Page 29 - September-October-2020
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 Cover Story                                                                                                      Cover Story











               Oerlikon Neumags compact 1-step staple fiber spinning lines have an excellent flexibility   Oerlikon Neumags compact 1-step staple fiber spinning lines have an excellent flexibility
              with regard to the processable raw materials and titer range. These plants enable a highly   with regard to the processable raw materials and titer range. These plants enable a highly
                     economical production of fibers for a wide range of downstream processes.  economical production of fibers for a wide range of downstream processes.
             probably the best alternative.                    TEXtalks: Mr. Stausberg, is there a point where the
                                                               pandemic period has a positive contribution? For
             Technology webinars – as recently also initiated by   example, restructuring the organization in the
 FDY spinning with WINGS: Fully-drawn yarns (FDY) are used to manufacture textile fabrics without the need for   company, reviewing the production processes and
 further finishing. Wherever textiles are to hang smoothly or glide fully-drawn yarns are used.  the VDMA with a new series and as they will also be
             offered by Oerlikon Manmade Fibers in the second   maintenance, studies for R&D and new application
             half of the year – help convey detailed information,   areas, etc.?
 have succeeded in balancing the situation and is   André Wissenberg: In principle, all trade fairs, events   predominantly on focus topics, to existing and   Georg Stausberg: If the corona situation has changed
 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   anything, then one thing above all: speed. We have
 schedules for 2020. The mid-term outlook for our   middle of March. Most organizers initially repeatedly   webinars is generally more likely to resemble   to be extremely focused during this time, do the right
 segment remains unchanged based on current   moved these to in part later dates in the year in the   university lectures, regardless of how creative these   things, make decisions quickly and implement them
 assessment and the project pipeline has been   hope that the pandemic would be quickly contained   might be, and the dialog takes a backseat here – not   pragmatically. So far, we have managed to do this by and
 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 are   large, together with all those involved and in harmony with
 normal. Ultimately, we must all recognize that the   competing with each other – new, currently nascent   our suppliers and above all our customers. It goes without
 TEXtalks: In which markets did you observe   digital communication platforms in the form of virtual   saying that not everything here runs smoothly and that
 withdraw in regard to pandemic?  coronavirus crisis and its impact on our global   trade fairs could represent an invaluable addition for
 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   understanding and willingness to compromise are
 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.  required on all sides, but at the same time the will to
 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   implement them consistently. Here we would like to
 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   thank everyone involved.
 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 with
 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 reality   TEXtalks: Mr. Wissenberg, the global pandemic has
 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   shown us the importance of digital solutions once
 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 scheduled   again. In this context, what steps will you take
 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.   towards digitalization?
 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 participants   André Wissenberg: As a result of Oerlikon Manmade
 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   Fibers delving into the digital age years ago, we have
 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 ‘real trade   experienced the intensive and short-term benefit from
 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 products   all the measures, in part also in its processing of
 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   customer projects. Admittedly, the coronavirus
 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   situation has accelerated this digital transformation to
                                                               an extreme extent. But it is working and the
 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 relevant   coronavirus crisis will also allow us to take many
 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   positive experiences we have made in our
 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 downloads   digitally-networked world with us moving forward.
 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   Thanks to the intensive collaboration between all
 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 &   stakeholders new working hour models were
 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   implemented in a very short period of time and
 “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   employees were able to work “remotely” from home –
 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 take   worldwide. The digital infrastructure for this was
 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   already extensively available 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 welcome   Fibers. Now, it has unintentionally had to subject itself
 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.  to serious testing.
 us despite the challenging times we are currently in.   chain in the challenging COVID-19 environment. We
 September/October 2020                                                             September/October 2020
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