ITM Review
By Jim Borneman, Editor, Textile WorldSuccess In Turkey
Istanbul positions for growth in the international textile machinery marketplace.The recent
ITM 2004 International Exhibition of Textile Machinery, held at the Tüyap Exhibition and Congress
Center, Istanbul, Turkey, illustrated the global atmosphere of 21st-century textile production.With
nine halls and most major textile technology suppliers present, there was little question that the
exhibition reached its organizers’ goal of creating an international show. Weaving and spinning
halls had significant traffic, and the exhibition gathered a strong showing of guests, particularly
from Iran, Syria, Pakistan and Turkey.Guests said travel and visa restrictions, which made ITMA
2003 in Birmingham, England, difficult to attend, did not hamper attendance as much at ITM 2004.
They found the Turkish venue convenient and travelfriendly.
Industry executives, officials and organizers gathered at the Tüyap Exhibition and Congress
Center for the ITM 2004 opening ceremony.“Turkey is the most suitable country in terms of
transportation, accommodation and infrastructure opportunities,” said Necip Güney, sales and
marketing director, Teknik Fuarcilik Ltd., organizer of ITM 2004. “Turkey has a unique location as
a bridge at the confluence of Europe, Asia and Africa — the heart of textiles in this region.”Ümit
Vural, technical operation director, Teknik Fuarcilik, said the exhibition hosted 650 exhibitors
from 25 countries and nearly 2,500 technical support staff. According to show organizers, ITM 2004
drew 56,229 visitors from more than 40 countries — 82 percent were from Turkey, while 18 percent
were classified as international visitors. A reported 2,382 visitors came from Iran; 1,728 from
Syria; and 867 from Pakistan. There were 585 visitors from China, 492 from Egypt and 479 from
Russia.
(Left to right) Rino Morani, Paolo Puntoni and Vittorio Colussi of Savio Macchine Tessili
S.p.A.Shifting MarketsThere was no shortage of analysis and opinion among exhibitors and attendees
regarding the volatility of the global textile marketplace. The influence of China takes center
stage globally.“China will peak in 2008 to 2010, with turbulence to that peak as it grows,” stated
Y. Tomii, corporate officer and general manager, sales department, Tsudakoma Corp., Japan. “We
continue to develop the markets of Brazil, Turkey, India and Russia. Turkey is used to the rapier,
but Bursa, as a silk center, is familiar with the potential of our technology [air- and water-jet
insertion]. The market in India is like the sleeping giant, or sleeping elephant, for more than 20
years — recently it has opened one eye.” Tsudakoma exhibited, among other machines, the redesigned
ZAX 9100 air-jet weaving machine featuring a 20-percent increase in speed, 10-percent reduction in
air consumption and 35-percent reduction in vibration.
Left to right: Cavaliere Miro Radici, ITEMA Group; Fabio Mazzucchetti and Ricardo Mautino,
PromatechRegarding the U.S. market, Tomii said: “I hope [U.S. companies] will invest more and well.
The survivors are strong. Industrial fabrics, high value-added products and fashion are keys to the
survival of Japan, the United States and Europe — balancing commodity production from China. Even
with this competition from China, we must live together with China.”Viktor F. Vollmer, head of
exhibitions and organization, Saurer GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, commented that there was more
visitor participation from Syria and Iran than expected, with interest shown in ring spinning and
some open-end (OE) interest. The majority of OE interest came from Turkish visitors. “In the
future,” Vollmer said, ”this will be a very interesting exhibition for Turkey and the surrounding
area.”
Jörg Müller, Loepfe Brothers Ltd., shows the Zenit with YarnMASTER®Spinning
SectorRepresentatives from Savio Macchine Tessili S.p.A., Italy, expressed their satisfaction with
ITM 2004, mentioning a general interest in machinery at Savio’s booth and attendance numbers that
met the company’s expectations.Savio’s presence in Turkish mills includes more than 50,000 winding
heads on Espero and Orion automatic winders, more than 150,000 spindles on two-for-one twisters,
and more than 7,000 installed spindles on Savio’s Espero Volufil winder for HB acrylic yarns. Savio
exhibited the Orion E winder, equipped to process cotton/Lycra® blends, utilizing the Twin splicer
for enhanced joint appearance and strength.The new Savio FlexiRotor S3000/ Duo-Spinner, introduced
at ITMA 2003, also was displayed. The machine features two totally independent sides, which were
demonstrated spinning a denim Ne 8 yarn at a rotor speed of 95,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) on
one side, and a Ne 30 yarn at a rotor speed of 150,000 rpm on the other side.
Eduard Strebel (right), Jakob Müller AG, and Naili Bilol, Bilol Tekstil Servis, with the
RASCHELINA® RD3 warp-knitting machine with weft insertionITM 2004 drew all major spinning
suppliers, often with local representation. Rieter Textile Systems, Switzerland; Trützschler GmbH
& Co. KG, Germany; Murata Machinery Ltd., Japan; Marzoli S.p.A., Italy; Electro-Jet S.A.,
Spain; Loepfe Brothers Ltd., Switzerland; Uster Technologies AG, Switzerland; the Saurer Group; and
others made ITM 2004 a valuable exhibition for spinners in the region.Heberlein Fiber Technology
Inc., Switzerland, exhibited components and systems for the production and processing of filament
yarns in the Taslan® air-jet texturing program. Such equipment includes the Hema- Jet®-LB24 jet
housing with integrated cleaning system, the HemaJet- LB04 version without integrated cleaning
system and the HemaJet jet core T311-2. Heberlein also reported success with its new SlideJet™-2
high-performance jet plate P243-2 featuring approximately 20-percent less air consumption, for a
new standard wherever interlacing is practiced using the P221K jet plate. Heberlein also promoted
the Migra-Jet™ and AirSplicer™. The company reported both textile and finer technical yarns can be
spliced using the AirSplicer-17-2.
(Left to right) Fritz Morger and Heiner Eberli, Rieter Textile Systems; and Haluk
ErbelWeaving TechnologyAll the notable weaving companies were on hand demonstrating their weaving
machinery. Belgium-based NV Michel Van de Wiele Sales Coordinator Danny Bourgois said: “Turkey has
a booming carpetweaving market, and Van de Wiele has a dominant participation in the carpet-weaving
machinery market. The double-face CRX83 weaving machine is doing well in Turkey. The Turkish market
is a high-quality carpet market, and three rapiers are necessary.”The Van de Wiele Group reported
the show was very successful. The group comprises the Van de Wiele carpet and velvet machines,
IROROJ feeders, Bonas Electronic Jacquards and TITAN finishing machinery. Van de Wiele reported
confirming a large number of orders during the exhibition.Stäubli AG, Switzerland, hosted a
Saturday seminar featuring technical presentations of jacquard weaving to more than 250 guests from
Bursa. Joël Jegou, Stäubli communications manager, said there is a shift in interest from terry to
upholstery weaving in some Turkish market segments. Jegou pointed to success with Stäubli’s LX 30
jacquard machine for label weavers, as well as activity with Syrian, Iranian and Egyptian agents
regarding Schoenherr carpet machinery — Stäubli acquired Schoenherr in June 1998. Promatech S.p.A.,
Italy, showed in the stands of its two Turkish agents seven looms in its product range. The
double-width Mythos Tec for cotton fabric particularly caught the attention of visitors, who
thought it to be the fastest loom of the exhibition, with more than 5,000 meters per minute of weft
inserted. The Alpha and Leonardo Silver also were on display. Promatech representatives said sales
results achieved during the exhibition were positive, with a good quantity of orders for both
machines. The company released a statement asserting that “[i]n the future, this show will
certainly become one of the landmarks for the worldwide textile industry, not only for the
importance of the Turkish and the Middle East markets, but also for the extremely favorable
position of this big textile area.”
Luciano Corain (left), SMIT S.p.A.; and Gürcan Bakkalci, Barok Tekstil Mumessillik Pazarlama
Ltd.Just a few days after presentation of new technology at an open house celebration at its head
office, Switzerland-based Sultex Ltd. showed the new Sulzer Textil G6500 rapier weaving machine at
ITM 2004 — its first public display.“The reaction from the market to this machine is extremely
positive,” said Fritz Huber, Sultex sales manager for Turkey. “We are very optimistic that the
G6500 will have a strong impact on this important market. Very positive was also the feedback we
received from the numerous visitors we could welcome from Syria and Iran during ITM.”Sultex also
exhibited another significant development in projectile technology — the P7300HP. A performance
increase of up to 20 percent may be realized, which makes this machine an attractive investment
opportunity for demanding weavers. Picanol NV, Belgium; Lindauer Dornier GmbH, Germany; SMIT
S.p.A., Italy; and Toyota Industries Corp., Japan, rounded out the field of companies showing the
latest in weaving technology. Egon Wirth, marketing communication manager, Dornier, spoke of the
dynamics of the Turkish market, the growing demand for flexibility and increased diversity of
products being made. Wirth also mentioned interest is developing in stretch denim, fancy denim,
jacquard home textiles and technical textiles.
Left to right: Rossano Biancalani, Domenico Luzzi and Giuseppe Capaccioli, Biancalani
Macchine TessiliDyeing & Finishing SectorThe dyeing and finishing areas of the show had less
traffic but few complaints from exhibitors. Walter Leung, senior manager, sales and marketing,
Fong’s National Engineering Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, pointed to Turkey as one of Fong’s major markets
and was interested in exhibition attendance drawn from the surrounding region. Fong’s featured the
Allwin high-temperature package- dyeing machine. “There is interest [in the Allwin] because of the
unique design of the V-pump (reversal pump) and the lowest liquor ratio in package dyeing among the
global competition,” Leung said.Karsten Heinz, marketing and sales coordinator, Xetma Gematex GmbH,
Germany, reported interest in the Multisystem, which features five hand-altering technologies in
one machine. Xetma technology, which drew interest at ITMA 2003, is reportedly growing in
popularity in Asia. Buddy Humphrey, vice president, sales, Morrison Textile Machinery Co., U.S.,
commented on interest directed toward the Morrison Micro-Sat high-wet-pickup applicator for
scouring and bleaching applications, and the company’s wide, high-speed ranges for pretreatment and
mercerizing of wide bed sheeting. Morrison announced sales to Emin Tekstil, Turkey, which purchased
a Morrison compressive shrinking range for processing of twills, drills and bottomweights; and a
sale to Sirikcioglu Men. San. Ve Tic Ltd., Turkey, which purchased an integrated denim-finishing
range with FCS control system. Humphrey said Turkey for many years has been a strong market for
indigo rope-dyeing ranges and integrated denim finishing ranges. The same applies to Pakistan. This
year, Morrison is experiencing increased interest in non-denim wet-finishing ranges. According to
Humphrey, Morrison expects continued growth and expansion in both countries, as well as continued
expansion in the production of denim fabrics and bed sheeting.Luca Bardone, sales representative,
Cimi S.p.A., Italy, said Turkish clients have been investing in open-width wash ranges for the past
five to six years. Cimi has attracted new clients in the past year with the Multifix open-width and
Lava Bleach systems for woven cotton preparation. There was no shortage of top representatives on
hand during the show. Roberto Paggi, one of the early developers of the patented technology of the
MULTIFLOW® Paggi Patent was present at the Italy-based MCS Group booth; Nikolaos G. Vallis,
managing director, Sclavos International, Greece; Uwe Sick, sales manager, Santex AG, Switzerland;
Rossano Biancalani, general manager, Biancalani S.p.A., Italy; and many others made ITM 2004 a
first-rate exhibition.The Santex Group — comprised of Santex, Sperotto Rimar S.r.l., Italy; and
Cavitec AG, Switzerland — has had recent sales successes in the United States. At ITM, the group
featured the SANTAFRAME for high-performance heat-setting and sentering of knit and woven fabrics,
among other machines.
Erwin Devloo (right), Picanol; and Levent Ataünal, GTP Istanbul, with the OMNIplus
6R220Nonwovens SectorIn the nonwovens machinery sector, which will have its own Turkish exhibition
in 2005, NSC Nonwoven, France, confirmed the signature on a new contract for a complete
needlepunching line including the ProDyn® with double closed-loop system, as well as a web-forming
line. The web-forming for spunlacing will feature the new CA12 card with the patented LDS doffing
system.NSC Nonwoven reported four needlepunching lines and two webforming lines for spunlacing have
been commissioned in 2004 for the Turkish market.Paolo Dini, sales director, A.Celli Nonwovens
S.p.A., Italy, reported three open projects and more than 10 winders currently in Turkish
production lines — all in spunbond. “ITM has been a very interesting show with highly qualified
exhibitors and guests. Turkey is a growing and important market,” Dini said.
Hüseyin Birben, BENEKS, shows the Maxiflux jet-dyeing machineTurkish ParticipationTurkish
firms also made inroads in presenting products. Vural Sagir, general secretary, and Mustafa Sener,
president, Turkish Association of Textile Machinery and Accessories Manufacturers (TEMSAD), were on
hand to help TEMSAD members and develop international business relationships. Hüseyin Birben,
BENEKS Makina Sanyi Ve Tic Ltd., Turkey, presented the Maxiflux jetdyeing machine. Birben also is
vice president of TEMSAD.From an international standpoint, Italian machinery companies were
strongly represented. “The fact that 120 Italian firms participated in The International Textile
Machinery Exhibition held in Tüyap shows how Turkey has a privileged position in this field,” said
Alberto Sacchi, president, the Italian Association of Textile Machinery Producers (ACIMIT).
“Textile machines play a key role in our industry. We have more than 350 firms in the sector. And
Turkey occupies the first rank as buyer.”
Left to right: Egon Wirth, Ismail Baser and Harald Prantl of Lindauer Dornier GmbH
Mireia Rovira i Campdelacreu (left) and Ester Rovira i Latorre, Electro-Jet S.A., show the
ADR Rovematcic automatic roving frameWith the growing importance of Asian markets and the demand
for textile technology, ITM 2004 appears to have made a significant mark in the crowded field of
textile machinery exhibitions. Turkey’s proximity to Asian markets, culture and hospitality make it
an interesting prospect for the future.The majority of exhibitors were leveraging well-established
networks and representatives; had the highest level of technicians and sales staff on hand; and
welcomed the opportunity to reach visitors that travel less frequently to U.S., Western European or
Asian exhibitions. There were few complaints other than the tight customs-clearing process, which
slowed deliveries.With that in mind, look to ITM 2006 to have a larger venue. ITM 2004 required
temporary structures to handle the crowd of exhibitors. ITM 2006 looks optimistically for greater
attendance from beyond Turkey, as well as even more exhibitors from around the globe.
Fall 2004