 2026
At this year’s ITM 2026 exhibition, taking place from June 9–13 at the Istanbul Tuyap Fair and Congress Center, emtec Electronic GmbH will present its innovative TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer with the cloud-based market place Virtual Haptic Library — a technology that is transforming how textile comfort and hand feel are evaluated, communicated, and optimized across the global supply chain.
ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, held alongside the HIGHTEX exhibition for technical textiles and nonwovens, is one of the most important international meeting points for textile machinery manufacturers, industry investors, and professionals. Emtec will be present in Hall 10, Stand 1002C with Markus Amthor (Global Business Development) and regional sales representative Cem Dipcin from LABTEK.
While trade fairs like ITM provide valuable opportunities for exchange, the real focus lies on addressing one of the textile industry’s longstanding challenges: the subjective nature of fabric hand feel and wearing comfort. Traditionally, these key product characteristics—among the most important purchasing criteria alongside design and price—have been difficult to define, measure, and communicate consistently. Different stakeholders across the supply chain often interpret terms like “soft,” “smooth,” or “comfortable” differently, leading to misunderstandings, repeated sampling, and costly delays.
The TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer introduces a fundamentally new approach by objectively measuring and digitizing the haptic properties of textiles. Parameters such as surface softness, surface smoothness, stretch and recovery, compressibility or thermal behavior are captured and translated into standardized, reproducible data. This transforms subjective perception into quantifiable values that can be clearly communicated across departments, companies and continents. Combined with the cloud-based Virtual Haptic Library, the TSA enables users to store, compare, and retrieve digital fabric profiles. This reduces the need for physical samples and minimizes delays caused by shipping and miscommunication.
The economic impact is significant. Traditional textile development can take up to 20 weeks, often involving multiple sampling iterations and courier costs. With the TSA, development time can be reduced to as little as two weeks, while also lowering logistics costs and improving decision-making. In addition, the technology supports sustainability efforts by reducing sample shipments and material waste throughout the development process. The TSA can be applied across the entire textile value chain—from R&D and quality control to sourcing and sales—creating a standardized, objective basis for evaluating textile hand feel.
Visitors to ITM 2026 can explore how this data-driven approach is helping the industry move from subjective perception to measurable, reliable results. The emtec team is looking forward to the exchange with textile experts at booth 1002C in Hall 10.
