Page 37 - TEXtalks International June/July-2025

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New leadership for the Swiss and components, and service providers, for the campaigns, through a successful programme of
textile industry. The association supports its
international symposia. Recent events have been
members in fostering innovation initiatives and
held in Mexico and the US, and another is planned
Textile Machinery Association education. A major focus is on joint market access for Morocco later this year.

In this exclusive interview, TEXtalks speaks with
Davide Maccabruni, President of the Swiss Textile
Machinery Association (Swissmem), as the
organization marks its 85th anniversary since its
founding in 1940. Representing a group of 42
leading companies, the association is a cornerstone
of innovation and precision in the global textile
machinery industry. Maccabruni discusses the
current state of the market, the post-COVID rebound
and its challenges, and the strategic vision needed
to maintain Switzerland’s leadership in an evolving
global landscape. He also shares insights into
upcoming opportunities around sustainability and
digitalization, and what to expect from Swiss
participation at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in
Singapore.

TEXtalks: When was the Swiss Textile Machinery
Association established, and how many member
companies are there as of now?
Davide Maccabruni: Our association was founded in
1940 and therefore this year we are celebrating our
85th anniversary. We currently count 42 member
Companies.

The board of the Swiss Textile Machinery Association (left to right): Ralph von Arx, Andreas Conzelmann, Davide Maccabruni, Cornelia Buchwalder
(Secretary General), André Imhof, Beat Meienberger, Martin Zürcher. TEXtalks: How have the sales of Swiss Textile Davide Maccabruni.
Technology been globally in the last few years and
The Swiss Textile must focus on aligning our capabilities, working the current fiscal year? industry today, and opportunities in the coming
Machinery together, and supporting one another.” Davide Maccabruni: After the COVID phase, we years?
Association is the have seen a huge demand and a peak in sales, Davide Maccabruni: Most of the current and
representative body A new member of the association board has also dampened only by the supply chain crisis. In the last upcoming challenges are given by the uncertain
for Switzerland’s been elected. He is Martin Zürcher (Heberlein two years, this sort of ‘rebound’ in demand has been situation at international level and the necessity to
providers of textile Technology AG), who joins Beat Meienberger reabsorbed. Currently we are experience a low rationalize the existing overcapacity in nearly all
equipment, systems, (Benninger AG), André Imhof (Autefa Solutions phase of the textile cycle, which is also driven by the segments of the textile value chain. Further
and services. Its Switzerland AG), Andreas Conzelmann (Jakob many geopolitical challenges. challenges, but also huge opportunities, are given
general assembly on Müller AG) and Ralph von Arx (Retech AG), the latter by the upcoming regulations regarding sustainability
May 8 elected taking on the role of vice-president. TEXtalks: Switzerland has long been a leader in and recycling, as well as the necessity to better
experienced industry textile machinery, how do you envision maintaining connect the existing data points along the value
that leadership in a changing global market?
leaders as president Davide Maccabruni succeeds Ernesto Maurer, the Davide Maccabruni: In order to maintain our chain to provide added value to its actors.
and board members. association’s president for the past ten years. leadership position, we need to stay true to our
Maurer has been an active board member since universal and timeless values of quality and TEXtalks: How many companies will be
participating in the upcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME
Ernesto Maurer and Davide Maccabruni. The association’s 2011, becoming president in 2015. During his innovation. But at the same time, we need to evolve 2025 Singapore, and what are your expectations?
new president is Davide Maccabruni, CEO of Uster service, he has made a significant contribution to together with our environment and adapt to the Davide Maccabruni: So far, 29 Companies from
Technologies AG. His role is to lead the board in strengthening the innovative power and international changed conditions around us. So far, we have Switzerland have registered to the exhibition – 70%
defining strategies and key focus areas. Assessing visibility of the Swiss textile machinery industry. been able to do this and we have shown a very of all our members! This shows the importance of
the challenges facing the industry, Maccabruni good resilience in this sense. this event and the expectations coming with it. This
states: “The Swiss textile machinery industry still The Swiss Textile Machinery sector was founded in will be a very good occasion to benchmark our
holds unique strengths that can secure its success 1940 and is the longest-established industry sector TEXtalks: What are some of the biggest challenges position with that of fast-growing Countries such as
well into the future. To achieve this, however, we within Swissmem. It currently has 42 affiliated
companies, including manufacturers of machines for the Swiss and European textile machinery China and India.

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