ITM Texpo Eurasia 2013 took place in Istanbul, Turkey, at the Tüyap Fair, Convention and Congress
Center May 29-June 1, 2013. The exhibition center was occupied by some 100 exhibitors and more than
40,000 domestic and international visitors. It is becoming more common among exhibit organizers to
combine different shows; and ITM Texpo Eurasia 2013 was connected with Hightex 2013 and the
Istanbul Yarn Fair.
As 2013 is a year without an ITMA, the Turkish event was anticipated with some expectations.
Most exhibitors interviewed by Textile World Asia were happy with the outcome. Visitors came from
Turkey, of course, and from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Spain, Uzbekistan, Iran, Russia
and Syria; as well as from South America.
The quality and importance of the visitors was considered to be very good, and all the
interviewed companies signed contracts at ITM. Metin Zorlu of Turkey-based Has Group explained that
some local customs presented some difficulties. He said: “The fair should be over the weekend. This
would generate more visitors.” Erwin Devloo, marketing communications manager, Picanol NV, Belgium,
mentioned the good organization of the event and the trouble-free cooperation with the local
people.
The Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul crosses the Bosphorus Strait to connect Europe and
Asia.
Less Would Be More
Ji Xin, the new CEO of Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd., Hong Kong, said: “An ITM every year is too
much. Every two years would be more than sufficient.” Fritz Legler, vice president marketing, sales
and service, Stäubli Group, Switzerland, mentioned that every three to four years would be
sufficient. Well, the next ITM will be held in 2016.
Devloo agreed: “Every two to three years is enough. Probably, the exhibitions took place
because the Turkish textile industry is currently heavily supported by the government.” And
Germany-based Groz-Beckert KG’s Carsten Czepull, vice president sales, knitting machine parts,
added: “It is impossible to do a show every year. Nobody can present novelties within one year.”
New Products
Nevertheless, some companies showed new processes and machinery for the first time. Devloo
mentioned rapier machines for delicate voile and ever-so-green denim. Zorlu described a new
brushing machine: “It’s a very simple machine in terms of handling,” he explained.
In a very long discussion, Peter Dornier and his team explained Germany-based Lindauer
Dornier GmbH’s new stitch weaving technology based on a Jacquard weaving machine. For silk weavers,
it could be called a kind of imitation brocade technique. Dornier said the response was
overwhelming.
Legler mentioned the new Alpha 500 carpet-weaving machine from Stäubli’s daughter company
Schönherr, as well as the new SX Jacquard machine. Both products enjoyed a broad interest from
visitors. “The Jacquard machine is easy to prepare and handle. Its efficiency in terms of
productivity and energy consumption and the low maintenance provoked high interest among visitors,”
he added.
Asian Market In The Focus
Turkey is one of the five most important countries for the global textile and textile
machinery industries. Thanks to recent stimulus packages from its government, the country is
speeding up its competitiveness among the other big textile players.
“China, India, Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil are our most important sales countries at the
moment,” Czepull said. “The problems in Bangladesh provoked some distortion on the market. However,
the country remains very important for us.” This situation was underlined by Legler’s comment that
the image of Bangladesh and the retail business is somewhat damaged, and it will take a lot of
effort to get back to business as usual.
Different Way Of Presentation
In contrast to other shows, the Turkish event has a very different setup: Most of the
European machinery suppliers are located in the booths of their local agents. This arrangement
leads sometimes to difficult situations — for example, when one would like to see a certain
supplier, not knowing that he is present under the name of his agent. Maybe the organizers should
think about this point for 2016. For example, Dornier had its own prominent booth. As Peter Dornier
said: “We don’t like that type of presentation. We prefer booths with clear labels and brands.”
Dornier targeted producers of quality woven textiles with its display of new weaving
technology and end applications.
At The Right Place
Years ago, the Turkish textile market was always top or flop. The Western suppliers of
textile machinery sold either to the whole textile community or virtually not at all. This has
changed in the past years, according to some important machinery suppliers. Today, Turkey is one of
the top five markets for every top supplier of textile machinery. The strengths of the market are
obvious: As a Turkish citizen, Canlar Dyeing and Finishing Machinery’s Murat Erzinli explained: “We
are in an ideal geographic position between Europe and Asia. Secondly, and, even more important,
the Turkish producers are strictly focused on quality, not quantity. We are able to deliver smaller
lots, and are very flexible to customers’ requirements. Our strongest competitors today are
Indonesia, Bangladesh and, of course, China.”
Zorlu added: “Textile producers in Turkey, Bangladesh and Indonesia are very close to
European standards with their products.” Czepull mentioned another reason for the current high
level of the Turkish textile industry: “These people are fast and flexible; they can answer any
type of inquiry in a very short time. To keep this level, many old machines were replaced with
modern equipment. This is certainly an advantage. On the other hand, the old machines are moved to
other developing countries, which might become another competitor. Time will tell.”
Fong’s CEO Ji made an interesting comment: “For a certain time, the Turkish market was
competing strongly with Egypt and Syria. For well-known reasons, this has changed and brought back
more business to the country.”
Devloo also made an interesting comment: “Due to the war in Syria, many Syrians are escaping
from their country to Egypt. Here, they try to start a new business, which already has had some
impact on the Egyptian textile industry.”
Getting Stronger
Dornier made a significant comment: “Turkey is in a changing position as an industrialized
country. The textile people have learned that garment manufacturing ‘Made in Turkey’ is too
expensive. On the other side, the country has made a great jump to quality production. That’s why
we are very successful with our weaving machines. I hope Turkey will not go the same way as many
European countries — they just stopped production. It would be a pity if the heritage of the
Ottoman Empire — such as tradition, the Silk Road and a sense of material knowledge — were to be
thrown away.”
Devloo said the Turkish market will remain at a very high level, “and one thing is extremely
important: In this country, more than 90 percent of all manufactured products are traditional
textiles. And this background, along with the experience and know-how of the Turkish suppliers, is
a very big advantage in face of the global markets.”
Zorlu agreed, and added: “Years ago, planning was not carefully administered like it is
today. Furthermore, the education of young people is much better than ever.”
Finally, Legler confirmed the importance of the Turkish market: “This country is today on a
very high level; all production stages are handled in a very sophisticated way. Turkish customers
always invest in the latest technology. They can produce the critical mass to be competitive, but
still remain flexible. Furthermore, it is a big country with a very promising and increasing
domestic market. On top of that, the producers learned how to face the global competition in
sectors like denim, decoration, and home textiles and terry towels.”
July/August/September 2013