Page 28 - TEXtalks International May/June 2022

issues as automation and digitalization. Vision has
always been part of it.
Vision is also a requirement of globalization. Was it
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
Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, the US, Austria and
Japan even before World War Two. We then actively
set our sights on other foreign markets. And it is
figures that demonstrate the result of this: the foreign
share of sales rose from 7 to 311 million
deutschmarks between 1955 and 1975. Barmag
always wanted to go where the music was playing.
of history – in a sector that has experienced the ups
and downs of a turbulent century. What is the secret
When we entered the US market in 1965, the country
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
has contributed to our economic stability. Furthermore,
with one-third of all global output. We have actively
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
long-standing network of suppliers.
China for the first time as far back as 1959,
100 years in various positions – goes in search of

establishing a company representation in Hong Kong
the answers.

How important is service for machine
in 1973 and setting up a first joint venture in China in

manufacturers?
1984. Today, we are present outside Germany with
Mr Stausberg, Barmag was a pioneering machine

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
industry was born.

customer service as a way of solving problems –
markets of China, India, Turkey and the US.

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

the pandemic?
consultation and training, remote analysis and
Stausberg: Success came, on the one hand, with the
established processes and change conventional

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,
procedures and ways of thinking. This was

actually helped us during the pandemic. Because
maintain almost all services and once again prove
with the manmade fiber industry swiftly expanding at
demonstrated in the development of the at the time

that we will not let our customers down! And we
countries such as China initially overcame the crisis
the beginning of the 20th Century. On the other hand,
revolutionary WINGS technology, among other things.

have a name for this: Partnering for Performance.
more quickly, becoming economic driving forces,
Barmag set a clever course following World War Two.

Our aim is to make the customer’s production and
The advance of purely synthetic fibers such as nylon

business ever more efficient, competitive, profitable
and perlon demanded more research and

and sustainable. It all kicked off in 1969 when
development along with other machine technologies.

Barmag established its own service department with
Barmag launched its innovative grate spinning

six technicians recruited from the development
machines back in 1948, entering the texturing market

division. Today, we have more than 18 service
in 1954 and introducing extrusion technology in 1958.

stations and offices and in excess of 60

The desire to develop new products continues to
representations in all important textile centers across

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.

Stausberg: Innovation and technology leadership
The Service business is one of the key cornerstones

have always been Barmag’s guiding stars. There is a
of the corporate strategy for achieving customer

strong entrepreneurial spirit behind this, even during
loyalty throughout the entire lifecycle of the sold

the early years. This resulted in the consistently close
machines – and hence for boosting new sales as well.

cooperation with customers, market-oriented

innovations, interdisciplinary, team-oriented
Service, along with all the progress made by your

development work and the creative utilization of the
company, cannot be provided without competent

employees. How has Barmag consistently been able to

28 Oerlikon Barmag can proudly look back on 100 years 29 full scope of experience and knowledge potential. In And we also quickly focused on such growth and future while other regions were still recovering. Overall, this
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
Cover Story One-off items of apparel can already be configured trends as well. When did Oerlikon Barmag start Oerlikon at the Cover Story
Sustainability and climate protection are major
here: the entire textile world is on a digital journey.
focusing on these?
and ordered online and delivered in the shortest time.
Stausberg: We have had comprehensive
environmental management at our main plant in
Digital concepts have undoubtedly become part of
your own manufacturing environment?
protection is one of our company’s declared strategic
Stausberg: Our Oerlikon Barmag production sites in Remscheid since the 1980s. Environmental ITM 2022
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, Energy-efficient
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 manmade fiber systems
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 for the Turkish market
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
Even at high production speeds, tangling knots
inventory costs. Virtually all parts are delivered to the operations for many years now with the aim of cutting can be set much more evenly with the RoTac³ than
conveyor belt ‘just in time’. Our competence and one energy costs. This is why we introduced our own in the case of other conventional tangling units
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 The ITM in Istanbul, repeatedly postponed due to the BCF technology: tangling 6,800-dtex yarns
pandemic, will now take place at the Tuyap Fair and
with the RoTac³
and precision parts such as pumps and chucks – important topic: our Oerlikon Polymer Processing Congress Center. The Oerlikon Polymer Processing High-pile carpets and carpets for outdoor use are
consciously also as a way of protecting our Solutions division is the only manufacturer offering Solutions division will be showcasing its solutions currently on trend, with demand for these high-margin
know-how. In the past, we had a high manufacturing the entire mechanical PET recycling chain – from and technologies at the Tekstil Servis stand in yarns noticeably rising. The thick BCF yarns made
depth with the associated huge demand for space, processing the recycled materials and the melt Hall 3, Stand 313. from PP, PET and PA6 required can now be tangled
material flow and highly-challenging intralogistics. through to the textured package. There is, of course, using the RoTac³. In so-called plying, all three
Today, we purchase parts, modules and electronic a benchmark here: sustainability is one of the The focus for the machine and systems builder will be filaments are jointly fed through a tangling opening in
components that others can manufacture better or permanent mission statements of our parent on total solutions – from melt to yarn, fibers through the RoTac³ and then tangled. “BCF yarn
less expensively. to nonwovens. “Turkey is an extremely active market”,
corporation. Here, the guiding principles are the 17 comments Sales Director Oliver Lemke, talking about manufacturers can now also use the RoTac³ for yarns
But logistics have also become more demanding in UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We at the current mood in the country. “Our customers are of up to 6,800 dtex.
other areas, haven’t they? Oerlikon are endeavoring to make all our sites hugely interested in factory projects that comprise
Stausberg: Absolutely! Our logistics specialists are carbon-neutral by 2030 and to acquire our energy everything – from the in-house polycondensation They not only benefit from energy savings due to
fighting on many fronts in the age of free trade and exclusively from renewable sources. system through to the textured yarn, the lower compressed air consumption and considerably
punitive tariffs, increasing delivery speeds and accompanying automation and corresponding digital more even tangling knots, manufacturers can also
pandemic-related slowdown. Challenges include You yourself have helped shape 33 of the 100 years solutions. Basically, From Melt to Yarn and beyond.” respond more flexibly to market requirements and
seamless documentation, transparent supply chains of Barmag. Why are you optimistic that Oerlikon The unbeatable benefit of such concepts is that hence expand their product portfolio”, explains Arnd
Barmag will have a further 100 years of success?
and cross-border inventory planning. For this reason, Stausberg: When reading our anniversary volume, procuring all process steps from a single source Luppold, BCF Sales Director, talking about the
we are optimizing many aspects of our logistics: our you will discover that the stories and comments of promises harmonized technology, whose design advantages of plying using the RoTac³.
Global Logistic Execution System networks all various contemporary witnesses have many things in guarantees that the produced yarn is high quality.
production sites worldwide, including warehouses, common. Their statements and our history converge Even at high production speeds, tangling knots can
internal and external suppliers, and allows to form the very core of our corporate culture. This A further information focus will be on the topic of be set much more evenly with the RoTac³ than in the
transparent, real-time tracking of goods transports, constant is showcased by the will and the ability to sustainability. There are currently many developments case of other conventional tangling units. Frequent
including consignment and automated dispatch of always adapt to social and economic change and to taking place in manmade fiber yarn manufacturing: tangling glitches are now a thing of the past. This
delivery documents. Another software solution is mechanical and chemical technologies for recycling ensures better yarn quality and has a positive impact
predicting spare parts orders 18 months in advance, change ourselves. It is tangible in many decades of of bottles, but also of textiles and biopolymers as well on further processing. The result: the carpet has a
making inventories at sites across the world visible consistent innovativeness, striving towards as the circular economy – all these are already visibly more even appearance. Furthermore,
and accessible. Because delivery advantages have technological leadership, in-house social possible. With partners and subsidiaries, compressed air consumption is reduced by up to 50
become increasingly important – also with regards to commitment, stable jobs and long-standing including Oerlikon Barmag Huitong Engineering percent, depending on yarn type.
environmental friendliness and preserving resources. relationships with our customers. This is something (OBHE) and Barmag Brückner Engineering
For this reason, Barmag is committed to purchasing, that all former and active employees can be proud of. (BBE), Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions will The 3-in-1 plying package is optionally available for
manufacturing and delivering as closely to the And that makes me extremely confident when looking be unveiling concrete concepts at the trade fair. the BCF S+ and BCF S8 with RoTac³ systems and
customer as possible and minimizing packaging at the future. can also be retrofitted on request.
May/June 2022 May/June 2022