Textile touch rethought - CHT relies on emtec technology

CHT Group is investing in the future digitization of the complex evaluation of the hand feel in textiles, nonwovens, paper, and leather.

The CHT Group is taking another step towards innovation and digitization in the textile industry: With the investment in the TSA Tactile Sensation Analyzer from emtec, the CHT Group is enhancing its capabilities for the objective assessment of textile surfaces. The testing device is used to evaluate the softness for an objective quality assessment of the effect of finishing agents, for example. 

Until now, this assessment of the hand feel has mostly been a manual test that requires a great deal of experience and knowledge. Since this assessment is subjective and also influenced by cultural factors around the world, an independent assessment similar to the existing color assessment and evaluation (colorimetry) in the global textile industry is an important step towards digitization in communication between individual business partners. 

In the run-up to this, many measurements were compared manually and using a TSA measuring device and evaluated for correlation. The comparisons carried out showed a good correlation of the measured values on different textiles (knitted fabrics, terry cloth, and woven fabrics).

The CHT Group also wants to continuously improve the quality of its customer service and is now offering this new service of an additional objective evaluation of the hand feel of goods for its customers as part of its cooperation with them. 

We would like to thank our partner emtec Electronic GmbH for the constructive and goal-oriented collaboration. Continued cooperation on an international level is also planned for future technical developments.

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About the CHT Group

The CHT Group is a globally active foundation-owned specialty chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Tübingen, Germany. We offer sustainable chemical solutions for numerous industries and have an international presence with around 2,500 employees and 26 production sites. In the financial year 2025, the CHT Group generated a group turnover of approx. 570 million Euro.

Our portfolio includes Textile Solutions (dyes and auxiliaries for the entire textile value chain), Industrial Solutions (specialty silicones, paper and pulp technologies, washing solutions, care ingredients), and Functional Chemicals (chemical additives for paints, coatings, construction, adhesives, leather, chemical producers, agrochemicals, mining, and release agents).

The CHT Group is certified according to international standards and is committed to sustainability and social responsibility. In 2028, we will celebrate our 75th anniversary.