Since the closing of ITM Texpo Eurasia in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 24, there is one event
remaining for the global textile industry: ITMA Asia + CITME 2012. Several weeks ago, the Rupp
Report informed its readers about the great success of the pre-registration of the show, which has
added floor space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), where the event will take
place June 12-16, 2012
(See ”
The
Rupp Report: Successful ITMA Asia + CITME 2012 Anticipated,”
TextileWorld.com, April 17, 2012).
Will The Chinese Come?
For almost every Western supplier of textile machinery, China is still the most important
sales market in the world. It is also very clear that the Chinese customers didn’t show up at ITMA
in Barcelona Spain, in September 2011, nor at ITM Texpo Eurasia 2012. Why should they do so? They
will have their own home game in June.
Well, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, the success with pre-registrations for
the show is a fact. But will they come to see the best of the global textile machinery industry?
Nobody knows at the moment. China is facing some problems with its economy. This also was reported
by the Rupp Report some weeks ago
(See ”
The
Rupp Report: China Is Concerned,”
TextileWorld.com, February 28, 2012).
Some Turmoil
Over the last months, China has faced some unusual new problems and difficulties. Mainly
Western countries pushed China to devaluate its currency. Other problems are that exports have
dropped, but energy and raw material prices have risen tremendously, as they have in many other
countries.
On the other hand, China’s gross domestic product registered 8.9 percent year-on-year growth
in the fourth quarter of 2011. This is the slowest pace since the first half of 2009. So, China has
to solve a lot of problems in the current year. However, the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME 2012
seems to be a successful event in spite of the everlasting question about the rhythm of the ITMAs
in Europe and Asia. Furthermore, according to the latest statistics show that China’s textile
machinery foreign trade grew year-on-year by 25.6 percent, totaling US$7.6 billion in 2011.
Intellectual Property Rights
One issue that is always in the center of attention when talking to Western producers of
textile machinery is product piracy. In the April 17 Rupp Report, this issue was posed to Daphne
Poon, regional marketing communications director with show organizers MP International Pte Ltd.
This report provoked some feedback among the Western textile machinery community. “Wishful
thinking” was one of the polite comments to her statement that “the general regulations of ITMA
Asia + CITME 2012 also clearly state that all exhibitors must respect, and are liable for ensuring
protection of, the intellectual property rights of other exhibitors and of third parties — such as,
for example, patents, trademarks, copyrights and such — when displaying their products at the
show.” And her answer regarding any infringement of this was also very clear: “If it is proven to
the show organiser that an exhibitor has infringed the intellectual property rights of another
exhibitor or a third party, the organiser is entitled to remove the exhibit/s causing the
infringement and to stop the offending exhibitor from continuing with his participation.” So far,
so good: This is an official opinion.
Have Your Say
However, how are the exhibitors of the Western world thinking about this and other issues
regarding the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME? In the next few days, the Rupp Report will send out a
questionnaire to opinion leaders asking about their expectations and their thoughts about the
forthcoming event. Among other items, the recipients will provide answers to questions such as,
“What is the biggest change you see in business this year prior to ITMA Asia? Or, another important
question: Are the mills receptive to new technology, or are they on the sidelines? A very important
topic is the green movement. Are sustainability and traceability a desired reality for the
customers? Or is it just wishful thinking? In times of a difficult financial environment, what are
the conditions the industry is experiencing that are most influencing its business, or even the
customers?
It will be interesting to see the answers to these and many other questions. They will be
published on this page in the next few weeks. Any feedback is always welcome. Ni hau, see you in
June at ITMA Asia + CITME 2012.
May 15, 2012
