WTSC Program Features First Global Textile Services Market Analysis

The World Textile Services Congress 2020 (WTSC) will provide a unique global forum for linen, workwear, uniform and facility services executives. The event will be held on June 18-19 in Frankfurt, Germany, so delegates can combine WTSC with attending Texcare International, scheduled for June 20-24.

Opening the conference program will be an exclusive presentation by Claire Casey, global managing director, public policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the first-ever global textile services market analysis. Covering 13 key countries and combining industry expert insights with The EIU’s key sector data and trend analysis, it has been designed to give laundry executives valuable insights to help shape strategy and investments. (To pre-order a copy of the report, click here.

After the keynote, two panels of laundry executives will delve into the report’s key aspects. The first panel will look at the global perspective and views of companies operating across the globe. This will be followed by regional perspectives from Europe, Mexico and Latin America, the Middle East and Australia.

Day two starts with a keynote from Tom Raftery, SAP’s global VP, futurist, & innovation evangelist. A renowned speaker at global business events, Raftery will set the scene for the day addressing digital transformation around key topics such as customer experience in product as a service business models; how digital transformation facilitates a more circular and sustainable economy; and innovation in mobility, logistics and energy.

Subsequent sessions will focus on how innovation can and will be applied in the linen, uniform and facility services sector.

The customer-focused innovation session will examine how digital technologies can be tailored to bring new possibilities for engaging with and serving customers. It also will explore how innovation will create new customer expectations and questions around data usage and transparency. Overall, the aim of the discussion will be to identify how textile services can be positioned as innovative, customer centric and adding value to the clients’ business.

Within the operational innovation topic, the focus will be on how Industry 4.0 provides new insights and capabilities to drive operating efficiencies and overcome labor shortages. Speakers will address how the industry is already implementing new technologies and sharing lessons learned. Discussing how new knowledge and skills are required to capitalize on technology’s potential gains also will be addressed, as the session looks ahead at what the next decade will hold and how companies can stay on top of rapid technology development.

A central part of the session will be Dr. Igor Kogut, deputy division manager of research & development, Hohenstein. Igor will present their ongoing research project “Future of work in laundry 4.0: Opportunities and challenges for establishing smart industrial laundries (IntWash).” The research project is publicly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and its conclusions will be published in 2021 and accessible for the laundry business worldwide.

On Friday afternoon, the first discussion will address “What Does Sustainability Mean in the 2020s?” The sessions will explore how sustainability is a constantly evolving concept, and particularly in the context of a global gathering and the market research outlook, what does it mean for today’s laundry operators in different parts of the world? Key questions asked will be if there are now (or soon to be) globally accepted benchmarks; what the key drivers are – the regulatory outlook, or customer expectations; how are the key issues defined and shaped; and, what is the role of technology in measurement, mitigation or reporting?

The event will conclude with “Textile Services Role in Creating a Circular Economy.” Delegates will hear from Michiel Van den plas, project manager, Circletex, about the launch of the Circletex Circular Economy Project for Textiles in Flanders, Belgium. The project is an important step in mapping out the key processes and stakeholders involved.

In addition to the Congress program, delegate registration includes two full evening functions, a free Texcare pass and discounts on The Economist Intelligence Unit market research report.

The event is hosted by industry associations DTV (Germany); FBT (Belgium); LAA (Australia); TRSA (USA); and TSA (UK). The hosts will hold National Association Board of Directors meetings on the morning of Thursday, June 18, with the WTSC opening that afternoon. Event sponsors include JENSEN, Kannegiesser, ABS, Kleen-Tex, Milnor, Texcare and VDMA.

Registration is limited to laundry operators and is open now at www.itsa-alliance.org/wtsc20 for 595 EUR (+VAT). Industry suppliers may attend the event as sponsors – details on the event website. WTSC delegates also benefit from special accommodation rates at the Hilton Frankfurt City Centre, which can be extended through the Texcare dates.