Page 22 - TEXtalks International October/November 2022

22

Can Robots

shift apparel

production to

the West?

The garment industry's traditional business model the labor-intensive part of apparel production is
has been to place bulk orders with manufacturers in moving the fabric from one machine to another has
Asia, often however robots are replacing humans in not yet been satisfactorily automated. Garment parts
many industries but at the same time robotic are stitched in a systematic way as the first operator
penetration in textiles has not reached most of the after stitching his/her part passes it on to the next
textile value chain. Still, automation has reduced and so on till the garment is finished by the last
workers in the spinning industry to 1/3rd or less but operator. This is a labor-intensive process that has
not so in apparel production. shifted apparel production to countries with low
wages, using computer-controlled sewing machines.
The modern spinning mills operate with spindles that
consume 40 percent less power and produce more Europe and China have developed a gripper robot
yarn per spindle. A conventional spinning mill of that could shift the fabric from one machine to the
20000 spindles employs 600 workers but spinners other, however, perfection is still elusive. Bringing
with the latest spindles need only 150-200 workers. production home can be offer wide range of benefits
Along with reducing the need for labor intensive to European retailers but to replace labor technology
procedures, these textile gripping robots save time, needs to mature as much as these complex
resources and training for workers. This technology processes require. German and Chinese researchers
can in return, be a great support for clothing brands are hopeful of coming up with a robotic device that
to respond increasingly quick to the domestic market could replace most of the human workforce. This
demand. On the other side of the equation, however, might pave the way for shifting apparel production
significant employment problems in the form of from low-labor-cost countries to developed nations.
decreasing job security may rise in Asia due to this Robotic use could make the process
shift of production. It is probable that the West will be energy-intensive instead of labor-intensive, but
facing criticism and protests from concerned labor analyzing in deeper perspective, these robots may
groups if this shift prospers. cause energy costs to significantly increase since
automation heavily relies on energy sources. So, the
The stitching and embroidering machines have also question arises, robots shifting garment production
been automated to improve performance; fabric is from Asia to the West may be a breakthrough but at
also cut through laser-guided cutting machines but what cost?

October/November 2022