The German Textile Machinery Association (VDMA) with a focus on three core areas with its future strategies: efficiency, digitalization and circularity participated at ITMA 2023. In a press conference held in the SUITE, some of its member companies gave an overview of its textile recycling technologies.
The VDMA said it is creating the technical prerequisites for more efficient reuse and recycling of textiles within the spinning, nonwoven, weaving, knitting, warp knitting, braiding, and finishing areas. There is a strong German presence at this year’s ITMA with 200 German exhibitors, totaling 15% of the exhibitors.
Amid worries within the market, Janpeter Horn, from August Herzog Maschinenfabrik, confirmed that although the Indian market had grown for the VDMA, there has been a slip with the Chinese market. He said: “Our books are full and we’re still experiencing backlogs, but prospects are still bright.”
German output in general has increased for the VDMA, however, from EU€3bn in 2021 to EU€3.2bn for 2022 for textile machinery and accessories. Its major markets include China, India, Turkey, the EU, and US.
Pushing on digitalization, the VDMA said it is connecting machines and standardizing interfaces. It has done this through having a central overview of devices, standardizing job management, and exchanging the processes for information.
Oerlikon
Oerlikon presented its statistics, including its growth drivers: population growth and affluence, better availability, lower resource intensity, and superior product characteristics as well as seeing a growth of 4% within man-made fibres.
André Wissenberg, vice president, head of marketing, corporate communications, and public affairs at Oerlikon, presented statistics and benefits for its Oerlikon Neumag EvoSteam Process, including an over 12% higher return on efficiency, energy savings of 8%, a 50% reduction in waste and a 20% lowered CO2 footprint. He added that Oerlikon is prepared to enable the path to PET recycling technology.
Dornier Technologies
Dornier Technologies presented its new machine designs for Dornier air-jet technologies, type AWS4/E D10 for sun protection with an article from Sattler SUN-TEX as well as its digital outlook and concept for Dornier Weaving services and technologies.
Wolfgang Schöffl from Dornier gave a company overview that stated its total sales for 2022 accumulated to EU€370m, with its incoming orders for 2023 amounting to EU€442m.
Schöffl said: “[Dornier] is on a sustainable mission to have sustainability as a corporate strategy through both having a low carbon footprint due to local supply chains and manufacturing in Lindau, Germany. And, by having long-lasting technologies for weaving machines with a long lifecycle still generating reliable quality after many decades in operation.”
He added that around 8% of Dornier’s annual sales flow into research and development.
Thies
Verena Thies, of manufacturing company Thies, unveiled a new Signature Series for the company, which it said is going to open a new chapter in fabric coloration.
The technology will allow for a 25% reduction in water usage, 25% reduction in steam, and 23% reduction in CO2. It also offers a 50% chemical reduction, 20% dyestuff reduction, and up to 82% reduction in Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), according to Thies. She said: “The Signature Series offers a holistic concept.”
Its applicable for all types of fibres, styles, and forms, and offers excellent colorfastness, uniform levelness with no limitations for colour and shade ranges.
Latest German technologies revealed at ITMA 2023
