On June 16, ITMA Asia + CITME 2012 closed its doors in Shanghai. With this feature, the Rupp Report
closes its reporting from ITMA Asia + CITME 2012. Last, but not least, the report is about
Germany-based Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG, one of the last few privately owned textile machinery
manufacturers in Europe. The Germans are among the world’s leading suppliers for short-staple draw
frames, and Trützschler has been building spinning preparation machines since 1888.
Over the last years, led by Heinrich Trützschler and his brother-in-law Dr. Michael
Schürenkrämer, the company enlarged its portfolio with some important acquisitions and
cooperations: At ITMA Asia + CITME, Trützschler was in the limelight because of the announcement of
a cooperation between Japan-based Toyota Industries Corp. and Trützschler to develop, manufacture,
and market combing machines
(See “
The
Rupp Report: Toyata’s and Trützschler’s Joint Machinery Project,”
TextileWorldAsia.com, June 21, 2012). In Shanghai, the Rupp Report talked to
Hermann Selker, Trützschler’s head of marketing.
Three Divisions
Today, the group is composed of Trützschler Spinning, Trützschler Nonwovens (Fleissner and
Erko) and Trützschler Card Clothing. The spinning division presented for the first time its new TC
8 card. This machine has been specifically designed for the Asian market and is built at
Trützschler Textile Machinery Shanghai, TTMS. Selker mentioned the exhibit enjoyed excellent
feedback.
Overall, the company was pleased with the frequency and the quality of the visitors: “We are
satisfied with the number of visitors as well as the quality. We did not expect that many visits at
our booth,” Selker said. “However, this is not an international show, but a regional event, and we
welcomed virtually only Chinese visitors.” Also, for Selker, there was a difference between this
and the last ITMA Asia: “As I mentioned before, in our segments, the Asian ITMA is very important
for our Mainland customers.”
There was not demand for any one particular product: “No,” he said, “we had requests for
virtually every product. Yet, draw frames and foreign matter detection systems were the main focus
of attention. Foreign matter detection is kind of a standard today for every quality-yarn-producing
spinner.” What are the reasons for that? “In spite of all rumors about China, there is a
possibility to sell. There is still some particular interest. The outcome of the event was better
than expected. We signed a considerable number of contracts.”
Nonwovens Machinery Made In Europe
Is the European market still important for the Trützschler Group? “Yes, but only for
nonwovens,” Selker said. “For nonwovens, Europe is extremely important for us. On the other hand,
the Asian market is vital for our spinning department, yet the nonwovens business is increasing.
This is thanks to the growing automotive market in Asia, where the suppliers must be present.”
Also for the group, China is still the number-one market, followed by Southeast Asian
countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan. And India? “Well, India is very
quiet at the moment,” Selker said. “There are not many projects in the pipeline. However, the
investment program by the Indian government was extended, so there is some hope.”
Is the current financial situation distorting the business of the Trützschler Group? “Not
that much,” Selker explained. “It is less than expected. As a producer in the eurozone, we are
quite happy with the exchange rate, which favors exports.”
The Mainland
And how about China? Will the importance of the Chinese market further increase? “We don’t
expect any further growth in spinning,” Selker said. “Yarn production will not increase that much
because of the very high cotton prices. As a consequence, yarn imports will further increase and
the countries around China will become stronger.
“However, China is moving,” he continued. “State-owned enterprises that are not profitable
will be closed down, and the industry has to think in a more economical way. Cutting-edge
technology will become even more important for textile machinery suppliers: if energy consumption
is not low enough, the producers think about buying cheap local machinery.”
Expectations
Looking to the future, Selker added: “For 2013, we hope that we can keep our sales turnover
like 2012. We increased our sales in the segments of card clothing, man-made fibers and nonwovens.
To keep our position, we must always be the proverbial step ahead to provide even better solutions
for our customers. As I said, card clothing, man-made fibers and nonwovens are doing well, but also
the acquisition of Bastian with its rewinders is doing well
[See “
Trützschler
Nonwovens Acquires Bastian Winder Technologies,”
TextileWorldAsia.com, April 17, 2012]. And the cooperation with Toyota will
open new markets and opportunities.”
August 15, 2012