ATME-I Preview
Textile World Asia Special ReportTechnology On Display
Located at the center of the U.S. Textile Belt, Greenville and the Palmetto Expo Center have
hosted ATME-I since 1969.For the first time since 1973, the American Textile Machinery
Exhibition-International® (ATME-I®) 2004 will host exhibitors from all sectors of textile
manufacturing at a single show to be held at the Palmetto Expo Center in Greenville, South
Carolina. The expo center has hosted ATME-I since 1969, and this year is no different — except that
it will be the last time the show is held in Greenville.Traditionally held every four years,
ATME-I, touted as the “largest show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere,” will bid farewell to
the “Textile Capital” after its Sept. 13-17 run this year. Starting in 2006, the show will relocate
to the World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where it will again pick up its traditional
schedule.With four times as much floor space as the Palmetto Expo Center, the Georgia World
Congress Center will allow the show to reunite permanently into one all-inclusive event.As in the
past, ATME-I 2004 is jointly sponsored by the American Textile Machinery Association and Textile
Hall Corp. Textile Hall Corp. also produces and manages the event. ATME-I organizers expect to
welcome exhibitors and visitors from more than 60 countries in 2004. As of Textile World Asia’s
press time, the show has attracted 432 exhibitors from 25 countries, including 79 companies
participating for the first time.As expected, the majority of the exhibiting companies are from the
United States (more than 200), but international companies, such as those from Germany and Italy,
also will have a significant presence. Companies from Asia, with Japan having the majority, make up
about 7 percent of all exhibitors. Among the top 10 exhibitors with the largest booth space are
four U.S. manufacturers: Tubular Textile Machinery, Monarch Knitting Machinery Corp., Stäubli Corp.
and Dilo Inc. Stäubli Corp. and Dilo Inc. represent parent companies in Europe. Hong Kong-based
Fong’s National Engineering Co. Ltd. is the only company from Asia that is among the top 10 firms
taking the most exhibition space. Others will come from Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.Under The
Same RoofA new feature of this year’s show is the co-location of the American Association of
Textile Chemists & Colorists’ (AATCC’s) International Conference & Exhibition.According to
show organizers, the dyeing, printing and finishing sector is one portion of the U.S. textile
industry that continues to show strength. “The ability to make and deliver quick style changes to
the U.S. marketplace has kept the U.S. dyeing, printing and finishing industry strong despite a
downturn in other areas,” said Butler B . M u l l i n s , ATME-I director, and president, Textile
Hall Corp. “Co-locating with ATME-I will enable our traditional exhibitors to take advantage of a
major global textile trade show, and give AATCC a larger audience to target timely and informative
technical and marketing programs,” said John Y. “Jack” Daniels, executive director,
AATCC.U.S.-based Cognis Textile Technology is a first-time ATME-I exhibitor by way of AATCC. Cognis
will display its line of fiber finishes, wet processing auxiliaries and specialty functional
finishes; and its ILD In-Line Dosing equipment. Other sectors to be represented at the show include
fiber and yarn manufacturing, weaving and knitting, nonwovens manufacturing, and plant engineering
and maintenance.Through another co-location arrangement with the National Textile Association,
visitors to ATME-I also will have a chance to see the Knitting Arts Exhibition-Fabric, which will
take place alongside the show.
Seasoned ATME-I Exhibitors“As one of the world’s major textile machinery shows, ATME-I is an
important and necessary part of our business,” said Barry Kelly, sales representative, Karl Mayer
Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, Germany. “We will have a nicely sized booth displaying two machines —
one was introduced at ITMA [2003] and the other, [featuring] new technology for weft insertion,
will have its first showing at ATME-I.”While Germany-based Dilo System Group officials are
tightlipped about what will be on display at its ATME-I 2004 booth, it is no secret that the
company is among the show’s 10 largest exhibitors.“ATME-I is the only major machinery show in the
United States and it’s important for international players to have a real presence there,” said
Terry Purdy, sales manager, Dilo System Group. “It is an efficient way for us to see existing
customers and meet potential customers.”When asked about Dilo’s expectations for ATME-I 2004, Purdy
said he and other company executives have their fingers crossed. “Of course, we had the same
feelings about ITMA, and we were very pleasantly surprised,” he said.
First-Time ATME-I ExhibitorsCompanies exhibiting at ATME-I for the first time in 2004 are
doing so for a variety of reasons. Some have established product lines in other industries or other
parts of the world, and see ATME-I as a way to introduce their product applications to the U.S.
textile industry.One such company is Update Texware GmbH, Germany. The market leader in
German-speaking countries, Update Texware has successfully implemented major international projects
over the past two years, according to Anja Wehrfritz, marketing manager. “Being present at ATME-I
2004 will give us the opportunity to further grow and evolve internationally,” Wehrfritz said.
Update Texware will introduce its custom-designed software for the entire textile chain “from sheep
to shop.”
For more information about ATME-I 2004, contact +1 864-331-2277; fax +1 864-331-2282;
atmei@textilehall.com; www.atmei2004.com.
Fall 2004