Thies Textilmachinen, the German textil finishing and dyeing machine producer, has been presenting solutions to the industry since 1892. Continuing its production in Coesfeld, Germany, the firm develops and tests the technologies which customers demand within its own dyehouse. The firm puts its signature on green technologies by the slogan “Go Green With Thies”, and it has an important share on demand increase with regards to technologies both environment-friendly and decreasing costs. Thies presented iMaster H20 rope dyeing machine , which provides cost advantage in all inputs from water consumption to chemicals, from dyestuff to energy, in ITMA ASIA CITME, after ITMA Barcelona and ITM İstanbul, to its Far Eastern visitors. The firm, exhibiting its products in Saloon E1 Booth C01, reminded once more with this technology it developed for knitted and woven fabrics’ process that it is a brand that must be taken into consideration in the global market.
iMaster H20, operating with the reduced high elastin elongation, can make production in a wide product scale, such as cotton, synthetic fiber and mixtures of these; besides, it provides high quality in surface view and stability. Thies focuses on reducing water consumption, chemical, dyerstuff and energy. iMaster H20 makes dyeing with flote under 1:4, by using traditional methods in practice, with no need for air technology. Complex rinsing systems combined with “intelligent functions”, reduces total water and energy consumption more.
iMaster Introduced in Istanbul after Barcelona
Giving an interview to Textil Dünyası Magazine, Verena Thies, General Manager of Thies Textilmachinen, provided general information on the firm’ s works after ITMA Barcelona. Stating that ITMA has always been an essential event, Thies defined it as “the biggest textile machine event in the world”. Thies, regarding ITMA as the biggest opportunity to exhibit new technologies, informed that they always focus on developing new and good machines. Especially in this respect, a successful R&D department is important. Thies said; “The new machine can be run with higher efficiency, because of its ecologic and economic design and functions. Furthermore, the continuous feedback of our customers allowed us to enhance the operator’s convenience in daily-live-practice. So, at the ITMA we had the opportunity to exhibit our latest developments and innovations. We have aimed to provide practical solutions.”
Verena Thies, pointing out that they also attended ITM İstanbul fair in the last April, implied that they had the chance to deepen the contact to Turkish textile producers as well as industry representatives and to present the iMaster H20. Thies explained; “Thoroughout the fair, we have been in close contact with visitors every day. Besides, our Turkish sales representatives are successfully promoting our products and the philosophy behind”. Turkish textile producers usually visit the fairs held in Europe and Asia to observe the new technologies and current market situations.
The Year 2011 was a Successful Period
Verena Thies, reminding that Thies has a 120-year-old past, said that 2011 has been a successful period. Thies summarized the firm’ s viewpoint on textile finishing as such; “Nowadays, ecology and sustainability are the central issues of our Research and Development Department as well as of our Production Department. Of cource, water, energy and other raw materials are needed during the dyeing processes, however we are trying hard to continously reduce the consumption and to search for alternative processes to conserve natural resources. Furthermore, we have developed machine designs and corresponding functions to reduce process times to a minimum. In addition to the necessary technical hardware for the machine’ s log-lasting life, we are optimizing logistics. With the iMaster H20 which we introduced last year, we were able to reduce the overall carbon footprint amount by 32-33 percent. So, we attach great importance to this new technology”.
Verena Thies explained that they used the slogan “Go Green With Thies” especially for iMaster H20, adding that this machine reduces both water consumption and energy consumption per kg. Many sensitive fabrics, which were usually dyed on air machines, can be treated with the iMaster. Thies underlined that the energy consumption of air machines is higher in comparison. Although iMaster is a brand new machine, it grabs huge attention, as Thies defined.
Thies put forward their aim to protect environment, while not causing additional expenses and so they develop new technologies for this reason. Thies said; “While we provide environmental advantage, we satisfy our customers with our economical advantages. We provide higher production, less cost and as a result, increase their competitive power”.
Verena Thies explained that miniMaster, the new laboratory machine which is in the position of complementary for iMaster H20 and its ultra reduced flote rate, has been quite successful last year. Thies added that the miniMaster with a maximum capacity of 3kg bridges the gap between Laboratory bench and production process.
We Try Prototypes in Our Own Dyehouse
Telling about R&D process and prototype developing issues, Verena Thies continued; “Generally our design department draws the machine, afterwards we prepare a prototype. The prototypes have to pass several test periods in our own dyehouse. We work hand in hand with our customers, who take a deep look at the prototypes. Afterwards our design and application engineers visit the customers to support and adjust the new machines according to their individual belongings. Stating that iMaster has also been examined in Turkey, Thies announced that these tests convinced Turkish textile producers.
For example, at ITMA Barcelona we also introduced the AAP-System (Advanced Aftertreatment Process), which was also developed in the same way. AAP, an ozone-treatment-process to remove the color from the dye liquor, enables us to realize huge savings on water and process time.”
Verena Thies said that there are surely powerful producers in terms of textile finishing machines segment in Turkey, too. However, she emphasized that Thies has ever been focusing on its own projects. She defended the German philosophy, namely aiming to develop innovative products, manufacturing on a high quality and security standard, continously supporting and serving for customers. Thies added: “Every company has its own concept. We believe in ours. Thies concentrates on the customers’ demands in order to be successful.”
We Give Importance to Long-term Partnerships
Re-emphasizing that Thies is a traditional family company, Verena Thies said that due to that, they seek long-term collaboration with their customers and they do not bring forth earning money in short term. “ This viewpoint is perhaps the secret for our long-lasting history”, stated Thies, by adding that they have a very positive market expectation for 2012 and they have a lot of positive feedbacks from their customers. Thies informed that as firm managers, they have a very busy travel program in their schedule and they take customers’ demand one-to-one on their places, by informing that they operate in order to develop better technologies.
Verena Thies reported that Turkey is an important region for them. Stating that Asian market demonstrates a fluctuated scene. For instance, China has not been that busy at the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012, but it had an huge increase in sales since April 2012. In Bangladesh market, they went through a busy period, Thies informed, by ending her words such; “Not only the Bangladeshi textile producers but also foreign investors in Bangladesh are in collaboration with us. No matter what, China is a good market for us. On the other hand, investments continue in Pakistan, too. As Thies, we prefer to have market shares worldwide, not depending on one single market.”
Turkish Market to Increase More in 2012
Andre Engbersen, Sales Manager of Thies, eplained that thay underwent a very well period in Turkish market in 2011 and they expect it to be much more better in 2012. Engbersen informed that their machines take interest especially in Çorlu, Çerkezköy, Bursa, Antep and Maraş, some of which are in an advanced position and some of which are still at the beginning level.
7 iMasters Sold to Bangladeshi Viyellatex
Thies, beginning to increase its sales towards the end of 2011, continues to double its sales with iMaster H20 rope dyeing machine thoroughout 2012. The firm sold 7 iMaster H20 to Bangladeshi firm Viyelletex. Adding the 7 machines which provide dyestuff, chemical, water, gas and electric saving to its plant, the firm made the purchasing via HOService, Thies’ s sales and service partner in Bangladesh. HOService, centered in Dhaka, also provided after sales setup for the firm. Orders had been given at the end of 2011 and the firm had spared an additional plant area for the machines.
Viyellatex, established in 1996, makes knitted outwear and textile production. The firm, demonstrating a vertical structuralization in production, takes place in all the processes from raw material to the last step. The firm has new investments with its decision of increasing the 30-ton dyeing and production capacity. Viyellatex firm supplies products to global brands such as Marks&Spencer, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Puma, Timberland, Esprit, Tommy Hilfiger and Hawes&Curtis. Dyehouse of the firm is stated to work 7/24 hours.
