China Accessories Show, China Sewing Machinery Show, Apparel Machinery Trade Show

India's Largest "Exclusive Chinese" Apparel MachineryTrade Show Held in Bangalore was sponsored by CMAI and CSMA.

Bangalore: India's largest "ExclusiveChinese" Apparel Machinery Trade Show was held from January 10 to 12, 2008at Bangalore International Exhibition Center. The Clothing ManufacturersAssociation of India (CMAI) and the China Sewing Machinery Association (CSMA)jointly organized this first ever largest Solo Show outside China spread over an area of 10,000 sq.m.

This was for the first time ever,leading Chinese Sewing Machinery manufacturers directly participated and displayedin India their product range of machinery, accessories and spares.

More than 80 Chinese manufacturersincluding Feiyue, Typical, SGSB, Zoje, Jack, Tongyu, Founder, Takatori, JinyumLaser, Xingdahao, North Phoenix and Chongqing Zero participated in thisexclusive Chinese Apparel & Allied Machinery and Spares Trade Show.

The focus of the exhibition was onworld class technology, innovative approach, competitive pricing and highproductivity. The Chinese Companies displayed their latest and extensive rangeof Sewing, Cutting, CAD CAM, Laser, Button Attaching Machine, EmbroiderySoftware, Finishing Equipment, Inspection, Fusing Equipment, QuiltingEquipment, Pattern Making System, Garment Accessories and Spare Parts.

China is the most important Sewing Machinery ManufacturingCountry accounting for more than 70 percent of the total world production. Thethroughput of sewing machines in China last year was 16,500,000 sets, in whichindustrial sewing machines' share was 8,600,000 sets, while the share ofhousehold sewing machines was 7,800,000 sets, the embroidery machine 100,000sets, 1,30,00,000 were exported outside China.

It is pertinent to note that besidesbeing the largest manufacturer & exporter of apparel, China, also leads the production and exports of apparel machinery in the world.

After the rapid development inrecent years, the China Sewing Machinery Industry has stepped into a stage ofstructural adjustments and the upgrading of the industry. Each company paysmore attention on theupgrading of Technology, upgrading the quality of the product and building ofan international brand whilst increasing production. All the Chinese Co nowpromoting their Products India, being the Second largest producer of Apparel inthe World, is gradually becoming one of the main Focus Markets for ChineseMachinery Manufacturers.

This is the first ever attempt byCMAI and CSMA to bring together leading Chinese machinery manufacturers andIndian apparel producers on such a large scale. In the last few years severalChinese Companies have entered the Indian Market by appointing Agents, settingup Representative Offices and participating at the Machinery Shows.

"The outcome of these Companieshas been encouraging. All these activities have been done by IndividualCompanies and hence the entire Technology and Image of the China SewingMachinery Industry has not been showcased in the International Markets," accordingto Mr. Tian Minyu, President of China Sewing Machinery association.

In order to change this positionCSMA undertook a study of the Indian Apparel industry and after several roundsof negotiations with CMAI both the Associations have reached an Agreementpromote the' China Sewing Machinery Industry to the Indian Apparelmanufacturers through mutual co-operation.

Mr. Minyu said joint ventures withIndian companies are a possibility in the future for the production of sewingmachinery (embroidery) and talks are on. Minyu said that apart from India, other emerging markets for China Latin America, South East Asia and west Asia.

Rahul Mehta, President, CMAI, said:"If the garment industry has to grow, improved technology is extremelyimportant as is control over costs. This is where China as a supplier comes in. China, which has captured 70 per cent t share in sewing machine productionin the world, is an expert in making low-cost and technologically-soundproducts. Chinese products are 50-60 per cent the cost of products from othermanufacturers. We are looking at co-operating and collaborating with China rather than competing."

Mr Rajendra Hinrjuja, Executive Director, Gokaldas Exports, said Chinese machinery is equal in quality to the rest of the manufacturers (Japan, Germany, Korea and Taiwan) and cheaper in price. The country has brought in a revolutionary change in the Indian embroidery scene. Surat, an embroidery hub in India, imports around 20 embroidery multi-heads a day, he said

"Surat resembles a mini Chinese dormitory with so many Chinese machines running there. Tirupur too has turned to China for machinery supply. We will use Chinese machines to compete with the Chinese," said Mr Hinduja.

India has emerged as one of the main markets for China for supply of machinery. In the last few years, Chinese companies have set up representative offices in India, appointed agents and have participated in machinery shows. The Indian garment industry is looking to cash in on improved and cost-efficient technology from none other than its rival China. Talks are on for possible joint ventures between Indian and Chinese companies for the production of sewing machines for embroidery.

Talks are also on between the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and the China Sewing Machinery Association (CSMA) for setting up a training .centre for operating Chinese machinery. It would be most likely located "close to the major centers of production - Bangalore, Tirupur or Delhi," Mr. Mehta said. There are plans for setting up of centers where spare parts can be made available easily and also plans to set up bonded warehouses to sell Chinese sewing machinery directly in India.

Profile of Chinese Sewing and Embroidery Machinery market

In China, the sewing machine industry has formed a certain scale and been equipped with a relatively high technical level, thanks to its 80-year development, especially the 30-year development after China's reform and opening up. This industry boasts of a production system and, with its abundant varieties and complete categories, is basically able to meet domestic demand and obtain strong international competitiveness.

Currently, this industry has attracted more than 850 enterprises engaged in manufacturing complete sewing machines, 1,000 enterprises specialized in producing spare parts, near 20,000 distributors and 250,000 employees.

The product quality has improved steadily, varieties have become increasing abundant, the self-contained systems have gradually grown perfect and the international competition capability has been enhanced considerably. Conventional products have reached or approached the international advanced level of like products. In addition, the industry has also achieved technical innovation, which is evident from the rise in product electromechanical integration and degree of serialization.