The New Nation - Internet Edition

There are few countries boasting the essential elements of textile tradition, know-how and professional skills, which create excellence in the production of textile machines. Italy is one of these few and its producers continue to deal with the international challenge with a constant commitment to the search for new technological solutions for the evolving requirements of their customers.

The age-old tradition in machine construction, the versatility and flexibility within the Italian system of small and medium-sized enterprises and close contact with customers make Italian textile machinery companies leaders and highly-valued partners for textile operators in global markets.

The continuous development of the applied technology is assured by the daily contact with the creativity and high quality of the leading Italian fashion industry.

The excellent quality of the range offered, however, is not alone sufficient for maintaining world leadership. Italian machine manufacturers are focused on understanding the needs of their customers in the belief that customers' needs are also their own. Instead of simply selling a machine, Italian companies work with textile operators to create a custom solution that will guarantee greater efficiencies on production line and bottom line.

Italian textile machinery: the figures : In Italy, there are approximately 300 companies who produce textile machines and related accessories, for a total of about 20,000 employees

In 2007, production for the sector was Euro 2,794 million, with exports worth Euro 2,151 million.

Exports represent 77% of total sales, made in foreign markets (approximately 130 destination countries). This process of internationalization, together with the considerable vocation for innovation in the sector, allowed Italian companies to consolidate and further improve the leading position held by the Italian textile machinery industry all over the world.

In 2007, Italian sales abroad of textile machines were divided as follows: Asia 43% of Italian sector exports, followed by Europe (38%), Latin America (9%), North America (5%) and Africa (5%).

The biggest contributions to the Italian exports of textile machinery in 2007 came from China, for a turnover of Euro 360 million. China is followed by Turkey (Euro 202 million), India (Euro 135 million) and Germany (Euro 78 million).

The supply of Italian manufacturers covers all the classic sectors into which we can divide textile machines: spinning, weaving, knitting, finishing and laundry. To back up the comprehensive range produced, it is also worth noting that Italian sales abroad are divided almost equally among the main sectors. Exports are divided as follows: 17% spinning machines, 14% weaving machines, 15% knitting machines, 18% dyeing, finishing and printing machines, 18% accessories and 18% laundry and other machines.

The textile machinery industry: an Italian success story : The competitiveness of Italian textile machinery industry and its leading role have deeprooted causes which may differ from company to company and from sector to sector. However, we can highlight some common features which are core reasons for the success of Italian companies, a success which is derived from the special nature of the Italian system.

The majority of Italian textile machinery companies are localized in areas where the textile industry has been operating since its beginnings. This has been an excellent laboratory for the profitable exchange of ideas and experience aimed at improving the current stock of textile machinery or for studying new machines to satisfy new requirements. The district system consists of bringing together all the companies operating in the various textile sectors within the same geographical area. This has a huge impact on the efficiency of the industry.

Another significant element is the size of the companies. Traditionally, there are many Italian companies operating in this sector and these companies are small and mediumsized ones.

In general, this business model, typical of the Italian system, facilitates constant attention to the customers during the machine preparation and set-up stages, with the creation of customised machinery which guarantees maximum results from the fibres used, the operating conditions and the experience and suggestions of the customers themselves.

Furthermore many Italian companies specialize in a specific production sector: the hallmark of deep skills for their particular sector and an ability to deal with the problems facing their customers during every single stage of the production cycle.

The result is a very high number of small, very competitive and highly innovative companies within the same market segment.

Every customer can select from several alternatives with different technical solutions and levels of innovation, automation and flexibility, relating to the same type of machine, but created by various design teams from various companies.

Italian textile technology plays a leading role in many Asian markets : For 2007, Asia remained the major destination for Italian exports of textile machinery, with sales in all Asian markets attaining 793 million euro, representing fully 43% of Italy's total exports in the sector. Yet Asia's textile and garments industry is a very diversified market. Next to China and India, the industry's global powers, other manufacturing CJreas are seeking recognition on the increasingly competitive international scene. For these relative newcomers, acquiring greater knowledge of existing technologies is of vital importance

This is why ACIMIT and the ICE have scheduled two technology seminars in Indonesia (Bandung, 15 May 2008) and Bangladesh (Dakka, 21 May 2008), two of the main markets in the area for Italian manufacturers of textile machinery. In 2007, Italian exports to Bangladesh reached a value of Euro 31 million. Machinery most in demand included finishing (41% of the total) and spinning machines (35%). In Indonesia, Italian sales for 2007 topped Euro 17.5 million, divided into spinning (37% of the total), finishing (20%), knitting (17%), weaving (14%) and accessories (12%).

Both Bangladesh and Indonesia are two countries with ancient textile traditions, whose modern textile and garment industries require significant upgrading in technology to raise the quality of products destined for foreign markets. In this sense, the technology seminars programmed for next month provide local textile operators with a great opportunity to get to know the primary technology innovations offered by Italian textile machinery manufacturers in a variety of sectors, from spinning to weaving, knitting and ennobling machinery.

These technology seminars fall into the many initiatives already carried out as part of the ongoing promotional activities organized by ACIMIT and ICE over the years in these emerging markets. In 2007, a training course was organized in Italy for 20 operators from Bangladesh and Indonesia.

An ACIMIT profile : ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) brings together the majority of Italian textile machinery companies which account for over 80% of Italian turnover.

The Association, which is a private non-profit making body, has the main objective of promoting the Italian textile machinery sector and supporting its activities, mainly abroad, through the most up-to-date and innovative promotional means, which have been constantly improved during its 63 years existence.

In order to promote knowledge of Italian textile machinery throughout the world, ACIMIT provides information on Italian manufacturing products and organizes a wide range of promotional activities (such as exhibitions, technical seminars, missions in Italy and abroad, etc.) usually in cooperation with ICE (Italian Institute for Foreign Trade).

Information about Italian textile machinery companies, their products, contact data and more can be found on ACIMIT website (www.acimiLit ).