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“Vision has always been part of it” And we also quickly focused on such growth and future
issues as automation and digitalization. Vision has
Cover Story Polymer Processing Solutions Division, about an Cover Story Vision is also a requirement of globalization. Was it
always been part of it.

Talking to: Georg Stausberg, CEO Oerlikon
not its early global orientation that made Barmag a
market leader?
Stausberg: We would undoubtedly not be a market
leader without global expansion. By the way, Barmag
was supplying equipment to countries such as the
anniversary that not only celebrates 100 years,
Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, the US, Austria and

set our sights on other foreign markets. And it is
but also enduring values
figures that demonstrate the result of this: the foreign
Innovation begins with creativity Oerlikon Barmag can proudly look back on 100 years Japan even before World War Two. We then actively
share of sales rose from 7 to 311 million
deutschmarks between 1955 and 1975. Barmag
always wanted to go where the music was playing.
A pioneer of the manmade of history – in a sector that has experienced the ups When we entered the US market in 1965, the country while other regions were still recovering. Overall, this
and downs of a turbulent century. What is the secret
to this company and its fiercely-fought success,
was the world’s largest producer of synthetic fibers
which has made it a leading manufacturer of
with one-third of all global output. We have actively
has contributed to our economic stability. Furthermore,
fiber industry Oerlikon Barmag manmade fiber spinning systems and texturing accompanied the increasing shift of the textile we are able to better support our customers through
machines? In an interview, CEO Georg Stausberg –
our local employees and service centers as well as our
markets to Asia from the very beginning, traveling to
who has had the privilege of shaping 33 of these
China for the first time as far back as 1959,
long-standing network of suppliers.
100 years in various positions – goes in search of

establishing a company representation in Hong Kong
the answers.
celebrates its Mr Stausberg, Barmag was a pioneering machine in 1973 and setting up a first joint venture in China in How important is service for machine

manufacturers?
1984. Today, we are present outside Germany with

Stausberg: The pandemic has clearly underlined the
1,200 employees, ten sales and service sites and
manufacturer during the time the manmade fiber

huge importance of service. We initiated our hybrid
seven production and R&D centers in the primary
100th anniversary industry was born. full scope of experience and knowledge potential. In markets of China, India, Turkey and the US. customer service as a way of solving problems –

with video streaming to Germany, temporary
What were the reasons for the company’s success

recruitment of additional staff locally, online
Is globalization no longer a problem with regards to
during the first decades?
the name of progress, we also occasionally question
Stausberg: Success came, on the one hand, with the

optimization. To this end, we have been able to
Stausberg: Globalization is less of a problem, it
rapid rise of artificial silk and synthetic textile fibers, established processes and change conventional the pandemic? consultation and training, remote analysis and
procedures and ways of thinking. This was

When the manmade fiber age began a century ago, a German with the manmade fiber industry swiftly expanding at demonstrated in the development of the at the time actually helped us during the pandemic. Because maintain almost all services and once again prove

that we will not let our customers down! And we
company was responsible for the pioneering work involved. Barmag, the beginning of the 20th Century. On the other hand, revolutionary WINGS technology, among other things. countries such as China initially overcame the crisis have a name for this: Partnering for Performance.
more quickly, becoming economic driving forces,
Barmag set a clever course following World War Two.

established in 1922, was one of the world’s first companies to The advance of purely synthetic fibers such as nylon Our aim is to make the customer’s production and

business ever more efficient, competitive, profitable
and perlon demanded more research and
construct machines for the large-scale production of synthetic staple development along with other machine technologies. and sustainable. It all kicked off in 1969 when

Barmag established its own service department with
fibers. To this day, the leading manufacturer of manmade fiber Barmag launched its innovative grate spinning six technicians recruited from the development
machines back in 1948, entering the texturing market
spinning systems and texturing machines in Remscheid – a brand in 1954 and introducing extrusion technology in 1958. division. Today, we have more than 18 service

stations and offices and in excess of 60
under the aegis of the Swiss Oerlikon Group since 2007 – has The desire to develop new products continues to representations in all important textile centers across

shaped technological progress in this sector; in future, with ever more make Barmag strong to this very day. Where did this the globe, with more than 400 experienced service
strength of innovation come from?
engineers and employees and 24/7 hotline support.

innovations focusing on sustainability and digitalization. Stausberg: Innovation and technology leadership The Service business is one of the key cornerstones

have always been Barmag’s guiding stars. There is a
strong entrepreneurial spirit behind this, even during of the corporate strategy for achieving customer
loyalty throughout the entire lifecycle of the sold
the early years. This resulted in the consistently close
cooperation with customers, market-oriented machines – and hence for boosting new sales as well.
Georg Stausberg CEO Oerlikon
innovations, interdisciplinary, team-oriented Polymer Processing Division and Service, along with all the progress made by your
development work and the creative utilization of the CSO Oerlikon company, cannot be provided without competent

employees. How has Barmag consistently been able to

May/June 2022 May/June 2022
for the textile industry. The data from all work, materials and freight space. This reduces transport
production and service processes flow together on distances, resources and helps the environment.
our ‘Common Service Platform’. But we are not alone
here: the entire textile world is on a digital journey. Sustainability and climate protection are major
One-off items of apparel can already be configured trends as well. When did Oerlikon Barmag start
and ordered online and delivered in the shortest time. focusing on these?
Stausberg: We have had comprehensive
Digital concepts have undoubtedly become part of environmental management at our main plant in
your own manufacturing environment? Remscheid since the 1980s. Environmental
Stausberg: Our Oerlikon Barmag production sites in protection is one of our company’s declared strategic
Remscheid and Bernkastel-Kues, Germany, and targets. And ecology also helps us save. We operate,
Suzhou and Wuxi, China, are also in the process of for example, two high-performance cogeneration
transforming themselves into smart factories – with plants for supplying in-house energy. Furthermore,
digitalized information flow for predictive production direct benefits are generated by our intensive HSE
planning and steering, with automated continuous (Health, Safety, Environment) activities. To this end,
flow production and with CNC technology. But we were able to halve the number of annual
digitalization is not an end in itself, it is more about accidents over the ten years leading up to 2021.
greater efficiency. Our production is therefore based Although, compared to other sectors, the textile
on lean management principles, ensuring optimized industry is not particularly energy-intensive,
throughput and manufacturing times and low customers have been trying to optimize their
inventory costs. Virtually all parts are delivered to the operations for many years now with the aim of cutting
conveyor belt ‘just in time’. Our competence and one energy costs. This is why we introduced our own
of the most decisive success factors now lie in the e-save label for particularly energy-saving technology
optimum manufacturing of special core components as far back as 2004. And recycling is also an
and precision parts such as pumps and chucks – important topic: our Oerlikon Polymer Processing
consciously also as a way of protecting our Solutions division is the only manufacturer offering
know-how. In the past, we had a high manufacturing the entire mechanical PET recycling chain – from
depth with the associated huge demand for space, processing the recycled materials and the melt
material flow and highly-challenging intralogistics. through to the textured package. There is, of course,
Today, we purchase parts, modules and electronic a benchmark here: sustainability is one of the
components that others can manufacture better or permanent mission statements of our parent
less expensively.
corporation. Here, the guiding principles are the 17
But logistics have also become more demanding in UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We at
other areas, haven’t they? Oerlikon are endeavoring to make all our sites
Stausberg: Absolutely! Our logistics specialists are carbon-neutral by 2030 and to acquire our energy
fighting on many fronts in the age of free trade and exclusively from renewable sources.
punitive tariffs, increasing delivery speeds and
pandemic-related slowdown. Challenges include You yourself have helped shape 33 of the 100 years
seamless documentation, transparent supply chains of Barmag. Why are you optimistic that Oerlikon
Barmag will have a further 100 years of success?
and cross-border inventory planning. For this reason, Stausberg: When reading our anniversary volume,
we are optimizing many aspects of our logistics: our you will discover that the stories and comments of
Global Logistic Execution System networks all various contemporary witnesses have many things in
production sites worldwide, including warehouses, common. Their statements and our history converge
internal and external suppliers, and allows to form the very core of our corporate culture. This
transparent, real-time tracking of goods transports, constant is showcased by the will and the ability to
including consignment and automated dispatch of always adapt to social and economic change and to
delivery documents. Another software solution is
predicting spare parts orders 18 months in advance, change ourselves. It is tangible in many decades of
making inventories at sites across the world visible consistent innovativeness, striving towards
and accessible. Because delivery advantages have technological leadership, in-house social
become increasingly important – also with regards to commitment, stable jobs and long-standing
environmental friendliness and preserving resources. relationships with our customers. This is something
For this reason, Barmag is committed to purchasing, that all former and active employees can be proud of.
manufacturing and delivering as closely to the And that makes me extremely confident when looking
customer as possible and minimizing packaging at the future.