With China’s economic recovery continuing to gain momentum, expectations for this year’s Texcare Asia & China Laundry Expo (TXCA & CLE) are gradually improving. With four months remaining before the fair opens its doors, 75% of booth space has already sold out, with more than 130 exhibitors confirming their participation. Taking place from 27 – 29 September at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the fair is expected to attract 250 exhibitors and an estimated 20,000 visitors across 25,000 sqm of floor space. The proportion of foreign exhibitors represented through their local Chinese representatives is also encouraging, with brands from Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain, the UK and the USA confirming their participation.

In comparison to 2020, this year’s fair is set to take place amidst a more favorable business landscape. The market for laundry services in China is regaining momentum, with tourism (the driving force behind demand for textile services in hotels and restaurants) seeing a significant uptick. The recent May 1st Golden Week holiday, for example, saw tourism return to near pre-pandemic levels, with around 230 million trips made within the country.

Textile care brands, both foreign and domestic, are keen to build their presence in this market, with September’s event providing an excellent opportunity to do so. This year’s exhibitor line-up includes ASAHI, BÖWE, Chuandao, Girbau, Herbert Kannegiesser, Huahai Zhibang, HYDRO, Jensen, Sailstar, Sea-Lion, Sun Shine, UNISEC, Weishi, and Yasen, just to name a few.

Intelligent laundry solutions continue to gain momentum 
Despite bringing unprecedented challenges to the industry around the world, the pandemic has provided an opportunity for industry players to re-evaluate the needs of their customers. Thanks to their convenience and cost saving efficiencies, intelligent laundry solutions are continuing to gain popularity among laundry room managers and end-users, and are therefore set be a prominent theme during this year’s TXCA & CLE. 

Textile hygiene in the medical sector, energy efficiency, and sustainability are also set be a focus for buyers, with manufacturers and service providers from these segments presenting their latest equipment and solutions across 25,000 sqm of floor space during the show.

Overseas support for TXCA & CLE grows
Recognising the potential in the China market, a contingent of foreign brands represented by their local Chinese sales offices are looking to build their presence and find new sales partners at this year’s fair. But it is not just individual exhibitors that are recognising the value of TXCA & CLE as a gateway to opportunities in the region. New overseas associations from France and Russia have become official supporters beginning from the 2021 edition, namely the FFPB (French Federation of Dry Cleaners and Laundries), the AFL (French Laundry Association), and the Russian Drycleaners & Launderers Association (AHP).

Representing large contingents of dry cleaners and laundromats in their respective countries, the associations add to a growing list of international supporters that promote cooperation between TXCA & CLE and the textile care sector around the world. 

Extra health and hygiene precautions to be implemented 
To maintain a safe and hygienic environment for visitors and exhibitors during the fair, additional public health measures will be put in place. These include: real identity pre-registration, entry checkpoints to verify the digital health code of all participants and onsite temperature scans. Frequent sanitisation of facilities and distancing measures will also be implemented for seminar attendees.

TXCA & CLE is an annual event organised by the China Laundry Association and the China Light Industry Machinery Association, as well as Unifair Exhibition Service Co Ltd and Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd For more details about the show, please email txcacle@unifair.com or txcacle@china.messefrankfurt.com.