Review of armasuisse Textile Symposium 2025
Guests from the international textile industry, science and the Federal Administration assembled at the 23rd Textile Symposium to exchange knowledge and drive innovation. Around 300 persons gathered in the Champions Lounge of Wankdorf Stadium, where seven renowned speakers presented the latest developments in the sector.
Julia Krummenacher, Specialist area Communication, Strategic Staff
Ivo Bravin, Head of the sector Commerce, Procurement Control and Quality Management, and Deputy Head of the competence sector Procurement armasuisse, as well as National Armaments Director Dr. Urs Loher paved the way for this year’s Textile Symposium with their keynote addresses. «The textile sector is still playing an elementary role for the defence industry». With these words, the National Armaments Director handed over the podium to this year’s speakers.
Focus on blending strategies: Influence on design, sustainability and application
Prof. Tina Moor and Prof. Brigitt Egloff, honoured with design awards in the area of textile design and design research as well as co-heads of the spinning laboratory for Nature and Recycling Fibre Research of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, started the morning programme with an insight into their research on «preferred fibres». These fibres or raw materials that are less harmful to the climate through adapted production systems aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by the year 2030. The focus is on natural fibres and recycling of old textiles as secondary raw materials.
The future in closing systems
Patrick Stalanich, sales manager of YKK GmbH, then presented an outlook for innovative closing solutions, such as Touchlinks, which integrate Near Field Communication in zip fasteners, as well as the smart detection zipper (which notifies the closing status via Bluetooth), the AiryString (zipper without brace) and the Bluetooth zipper (which can close itself).
A dirty business model – when dirt meets science
Christian Portmann, CEO of Swissatest Testmaterialien AG and expert in textile finishing, explained the latest status of standardisations in textile cleaning and the four factors of cleaning according to Herbert Sinner: mechanics, time, temperature and chemistry. Science optimises these factors to improve both the cleaning success as well as the efficiency. Textile samples are tested for their germ reduction and fungal formations before and after the cleaning process. This enables the cleaning processes to be checked and optimised sustainably and safely at scientific level.
Governance and monitoring in the light of textile procurement
Also based on sustainability is the NaBe (sustainable procurement) action plan of Bundesbeschaffung GmbH, whose sustainability concept has been implemented in Austria since 2021. «The plan focuses on a procurement strategy based on economic and ecological sustainability,» explained Nikolaus Summer, project manager of the NaBe platform. Concerning the manufacture and cleaning of textiles, the action plan endeavours to set limits for pesticides and other toxic substances, to reduce harmful substances, promote sustainable companies and shorten the transport and delivery routes of the rented textiles.
Protection from NBC hazards: Textile and material testing in the Spiez laboratory
«In addition to laboratory activities, we are also capable of supporting NBC events on a mobile basis. Depending on operation and security level, special protective equipment is also required», explains Dr. phil. César Metzger, Head of the specialist area Biology of the Spiez laboratory.
The Spiez laboratory includes three accredited high-security laboratories, in which highly dangerous chemical substances are examined and correspondingly high protective requirements apply. The functionality of the protective equipment is tested in simulation chambers, as the robustness of the materials, such as the tear resistance, is not always immediately discernible.
On the trail of death: When the body speaks
The final talk was held by forensic medical specialist Dr. med. Isabel Arnold with a presentation of her everyday professional life, the examination and assessment of extraordinary deaths. Amongst other things, she explained the surprisingly complex process, which, between the death of a person and the final release of the corpse after the autopsy sometimes includes up to seven intermediate stages.
At first glance, forensic medicine does not seem to have a lot in common with the textile industry. «What does connect our everyday working life with the textile industry is definitely the protective clothing we wear. However, this is neither very comfortable nor breathable. Definitely one aspect which the textile industry could optimise», concludes Dr. Arnold, smiling.
In his closing speech, Ivo Bravin thanked the seven speakers as well as the moderator Lea Ryf and announced the date for the next armasuisse Textile Symposium on 11 March 2026.
Presentations for download (in German)
Referat Prof. Tina Moor und Prof. Brigitt Egloff, HSLU
Blendstrategien im Fokus: Einfluss auf Design, Nachhaltigkeit und Anwendung
Referat Patrick Stalanich, YKK GmbH
Die Zukunft in Verschlusssystemen
Referat Christian Portmann, Swissatest Testmaterialien AG
Ein schmutziges Geschäftsmodell – Wenn Schmutz auf Wissenschaft trifft
Referat Nikolaus Summer, Bundesbeschaffung GmbH
Governance und Monitoring im Lichte der Textilbeschaffung
Referat Dr. phil. César Metzger, Labor Spiez
Schutz vor ABC-Gefährdungen: Textil und Werkstoffprüfung im Labor Spiez