The collaboration between automotive thüringen e. V. (at) and the Textile Research Institute TITV Greiz began in 2021 within the IZZI innovation cluster. Building on this foundation, at launched the InSuM network (“Interior-Hub for Sustainable Mobility“) in 2023. This nationwide hub connects industry and research partners across sectors to design the automotive interiors of tomorrow.
Company: automotive thüringen e.V.
Number of employees: 6
Headquarters: Erfurt
Industry: Automotive network
As an applied, business-oriented textile research institute, TITV Greiz provides key expertise in functionalized textiles, strengthening the innovative capacity of Thuringia’s supplier and textile industries in the face of technological transformation.
Initial Situation: Demand for Textile Expertise in Automotive Interiors
Market research revealed a strong trend toward alternative and sustainable materials in vehicle interiors. To unlock this potential, at sought a partner with deep textile expertise.
TITV Greiz has long been a leader in functionalizing textiles with conductive fibers and integrated components, enabling heating, sensing, lighting, and sound. This made TITV the ideal partner for bringing textile intelligence into vehicle interiors within the InSuM network.
The aim of the cooperation: to create synergies, promote knowledge transfer and increase the visibility of new technologies.
Implementation: A Four-Pillar Strategy
Particularly noteworthy is the cooperation with ITA Technologietransfer GmbH, ITA Academy GmbH and the Institut für Textiltechnik at RWTH Aachen University for the joint success in the InSuM project. The cooperation was based on four fields of action: scouting, knowledge transfer, networking and scaling.
Scouting: Two white papers – “Ambience in Automotive Interiors” and “Functionalisation of Textiles” – mapped out relevant trends, technologies, and partners. TITV also provided practical demonstrations of how electronics can be integrated into textiles.
Pict. 2: InSuM innovation workshop on 15 January 2024 at TITV
Greiz
Pict. 3: Project manager Isabelle Grimm, TITV e.V., and automotive interior expert Marius Hertzsch, InSuM, at the Additive Manufacturing Symposium on 6 September 2024 in Rheinmünster at Stratasys
Knowledge transfer: An innovation workshop with 27 participants from 14 companies, a specialist seminar on textiles and electronics, and an e-learning module developed by TITV (‘Introduction to Smart Textiles’) provided lasting and practical knowledge.
Networking: Events such as the Smart Textiles user forum in Berlin, the symposium ‘Additive Manufacturing in Textile Technology’ and trade fair appearances at the Automotive Interieur Expo Stuttgart provided platforms for exchange and visibility.
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Video: TITV Greiz at the InSuM joint stand at AIX 2024 in Stuttgart (German) |
Scaling: A key milestone was the collaborative development of a smart center console demonstrator. TITV Greiz led design, coordination, and textile integration of electronic components, ensuring practical, scalable outcomes.
Result: From digital transfer formats to a hands-on demonstrator
The cooperation led to a comprehensive range of knowledge and networking opportunities:
- a freely accessible InSuM Academy with white papers, e-learning and webinars,
- a virtual 360-degree interior and the ‘Book of Innovation’ as a trend compendium,
- and as a highlight: the smart centre arm console – a tangible demonstrator that combines textile functionality with modern design.
The console includes an interchangeable heating surface, modular lighting elements, a textile loudspeaker, a haptic sensor control panel and an illuminated cup holder. The housing was sustainably manufactured using 3D printing from recycled PLA.
In addition to TITV, other participants included Fuerda Smartech Germany, NISSHA Innovation Centre Europe, MackSmaTec GmbH (formerly ruhlamat GmbH), MELEXIS GmbH, AUNDE Achter & Ebels GmbH, RÖKONA, Iprotex, Sandler Group, Jenoptik Automatisierungstechnik and Hapticlabs.io.
The console is more than just a prototype: it serves as a technology platform and catalyst for future applications – a prime example of the innovative power of combining textiles and high-tech in automotive interiors.
Pict. 4: Bild: Hands-on demonstrator – smart centre arm console
Pict. 5: Smart centre arm console – Exploded view
Customer voices
"TITV not only has comprehensive expertise in textiles, but also manages to implement innovative ideas in an application-oriented manner with and for industry. I am particularly impressed by the spirit of the employees, the speed of implementation and the valuable cooperation in terms of both content and human relations. This was the only way to develop the smart centre console in the InSuM Hub, for example, which impressively demonstrates how cooperation with TITV is driving the industry forward."
Dr.-Ing. Philipp Grunden, Director Innovation & Strategy, automotive thüringen / InSuM.
Marius Hertzsch, Expert Automotive Interior at automotive thüringen / InSuM, highlights the strategic role of TITV Greiz in establishing a strong textile focus within InSuM: "With TITV Greiz, we at InSuM can establish a textile focus that enables both scouting and communication of future-proof technologies for suppliers. With its high degree of application relevance and close exchange with companies, TITV makes a very valuable contribution to networking stakeholders and the needs-based preparation of scalable ideas for textile interior projects."
Marius Hertzsch, Expert Automotive Interior, automotive thüringen / InSuM.
Related links
>> InSuM Website inclusive free Academy
