We're already seeing developing countries that are demanding new highly innovative textile products...
Raffaella Carabelli, President of ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) tells about the Italian textile machinery market as she converses with Fibre2Fashion Correspondent Manushi Gandhi.
Synopsis:
ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) is a private non-profit making body and its main purpose consists in promoting the Italian textile machinery sector and in supporting its activity, mainly abroad, through the most updated and innovative promotional means, constantly improved during its more than 60 years of life.
Ms. Raffaella Carabelli has been an ACIMIT member of the Board of Directors since 2005 and since 2009 she has been holding the position of Vice President. She is ACIMIT's representative at ITMF and is a member of the Italian delegation at CEMATEX, the Committee of European Textile Machinery Associations. She has studied Business Administration from Bocconi University in Milan.
Excerpts:
Can you list some ACIMIT’s most recent achievements and major projects?
As usual, ACIMIT is busy promoting Italy’s textile machinery sector throughout the world. Recently, our association has been working on developing the Sustainable Technologies project, which about 40 of our associated members have endorsed. The aim is to certify the commitment of Italy’s textile machinery manufacturers in seeking new solutions that respond to sustainability factors. This commitment translates into eco-efficient technology responses, with significant benefits for users of these machines in terms of reductions in production costs and environment impact.
What is the situation concerning export sales of Italian machinery over the past few years?
For the period from 2009 to 2013, Italian exports grew on average by 9%. However, there has been a lull over the past two years, due to a lack of vitality in the world’s major markets in the sector (China and India).
How have rising energy costs affected the textile machinery industry?
The entire textile and garments sector has been affected by growing energy costs. This is why machinery manufacturers have invested in providing technology solutions capable of cutting production costs. Italy’s textile machinery manufacturers have done just that, headed by ACIMIT’s associated members who joined the Sustainable Technologies project, affixing a Green Label to each of their machines being assessed for the labeling process. The label, certified by an international certification organism, RINA, highlights energy and/or environmental performance specifications of the labeled machine, calculated in terms of production cycle benchmarks. The Green Label also specifies the quantity of equivalent carbon dioxide emissions produced during the machine’s operation, providing an effective Carbon Footprint (CFP), a parameter selected to provide a value for the ecological efficiency of the machinery covered by the labelling.
What are the factors that rank Italy as the world’s fourth producer of textile machinery?
Italian technology has always been recognized for its reliability and versatility. Italian textile machines is tailor-made to the specific requirements of each user. And now, thanks to ACIMIT’s sustainability project, Italian machinery stands out even more for their eco-friendly specifications and efficient production processes.
Name some recent developments in the textile machinery industry and how they’ve helped the manufacturing of textile products?
Textile companies are placing increasing emphasis on cutting production costs, since they have to compete in a global market that is increasingly characterized by factors based on price. Therefore, technology suppliers too must comply with these needs, proposing ever more efficient solutions that reduce consumption of energy, water, other raw materials and chemicals.
What are the growth markets for the non-woven and technical textiles segment?
Overall, the technical textiles sector has been on a growth trend that is surely greater than production figures for traditional textiles. The demand for innovative and functional textiles for specific uses has grown exponentially in recent years, and it is still primarily from industrialized countries. However, we’re already seeing developing Countries that are demanding new highly innovative textile products, such as, for example, in the building, infrastructure and medical sectors. We expect that China and India will play a prominent role in the demand for non-wovens and technical textiles.
ITMA ASIA+CITME 2014 will be held in Shanghai from June 16 to 20: what can we expect from this event?
ITMA ASIA has become the leading trade fair in Asia for our industry. China holds a significant share of the export market to major textile machinery producing Countries. For the 2014 edition of ITMA Asia, Italy will once again be a major player, with around 110 Italian exhibitors on hand, occupying a surface area of roughly 4,750 sqm., an increase compared to two years ago. This is proof that our manufacturers are confident that growth will pick up in Asia’s markets, particularly in China.
How do you foresee the growth of the Italian textile machinery industry in the near future?
Competition is increasingly fierce. In Countries with a strong textile tradition, the local supply of textile machinery has been growing. In this scenario, only the most innovative manufacturers, who are capable of establishing 360° partnerships with their customers, will remain industry leaders. In my view, this is a perfect description of Italy’s textile machinery manufacturers.
Published on: 09/06/2014
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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