The reporting about ITMA Asia + CITME is coming close to its end. However, there are a few more
comments and opinions left — first of all, the suppliers of testing and monitoring equipment and
accessories. And here, two companies play an important part in the world of textile machinery:
Switzerland-based Uster Technologies AG and Germany-based Groz-Beckert KG.
Uster Technologies
Today, the name Uster is almost a generic brand for quality measurement and certification
for the textile industry. The company’s testing and monitoring instruments, systems and services
that allow optimization of quality through each individual stage of textile production — from the
raw textile fiber up to the finished fabrics — have set the standards for decades in textile
processing. In the past few months, Uster Technologies was in the news because of a tender offer in
May 2012 from Japan-based Toyota Industries Corp. Today, it is virtually a daughter company of
Toyota. In talking to Uster staff, it is evident that everybody feels very good with the new
owners.
Groz-Beckert
Until 1980, the portfolio of Groz-Beckert was limited to latch and bearded needles for
various textile machines. Since 2000, the production range was extended to include weaving machine
accessories. Today, Groz-Beckert develops and produces a comprehensive range comprising parts for
knitting and weaving machines, felting machines, tufting machine needles, modules, loopers, tufting
knives and reed fingers as well as sewing machine parts. In July 2010, the company opened its
Technology and Development Center (TEZ).
Mission Accomplished
The Rupp Report spoke with Reine Wasner, Uster Technologies’ head of marketing &
business development, and Birte Kleefisch, Groz-Beckert’s senior manager of corporate
communications, about their experiences and thoughts from this ever-so-important event. Kleefisch
mentioned that “the booth in the first two to three days was crowded with people all day long.”
Wasner mentioned that “visitor attendance was not overwhelming, but the quality of the
people was excellent. We were able to discuss concrete business.”
Also for the accessory suppliers, most of the visitors came from China, as well as from
Pakistan and Indonesia. “There was quite a good mix of Asian customers,” said Wasner.
Kleefisch added that “not many Turkish people came to see us.” The overall impression of
both persons about the event was rather positive. “However,” Kleefisch said, “the last ITMA Asia
was a better one, probably because this time, we were badly positioned in the hall.”
Positive Response On Novelties
Both companies introduced products for the first time in Asia at ITMA Asia + CITME, and both
had very encouraging feedback. “We showed the Classimat 5 and the Quantum 3,” said Wasner. “On both
products, we had very good feedback from the visitors.” The Classimat 5 is said to deliver all the
traditional classification standards, while broadening its scope to include outliers. The system
detects and quantifies for the first time outliers for periodic faults, evenness, imperfections and
hairiness, in addition to critical thick and thin places. Wasner mentioned that “especially
important are its powerful foreign matter tools for assessing colored foreign fibers, vegetable
matter and — for the first time — polypropylene content.”
The Quantum 3 yarn clearer combines random sample testing with continuous process
monitoring. Uster reports that the clearer tests every meter of yarn for compliance with particular
quality parameters, and simultaneously detects and removes unwanted faults and contamination. The
new capacitive, optical and foreign matter sensors see virtually everything, in greater detail than
any previous yarn clearer generation. Multiple light sources are used to detect new colored foreign
fibers and to help separate colored foreign fibers from mostly non-disturbing vegetable matter. It
also offers a polypropylene clearing option.
“The feedback on both products was excellent,” Wasner said. “We see a big trend in further
automatization, also in monitoring and texting equipment. Our systems can provide total quality
over the whole production process.”
Groz-Beckert presented some products new to the Asian market as well, including knitting
cylinder and precision parts for production of knitted fabrics in gauge E90; the CylinderMaster for
simple, reliable, safe and fast cylinder changes on single-jersey circular knitting machines,
enabling 85 percent of all cylinders to be changed and removed; and last, but not least, the
PremioBox, a new packaging solution for fine-gauge needles, providing optimal protection, improved
removal and safe needle handling.
“Especially the PremioBox was in the center of attention,” Kleefisch mentioned. “With ever
so much finer needles, the knitters need safe needle handling, and the PremioBox can provide this.
The E90 gauge cylinder also was a big attraction for our customers. The trend in knitting is going
to finer gauges, G80 and even G90, for very sophisticated fabrics.”
Europe Is Still A Must
Of course, the European market is still important for both suppliers: “Yes,” said Wasner,
“Turkey is very important for us. This country mainly produces high-quality yarns.”
“Europe is very important for technical textiles,” Kleefisch added. “In our portfolio, there
are a lot of products for technical textiles.”
On the other hand, Asia is very important. “For us,” said Wasner, “it is about 50/50 with
Europe.” Kleefisch added, “Apparel still holds first place, and these products are mostly produced
in Asia.” China, India, Turkey, Bangladesh and Pakistan are the most important sales markets at the
moment for Uster Technologies and Groz-Beckert.
Is the somewhat shaky economical situation distorting the business? “Well,” said Kleefisch,
“at the end of 2011, we had a little slowdown, but not too much. For 2012, we think that the
markets will remain steady at this level.”
Wasner added: “Some projects are postponed. However, we can help the customer to save money
with our monitoring and testing systems. This is vital in times of volatile raw material prices.”
Positive Outlook
Wasner and Kleefisch are optimistic for 2013: “We are convinced that the markets will
increase slightly in 2013,” Wasner said. “We see rising turnovers in the second half of this year
and hope that this trend will go on. The basic need for textiles is still apparent and will fuel
the business in the future.”
Kleefisch mentioned another point: “The consolidation in the garment-producing markets is
more or less finished; nevertheless, there is a move towards other cheap-labor-cost countries. Yet,
technical textiles will also have increasing importance in Asia.”
To Remain In The Premier League
To keep the position at the top, Wasner is convinced that the future of quality monitoring
is not selling single instruments, but, rather, complete systems. “To produce ongoing quality takes
more than simple components. To have a better quality, it must be even over the whole production
chain.”
And what is Groz-Beckert doing to keep the position? “Education is the key word,” Kleefisch
said. “With our own academy, we can achieve this target. And at the end of the day, we rely on a
partnership with our customers. Only long-lasting faith and mutual friendship will give the needed
results to carry on for both sides.”
July 31, 2012
