Tex-Summit focuses on China's textile industry development

The forum was held in Barcelona, Spain and sponsored by China National Textile and Apparel Council and the People’s Government of Shaoxing, jointly organised by China Textile Magazine, Shaoxing Keqiao District People’s Government, and the Management Committee of Shaoxing Keqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone, supported by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, Spanish Textile Machinery Manufactures, China Textile Machinery Association, China Dyeing and Printing Association, and The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT.

Distinguished guests from China National Textile and Apparel Council, International Textile Manufactures Federation, European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, Shaoxing City and Keqiao District People’s Government, representatives of EU - China Industrial Park, China dyeing and printing enterprises, Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), Spanish Textile Machinery Manufactures - amec amtex, and Swiss Textile Machinery Association, as well as more than 200 CEOs and heads of textile machinery enterprises from Switzerland, Singapore, Italy, Spain, Germany, US, Argentina, Pakistan, South Africa, India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, Turkey, China, China Hong Kong, and other 30 countries and regions participated in the forum which was chaired by Zhao Hong, vice president of China Knitting Industry Association.

The year 2019 is the 70th anniversary of the founding of China. At the forum, Fritz P Mayer, president of the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, Gao Yong, party secretary & secretary-general of China National Textile and Apparel Council, and Sheng Yuechun, mayor of the Shaoxing Municipal People’s Government delivered speeches.

“The Tex-Summit Global with the theme, Sustainable Trends and Demand, is timely. Participants will be able to learn about China’s textile industry development trends and policies, global textile industry outlook and insights into the challenges and opportunities in global dyeing, printing and finishing sectors. They will also be able to hear from leading experts on how intelligent technologies can contribute to a cleaner and greener textile industry,” said Mayer.

In his speech, Yong interpreted the development status of China’s textile industry and the new characteristics of China’s textile industry. He pointed out that the main economic operation indicators of China’s textile industry achieved positive growth in 2018, but the external environment became more severe in 2019. He emphasised that at present, there are many new features in the development of China’s textile industry, mainly because enterprises are more interested in going global to build factories. ‘Internet +’ is changing the status quo of China’s textile industry, and technological innovation is constantly injecting new impetus into the industry, ‘green’ sustainable development has gradually become mainstream.

Yuechun said in his speech that Barcelona has a strong economic strength and relatively developed industry, especially the world leader in automation and intelligent technology of textile machinery manufacturing. Keqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone in Shaoxing City has the largest green dyeing and printing manufacturing base in China, with an annual dyeing and printing capacity of more than 16 billion meters, a vast market and abundant resources. It has a strong complementarity and correlation with Barcelona’s industrial economic development. He sincerely hopes that the two sides can seek common development and share the future, deepen cooperation between China and the West and achieve more fruitful results.

Dr. Christian Schindler, director general of International Textile Manufacturers Federation, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Competition Drives Innovation in the Textile Industry’. He introduced what is the driving force of the current textile industry, which countries are investing, and what are the expectations for future development. He emphasised competition-driven pricing strategy and technological innovation, and pointed out that China’s competitiveness in the textile and apparel industry is still strong.

He presented various trade statistics that indicated the countries that are growing across the world. “Changing consumption patterns, growth in online retail, decrease in energy consumption and recycling, etc as the main drivers of this change,” said Schindler.

“However, continuing political tensions in Turkey, elections in India and trade dispute in China have impacted the buyer sentiments,” Schindler added. Suggesting, what to expect from future, he noted, “Investing in high technology, increasing productivity and depending less on human resource to balance the labour cost increase, increasing consumption of polyester fibre and polyester filament will reduce water consumption, chemical process, energy consumption, driving the industry to next level.”

He also indicated based on the statistics, design development and manufacturing with new bio based fibres, digital printing, product development based on integration of supply chain and intelligent manufacturing with reducing cost, better automation, productivity, flexibility and quick market response are the trends that are being foreseen.

Chen Zhihua, president of China Dyeing and Printing Industry Association, delivered a keynote speech entitled “The endogenous power of sustainable development of dyeing and printing industry”. He introduced and interpreted the three aspects of ‘high-quality dyeing and printing product design and manufacture’, ‘intelligent manufacturing’ and ‘advanced technology of energy saving and emission reduction’. He emphasised that scientific and technological innovation is the most important driving force for the transformation, upgrading and sustainable development of the dyeing and printing industry.

Patrick Wong, China sales director of CHTC Fong’s International Co, Ltd, gave a keynote speech entitled ‘To meet the market need and trend on Complete Solution for Smart Dyeing and Finishing in Textile Industry’, emphasising what CHTC Fong’s has perceived and done in Chinese market. “In China market, it is not simply to run textile dyeing and finishing green when dealing with the policy of environmental issues. Our customers in China, under the circumstances, they have also to run their dye houses sustainable enough for global competition. Energy saving, less manpower, high efficiency and quality assurance etc., are the factors concerned. Besides, innovation of technology so as to deal with quick response in supply chain is required to meet the satisfaction of fashion brands. Running the dye houses smart is necessary.”

According to Wong, in 2018, the total output of dyed and finished fabric in China is about 49 billion meters, yearly growth at 2.6 per cent. The total product value is up to more than $40 billion, yearly growth at around 3 per cent. The profit of textile printing and dyeing industry sums up to $2.25 billion, yearly growth at about 18 per cent. 8 major items of exported fabrics including cotton dyed and finished fabric contribute total $26.6 billion, growth at 6.65 per cent resulting in a total trade surplus of $22.77 billion. These figures indicate that the demand of dyeing & finishing equipment in China is still enormous. The volume of textile industry in China remains strong and energetic. It is still standing in the leading position of the world.

He also introduced that CHTC Fong’s is to set up a production base for manufacturing auxiliary devices for smart dyeing and finishing system in Keqiao, Shaoxing, China. “Shaoxing has become the center of finished fabrics in China meanwhile moving towards as the fabric world center of textile. We are confident our work put in Keqiao, Shaoxing will allow us to be more successful.”

Gu Ren, president of Changzhou Hongda Technology (Group), introduced ‘Leading Hawkvision artificial intelligence technology for the global textile industry’. He pointed out that the intelligent products of Changzhou Hongda Technology (Group) occupied the leading position in the domestic dyeing and printing industry market and technology, and the online detection system of dyeing and printing process parameters occupied more than 80 per cent of the domestic market, leading the technological progress in this field. Hawk Vision takes the world’s leading on-line detection device and system of textile dyeing and printing process parameters as its core advantage, and uses the new generation of industrial Internet, big data, artificial intelligence technology to lead the textile dyeing and printing industry into a new era of development.

Li Chuanhai, president of Keqiao Dyeing and Printing Association, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Sustainable development for a smart future’. He pointed out that the textile dyeing and printing industry must develop digitally and intelligently. Green development is the eternal theme. How to achieve new breakthroughs in textile dyeing and printing industry and how to achieve new breakthroughs in fashion creativity should be innovated forever.

Jürgen Ströhle, CTO of Benninger AG, also an officially UNIDO expert for ‘Environmental sound textile production’, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Sustainable textile finishing process’, pointing out that market demands are permanently changing, and Benninger masters market changes since 160 years, for example, “Continuous Open Width is the most efficient way to save planet resources. Benninger high efficient washing can save 70 per cent water, and the CPB Dyeing is salt free dyeing at liquor ratio 1:1.”

Adele Genoni, vice president and general manager of EFI Reggiani, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘EFI Reggiani Innovation Trendsetter’. She introduced that EFI Reggiani is blazing a path to the next level of the industry with their new products for the customers’ benefit from such aspects as performance and productivity, reliability and low maintenance, cost effectiveness, full green process and new applications. EFi Reggiani is at the edge of technology in terms of continuous ink recirculation system, proprietary electronics and software, higher uniformity printing modes, new recirculation print head integration, and pigment with binder.

Genoni emphasised EFi Reggiani Bolt at ITMA 2019 which is mainly featured with unparalleled speed, no time lost for maintenance, superior coverage and printing uniformity, compact footprint, proprietary IP combining digital and rotary technologies for special effects and hybrid solutions, and competitive ROI thanks to high productivity and unmatched reliability.

Zhao Rulang, head of Keqiao District People’s Government of Shaoxing City, comprehensively introduced the current situation and future development direction of Keqiao District of Shaoxing City with the theme of ‘Charming Shaoxing, Silk Road in Keqiao’. Rulang said that Keqiao will make every effort to build a science and technology city with an area of 80 square kilometers, to become a gathering high-tech area of high-level talents; continuously improve traditional industries such as textile dyeing and printing, and introduce modern industries such as new materials and artificial intelligence.

Li Guogang, deputy secretary of the Party and labour committee of the Management Committee of Keqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone, Shaoxing, made a panoramic perspective of Shaoxing Technological Development Zone.

During the conference, Shaoxing Keqiao District People’s Government signed strategic cooperation agreement with Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) and Spanish Textile Machinery Manufactures - amec amtex respectively.

In addition, enterprise representatives from Shaoxing Keqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone signed strategic cooperation agreements with investors from Europe:  Wichelhaus GmbH & Co KG and Shaoxing Shumei Knitting Co, Ltd; LAWER SPA and Zhejiang Yingfeng Technology Co, Ltd. (PC)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India