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Cover Story Cover Story

Georg Stausberg André Wissenberg
probably the best alternative.

An interview with Technology webinars – as recently also initiated b

the VDMA with a new series and as they will also b

Georg Stausberg & André Wissenberg have succeeded in balancing the situation and is André Wissenberg: In principle, all trade fairs, events offered by Oerlikon Manmade Fibers in the second
half of the year – help convey detailed informatio
predominantly on focus topics, to existing and

Oerlikon Manmade Fibers POY spinning with WINGS: Pre-oriented yarns (POY) are the starting material for a wide range of fashion, sports, confident of being able to fulfil the planned delivery and similar get-togethers were put on ice in the potential customers. While the didactic focus of
webinars is generally more likely to resemble
schedules for 2020. The mid-term outlook for our

middle of March. Most organizers initially repeatedly
university lectures, regardless of how creative th
segment remains unchanged based on current
functional and home textiles. Following production, POY yarns are textured and – with around 40 percent – make
up the lion’s share of the global production of manmade fiber yarns. assessment and the project pipeline has been moved these to in part later dates in the year in the might be, and the dialog takes a backseat here – n

hope that the pandemic would be quickly contained
extended, with deliveries reaching into 2023. and the second half of the year could continue as least also due to the fact that the participants a
normal. Ultimately, we must all recognize that the competing with each other – new, currently nascent
TEXtalks: In which markets did you observe digital communication platforms in the form of vir
withdraw in regard to pandemic? coronavirus crisis and its impact on our global trade fairs could represent an invaluable addition
TEXtalks: Mr. Stausberg, what kind of precautions Georg Stausberg: The sales markets for manmade Turkey. While China is already pursuing and We would also like to thank all our employees who coexistence will continue to determine activities for a
did you take as a company during the Covid-19 fiber systems and equipment have been primarily implementing its ‘From Oil to Yarn’ business model, remain highly-committed at their mobile workstations Georg Stausberg: While the markets worldwide for long time to come. Travel currently continues to be all market players.
pandemic? What has changed in your production located in China, India and Turkey for many years the other market players are currently still focusing on at home, servicing the markets throughout the world, our Oerlikon Nonwoven business unit recorded strong possible only to a limited extent and with restrictions
process? now. Together, these markets – above all China – the ‘From Melt to Yarn’ concept. Even though providing customers with intensive online growth and the aforementioned major strategic projects and it appears that it will be difficult to plan trips for As well as the purely unidirectional transfer of
make up the lion’s share of the project landscape at businesses in India and Turkey are presently still consultation on technology questions by means of in China, Turkey and India continued, we saw different many months yet. However, planning is everything information using attractively-designed Websites w
Georg Stausberg: Oerlikon actively began Oerlikon Manmade Fibers. And this is paying positive temporarily severely impacted by the coronavirus video conference, continuing to manufacture our characteristics for our individual product lines in other when it comes to the international trade fair and – in the best case – state-of-the-art virtual real
accompanying the coronavirus situation from a very dividends at the moment. Because the production situation, their long-term commitment cannot high-end technological products in superlative quality markets. The US business for BCF carpet yarn plants events business – and that applies to both organizers technologies, there will also be bidirectional
early stage, deploying crisis teams at group and facilities of the major manmade fiber manufacturers however be questioned, as the under the given coronavirus protection measures at was already in decline somewhat before the corona and, above all, to us as an exhibitor. communication possibilities available using schedu
segment level. Extreme transparency, a high level of in China have been systematically fired up again over company-internally-agreed master plans will be our assembly and production sites worldwide and situation. This effect intensified further at the video chats between customers and company experts.
decisiveness and swift, pragmatic action were, and the past few weeks, with capacity utilization systematically implemented moving forward. successfully assembling and commissioning the beginning of the crisis, but is now on the road to For us, the focus is more than ever on intensively Conferences and seminars generally round off the
remain, the keys to successfully fighting the spread increasing consistently. New projects are being systems on-site, in part also remotely in collaboration recovery. The markets in the Middle East and maintaining contact with our customers and partners. program. A hugely-attractive offering for all part
of coronavirus as well. The, in part radical, measures discussed. All this has recently resulted in increased demand for with our clients’ staff. South-East Asia are also more subdued, but are also Here, it is about providing information on new – as long as sufficient numbers take part on both
taken – such as wearing masks, social distancing, spinning and texturing systems – just like those showing the first signs of recovery. products and services, commercial clarification for sides. Because it is only if the benefit of a ‘rea
adjusting shift schedules, mobile office for hundreds But why is it so? And why is the manmade fiber supplied by total solutions provider and world market TEXtalks: With the rebound in the global markets, TEXtalks: What are your opinions about the recovery business already being conducted, the fair’ is created – the possibility to compare prod
of employees over night – and the seriousness with industry currently practically going against the flow of leader Oerlikon Manmade Fibers with its Oerlikon what kind of a return did you make to the production process in the markets? Is the market ready for implementation of and support for machines and and solutions from different suppliers and the
which all employees have adjusted their personal the rest of the textile machine industry? The reason is Barmag, Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven and sales processes? How do you define the new revival in investments? systems to be installed and commissioned and also offerings on a digital communication platform

behavior have ensured that the virus has had no very simple: Long before the coronavirus situation product brands. The investments in petrochemical 'normal' conditions? maintaining excellent customer relations. designed in this manner and to collate all the rel
chance to manifest itself at the Oerlikon Manmade developed, the major manmade fiber manufacturers systems are based on long-term strategic Georg Stausberg: Production in China was closed Georg Stausberg: Yes, as already mentioned, the first information for making a purchase decision in a
Fibers sites to date. The measures were in China had decided to reverse-integrate their considerations and are resulting – even during the toward the end of January and in February – signs of a recovery are beginning to appear in some Here, we are using – insofar as possible – all modern timely and efficient way, i.e. by means of downloa
implemented in China first, followed by at the sites in production chains to include petrochemicals in order coronavirus pandemic – neither in short- and extended Chinese New Year and lockdowns. of the more severely affected markets, although they digital means of communication such as Skype, MS – will suppliers and visitors be able to acquire
to expand their portfolios with targeted investments,
Germany, in the USA and India over the course of to reduce their dependence on a ,single product’, to medium-term economic dips, nor in changed Operations started up gradually in March and have are smaller for us. The large markets in China, Turkey Teams, Zoom, etc. Ultimately, it is about how those long-term added value. With its ‘Innovate Textile
customer behavior. For these reasons, we are
March. Maintaining the health of our employees optimize their costs and ultimately to acquire greater currently continuing to look positively towards the returned to full capacity since the end of that month. and India are already back on track to let’s say persons involved in this digital world open up and Apparel Virtual Trade Show’, WTIN will – between
“normal levels”.
worldwide was and still is the top priority. control over margins in a global volume business. future at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers. With orders on Despite the shutdowns in Europe, we operated at full interact with these communications methods. October 15 and 30, 2020 – be one of the very first
Similar processes and decisions – albeit not on the our books until 2023, we have created a very good speed in Germany, achieving a record production of TEXtalks: Mr. Wissenberg, many important fairs and Undoubtedly a question of generation. If at all organizers within the textile machine industry to
TEXtalks: How did your production, sales and order same scale as in China – have also been detected at cushion for ourselves. We have to thank all our winders in March in Remscheid, Germany. The key events were postponed or cancelled due to the possible, hybrid customer support solutions with this new digital step. And we at Oerlikon Manmade
figures progress in the first half of 2020? How much the large manmade fiber manufacturers in India and customers, who have consistently placed their trust in challenge in Europe has been to secure the supply pandemic. What effect did this have on your market local employees from the company-internal local Fibers are thrilled to be part of this and to welc
did the pandemic affect your goals? work? What did you do to fill this gap? network and participating experts are currently our customers to a new virtual world.
us despite the challenging times we are currently in. chain in the challenging COVID-19 environment. We
September/October 2020 September/October 2020