The Future of Textile Innovation Panel Announced at Federal and Defense Textile and Tactical Equipment (FEDTEX) Summit.

The Federal and Defense Textile and Tactical Equipment (FEDTEX) Summit hosted by the Office of US Senator Thom Tillis, Office of Senator Ted Budd, the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) and the North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DEFTECH) connects the US Department of Defense (DoD) and federal agency clothing and individual equipment buyers with US textile manufacturers, textile supply chain suppliers, cut and sew contractors, research and development (R&D) facilities, testing labs and academic resources.

Who should attend– All prime textile manufacturers and textile supply chain manufacturers currently producing clothing, footwear, parachutes and textile-based tactical equipment for DoD, and producers of medical, PPE and related soldier systems. Any textile manufacturers that have interest in learning, understanding or possibly entering the DoD/federal marketplace should attend this Summit.  The event is open to all United States and Puerto Rico based textile firms.

FEDTEX 24 objectives:

  • Engage with existing contractors and attract new capable businesses into the federal and defense clothing, textiles, and tactical equipment marketplace.
  • Engage existing textile supply chain suppliers and attract new capable businesses into the federal marketplace, and to connect these component suppliers with federal prime contractors.
  • Inform the industrial and academic R&D ecosystem about desired future military technology requirements, and likewise inform DoD agencies about emerging and future textile innovations.
  • Establish a productive and DIRECT dialogue between businesses, government, and academia around critical warfighter issues in the defense textile marketplace – including workforce, supply chain, inflation challenges, and barriers to entry.

WHEN.  May 14-15, 2024

WHERE.
North Carolina State University – McKimmon Conference Center
1101 Gorman Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27606

The Future of Textile Innovation panel brings together leading experts exploring the evolving frontier of textile innovation, mainly focusing on dynamic and adaptable fabrics, clothing, sensors and equipment that will enhance the complex requirements of modern warfighters. This panel will explore how these advancements translate into military applications, enhancing soldier protection and optimizing mission performance.

The Joint Advanced Planning Brief to Industry (JAPBI) hosted by Defense Logistics Agency in November 2023 identified several key technology and innovation strategies. Government panelists will address these initiatives, particularly in the areas of soldier survivability and protection.

Key topics of discussion may include: Ballistic and Blast Protection: Developments in armor and protective gear to enhance the safety of soldiers against ballistic and blast threats; Signature Management and Spectral Mitigation: Innovations in camouflage and other textile technologies that help avoid detection by enemy forces; Optimized Protection with Reduced Weight: Developing protective equipment that offers high levels of safety while minimizing weight this enhancing soldier mobility and endurance; Arctic Textile Protection: Equipment and technologies for operations in Arctic environments, such as over-the-snow mobility solutions and specialized cold weather gear like fuel handler’s gloves; Wearable Textile Sensor Technologies: Wearable textiles that either monitor warfighter health or optimize combat effectiveness.

Testing and Quality Standards Improvements: The government is looking for innovations in testing methodologies and quality standards to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of protective gear. This includes new criteria for ballistic protection testing, such as updated Acceptable Quality Limits (AQL) and back face deformation (BFD) standards; Operational Relevancy of Testing: Improving the operational relevance of testing procedures to ensure that equipment is rigorously evaluated under conditions that closely mimic real-world operational environments.

Speakers:

Bob Burton, Interim Director, NC Defense Technology Transition Office

Colonel Tony Lindh, Project Manager Soldier Survivability (PM SSV), US Army PEO Soldier Survivability

Laurra C. Winters, Director, Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility (NCTRF)

Jesse Jur, PhD., Director of Technical Program Development, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America

Melissa Sharp, Associate Director, Zeis Textiles Extension, Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University

For more information, visit: https://fedtex.ncmbc.us/