Econogy: Realignment of Sustainability Activities at Messe Frankfurt’s Global Textile Trade Fairs

Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network will in future realign its sustainability event formats at its more than 50 textile trade fairs around the world. The information, discussion, education and networking formats for sustainable business will then be entitled ‘Econogy’. The basis for this is the new common identity of the international textile trade fairs. With this step, Messe Frankfurt’s textile events are focusing even more strongly on sustainability as a topical issue and an increasing sales driver in the global textile industry.

Economic success in the global textile sector can only be achieved with a consistent sustainability strategy. Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network is now taking greater account of this development and is realigning its sustainability activities at its more than 50 textile trade fairs in 11 countries. The aim is to advance the topic of sustainability in the textile and fashion industry even more strongly than before and to relate it closely to the demands of economic and social change.

Event formats for sustainable business, such as lectures, info walls, guided tours, discussion forums and much more.

For this step, a new cross-trade fair strategy was developed which, among other things, creates a common communicative umbrella for the sustainability activities of the events for the first time, provides for the strategic further development of content formats relating to sustainability and harmonises the sustainability checks of the trade fairs. The realignment offers better orientation for customers and partners within the Texpertise Network, creates cross-trade fair synergies and makes the sustainability activities of exhibitors at trade fairs more visible and measurable.

Econogy – orientation, know-how and transparency

Under the title ‘Econogy’, the sustainability activities of the Texpertise Network will provide orientation across trade fairs and internationally. The term ‘Econogy’ summarises economy and ecology in one word and shows how crucial sustainability is today for a company’s economic success: sustainability is increasingly becoming an integral part of all entrepreneurial thinking and actions. ‘The complexity with regard to social, economic and ecological change in the entire textile value chain continues to increase, which makes it all the more important today to offer orientation for our textile trade fairs, to make innovative approaches by the exhibiting companies visible and to promote the exchange of knowledge among all stakeholders along the textile value chain’, emphasises Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles and Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.

The creative inspiration for the term ‘Econogy’ is the famous quote by David Suzuki, Canadian biologist, publicist and Alternative Nobel Prize winner: ‘Let’s give the economy back the eco!’

With this in mind, the uniform designation ‘Econogy’ will apply to the sustainability activities at all Messe Frankfurt textile trade fairs, in Frankfurt and, gradually, worldwide. A redesigned icon accompanies the communication of ‘Econogy’ and offers a high recognition value.

Knowledge transfer, curating and orientation play an increasingly important role for the industry and thus also at the events of the Texpertise Network. This is also due to the fact that the discussions surrounding the concept of sustainability itself are changing. In particular, the EU textile strategy on circular and recyclable textiles, supply chain laws at national and EU level and the planned EU directive on green claims require additional know-how, targeted actions and transparent communication from companies.

Mix-and-match content formats

The knowledge and content formats on the topic of sustainability are therefore also undergoing a strategic realignment. This gives partners, exhibitors and visitors added value for their positioning and personal development. The content formats will be further developed in terms of content and concept and then in the next step exported to textile events abroad. Uniform naming also creates transparency and recognition value. The trade fair tours of suppliers and products that produce sustainably will then be called ‘Econogy Tours’ across all events, the directories of sustainable exhibitors will become the ‘Econogy Finder’ and the lectures on the topic of sustainability will in future be called ‘Econogy Talks’.

Alignment of sustainability checks

For many years, exhibitors of more sustainable products and services have had the opportunity to undergo a sustainability check at the international textile trade fairs of the Texpertise Network and, after s successful check, to be listed in special trade fair guides. In the future, these checks will be harmonised across trade fairs in order to create more orientation, transparency and customer friendliness across industries and countries. Visitors and partners can thus network more effectively and more effectively with the reliably and transparently curated exhibitors.

For these checks, Messe Frankfurt works with independent external sustainability experts and always takes into account the latest status of recognised seals, certificates and indices. From 2024, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proclaimed by the United Nations will be integrated into sustainability checks in a more stringent and measurable manner. This will make it more transparent in the future which SDGs individual formats or measures contribute to.

The complex topic of sustainability is also constantly being developed and promoted within the company. After all, Messe Frankfurt is aware of its responsibility to people and the environment and has high expectations of its business partners in terms of ethical standards.

Based on the Code of Conduct and Messe Frankfurt’s overarching corporate strategy, Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network for Textiles & Textile Technologies has formulated its self-image for implementing the topic of sustainability at the company’s global textile trade fairs. Further information on this and the resulting measures can be found on the website
texpertisenetwork.messefrankfurt.com

Sustainable commitment for more than 15 years

Whether through the creation of platforms for networking and better visibility, further training and knowledge transfer, partnerships or personal initiative: with the Texpertise Network, Messe Frankfurt has been working for almost 15 years to accelerate innovation and change in the textile and fashion industry in order to advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The first SDG Report of Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network was published in 2023. The report summarises Messe Frankfurt’s global commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at its global textile trade fairs and provides an outlook on further planned measures and targets. Find out more at: https://texpertisenetwork.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/de/sdg.html#report

Messe Frankfurt has also been a member of the UN Global Compact since 2010 and last year set up a Sustainability Board to strategically develop the topic of sustainability at the corporate level.

Texpertise, the textile business network

Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise network brings together the latest topics, trends and events relating to the textile business and brings together more than 500,000 industry participants from all over the world. With more than 50 events in 11 countries, Messe Frankfurt is the international market leader for events in the textile industry along the entire textile value
chain. In cooperation with the United Nations Office for Partnerships and supported by the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network, Texpertise informs and mobilises the textile sector to implement solutions for social, economic and ecological change. The aim is to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals at all Texpertise Network textile

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Lessons in Leadership — A Cosmic Collaboration

Neil Curtis, DVP Sales, Marketing, and Service, Zygo Corporation

Inside the International Space Station (ISS) was a controlled symphony of switches, screens, and buttons, each contributing to the harmonious dance of human ingenuity and scientific progress.

Amidst this orchestrated complexity, an astronaut floated weightlessly, her eyes fixed on the universe beyond a window in the ISS’s cupola. Through the clear pane, she saw the awe-inspiring beauty of Earth, a swirling ball of blue and green suspended in the velvet embrace of space. It was a view that humbled the most intrepid of explorers, reminding them of their infinitesimal place in the grand tapestry of existence.

“I recall feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the cupola windows, giving me the incredible privilege of gazing back at the awe-inspiring beauty of our planet”, says retired Astronaut Karen Nyberg, who flew on ISS Expedition 36/37 (May 28 to November 10, 2013). “I was not only captivated by the mesmerizing view, but also reminded of the remarkable workmanship and unwavering dedication of individuals who brought them into existence. The windows serve as our shield, protecting us from the unforgiving harshness of space. They provide both a breath-taking perspective and a vital barrier against the inhospitable environment. For that, I am eternally grateful to the skilled visionaries who made them possible.”
Many brilliant minds had worked in unison to achieve such perfection. In that moment, Nyberg glimpsed the unspoken collaboration of countless engineers and scientists who had transformed the impossible into reality. The windows embodied the unwavering determination of humanity to push boundaries, to reach beyond what was known, and to grasp the secrets of the universe.

She remained transfixed, realizing that the windows were not just simple panes of glass, but a testament to the relentless pursuit of knowledge, the unwavering dedication to exploration, and the indomitable spirit of humanity. In that solitary moment, suspended between worlds, Nyberg felt an unyielding sense of wonder and gratitude for the remarkable precision, ingenuity and expertise that went into the building of the ISS in its entirety, and these windows in particular, that at the same time protected the crew but also gave them the ability to view the impossible beauty of space.

This was the first time that Karen Nyberg and Zygo had come into such close proximity, as it was Zygo that had polished and tested these windows. Zygo is renowned the world over for the creation of innovative optics solutions and precision metrology instruments, many used in the most exacting of environments, space.

Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, and some 10 years later, Zygo is proud to announce that Nyberg has partnered with Zygo as its Brand Ambassador.

At the heart of the collaboration between suppliers such as Zygo with customers requiring precision windows — like the one Nyberg looked through on the ISS — is trust. Trust serves as the foundation for a successful partnership in product development for such critical applications. It signifies a belief in the supplier’s expertise, reliability, and commitment to delivering high-quality products that meet stringent standards.

In the context of optics for the ISS, trust entails confidence that Zygo will employ rigorous quality control measures, adhere to precise specifications, and consistently deliver components that withstand the rigors of space. The reliability and dependability of Zygo’s products are crucial factors that must be trusted implicitly, as any compromise in the windows’ performance could have far-reaching consequences for space missions, astronauts’ safety, and the success of scientific endeavours.

For components used on the ISS and the astronauts on board, the demand is perfection, as without perfection missions and even lives are at stake. The consequences of failure are catastrophic, so the requirement to work alongside companies with similarly high standards is key, as is ultimate trust in their part of the overall mission. Zygo, and astronauts on the ISS like Nyberg, set the bar when it comes to standards in their respective fields, and the real interest lies in how such companies, individuals, and teams working at the cutting edge operate in terms of leadership and development.

Vision and Purpose

From the get-go, there are numerous synergies obvious between the team at Zygo and the teams of astronauts that work on board the ISS. All require an intelligent view of leadership and bring high performance teams together to push boundaries, and where projects like the ISS stimulate innovation “to go boldly where no one has gone before”, companies like Zygo stimulates innovation to make ever more bleeding-edge customer facing technology solutions. Nyberg gives an insight into the leadership issues at play when working to become an ISS astronaut.

“ As part of astronaut training, we attended something called the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). One of the key takeaways from the school, and something that I think is relevant to organizations like Zygo (and indeed throughout business) is that part of success when flying in space is to learn not just ‘leadership’ but also ‘followership’. The key is knowing when to switch from one to another. You need an in-built situational awareness that tells you when to lead and when to follow. There are some personalities that have a hard time being followers. They want to take control, and a lot of the work undertaken at NOLS was designed to tame these people. As so often is the case, operational success comes from nurturing a collaborative team approach, pooling talent, with anyone in a leadership role having the skills to recognize individual talents and aptitudes and to orchestrate a plan that brings all these aptitudes together to optimize outcomes.”

“Once at NOLS, a group of us were on a winter camping expedition. The team were on skis, and we would have a leader for the day, a navigator for the day, and a trail breaker for the day. The trail breaker’s job was to get information from the navigator about where we were supposed to go, and then decide the best way to get there. For some people it was really hard to let the trail breaker undertake this task without interjecting and taking control. We without a doubt were taught that there really is no ‘I’ in ‘TEAM’.”

Good leadership obviously plays a crucial role in driving organizations towards success, fostering innovation, and cultivating a positive work culture. To delve into the essence of excellent leadership, you need to examine the core values that motivate a company like Zygo and the astronauts that work on the ISS, and from this it is possible to glean valuable insights into the key factors that contribute to effective leadership.

Nyberg picks up the story, “From my perspective, at the heart of excellent leadership (apart from knowing when to lead and when to follow) lies a compelling vision and a clear sense of purpose. Strong organizations always strive for remarkable achievements and exceptional leaders communicate their vision effectively, instilling a shared sense of purpose among their teams.”

“An exceptional leader fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. In my view, Zygo exemplifies this by embracing cutting-edge technologies and promoting a growth mindset. Zygo’s dedication to research and development drives the creation of state-of-the-art metrology and optics solutions. Projects like the ISS which I was privileged to be part of necessitate constant innovation. Effective leaders encourage experimentation, risk-taking, and learning from failures to drive progress and stay ahead of the curve.”

Collaboration, Team Building, and Teamwork

Successful leaders understand the value of collaboration, team building, and teamwork. Zygo and the innovative customers it works with recognize that diverse teams with complementary skills and perspectives can achieve extraordinary results. Zygo actively promotes cross-functional collaboration to leverage the collective expertise of its employees. It also promotes a collaborative partnership relationship with its customers. Exceptional leaders foster a supportive environment that encourages teamwork, trust, and open communication.

Jennifer Hellberg as the Division Vice President (DVP), Business Unit Manager at Zygo says, “Good leadership encompasses a strong ethical foundation and a sense of responsibility towards stakeholders. Zygo demonstrates its commitment to ethical conduct and social responsibility in various ways, but perhaps most importantly by adhering to stringent quality standards, ensuring the delivery of reliable products to its customers. Projects such as the provision of windows for the ISS place the utmost importance on safety protocols and environmental stewardship. Exceptional leaders lead by example, emphasizing integrity, transparency, and accountability.”

Once a team is in place, good leaders are able to motivate and encourage team members to exceed expectations. Nyberg gives an interesting insight into this from her time on the ISS.

“There was one instance when two of my colleagues were undertaking a spacewalk. My role as ‘Intra-Vehicular Activity’ (IVA) leader was to help get them suited up and depressurize and repressurize the airlock to get them in and out of the station. Once they were outside working, over the comms I heard one astronaut talking about water getting into his helmet, and the situation quickly escalated to the point where it was necessary to abort the spacewalk. We needed to get him in quickly as the situation was becoming critical. I knew one colleague present was as conversant with the airlock routine as I was, so I flew off to locate the commander to advise him of the emergency. Then I went back and worked with Mission Control about the best way to get the astronaut out of his suit quickly, sticking closely to ‘suit doffing’ protocols to avoid injuries. Soon all three Russian cosmonauts came down to help, not just the commander. As IVA leader, my role was just to make sure everything ran smoothly, as everyone was trained and kind of knew what needed to be done instinctively. The one time I had to ‘lead’ was when I saw one crew member go to take off the helmet which would have caused a huge pressure release and potentially ruptured eardrums. Other than that, leadership did not mean control. The key was to keep intervention to a minimum and let the team operate while just keeping a watchful eye out. It truly is sometimes teamwork that makes the dream work, a lesson for all that collaboration and teamwork are very often the key to success.”

“When working on the ISS, fundamentally there are rules and protocols for everything. These protocols are in place and learned by all team members so that in each and every situation, there is a procedure to follow. However, the key to good leadership and good teamwork is to know when, in unexpected situations, decisions need to be made that are not necessarily in line with the rule book. Rigid structures are the least strong and you need to have an inherent flexibility in there to be able to adapt to circumstances. The situation we found ourselves in as a team when the helmet started to fill with water was totally unexpected. So, we had to adapt to circumstances, lean on protocols as far as possible, but also work together to adapt to these particular circumstances. And then the key for any organization is to learn and adapt processes to ensure either the problem doesn’t happen again, or to have tried and tested plans in place. Continuous learning and continuous improvement.”

Learning & Development

Outstanding leaders prioritize the learning and development of their teams, empowering them to reach their full potential. Zygo invests in employee growth through training programs, mentorship initiatives, and knowledge sharing platforms. Zygo’s technical expertise is enhanced through continuous learning, while astronauts working on the ISS undergo rigorous training to acquire the necessary skills for space exploration. Effective leaders in these organizations encourage personal and professional growth, creating a culture of continuous learning and nurturing future leaders.

The symbiotic relationship between Zygo and its customers showcases the power of collaboration and shared goals. Zygo’s precision metrology instruments and optical solutions contribute to the success of projects like the ISS and therefore the safety of the astronauts on board. Zygo’s technologies help in areas such as satellite fabrication, optical system alignment, and surface metrology. Conversely, the challenging requirements of such projects as the ISS push Zygo to develop cutting-edge solutions, fostering innovation and advancing its technological capabilities. This interdependence highlights how fruitful partnerships can fuel excellence and mutual growth.

Nyberg concludes, “I am excited about my partnership with Zygo. As a company that pursues excellent leadership, Zygo is a beacon of inspiration. Zygo’s core values of vision, purpose, innovation, collaboration, ethics, and learning match well with my background and training to become an astronaut. Leaders that embrace these principles create an environment that encourages growth, fosters innovation, and cultivates a positive organizational culture. Zygo and my training to be an astronaut, culminating in my time on the ISS, provide valuable lessons on excellent leadership. In our own ways we strive to reach new heights and tackle complex challenges and, to do this effective leadership becomes paramount.”

Hellberg finishes up, “Remember, leadership is a journey of continuous growth and development. By adopting the principles discussed in this article and learning from the success stories of organizations like Zygo and astronauts like Karen, leaders can inspire their teams, drive meaningful change, and make a lasting impact.”

www.pylassociates.com

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Endress+Hauser Strengthens Commitment in India

Endress+Hauser has built a state-of-the-art production facility at its Aurangabad site

Endress+Hauser has opened a new production building on its campus in Aurangabad, India. This milestone not only underlines the company’s commitment to the region but also reaffirms its continued investment in world-class production and working environments.

Ceremonial inauguration in a family setting
The formal inauguration of the building took place on 1 August 2023 in the presence of the Endress+Hauser Temperature+System Products management, as well as high-ranking representatives of various industry associations. After the official inauguration of the new building, a family party was held, giving employees’ relatives the opportunity to visit the new premises.

In addition, employees celebrating anniversaries were honored for their many years of service to the company in the presence of their family members. The day was rounded off with an evening banquet at which traditional Indian cuisine was served.

Sustainable infrastructure and office concept
The new production building is a modern facility for the manufacture of temperature measurement technology and system products as well as liquid analysis. The two-story building covers a total area of 5,400 square meters and was realized with an investment of 4.4 million euros. The first floor houses new production spaces for Endress+Hauser Temperature+System Products, offices and a modern cafeteria. The second floor houses production and office space for Endress+Hauser Liquid Analysis.

To minimize the environmental impact, a solar installation covers 80 percent of the building’s electricity consumption, in line with the company’s goal of CO2 neutrality. Special insulating glass reduces heat transmission and increases the building’s energy efficiency. The sustainable concept supports internal and external collaboration and promotes an inspiring work environment.

Continuous growth in the region
Since its establishment 11 years ago, the site has become a key location for the production of high-quality products for customers in India and Southeast Asia. The newly constructed production building represents a strategic investment to support continued growth in the region and to serve these emerging markets even more efficiently with premium Indian-made products.

www.endress.com

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Kraiburg TPE Webinar: Advance Automotive TPEs for Interior Applications

We are thrilled to invite you to our game-changing Webinar as we unveil our new, innovative Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) designed specifically for automotive interior applications.

Join our New KRAIBURG TPE Advance Automotive TPEs for Interior Applications Webinar

We are thrilled to invite you to our game-changing Webinar as we unveil our new, innovative Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) designed specifically for automotive interior applications.

• Date: 29th August 2023
• Mandarin session: 11.00a.m – 11.30a.m (GMT+8)
• Speakers: Mr. Marcus Cheah (Product Development Manager – Automotive)
• English session: 2.30p.m – 3.00p.m (GMT+8)
• Speakers: Mr. Marcus Cheah (Product Development Manager – Automotive)

Session Highlights

• KRAIBURG TPE Overview
• TPE properties and performance
• TPE Material advantages
• Application possibilities
• OEM Approval
• Q&A

Key insights

• Explore the latest industry trends and discover how our TPE can propel your designs, functionality and customer experience to the next level.
• Experience the unparalleled flexibility, durability, and versatility of our TPE.
• Unlock unlimited potential for creating unique and aesthetic automotive interior components that amplify your brand and set your product apart.
• Gain enhanced comfort, noise reduction, and a superior tactile feel for your applications.
• Contribute towards your journey to sustainability via socially and responsible production of TPE solutions.

www.kraiburg-tpe.com

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