Ferraro S.p.A., a globally recognized name in textile finishing machinery, continues to push the boundaries of innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. With over four decades of dedicated service in Pakistan, the company maintains a strong local presence and a clear focus on technological advancement. At IGATEX, team TEXtalks discussed the details with Alex Zucchi President and C.E.O of Ferraro S.p.A.
TEXtalks: How has Ferraro responded to current industry demands for sustainability and energy efficiency?
Alex Zucchi: Pakistan is a very important country, and Ferraro has been present in this market for the past 40 years. We have been following all the developments, and we know the needs of the Pakistani market. Nowadays, one of the most important things is the quality to reduce energy consumption and pollution. Recently, we introduced Ferrsonic, a new ultrasonic technology.Woven fabric is the major production line in Pakistan. In recent years, companies have focused heavily on quality, especially through fabric treatment before any processing. Traditional scouring requires large volumes of water and chemicals. The technology we’ve developed drastically reduces water usage and, consequently, the chemical dosage needed to remove oils and impurities from knitting and weaving. We’re also working with chemical partners to develop biodegradable chemicals, so our solutions are not only efficient but also eco-friendly.
TEXtalks: What innovations have you introduced in your flagship machine, COMPTEX?
Alex Zucchi: COMPTEX is our historic machine, with more than 7,000 units in operation worldwide. But evolution is continuous. Over past two years, we’ve integrated Artificial Intelligence into our machinery.
This helps customers reduce consumption and provides continuous performance insights.
Many customers tend to set their machines once and never optimize again. But each fabric needs different speeds and temperatures. AI helps manage this more precisely than a human operator ever could. We’ve seen customers achieve up to 30% energy savings. Additionally, we now monitor each machine remotely via AI from our headquarters in Italy, helping to prevent breakdowns and provide better service support.
TEXtalks: How do you see AI transforming textile machinery operations going forward?
Alex Zucchi: There’s still a lot that can be done, but AI is already changing how the industry operates. It allows us to go beyond default operations and truly tailor settings for each process. This leads to better results and lower costs. AI will soon hold a very important position in our sector because it adds intelligence and adaptability to the machines in ways we couldn’t achieve before.
TEXtalks: As a former President of ACIMIT, how do you view collaboration among Italian machinery manufacturers?
Alex Zucchi: Having served as President of ACIMIT for seven years, this is something that touches me deeply. It’s important to realize that having a competitor beside you can be a strength, not a threat. When we work side by side, we can share ideas, compare technologies, and learn from each other. That’s how we grow. Italy is unique in that we have nearly 300 companies in ACIMIT, covering the full supply chain from raw materials to garments. Most of these are small companies. People might see small companies as a disadvantage, but in our case, small means flexible and fast. Technology is evolving so quickly that only flexible companies can keep up. And when it comes to customization, small companies are much quicker. While a big company may need two years to deliver a custom solution, we can do it in two months.
TEXtalks: What is Ferraro’s current strategy in Pakistan, and how do you view the market?
Alex Zucchi: We have been working in Pakistan for 40 years. We know 99% of all the customers, and we’re not here just to catch new ones. Our goal is to keep relationships strong. Attending exhibitions like IGATEX isn’t just about selling machinery. It’s a marketing operation, a way to maintain and strengthen the long-term partnerships we’ve built with this market.
