The Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM) at TU Dresden is one of the globally leading university research facilities operating along the entire textile process chain, and at the same time one of the largest and most efficient institutes of the University of Excellence in Dresden. Its main tasks are to offer excellent education to students and PhD candidates, to conduct fundamental research as well as industry-related projects, to consistently consolidate interdisciplinary cooperation with industrial and other types of research facilities, and to ensure the practical transfer of research results.

After passing fundamental mechanical engineering studies, students at the industry-related Technical University Dresden (TU) can choose to persue the field of study “Processing and Textile Machinery” as part of a mechanical engineering diploma course. In addition, the ITM offers an international master program named „Textile and Ready-to-Wear Technology“ focussing on „Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology“, which is a program suitable in particular for graduates of technical colleges wishing to qualify for a Master of Science degree. The ITM, entrusted with significant research activities, is also part of the textile-based education offered in the fields of lightweight construction and industrial engineering.

In order to successfully carry out various research projects, the ITM operates on a fully developed infrastructure with modern machine technology and equipment, which enables the rapid development of innovative technologies and products along the entire textile process chain. Research activities at the ITM are mainly focused on the fields of machinery, technology and product development (fiber composite materials, construction textiles, textile architecture, medical and bio-textiles, sensor network and functional textiles, ready-made products and preforming) and include, among others, the processing of fiber-based high-tech materials, in particular carbon, glass, aramide, steel and ceramic with a variety of different technologies, and the functionally integrated development of textile (semi-finished) products. In addition to these research activities, modeling and simulation of structures and processes along the entire textile process chain are conducted. This type of interdisciplinary activity demands in particular the development of innovative fiber and hybrid yarn constructions, 2D and 3D reinforcing semi-finished products, finishing and functionalization technologies as well as the according machinery.

Apart from high-performance textile machines for multiaxial stitch bonding, Jacquard weaving, multilayer knitting, TFP and braiding, new possibilities in researching the processing of high-performance fibers for the development of technical textiles in a multitude of applications are offered by the establishment of an RTM laboratory, the installation of a vacuum injection plant for fiber composite panels, a thermal press for FRPC applications and a biaxial tensile tester for textiles and plastics. Furthermore, the ITM can rely on a laboratory wet spinning plant and a bicomponent melt spinning plant for the development and manufacture of innovative, highly functional fiber materials for high-performance, medical or bio-textiles.

This gives ITM researchers access to all machine technologies along the entire textile process chain, from filament spinning and various yarn formation techniques, innovative 2D and 3D textile constructions as well as finishing techniques, to assembly technology for various high-tech applications.