From the Sector

• Smart Workflows for Digital Cutting & Kitting

At JEC World 2022 in Paris, Zünd presents the latest developments in modular cutting solutions for composites. Known for its expertise in digital cutting and workflow integration.
As specialist in digital cutting for composites applications, Zünd demonstrates how data management, digital cutting, and downstream processes such as picking, sorting, and kitting, can be automated intelligently and based on specific needs.

In Industry 4.0 in general and processing composites in particular, an unencumbered flow of data is key to workflow efficiency. With Zünd PreCut Center, the user is well equipped to handle the challenges of demanding manufacturing processes. The software automatically optimizes contours and adjusts cut paths depending on the material and choice of tools. With the integrated nesting function, parts are laid out automatically for optimal material utilization. Considering the high cost of materials, maximum yield is essential for economical digital cutting.

With Pick&Place, Zünd presents a cost-effective solution for fully automated picking and kitting of cut parts. The Pick&Place interface enables direct communication with the robot via Zünd Cut Center – ZCC, the Zünd operating software and user interface. Pick&Place makes it possible to completely automate parts removal, kitting and placing. The necessary parameters are derived from the metadata supplied with the job order.

The Premium Group events will take place in Frankfurt am Main in the third week of January 2022, taking into account the 2G+ regulation (all participants have to be vaccinated, recovered and additionally daily tested).
 
On the basis of the current regulations of the federal government and the Hessian state government, which did not announce any further restrictions for vaccinated people last week, the fashion fairs PREMIUM and SEEK, the FASHIONTECH talks and the showcase of the new format THE GROUND will comply with the official health and hygiene regulations from 18th to January 20, 2022 in Frankfurt am Main.
 
This decision is based on the representative feedback from many protagonists of the industry, expert opinions and a close observation of the situation as well as an assessment of all measures that can be taken in Europe to ensure a safe event.

Four formats - one large exhibition hall
The conceptual novelty is that the PREMIUM, SEEK, THE GROUND and FASHIONTECH events will - for the first time and once - take place all together in a spacious hall, which roughly corresponds to the entire area of Station Berlin, on a total area of approx. 20,000 square meters. The resulting simplified admission management serves the safety of everyone. In this way, visitors can quickly and comfortably experience all the inspiration and concentrated brand power at once.

In addition to the security aspect, the merger of the two flagship events PREMIUM and SEEK in one large exhibition hall will bring new features, above all, in terms of content and atmosphere. Apart from an unprecedentedly strong brand portfolio, completely new synergies and energies will arise, which will make the meeting in January a unique momentum in the history of the industry.

Numerous brands have already signed-up and despite some decisions for smaller pop-up presentations, instead of large stands, the willingness to start again together and to want to send positive signals prevails! In addition to established players, many new brands also want to show their collections now.

THE GROUND - new generation, new platform
THE GROUND will give an outlook on what can be expected in summer with an exclusive press and influencer event. The Fashion Festival ‘for a young and purpose driven generation’ is an innovative platform for brands to get in direct contact with Gen Z with interactive installations, campaigns and storytelling.

At the preview event in January, 15 curated brands and key partners will present their value-based projects and products. In keynotes and panel talks, THE GROUND is dedicated to the topics most relevant to GEN Z: diversity, inclusion & sustainability.

FASHIONTECH - innovation, inspiration, content
FASHIONTECH is the content platform for fashion, technology and lifestyle. This is where decision-makers, industry insiders, communication experts and innovative minds meet to exchange experiences, discuss potential and developments, generate new leads and promote exchange between the various industries.

In addition to the core events, the Premium Group will also organize its popular evening events - due to the conditions, of course, to a slightly different extent than usual.

Showing its leadership, ROICA™ marks a milestone in the world of stretch, enhancing a contemporary wardrobe made of new generation values that are fully conveyed and visible to the end consumer. Indeed, by creating cutting-edge tools, such as the hangtags that provide, through simple and well-designed icons, clear and concise functional information showing for each application the values and performances of each single ROICA™ families: ROICA Colour Perfect ™, ROICA Resistance™, ROICA Feel Good™, ROICA Eco-Smart™, ROICA Contour™.

On top of this, in order to ASSURE that what is labelled as ROICA™ Sustainable truly reflects the brand’s new generation values, the company created and introduced a branding policy indicating the allowed blends for their smart yarns belonging to the unique ROICA Eco-Smart™ family. A big step toward complete transparency and transparent AUTHENTIC communication.
ROICA™ identity will be activated in all its communication tools and channels, such as a renovated website and social media presence.

At MarediModa – the international fair dedicated to fabrics and accessories for the beachwear, underwear and athleisure sectors - ROICA ™ partners such as Eusebio, Iluna Group, Interjersey Milano, Maglificio Ripa, Penn Textile Solutions GmbH, Piave Maitex and Sofileta shared their latest fabric innovations where sustainability cutting-edge performance and design realized with ROICA™ premium stretch ingredient, were on stage.

• From C.L.A.S.S. ICON 2021 to Special Project at WHITE Milan, the streetstyle Portuguese brand shows urban outfits for everyday heroes fighting for the environment, with a holistic approach to sustainability

After being rewarded with the 2021 C.L.A.S.S. Icon Award, the Portuguese brand Duarte is ready to present its Spring/Summer 2022 collection developed with C.L.A.S.S. ecohub support. The streetwear designer Ana Duarte has worked in close contact with the Milanese hub in order to create a 40 pieces collection where the approach to materials, suppliers, new business models and communication could include and support a holistic view of the sustainable values aligned with style, performances, look and touch and Duarte identity.

The inspiration behind the collection is the superhero Tadao - Ana Duarte’s dog, an English Cocker Spaniel - which is the World Keeper fighting against the environmental issues mankind has generated. Like a protector of sustainability, it battles modern monsters as Smog Man, Fire Man, Deforestation Man and Wave man, who respectively represent the issues of air pollution, climate change, forest destruction and water overconsumption. A very simple, direct and engaging way of talking about hot topics and simple, direct solutions.

The collection is made of 20 outfits, mainly unisex apart from some of them typically feminine as the crop tops. Hints of bright red and mustard yellow are alternated with denim, grey and pale azure tones, blending in with the colorful prints. Accents of black - used in inserts or as piping - seem to emphasize the outline of the garments. The different textures of the materials create a sense of movement, further enhanced by the unique patterns. All the garments’ prints are exclusively designed by the designer, following each collection inspiration: this time, they recall urban landscapes and the appeal of big metropolis, with Tadao as protagonist in prints, patches and ankle socks.

Among the most representative Duarte outfits we find:

• A matching sweater with trousers made of Newlife™, a yarn 100% made In Italy coming only from post- consumer, traceable plastic bottles.
• A unisex oversized bomber is crafted from Newlife™, lined with precious 100% Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei fabric by Gianni Crespi Foderami and matched with printed neoprene hoodie and shorts.
• Long-panelled unisex coat and trousers made with ReLAST® denim by Candiani, a responsible textile featuring a premium recycled stretch yarn, ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei. The coat is lined with a fabric by Gianni Crespi Foderami in 100% Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei, a new generation material made from the smart-tech transformation of cotton linter.
• The same sustainable stretch yarn is implied in the responsible tulle by Iluna Group, and featured in a shorts and top women’s ensemble, paired with a neoprene printed bomber. The tulle is skillfully matched with 100% Tencel™ back in the loop fabric by Maeba International underneath it.

Ana Duarte is part of a new generation of designers with a new approach to sourcing and production: her research goes into different kind of business models to fit her responsible innovation and style needs at the same time. That’s why in her collection we can find amazing and unique combination of organic, recycled, Back in The Loop, innovative materials that are the right choice for the look&touch and the performance she’s looking for. The result is cool yet respecting people and the environment in full traceability thanks to certified and sometimes even circular solutions. Working with components from various sources and business models requires a certain expertise and a particular sensibility we find in Ana Duarte’s design solutions and in her responsible interpretation of streetwear.

After being rewarded with the 2021 C.L.A.S.S. Icon Award, Portuguese brand Duarte is ready to present its Spring/Summer 2022 collection developed in collaboration with C.L.A.S.S. ecohub. The streetwear designer Ana Duarte has worked in close contact with the Milanese hub in order to create a 40 pieces collection where the approach to materials, suppliers, new business models and communication could include and support a holistic view of the sustainable values aligned with style, performances, look and touch and Duarte identity.

The inspiration behind this collection is the superhero Tadao – Ana Duarte’s dog – which is the World Keeper fighting against the environmental issues mankind has generated.

With the support of WHITE and its WSM (WHITE Sustainable Milano), Duarte’s creations will be featured online on the digital space of WSM-WHITE website, as well as being shown in a dedicated physical booth on September during Milan Fashion Week. The collection will also be presented on its new brand page on Renoon, an online platform devoted to Responsible Shopping. In addition, Duarte will be supported by IDEE Brand Platform in the development of commercial activities for the SS22 collection.

• The Techtextil and Texprocess trade fairs have a positive view of the future and invite the sector to take part at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre from 21 to 24 June 2022.
• Exhibitors who register well in advance benefit from an early-booking discount.

The dates for the next editions of Techtextil and Texprocess have been set and the leading international trade fairs for technical textiles and nonwovens and for the processing of textile and flexible materials are set to attract exhibitors and trade visitors from all over the world to Frankfurt am Main from 21 to 24 June 2022. Thus, the fairs are shifting the biennial cycle of events from odd to even years, which fits in perfectly with the sector’s international event calendar. Companies that book exhibition space at one of the two trade fairs no later than 31 August 2021 benefit from an early booking discount. “We see the future in a positive light and are confident that we will finally be able to give the sector the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and information in June 2022. The desire for personal encounters, direct communication and new impressions is growing from day to day”, says Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles and Textile Technologies.

Elgar Straub, Managing Director, VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, emphasises that, “Texprocess and Techtextil are the world’s foremost trade fairs for our innovative sector by a large margin. Both events offer customers an unrivalled overview of state-of-the-art innovations and technological developments – and beyond. Particularly when it comes to the latest trends for sustainability and digitalisation, Texprocess and Techtextil in Frankfurt represent the most important, future-oriented market. This makes it all the more important for both the exhibitor and visitor sides of the sector that we have the opportunity to obtain an overview of the latest market developments, to exchange ideas and information and to initiate new business. We are very relieved about this and hope that, next year, we will once again have the chance to generate new momentum for our sector in the international market.”

For the first time, Techtextil and Texprocess will occupy the western sector of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre with a total of four exhibition halls and, with a hybrid format, offer the best of both the physical and immaterial worlds: personal communication, virtual networking opportunities and maximum digital coverage. With a comprehensive hygiene and safety concept, Messe Frankfurt will ensure that all visitors and exhibitors can take part safely and with a good feeling.

The textile industry, one of the major industrial sectors worldwide, is going through a significant revolution, with changes taking place in various sections of textile processing. Biotechnology and biomimicry, for example, are continuously playing an important role in redefining the influence of the textile industry on society, and so is progress made in auxiliary chemistry, with advances investigated and then applied in almost every section of textile processing.  The outcome is amazingly promising.

Modern, real science is inextricably intertwined with environmental consciousness and they are definitely not mutually exclusive.

At RUDOLF GROUP modern, real science means pushing R&D so to constantly explore new technology and innovations that help transform the textile and fashion industries. We work to reduce the overall dependency on traditional and virgin resources.  Getting textile manufacturers as well as brand and retailers on board is key to achieve real change. By 2030 we aim for a significant fraction of our products to be either sourced through paths alternative to the traditional petrochemicals, or by upcycling waste and/or byproducts from other industries.

“This is the kind of genuine, tangible, environmental consciousness that truly defines us and that entails that RUDOLF GROUP has a responsibility for the needs of society as a whole.” Said Alberto De Conti, Head of Rudolf Fashion Division “We have a maniacal attention to the environmental impact of our operations and products. We have truly embedded in ourselves the notion that “sustainability” is a key issue and critical to the long-term survival of our company and of society at large. “

The combination of modern, real science and environmental consciousness leads to what RUDOLF GROUP call aspirational chemistry something unique and something that positions us as shining example and guiding light throughout the industry. That is, in fact, BETTER CHEMISTRY.

Two are the innovations rooted in aspirational chemistry that RUDOLF HUB1922 presents. The first one is our WASHLESS technology and the second one is a brand new launch: LASER SMOOTHER, which supports laser technology and helps creating much better denim looks.

WASHLESS

HUB1922 WASHLESS, which can be applied to both denim and non-denim, is the simultaneous application of
-    proprietary fluorine-free DWR (Durable Water Resistance) based on biomimicry to repel dirt
-    anti-microbial, anti-bacteria and anti-viral, non-migrating chemistry to stop body odour.
The combination of the 2 translates into garments that don’t require to be washed as much.

Life cycle assessment studies on clothes, detergents and washing machines show that home laundering is always the most energy‐demanding period during these products' life cycle, even higher than production or transportation phases.

“WASHLESS aims at changing consumer habits in clothing maintenance to a more environmentally friendly direction and represents a change that is the most feasible and efficient. Making washing machines obsolete is impossible, but even though the technologies in clothes cleaning have improved greatly, the washing frequency has not been reduced. We own more and more clothing and wash it more frequently. This increased amount of washing counteracts the technological improvements in home laundry. “ said De Conti.

It is only by understanding the climate change impact associated with home laundering that product innovations and consumer education can be explored. Studies consistently show that a carbon dioxide reduction of 105 MT and electricity savings of 142 thousand GWh can be obtained by reducing home laundering, on average, by 1/3. This is roughly equivalent to removing 12% of the 140 M passenger cars in the US, or taking 23 coal power plants off the grid. In addition, more than 60% of water consumed while laundering (2,000 billion liters) can be reduced through these strategies.

LASER SMOOTHER

Laser denim is the current dominant technology available to the denim industry to create locally abraded areas, vintage effects, whiskers, patterns, patches, and even intentional holes and tears in a garment. Laser technology uses less water, harmful chemicals (such as potassium permanganate) and energy to create a wide variety of denim looks.

However, laser is not always able to produce the desired look, on the desired fabric, in the desired time. Therefore, chemical companies have been developing laser boosters that can be pre-applied to the garments in order to intensify the effect of the laser to mimic heavier bleaching applications. Unfortunately, laser boosters can create blurred images where the definition is lower and the overall image less natural.

The brand new RUDOLF HUB1922 LASER SMOOTHER is an all-in-one formulation, very easy to pre-apply to garments before laser burning and that return a very natural image which is very similar to the highly desirable hand scraping. Laser smoother can be applied by traditional exhaust or through nebulization and it dries at normal temperature in normal tumble driers.  Advantages of LASER PRIMER are:

•    Remarkable enhancement of the fabric’s characteristics (heightening of material)
•    Overall effect much more natural and similar to manual scraping (craftsmanship dimension)
•    Reduced required laser power to achieve the wanted effect (conspicuous energy saving)
•    A faster laser burning process (significant time saving, depending on the final effect)
•    Any other chemical spray is not required (environmental friendliness)
•    Reduced cost compared to other solution (financial viability)

The textile machinery industry is eagerly awaiting the start of the virtual trade show "Innovate Textile & Apparel". What and how will the more than 160 exhibitors present themselves virtually? How will the approximately 10,000 registered visitors accept the digital offer? WTIN is breaking new ground as organizer with this platform. But one thing is already certain: From 15 to 30 October 2020, they will bring the textile machinery industry a little closer together again in the Corona Pandemic. Oerlikon invites all visitors to take a look into the future of manmade fibers production and get to know the comprehensive range of products and services.

"Reconnecting innovation in the textile & apparel value chain" is the motto of WTIN's virtual trade show. And Oerlikon intends to more than live up to this motto. With more than 50 active experts from sales, customer service and technology as well as partners from its international network of representatives, the Manmade Fibers segment of the Swiss Oerlikon Group will try to be represented around the clock. "It is an interesting experiment for all of us and we would like to see it succeed," explains André Wissenberg, Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. "Our aim is to meet our existing customers again, make new contacts and see 'old friends' from the industry. We have prepared an attractive digital offer for them all. Those of you who missed our roller coaster ride in Barcelona last year can now enjoy the journey through time in peace and quiet from your home office on your digital tour of the fair. And, there are no more waiting times either," promises Wissenberg.

Factory know-how from a single source
From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwovens. From the polycondensation and the processing of PTA and MEG as well as the extrusion of, for example, recycled polyester chips all the way through to hundreds of thousands of packaged and stored or directly-delivered textured bobbins for a market within the textile industry worth billions. From the planning and construction of highly complex production plants to the engineering of large-scale plant projects and competent customer services. This business model runs like a red thread through the self-conception of the Manmade Fibers segment of the Swiss Oerlikon Group. The right partner, especially – but not exclusively – for newcomers to the textile industry. "With us they get everything they need for a successful business: Factory know-how from a single source. And that's what we would like to show our visitors at our virtual trade fair booth," says Wissenberg.

• Successful concept to be continued in 2022

For three years now, the Trevira CS joint fair booth, where Trevira, its customers and partners present their new ideas within the framework of an innovative creative concept, has been an established and popular feature of Heimtextil. In 2021, the international trade fair for home and contract textiles is planned to take place from 12-15 January in Frankfurt/Main. However, as a result of the numerous uncertainties brought about by the coronavirus crisis, Trevira has decided that it will not take part next year.

“Messe Frankfurt has shown us its comprehensive hygiene concept and plans and there is no question that their plans fully meet health and safety requirements,” explained Trevira CEO Klaus Holz. “But at Trevira, we are also very much aware of our responsibilities. Our joint booth concept is not only on an extensive scale, but it is also built around the idea of communication. This makes it even more important that we consider the potential risks involved and how they could impact our customers, co-exhibitors, visitors and staff.” Given the uncertainty as to how the situation might develop in the future, Trevira has decided it has no option but to withdraw from next year’s fair and postpone its participation in Heimtextil until 2022. This decision has been made in agreement with parent company Indorama Ventures PCL (Thailand), which has put stringent measures in place to keep its staff and customers safe. As a result, the concern and its subsidiaries are not currently participating in any trade fairs.

At the 2020 Heimtextil, Trevira exhibited together with around 30 of its major Trevira CS customers with a joint booth whose total floor area measured over 2,000 msq. The number of partners exhibiting alongside Trevira has increased steadily over the past three years, and the Trevira display, along with many of the newest flame retardant Trevira CS collections from its customers, has always been hugely popular at the fair, especially in Hall 4.2, where it has continually attracted a very high number of visitors. As a joint booth, it has benefited especially from the vibrant and positive discussions among visitors and exhibitors, together with the various events that accompany the display. Usually, these included a press conference and a party held at the new stand. Trevira’s Heimtextil presence in the past three years has strengthened and expanded the position of Trevira CS as the leading brand for flame retardant home textiles.

CEO Klaus Holz said, “As a regular exhibitor at Heimtextil for many years, we found this decision extremely difficult. We greatly regret that we will not be able to bring our joint booth to Heimtextil next year. However, we plan to return in 2022 with a fair booth offering visitors and partners the high quality they have come to expect of us, with brand new ideas and measures in place to ensure its success”.

• DOMOTEX, die Weltleitmesse für Teppiche und Bodenbeläge, findet vom 15. bis 18. Januar 2021 in Hannover statt.
• Das neue Leitthema COVER NEW GROUND fokussiert drei Dimensionen aktueller Entwicklungen: Balanced Living. Sustainable Living. More than Floor.

Wie wirkt sich der Wunsch nach Entschleunigung, nach mehr Natürlichkeit und mehr Achtsamkeit konkret auf die Gestaltung unserer Umgebung aus? Wie verändern wir Räume, in denen wir leben und arbeiten? Wo beginnt der Boden, wo hört er auf? Welche Funktion übernimmt er künftig? Und: Wer sagt eigentlich, dass Natur nur im Freien stattfindet? In Zeiten von Corona nutzen immer mehr Menschen ihren Wohnraum zum Arbeiten im Home Office – die Übergänge zwischen Job und Privatleben verlaufen für viele fließend. So gewinnen private Räume und damit auch deren Bodengestaltung und Interior Design weiter an Bedeutung. Frei werdende Büroräume erhalten eine veränderte Nutzung. Dementsprechend müssen sie den neuen Bedürfnissen angepasst werden.

Dabei können Achtsamtkeit, Natürlichkeit und Wohlbefinden durch die passende Auswahl von Oberflächen und Materialien sowie durch innovative Konzepte positiv beeinflusst werden. Auch hier gilt es – nicht erst mit Ausbruch der Pandemie – neue Wege zu finden. Das Leitthema der DOMOTEX versteht sich daher als motivierende Aufforderung, gemeinsam den Blick über den Tellerrand zu wagen. Renommierte Innenarchitekten und Interior Designer tun das. Besucher, Speaker und Juroren der vergangenen DOMOTEX-Events gestalteten lifestyle-orientierte Räumlichkeiten, die es ermöglichen, den Boden völlig neu zu entdecken. Welche Teppiche und Böden nutzten sie für welchen Zweck? Die folgenden Projekte und Kommentare verdeutlichen das Leitthema COVER NEW GROUND.

Interior Designer Gunnar Seel besucht die DOMOTEX regelmäßig und lässt sich dort für seine Arbeit inspirieren. Mit dem Team seines  Hamburger Büros Seel Bobsin Design-Konzeptionen hat er ein Multi-Space-Office für den Reiseveranstalter TUI in Hannover realisiert. Er verwendete objekttaugliche, nachhaltig produzierte Teppichfliesen von Carpet Concept mit einer grafischen Grundstruktur, bei denen ein Farbverlauf in Sonderfarben eingesetzt wurde. Das große Format der Fliese macht das sonst häufig störende Nahtraster nahezu unsichtbar, sodass ein ruhigeres Erscheinungsbild entsteht. Individuell wurden die weißen Fliesen mit grafischen Strukturen in den Farbtönen Sand und Blau bedruckt. Diese Farbkombination weckt Assoziationen zu Strandlandschaften und findet sich in der Möblierung wieder.

Das Projektteam nutzte drei Varianten der Fliese, deren Farbgebung Besprechungsräume, Gänge und Arbeitsplätze markieren. Für eine bessere Raumakustik wurden die Fliesen mit einer akustisch wirksamen Rückenbeschichtung versehen. Spela Videcnik hat mit ihrem Büro OFIS Architects in Andalusien einen 20 Quadratmeter großen Pavillon aus speziellem Sonnenschutzglas errichtet. „La casa del desierto“ besteht aus Wohnbereich, Schlafzimmer und einem in den Holzboden integrierten Whirlpool, der einen einzigartigen Blick auf die umgebende Wüstenlandschaft bietet. Das verglaste Volumen ist zwischen Sockel und Dach befestigt, die jeweils aus Holzkassetten aufgebaut und an den Seiten mit verspiegelten Paneelen verkleidet sind, um die Umgebung zu reflektieren. Der Boden ist mit hellgrau gebleichten, schmalen und länglichen Paneelen der slowenischen Firma Permiz aus Lärchenholz belegt, die über den Raum hinaus ins Freie führen und so innen und außen nahtlos miteinander verbinden. Der Glaspavillon wurde als Ferienhaus entwickelt, das über Internetplattformen gebucht werden kann.

Designer Werner Aisslinger entwickelte mit seinem Studio das Interior Design für die Serviced Apartments „Stayery“ in Berlin- Friedrichshain. Zum Konzept gehören Co-Working Spaces sowie ein gemeinschaftlicher Wohnbereich zum Entspannen und Wohlfühlen. Die Beschaffenheit der Böden leitet Bewohner und Besucher zu einzelnen Bereichen, die voneinander getrennt ineinander übergehen. Designvorbild ist der Stadtraum. Ein grauer Teppich, der gekörntem Straßenasphalt ähnelt, führt vom Eingangsbereich zu den Aufzügen. Die Apartments reihen sich wie ein Ensemble kleiner Häuser mit Hausnummern einem Flur entlang. Dieser ist mit einem strapazierfähigen gestreiften Teppich ausgestattet, der an einen Zebrastreifen erinnert. Auch hier einen Teppich zu verwenden, dafür sprachen atmosphärische wie akustische Gründe. Auch für die Wärmedämmung erwies er sich als vorteilhaft. Im Eingangsbereich der Apartments sind leicht zu reinigende Fliesen verlegt. Das gemeinschaftliche  Wohnzimmer hat einen Parkettboden, der für eine wohnliche Wellbeing-Atmosphäre sorgt. Ein Designboden in Holzoptik markiert den Bereich der privaten Räume. Aus Kostengründen und um eine höhere Belastbarkeit zu gewährleisten, wurden hier LVTs verwendet. (Fliesen von Ce.Si, Designboden von Amtico, Flurteppich von ege, Parkett von Haro) Peter Ippolito ist Architekt und Innenarchitekt. Sein Büro Ippolito Fleitz hat mit dem Projekt „Soho 3Q“ ein altes Kaufhaus in Shanghai zum Co-Working-Space und inspirierenden Ort für Start-ups umgewandelt. Herzstück des Gebäudes ist ein zweigeschossiger Campus mit Lobby, Café-Areas und unterschiedlich großen Gesprächszonen. Auf den oberen Ebenen gibt es abgeschlossene Büros mit Privatsphäre sowie kleine Inseln für Besprechungen, die mit strapazierfähigen Teppichen zur Schallreduzierung markiert sind. Als skulpturales und hochwertiges Element verbindet eine Wendeltreppe aus Holz alle Etagen miteinander. Der Werkstoff Holz ermöglichte die nahtlose und hochwertige Gestaltungslösung ohne Schienen an den Kanten der Stufen. Alle Büros und öffentlichen Bereiche haben HPLBöden mit Holzdekor, da sie preisgünstiger als Holz, extrem pflegeleicht und unempfindlich gegen Kratzer sind. Echtes Holz und Terrazzo wurde für die Böden in der repräsentativen Lobby im Erdgeschoss verwendet. Abgepasste Teppiche ergänzen die urbanen Materialien als akustisch wirksames und zugleich wohnliches Detail.

Die Londoner Designerin Vanessa Brady denkt im Blog ihres Unternehmens über die Zukunft nach Corona nach: „Unser Beruf wird gut daran tun, die Stimmung zu heben und die psychische Gesundheit zu verbessern. Das ist unsere Aufgabe.“ Gefragt, welcher Boden sich für Restaurants besonders eignet, differenziert sie: „Gewebtes Vinyl und LVT eigenen sich ebenso wie Fliesen, Holz oder manchmal auch Metallplatten. Sind Interior Designer nicht stets auf der Suche nach einem trendigen, alternativen Look, den erst besondere Ausführungen ermöglichen? Ein Thema bleibt dennoch stets relevant, ist sich Brady sicher: Die Hygiene. Wie sich ein Belag reinigen lässt, spielt eine ebenso große Rolle wie sein Gewicht und wie beständig er gegen Abnutzung ist. Bei einem Pop-up-Store kann man vorübergehend weniger haltbare Materialien verwenden. „Ehrlich gesagt“, betont sie, „braucht man fast immer ein Qualitätsprodukt mit hoher Performance, das für kommerzielle Anwendungen zugelassen ist. Im Allgemeinen ist das ein reines Handelsprodukt.“ Für Vanessa Brady folgt daraus, dass Architekten und Designer auf dem Laufendenden bleiben müssen, was „Entwicklungen wie neue Produkteinführungen, Farbtrends und Ausführungen betrifft, insbesondere, da uns die Technologie so schnell vorantreibt.“ 

Über die neuesten Entwicklungen in Sachen Bodenbeläge können sich Besucher der DOMOTEX 2021 informieren. Unter dem Leitthema COVER NEW GROUND präsentieren vom 15. bis 18. Januar innovative Hersteller in Hannover ihre Angebotsvielfalt. In sogenannten „Flooring Parks“ erhalten die Segmente Teppichböden, Fasern & Garne in Halle 11 sowie Elastische Bodenbeläge & Designbeläge, Parkett und Laminat wie auch Anwendungs- und Verlegetechniken in Halle 12 jeweils eine eigene Bühne: Produkthighlights werden in einer konkreten Raumanwendung inszeniert und fungieren als Trendschau. Mit diesen inspirierenden Räumen soll, passend zum Leitthema der Messe, ein optimistischer, nach vorn gewandter Blickwinkel auf das Thema Bodenbelag eröffnet werden.