Swiss Textile Machinery Companies Report Successful ITMA Asia + CITME Exhibition

The recent ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition was marked by a strong showing from Swiss Textile Machinery members, in what was the sector’s first major face-to-face showcase since the pandemic restrictions.

With an attendance made up of 99% Chinese visitors, the show still proved a satisfactory venture, the Swiss companies reported. There is real product innovation, and meaningful customer interest, prompting an authentic mood of optimism among exhibitors. The function happened from June 12-16 in Shanghai, with 18 Swiss exhibitors, of whom 13 were Swiss Textile Machinery member companies.

“Our members were for starters delighted in order to meet their customers personally again,” says Cornelia Buchwalder, secretary general of Swiss Textile Machinery. “And the feedback was extremely positive regarding the post-pandemic future market situation. From an admittedly low base in recent times, we see a real revival in investment.

“Despite the lack of many show visitors from other countries, it is still the case that China itself is a pre-eminent market for textile machinery - so that it is the ideal location to restart our exhibition campaign.”

Rieter Group, like the Graf, SSM and Bräcker businesses, described the event as “a success regardless of the restrictions.” Lower visitor attendance overall was outweighed by the response to the company’s ‘virtual booth.’

Rieter CEO Norbert Klapper comments: “At the moment, the textile machinery market is booming due to a catch-up effect.” Orders for the first half of this year are already expected to become more than triple the particular level in the corresponding amount of 2020, and comments from customers at the event was also positive.

Rieter also sees changes in the Chinese market for spinning equipment, driven by cost development in the united states. “On the main one hand, Chinese customers will foster investments outside China, specifically because of their export business. Simultaneously, they will invest in their businesses in China so as to stay competitive,” he says.

The need for the China market was also emphasized by Loepfe Brothers Ltd., whose CEO Dr. Ralph Mennicke comments: “ITMA Asia means meeting our biggest customer base on the planet - physically by our local partners, and nearly via our virtual meeting point at the Loepfe booth. While we expect to visit a major transformation of exhibitions, we are determined to shape this transformation our way.”

Both new and existing Loepfe customers visited the company’s booth, with two new products attracting great interest. “We've seen a great pick-up of investments into spinning mills in 2021...the starting place for a fresh era of sensor solutions for fibers and filaments,” Dr Mennicke says.

Stäubli is also looking forward to a boom period after Covid-19, and the Chinese market can be regarded as “still very stable,” with prospect of growth in the denim industry in the Guangdong region, although companies from here were not able to wait in Shanghai as a result of travel restrictions.

The opportunity to meet customers face-to-face was a crucial factor for Stäubli, for this event and for all those scheduled during 2022. “Real customer contact is important to us,” says Fritz Legler, vice-president Marketing, Sales & Service. “Digital trade fairs won't replace the sensation to ‘experience’ the machines, when all five senses are activated, and the performance of the merchandise can be presented directly.”

Stäubli managed present a broad selection of machinery at its booth, with several new launches, and special interest reported in weaving preparation solutions, dobby and Jacquard machines.

Regardless of the pandemic, Uster Technologies could launch three significant innovations during 2021, all of which attracted serious interest - both technical and commercial - when presented at ITMA Asia + CITME.

Sivakumar Narayanan, the company’s executive vice-president, says: “We closed quite a few contracts, and we were generally very content with the response at the show. It had been handled 100% by our Chinese team, who did an excellent job in establishing the exhibits and handling Chinese and international visitors. It had been predominantly visited by Chinese companies but there have been a few from other countries, such as for example Pakistan and Turkey. We were also pleased to go back to ‘live’ exhibitions, but our virtual showroom was a very important extra channel to stay in connection with customers and prospects.”

Like other companies in the industry, Uster is in a high demand phase, striving to meet up delivery times, despite a continuing semiconductor supply chain challenge. As the company hopes demand will sustain, its aim is to maintain flexibility and adjust to the needs of the market situation.