Saxon Textile Research Institute e.V. (STFI)
Under the motto “Shaping the future now”, the Saxon Textile Research Institute e.V. (STFI) is presenting two pioneering textile developments at this year’s Innovation Day for SMEs organized by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE). The event will take place as an open-air trade fair on the outdoor grounds of AiF Projekt GmbH in Berlin-Pankow and offers small and medium-sized companies a platform to present their innovative projects and results, which were supported by the BMWE’s open-topic innovation funding.
The STFI is represented with two outstanding research projects:
Additive manufacturing on textiles – 4D printing with shape memory
As part of a research project, a new process for additive manufacturing on pre-stretched textiles was developed at the STFI. Targeted 3D printing on pre-stretched textile substrates creates so-called 4D effects: After the material has been relieved, its shape changes in a controlled manner. The central result is a size-adjustable multi-axis tensioning frame with which textiles can be precisely tensioned in two directions and then functionalized. In combination with a polyamide-elastane knitted fabric and PLA filament, demonstrators such as lampshades and acoustic elements were created that impressively show the potential of this technology.
An insole that grows with the child to detect fit in children’s shoes
Another highlight is the development of a textile children’s shoe insole that dynamically adapts to the growth of the child’s foot. It is based on a specially knitted auxetic structure that expands under tensile load. A specially developed test foot simulates the growth of children’s feet and proves the functionality of the innovation. In a follow-up project, the insole is to be further developed with sensors so that it reacts sensitively to the pressure conditions in the shoe and recognizes changes in fit at an early stage. The STFI cordially invites all visitors to the stand to see the potential applications of these textile innovations for themselves.
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