Page 57 - May-June-2018

56 57

An Interview with

Mr Kit Blake

Managing Director, The Lurex Company Ltd, U.K

An Interview with

Lurex is one of the world’s most recognized brand for Mr Kit Blake: Sustainability is a very important Mr Peter Obrist
metallic polyester yarns. These yarns bring shine and element. For Lurex it is a challenge since it is a
glamour to fashion. Lurex has been around for 70 polyester yarn manufacturer so it is very difficult to Senior Sales Manager, Karl Mayer Textilmaschinen
years and we are very proud to be the leading brand create a metalized sustainable product. But, we are AG Switzerland
in this market. only used in a small percentage so that is how we try
to mitigate that issue.
Lurex® is a yarn made for designers to enhance their
creativity and innovation. Lurex continously propose TEXtalks: What does industry 4.0 mean to Lurex?
new technological developments and effects. Lurex Mr Kit Blake: Industry 4.0 is extremely important. Karl Mayer is the innovative market leader and driving ball warpers , long chain beamers and indigo dyeing
want their yarns to be a source of inspiration for you. Lurex is now selling to technology based garment force in textile machinery building. It offers the perfect machines.
All Lurex® yarns are produced to strict quality manufacturing. As industry grows and becomes solutions for warp knitting, technical textiles and warp
standards to meet our Lurex® quality specification. more sophisticated, industry 4.0 will become more preparation for weaving. TEXtalks: How does Karl Mayer see sustainability?
Lurex® yarns meet the technical requirements of the significant in regards to transparency and Mr Peter Obrist: Sustainability is very important for
most demanding production processes and are automization. TEXtalks interviewed Mr Peter Obrist, Senior Sales Karl Mayer. Our aim is to reduce energy and water
made to comply with safety and quality regulations to Manager, Karl Mayer Textilmaschinen AG at Igatex consumption with highly sophisticated technical
protect your customers from any hazardous TEXtalks: Any upcoming innovative products from 2018, Lahore Pakistan. solutions and textile concepts.
components. Lurex?
Mr Kit Blake: Yes, Lurex is developing some TEXtalks: Can you please give an introduction of TEXtalks: What does industry 4.0 mean to Karl
TEXtalks interviewed Mr Kit Blake (Managing Director, revolutionary products which are extremely soft. One Karl Mayer? Mayer?
The Lurex Company Ltd, U.K) at Igatex 2018, Lahore of the biggest criticisms of materialized yarns is that Mr Peter Obrist: Karl Mayer is located in Germany Mr Peter Obrist: For Karl Mayer industry 4.0 is very
Pakistan. they feel scratchy. Hence, we have spent a lot of time with offices and manufacturing units in Germany, important. Our engineers are highly focused on
and effort on research and developments making China, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, India, United e-commerce and digitalization. Just recently we
TEXtalks: Can you please give an introduction of them feel so soft at the touch, they almost feel like Kingdom and in the USA. Worldwide we have around founded a new company for developing digital
Lurex? silk. Another innovation is development of resistance 2000 employees and in 2017 our turnover was close solutions with high benefit for the customers.
Mr Kit Blake: Lurex is one of the world’s most to dye processes. Today, a metallic yarn cannot be to 650 million Euros.
recognized brand for metallic polyester yarns. These dyed with cotton. Dye process strips the metal out. TEXtalks: How has the response from the visitors
yarns bring shine and glamour to fashion. Lurex has We are developing yarns that will resist cotton dying TEXtalks: Which products Karl Mayer is mainly been so far at the exhibition?
been around for 70 years and we are very proud to so that no matter what process lurex is put through it dealing with? Mr Peter Obrist: I have been coming to Pakistan
be the leading brand in this market. will stay shiny. Mr Peter Obrist: Karl Mayer has three main product since many years now and the response has been as
portfolios, warp knitting machines working mainly expected. Sor far, the response was good but, frankly
TEXtalks: Which products Lurex is mainly TEXtalks: How has the response from the visitors with filament yarns,warp preparation machines for speaking, it could have been better.
dealing with? been so far at the exhibition? weaving and warp knitting and machines for the
Mr Kit Blake: Lurex is selling metalized polyester Mr Kit Blake: The response has been very positive. production of technical textiles. TEXtalks: How do you see Pakistani market for Karl
yarns to all kinds of textile like carpets, pantyhose, The customer interactions have been very productive. Mayer products?
home furnishings, towels and several other textile I have been coming to Pakistan since 5 years, twice a TEXtalks: What are the main products of Karl Mayer Mr Peter Obrist: Pakistan has always been a very
products. Whenever a company wants to put year. Pakistan is a great market with plenty for Pakistani market? important market for warping, sizing and indigo
glamour in textile, they use Lurex. opportunities and we have received good response Mr Peter Obrist: In Pakistan we are mostly selling dyeing machines. In the last couple of years Pakistan
TEXtalks: What are the main products of Lurex for for our innovative products. has contributed around 15% to Karl Mayer’s business
Pakistani market? sizing machines, warpers and for the denim industry, figures each year.
Mr Kit Blake: Lurex main product for Pakistani TEXtalks: How do you see Pakistani market for Lurex
market is for denim. We have developed a very good products?
market for denim, towels and recently expanding into Mr Kit Blake: In Pakistan there is a love for gold and
sock market. silver. So, Lurex sees this as a great opportunity to
provide better quality gold and silver to the textile
TEXtalks: How does Lurex see sustainability? industry as well adding the element of fashion to it.

May/June 2018 May/June 2018