“In the special interview carried out with our publishing group, Evelyne Cholet, Secretary General of the French Textile Machinery Manufacturers 'Association (UCMTF), provided information with respect to the 2016 sales activities of the French manufacturers' as well as their market targets for the year 2017. Cholet noted that in 2016 there had been an increase in the sales of machines to produce technical textiles, carpeting or to recycle textiles.”
As UCMTF, what kind of activities did you carry out in 2016, so as to enhance the international recognition of the French Textile Machinery?
“I would like to remind your esteemed readers that, as the French Association of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, we group about 30 companies, often world leaders on their specific markets, with a total annual consolidated turnover of 1 billion Euros. We are the sixth textile machinery exporter worldwide. Our companies are particularly strong in long fibre spinning (wool, acrylic …), yarn twisting and control (including technical yarns), heat setting for carpet yarns, carpet systems, dyeing and finishing, felts and belts for finishing processes, nonwovens, air conditioning of textile plants, and recycling processes of textile materials. Our association is a member of the CEMATEX, the owner of the ITMAs which are major events for us to enhance the international recognition of our members. In 2016, last October, we were very active at ITMA ASIA + CITME in Shanghai. We also promote our members at the main regional fairs. In 2016, we selected INDIA ITME which took place in Mumbai last December and, as usual, in your own country, which took place last June in Istanbul. In 2016, we also organized the first “Dalton Carpet Conference” focusing on innovative solutions for the flooring industry: from polymer and natural fibers to end product. Our idea was to offer state of the art solutions for the complete carpet production process. This is why we invited other European machinery manufacturers to join us. It attracted more than 120 attendees, including the most important US carpet manufacturers. We do believe this event should be the first of a worldwide series.”
How was the year 2016 with regards to the French Textile Machinery Manufacturers? Have you reached your sales objectives for this year?
“We do not have yet the final figures for 2016, but we know that it has been a good year for our members. We expect that the turnover of our companies has been stable, at near record levels. We know that a drawback for our customers is the delays to deliver the new orders; for some of our companies it has been close to one year. Geographically there have been changes, for example the Chinese market, our most important market, has contracted but the US market has boomed. In Turkey, after so many years of record levels, the order intakes have not been as buoyant. We are still a bit disappointed by our sales in India despite the country modernization needs and by the financial difficulties to close business deals with our Iranian customers. There are also changes in the type of products made with the machines ordered. Sales of machines to produce traditional textiles (apparel) have slowed but sales of machines to produce technical textiles, carpeting or to recycle textiles have soared.”
What is the position of the Turkish market for French Textile Machinery Manufacturers?
“Turkey has been for many years our second or third most important market. Our Turkish clients and we share the same goal: be reliable long term partners for our customers. Both, we are not looking for short term profits but to make our companies stronger and stronger, to seize the markets opportunities and be able to absorb the difficult years. The stability of our teams (sales managers, technicians, agents and local representatives) allows them to go well beyond the purely technical and address the long term objectives of their customers.”
What kind of market-oriented activities or practices do you plan in Turkey for the year 2017?
“In 2017 and beyond, we will continue, increase and improve our actions in Turkey. Also in Gaziantep and in Izmir, we have regularly, about every 3 years, organized seminars to meet our Turkish customers and show them our latest developments. We have also dedicated special budgets to promote our members through the Turkish textile media, including yours. Last but not least, because it is not visible for our customers, we have helped our members improve the efficiency of their logistics in Turkey, for example to help them be more proactive to fight counterfainted spare parts and set up very effective logistics to deliver the original spare parts the customers need.”
What will be your activities regarding the global markets market in 2017?
“In addition to the purely machinery fairs, we consider as very important, the fairs related to a specific sector of the textile industry. I am thinking of course of Techtextil particularly, every two years, when it takes place in Frankfurt. This May 2017 we will promote our members exhibiting at Techtextil Frankfurt and will have our own collective booth. What is interesting in these specialized fairs is that the whole industry meets from machinery manufacturers to finish goods producers and professional end-users. Moreover, in 2017 will be taking part in Domotex, the leading floor covering event. Another goal for 2017 is to help our members to team together to offer complete lines as our customers, more and more, are looking for one company to be responsible for its project. This strategy could be opened to other European machinery manufacturers.”
Is there anything else you would like to add?
“Worldwide, textiles manufacturers face an array of challenges: open new markets, design new products, produce them in a reliable, cost effective and sustainable way. To navigate in today’s fast changing environment, they need strategic partners such as providers of innovative industrial solutions and cutting-edge technologies. The French machinery manufacturers are well positioned to be such partners, they have a recognized expertise in finding solutions for critical projects, whatever their scope, whatever their geographic localization and particularly in Turkey, a country they have, for many years, recognized as a lead market. We invite our Turkish friends to visit us on our website, which is a very convenient hub to discover each individual company’s innovations.”
