As China’s fast-growing commercial laundry sector continues its upward trajectory, Texcare Asia & China Laundry Expo (TXCA & CLE) is gearing up for its highly anticipated 2024 show. Returning to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 2 – 4 August 2024, the upcoming fair aims to leverage last edition’s momentum to further elevate industry growth, innovation, and partnership-building to new heights.

The 2023 edition marked a pivotal moment as the first major textile care fair to take place following the global pandemic. Recording a 95% exhibitor satisfaction rate, the show broke previous attendance records by hosting 337 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions and attracting 27,247 buyers from 70 countries and regions – a strong indication of the industry rebounding.

This year’s fair is expected to cover over 25,000 sqm of floor space. With booth sales now open, key industry players from China and overseas are looking forward to connecting and sharing innovations at TXCA & CLE 2024. Several highlighted exhibitors, including CLM, Eliza, Haier, Jensen, Oasis, Kannegisser, Sankosha, Sea-Lion, Unisec, Weishi and more, have already confirmed their participation.

China commercial laundry sector on the rise  

China’s commercial laundry sector is forecast to reach US$918.4 million by 2030, growing at a 9.6% compound annual rate[1]. In 2022 alone, China added 166 new continuous laundry tunnel systems, bringing the nationwide total to over 1,315 units. Additionally, more than 320 complete sets of finishing equipment (including spreading machines, ironing machines and folding machines) were purchased by large and medium-sized washing factories, resulting in over 2,300 sets of finishing equipment currently in use[2]. This increasing demand for laundry equipment and services reflects suppliers’ optimistic outlook, fuelled by the rising popularity of efficient, intelligent and environmentally friendly products.

Against this booming market backdrop, TXCA & CLE continues to solidify its position as Asia’s leading industry trade fair, providing ample business opportunities. In fact, majority of last year’s exhibitors rated the event as highly important. Speaking at the 2023 show, Mr Zhengkai Xiao, Laundry General Manager of Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co Ltd, commented: “This show’s influence in the industry is undoubtable, the visitor flow is very high, as is the number of exhibitors. As a trusted barometer of the sector, the show consistently leads the way in fostering industry growth and prosperity. The whole industry has high expectations for TXCA & CLE, which is why it brings so many participants together.”

Expanding international reach and connectivity

Thanks to global travel resuming, the previous fair also provided a timely opportunity for industry elites worldwide to reconnect in person. With expectations high for the next edition, international participation will be further fuelled by China's recent expansion of its visa-free entry programme, which now includes select European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, as well as Brunei, Singapore, and Malaysia[3]. Accordingly, the show will shine a global spotlight across comprehensive product and service categories powering the textile care segment’s ongoing advancement.

Mr Ah Wah Tham, President of the Malaysia Garment and Linen Cleaning Services Association, commented on the development: "As soon as we learnt the good news of the mutual visa-free policy between China and Malaysia, we immediately sent invitation letters to all of our members to participate in TXCA & CLE 2024. The feedback was very positive, and they expressed their hope to visit nearby equipment manufacturers and laundry factories during their trip to Shanghai. We are now preparing the itinerary for our trip to Shanghai in August, and we are looking forward to meeting new and old friends from across the global laundry industry very soon."

As the leading trade fair for the laundry and textile care industry in Asia, TXCA & CLE provides business openings across the supply chain, including machinery, systems and accessories, chemicals and consumables, digital and intelligent solutions, energy saving and environmental protection technologies, leather care products, rental services and more.

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

The show is part of Messe Frankfurt’s textile care events. For further details, please visit www.texcare.com/brand.

Texcare Asia & China Laundry Expo will be held from 2 – 4 August 2024.