Page 60 - August-September-2018

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A sell-out ITMA 2019 gearing up

for a vibrant showcase

The world’s leading textile and garment technology industry embraces digital transformation. The number
exhibition, ITMA 2019 is gearing up for another of exhibitors in the printing and inks sector has
vibrant showcase of the latest trends, technologies jumped some 30 per cent from ITMA 2015.
and materials. Exhibition space was fully booked by
the application deadline and the organising team has Mr Dick Joustra, CEO, SPGPrints Group said:
been busy allocating space to successful applicants. “Digitalisation is having a tremendous impact in the
textile and garment industry, and the true extent of its
Commented Mr Fritz P. Mayer, president of influence can be seen not only in textile printing
CEMATEX, “The response for ITMA 2019 is so companies, but throughout the value chain. Brand
overwhelming that we have not been able to meet the owners and designers are able to use opportunities,
demand for space despite adding two more like ITMA 2019, to see how the versatility of digital
exhibition halls. ITMA is a show for the industry, by the printing can transform their operations. As a total
industry. Hence, we are of the opinion that ITMA supplier in conventional and digital textile printing, we
should feature a wide spectrum of cutting-edge see ITMA as an important marketplace to show our
solutions from as many solutions providers as latest technologies.”
possible, whether established or new-to-market.”
Besides printing, another sector that is undergoing
Mr Charles Beauduin, chairman of ITMA Services, vast transformation and rapid development is the
which organises ITMA 2019, elaborated: “As an garment making sector. Previously labour-intensive,
international platform, our priority is to accommodate the garment industry now sees a gamut of solutions
as many eligible applicants as possible to participate utilising artificial intelligence, robotics, vision systems
in the exhibition. It is heartening that the CEMATEX and other advanced automation.
associations are supportive of this approach.
Currently, we were only able to accommodate some As the textile and garment industry trends towards an
1,660 exhibitors from 47 countries on the show floor. integrated manufacturing value chain, many
We have to put many applicants on the waiting list.” new-to-ITMA solutions providers have been attracted
to take part in ITMA 2019; some of them have chosen
Mr Federico Pellegata, director of ACIMIT to co-locate their booths with their industry partners
(Association of Italian Textile Machinery to offer integrated solutions to buyers. Among the
Manufacturers), commented, “We understand the new applicants are Borsoi, Bullmer, Card Clothing &
space constraints and appreciate that the organising Services, Han's Yueming Laser, Juki, Serkon Tekstil
team’s priority is to try to maximise the admission of and SoftWear Automation.
companies so that ITMA 2019 can be a more vibrant
and trendsetting platform that will benefit the To be held from 20 to 26 June 2019, the show will
entire industry." now occupy all nine exhibition halls at Fira de
Barcelona, Gran Via venue. As a result of the
An exciting sector at ITMA 2019 is printing. Previously expansion, changes have been made to the sector
part of the finishing sector, printing as a standalone allocation plan. The new plan can be viewed at
chapter has garnered very strong interest as the www.itma.com.

August/September 2018