Germany is the leading country of the most powerful countries in the global textile machinery and technology sector. The umbrella organization of the German textile machinery manufacturers VDMA both conducts studies for marketing processes of member companies and the sector in the international arena and contributes to the informing processes needed. In this context, with the activities organized at various times in the leading markets, VDMA creates the chance to take a closer look at the German technologies. Turkey is located up front in the ranking of the largest markets of the German machinery manufacturers. Coming to the front as the second largest market of German machinery manufacturers in 2011,Turkey made a purchase of 294 million Euros from these manufacturers. Increasing the rate of exports to Turkey over 50 percent, German machinery manufacturers showed last year that their interest in this market continued vigorously. Having contributed to the Turkish textile sector’s process of transition from basic production to high value added production, VDMA is to organize a conference in Istanbul and Gaziantep for innovations especially in the field of technical textiles.
A series of works were carried out for the conference program “German Technology Meets Turkish Textile " as well as 30 minutes of B2B meetings. Tekstil Dünyası and TextoWear magazines are the media partners of the event to be held between 12 to 13 November in Istanbul and between 15 to 16 November in the Gazinantep. In the Istanbul and Gaziantep events focusing on technical textiles, 25 German textile machinery and accessory manufacturers are to take an active part. Dealing with energy efficiency and sustainability in textile production, Blue Competence campaign carried out by VDMA forms the main concept of the event. With more than 230 member engineering firms, this initiative enjoys great popularity with the cost advantages it brought to the textile manufacturers.
German textile machinery and accessories manufacturers to participate in the conferences to be held in Istanbul and Gaziantep are listed as follows: A. Monforts Textilmaschinen, August Herzog Maschinenfabrik, Autefa Solutions, DIENES Apparatebau, DILO SYSTEMS, ERBATECH, FONG’S EUROPE, Groz-Beckert, Heusch, Hohenstein Textile Testing Institute, KARL MAYER Textilmaschinenfabrik, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, LIBA Maschinenfabrik, Lindauer DORNIER, Mahlo, Mayer & Cie., Neuenhauser Maschinenbau, Oerlikon Neumag, Oerlikon Saurer Allma Product Line, PLEVA, Rieter Ingolstadt, TEXTECHNO Herbert Stein, Trützschler Nonwovens, Trützschler Spinning, WELKER SPINTECH, WUMAG TEXROLL.
Market Shrinkage Below Expectations
Making special explanations about the event to Tekstil Dunyasi, Thomas Waldmann, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery Association, stated that after two excellent years, business became more moderate in 2012. Waldmann said that the incoming orders in the first quarter of 2012 were under the figures of 2011; and he added that the incoming orders increased by 5 % from May to July year on year. Waldmann said: “The slowing demand came not by surprise, but was expected by the branch. In October 2011, the VDMA Textile Machinery Association already made a negative revenue forecast of minus 9 % for 2012, because the basis were extremely high prior year figures. In fact, the order situation was better than expected and the revenue forecast could be revised to minus 6 % for 2012.”
Making assessments about the financial crisis continuing to affect Euro-zone, Waldmann noted that in general, Germany was less affected compared to other countries of the Euro-zone. Waldmann underlined that Germany still had a strong economy; and he argued that the crisis had no severe consequences for their member companies as their industry predominantly exported its products outside the Euro-zone.
Turkey Makes an Impressive Comeback
Waldmann explained that the decrease was less in the biggest and most important market China; and he argued that decrease in demand was the typical cycle in textile machinery business. Expressing that on the other hand, India, the second biggest market in Asia had not reached the drive they expected, Waldmann said: “There are various reasons for this, like uncertain procurement of raw materials for customers or financing.” Remarking that as a textile nation, Turkey made an impressive come back on the world stage, he said: “The biggest European textile nation used the past years for intensive restructuring efforts that paved the way for increased competitiveness and strength.”
Waldmann pointed out that Turkey was an attractive market for German textile machinery manufacturers; and he added that this was true for the past as well as for the future. About the market of Turkey, Walmann expressed the following: “In the long-term review from 2002 to 2011, Turkey was the second biggest destination for German textile machinery. We know about the hardships the Turkish textile sector had to endure in the difficult years 2008 – 2010. The more impressive is how Turkey came out of the crisis. Especially the German textile machinery industry benefits from the Turkish efforts to increase product quality further and to focus on even faster and sustainable business processes. This is reflected in the German export figures: In 2011 textile machinery and accessories worth nearly 300 million Euros were shipped to Turkey. While the exports to most countries decreased in 2012, the shipments to Turkey increased by 20 % year on year from January to May 2012 and reached 125 million Euros. Spinning machinery accounted for 56 million Euros, followed by knitting and hosiery machinery (39 million), finishing machinery (17 million) and weaving machinery (13 million Euros).
Turkish Textile Grows with Exports
Making assessments on the countervailing duties Turkish government imposed on imported textile products and implementation of incentives, Thomas Waldmann said that this made positive contributions both to the local textile industry and to the sales of German machinery manufacturers. Waldmann emphasized that this process should not be taken into consideration from a single point of view; and he said that labor costs were traditionally higher in Turkey than in the Asian countries, and the central location of Turkey, fast turnaround times, and Turkish textile manufacturers who have manufacturing strength enough to keep up with ever-changing trends affected the process. Waldmann said: “Due to the better quality of Turkish products and the rising cost of raw materials and labor in Asia, Turkey has plenty of appeal.”
Waldmann pointed out that each with a population of more than one billion people, China and India were the largest markets in Asia; and he added that due to the nature of this population, the two Asian countries might become less dependent on textile exports, whereas the Turkish textile industry could not rely on the home market only. Waldmann underlined: “It needs a high export share to grow and to survive.” And he continued as follows: “The big advantage of Turkey is its location. It is so close to the EU-countries were nearly 50 % of its textile exports and 80 % of its garment exports are going to. As I already mentioned, the central location of Turkey enables short turnaround – something China, India, or Bangladesh cannot compete with. Turkey is also perfectly located to serve the Arabian countries, Russia and the countries in Central Asia. I would also like to mention the skilled workforce in Turkey and the renowned textile universities that are also part of the favorable business conditions.”
Efficiency to be Featured in Istanbul and Gaziantep Conferences
Informing about the conferences to be held in Istanbul and Gaziantep between 12 to 16 November by VDMA, Thomas Waldmann explained that the symposium focused on developing technical textiles; and it also dealt with high quality and efficiency in apparel and home textiles. Waldmann explained that with the technical lectures, given by renowned German companies, high attention will be paid to higher production efficiency that can make Turkish textile companies more competitive; and he expressed that there would be presentations related to spinning, knitting, warp-knitting, weaving, nonwoven, finishing and dyeing technology. Waldmann said: “Moreover, important cross-topics like energy and material efficiency, company success stories as part of the VDMA sustainability initiative Blue Competence, textile certification as well as export finance will enrich the program for the visitors’ benefit. Last but not least, a Conference Dinner will provide further networking opportunities.”
Waldmann pointed out that they attached great importance to Blue Competence; he argued that today, efficient production had become a crucial competition factor not just in Turkey but also on a global scale due to energy and commodity prices as well as ecological requirements. He explained that Blue Competence by VDMA was an initiative focusing on the technical problems of energy saving which is vital to today’s and tomorrow’s society, materials and resources. Indicating that they got positive results from Turkish visitors to ITMA 2011Barselona at which the initiative was introduced for the first time and ITMA ASIA 2012, Waldmann explained that German companies related success stories in the event themed “Sustainability meets profit”.
Waldmann expressed that on the first day of the conferences to be held in Istanbul and Gaziantep, they were to concentrate the focus on technical textiles, and on the second day, garment and home textiles were to be dealt with. Stating that the target groups were executives, the decision makers, he pointed out that the most recent developed technologies were to be presented.
Different Topics to be Covered in Indonesia and Bangladesh
Waldmann reminded that VDMA was to organize events in Indonesia and Bangladesh after the conferences held in Turkey; and he added that the forthcoming symposia would have other topics, since the markets were completely different. Waldmann said: “In Bangladesh for instance we are to focus on producing fast-fashion textiles for the mass market. We are to respond to textile producers there as they have other challenges than in Turkey.”
Young Engineers Should Be Encouraged
The engineers who will shape the future of the sector give hope by realising special projects. However, the students who receive engineering education but drop out the school constitute one of the biggest threats in the future of the sector. In this context, VDMA which wants to encourage engineers pays special attention to awarding prizes to the engineers conducting successful studies. The projects of young engineers focus on the studies concerning the future problems of aviation and automotive sectors. Finally, engineers developing projects in various fields were awarded with prizes in a competition organized by VDMA. The award ceremony took place within the scope of VDMA Textile Machines Forum at the Central Office of Truetzschler in Mönchengladbach.
The winner of the prize given in the dissertation category was also awarded a money prize of 5000 euros. The subject of the thesis was the use of natural fiber and reinforce components in coatings of car doors. Dörte Marlow from Dresden Technical University who received the promotion award of 3000 euros stood out with his test studies on simulation and dimensioning in composite structures. Another prize given within the scope of competition, the creativity prize endowed with 2000 euros was given to Johannes Thumm from Stuttgart /ITV Denkendorf University. While it was explained in the presentation that the rate of students droping out the engineering education reached 50 %, it was also stated that this situation would threaten the economy of the country. Besides, the necessity of optimising the quality of engineering education was emphasized.
