Page 40 - TEXtalks May-June 2021

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Swiss Textile Machinery companies welcome
return to in-person customer contact
Shanghai show heralds
investment revival
The recent ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition was
marked by a strong showing from Swiss Textile
Machinery members, in what was the sector’s first
major face-to-face showcase since the pandemic
restrictions.
With an attendance comprised of 99% Chinese
visitors, the show still proved a satisfactory venture,
the Swiss companies reported. There was real
product innovation, and meaningful customer
interest, prompting a genuine mood of optimism
among exhibitors. The event was held from June
May/June 2021
12-16 in Shanghai, with 18 Swiss exhibitors, of whom
13 were Swiss Textile Machinery member companies.
“Our members were first of all delighted to be able to
meet their customers in person again,” said Cornelia
Buchwalder, Secretary General of Swiss Textile
Machinery. “And the feedback was extremely positive
regarding the post-pandemic future market situation.
From an admittedly low base in recent times, we see
a real revival in investment.
“Despite the lack of many show visitors from other
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countries, it is still the case that China itself is a
pre-eminent market for textile machinery – so it is the
ideal place to restart our exhibition campaign.”
Biggest customer base
The importance of the China market was also
Innovations interest emphasized by Loepfe Brothers Ltd., whose CEO Dr.
Ralph Mennicke commented: “ITMA Asia means
Despite the pandemic, Uster Technologies was able to
meeting our biggest customer base in the world –
launch three significant innovations during 2021, all of
which attracted serious interest – both technical and physically by our local partners, and virtually via our
virtual meeting point at the Loepfe booth. While we
commercial – when presented at ITMA Asia + CITME.
Sivakumar Narayanan, the company’s Executive expect to see a major transformation of exhibitions,
we are determined to shape this transformation
Vice-President, said: “We closed quite a few
our way.”
contracts, and we were generally very satisfied with
the response at the show. It was handled 100% by
our Chinese team, who did a fantastic job in setting Both new and existing Loepfe customers visited the
up the exhibits and handling Chinese and company’s booth, with two new products attracting
international visitors. It was predominantly visited by great interest. “We have seen a great pick-up of
Chinese companies but there were a few from other investments into spinning mills in 2021...the starting
countries, such as Pakistan and Turkey. We were also point for a new era of sensor solutions for fibres and
pleased to return to ‘live’ exhibitions, but our virtual filaments,” Dr Mennicke said.
showroom was a valuable extra channel to stay in
contact with customers and prospects.”
Like other companies in the industry, Uster is in a
high demand phase, striving to meet delivery times, Catch-up effect
despite an ongoing semiconductor supply chain Rieter Group, including the Graf, SSM and Bräcker
challenge. While the company hopes demand will businesses, described the event as “a success
sustain, its aim is to maintain flexibility and adapt to despite the restrictions.” Lower visitor attendance
the needs of the market situation. overall was outweighed by the response to the
company’s ‘virtual booth’.
Said Rieter CEO Norbert Klapper: “At the moment,
Boom period the textile machinery market is booming due to a
Stäubli is also looking ahead to a boom period after catch-up effect.” Orders for the first half of this year
Covid-19, and the Chinese market is viewed as “still are already expected to be more than triple the level
very stable,” with potential for growth in the denim in the corresponding period of 2020, and customer
industry in the Guangdong region, although feedback at the event was also positive.
companies from here were unable to attend in
Shanghai because of travel restrictions. Rieter also sees changes in the Chinese market for
spinning equipment, driven by cost development in
The chance to meet customers face-to-face was an the country. “On the one hand, Chinese customers
important factor for Stäubli, for this event and for
those scheduled during 2022. “Real customer will foster investments outside China, in particular for
contact is very important to us,” said Fritz Legler, their export business. At the same time, they will
Vice-President Marketing, Sales & Service. “Digital trade invest in their operations in China in order to stay
fairs will not replace the feeling to ‘experience’ the competitive,” he said.
machines, when all five senses are activated, and the
performance of the product can be presented directly.” The Swiss Textile Machinery member firms exhibiting
Stäubli was able present a broad range of machinery at ITMA Asia + CITME 2020 were:
at its booth, with a number of new launches, and Bräcker, Graf, Hunziker, Loepfe, Luwa, Polytex, Rieter,
special interest reported in weaving preparation Santex Rimar, Sedo Engineering, SSM, Stäubli, Uster,
solutions, dobby and Jacquard machines. Willy Grob
May/June 2021