Centexbel at BEDEX

First impressions and overall exhibition experience

Pol, how did you experience the atmosphere and overall impression of the BEDEX exhibition?

Pol Lombaert:

“It was extremely busy, which once again highlighted that defense is absolutely central today. The organization was very well structured, contributing to a positive vibe. At the same time, it made me reflect. You don’t only see defense equipment, but also very explicit offensive systems: bullets, grenades, drones… and strikingly, a lot of gamification.

It is understandable that warfare is increasingly conducted behind screens — it improves safety for soldiers — but it also creates distance. Less physical contact with the reality of conflict sometimes makes me concerned about how seriously we still assess war situations.

The visitor profile was extremely diverse. In the first days, we saw many political figures, followed by a wide range of professionals: lawyers, defense companies looking for specific materials, military delegations, and policymakers from different countries. And on Saturday, families attended — children, parents, soldiers showing their relatives what they work on.

Our expectations were very open. We wanted to show that textiles in defense are far more important than often assumed. Together with Fedustria, we positioned ourselves around the message: textiles are the first layer of protection. And that is indeed the case.

It was fantastic to see how surprised people were by what textiles can do. Even though many visitors primarily came for weapons and large hardware, we still managed to highlight the power of textiles.”

The role of Centexbel in defense

How does participation in BEDEX fit into Centexbel’s strategy as a knowledge center?

“It fits perfectly. We are a knowledge center for textiles and plastics, and whether applications are civilian or defense-related does not matter to us. We are completely agnostic: we work wherever our materials and expertise add value.

Our core missions — R&D for sustainable innovation, testing, technological support, prototyping, and knowledge dissemination — are directly relevant to defense. Reliability, safety, performance… these are crucial themes for both us and defense. There is a natural match.”

Interest from defense in innovation and sustainability

Which themes from your expertise appeal most to defense companies?

“There is clear interest in ecodesign, protection, and high-performance materials. This includes bulletproof materials, stab-resistant solutions, protection against roadside bombs, insulation, and also clothing.

Circularity was less expected, but we still received questions about what happens to materials after use. For example: what do you do with high-quality uniforms, such as wool, once they are worn out? That is an area where we have a lot of expertise.”

The memorandum of understanding

You signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Fedustria, Flanders Make, and Wood.be. How important was that moment?

“Very important. The signing in the presence of Minister Matthias Diependaele was a strong signal.

On one hand, because collaboration is essential. Resources are limited, so building parallel knowledge makes no sense. By combining expertise — Flanders Make’s machinery and process knowledge, Fedustria’s sector insight, and our material expertise — we can accelerate innovation.

On the other hand, it is important from a market perspective. To bring innovation to companies, you need the full chain: from needs analysis to implementation. Together, we can do this much better than alone.”

Key learnings for Centexbel

What did you learn about the needs of defense companies?

“Much more than expected. We discovered needs in acoustics, fire behavior, design, and supply chain management that were not fully on our radar. Discussions ranged from material behavior to relocation of production to Europe.

We also received confidential questions showing that textiles and plastics play a role in all crucial phases of defense processes. This opens new paths for us.

We also noticed that many companies did not know us well yet. But during BEDEX, we succeeded in clearly positioning our expertise, thanks to my colleagues Myriam Vanneste, Isabel De Schrijver, and Sander De Vrieze.”

Innovation, sustainability, and circularity

How is sustainability linked to defense?

“Defense is definitely working on it, but in its own way. Recycled materials were hardly discussed, but questions about post-use circularity were frequent.

Ecodesign was a major theme: how to create protective systems that perform under extreme conditions. Materials must work together — monomaterials are rarely an option.

This aligns closely with our civil projects, and we can transfer that experience to defense.”

Interaction with visitors

How did interactions at the stand go?

“The delegations were impressive and well informed about what Flanders can offer. Professional visitors had very concrete questions.

The public day was very warm. Families, children, soldiers… some soldiers even thanked us because textiles truly protect them.

We also engaged non-professional visitors with stories about space travel, velcro, insulation, water-repellent materials, and PFAS-free alternatives.”

Organization of the exhibition

How do you rate the BEDEX organisation?

“The organization was very strong: smooth logistics and professional setup.

Our open stand worked very well — videos, samples, clear branding. Next time, we may bring even more materials.”

Strategic value and outlook

What does BEDEX mean for Centexbel from a strategic perspective?

“It was very valuable. We gained visibility and many leads.

The coming months will be about follow-up, but the potential is high. I would definitely participate again.”

Personal thoughts

What has made the biggest personal impression on you?

"A conversation with a final-year student who came in thinking that textiles weren’t for him. Fifteen minutes later, he left convinced that textile technology is a fascinating and innovative world. I found that incredibly inspiring.

There were also professional questions that challenged us intellectually: ‘we can really do something with this’, I found myself thinking on several occasions. Finally, the gamification of warfare sticks in my mind: impressive and frightening at the same time. It makes war less tangible, whilst the reality, of course, remains harsh.