DITF Denkendorf (German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research)

The DITF Denkendorf are the largest textile research center in Europe. Three research areas, Textile Chemistry and Chemical Fibers, Textile and Process Engineering and Management Research, cover the entire textile value chain from molecule to product.

DITF was founded in 1921 as a foundation of public law, and performs interdisciplinary, public research (regional, national and EU) and industrial projects and services for all organizations involved in fibers and textiles in many sectors (e.g. mobility, construction and architecture, health care and medicine, fashion and functional clothing, interior and outdoor objects, and energy, environment and resource efficiency).

DITF conduct research on new high-performance fibers and materials, on new and adaptive processes in fiber and yarn production, and in textile finishing and textile functionalization. In all research areas, modern and cutting edge technologies are used; in addition, the potential of digital information and communications technologies are used for textile industry, Textile 4.0.

The research center employs about 300 scientists, technicians and laboratory assistants. On 25,000 m² research and production area the DITF perform interdisciplinary research and development projects involving chemistry, material sciences, process technology, material technology, mechanical engineering and plant design and management, all in lab scale and pre-industrial dimension. A wide range of textile testing services, prototype construction and a pilot factory complete the offer.

The DITF are member of networks like ETP Textiles, Textranet, Carbon Composites, Medical Mountains, CompetenceNetworkBioMimetic, InnBW, Techtera or AFBW.