ITM 2024, a premier event in the textile machinery industry, provided a platform for industry leaders to showcase their innovations and connect with global markets. We had the opportunity to interview Bruckner‘s Head of Marketing, discussing the significance of the ITM exhibition, the Turkish market, and Bruckner’s future plans.
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How would you assess the overall experience of ITM 2024?
ITM 2024 started a little bit slowly, but in the end it was a very good show for us. Many interested customers came with general interest but there were also some customers who had very specific projects. We could also finalize some contracts with Turkish customers but also from other countries.
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Why are the ITM exhibition and the Turkish market significant for Bruckner?
Many of our Turkish customers focus on high class fashion fabric. A lot of customers focus on technical textiles, too. Both markets – high quality apparel, e.g. highly elastic fabric, silk, etc. and technical textiles or floor coverings are growing and have great potential, due to the overall expertise of the textile industry and the great entrepreneurs in Türkiye. Another big advantage of ITM is, that you can meet there customers not only from Türkiye, but also from the surrounding countries like Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and even from the North African countries. Istanbul is the hub for the Near and Middle Eastern markets.
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Can you share details about the latest machinery and solutions Bruckner showcases at ITM 2024?
First of all we are proud that we could present a lot of new features. This includes among others our latest stenter generation POWER-FRAME SFP-4, our new developed relaxation dryer POWER-DRY, our latest developments regarding heat recovery systems with automatic cleaning function and of course a general overview of our huge product portfolio. Another special feature in the field of digitalization was our intelligent simulation tool ExperTex that helps our customers to optimize their textile finishing processes and to get more out of their production at a cheaper price.
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You’ve met many international visitors from the Middle East and Africa at ITM. What are your thoughts on the potential and future of these markets?
The Middle East and African markets have always been very important to us. We currently even have major projects in Benin and Togo. We see great potential in both markets, the Middle East and Africa. There is a lot of know-how, and the energy and labor costs are attractive. This offers opportunities and encourages us to invest in these markets. Also, it is important to have competent local contacts there, who know the mentality of their business partners inside out. This is why we have maintained a very good relationship with our sales representatives in almost every country of all these markets for decades.
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There are numerous textile machinery exhibitions worldwide, which can sometimes limit companies’ ability to showcase new innovations and machinery. How do you view the proliferation of these exhibitions?
Exhibitions are not just about showcasing products, they are also opportunities for networking and building connections within the industry. Attending them leads to new partnerships and business opportunities. Due to the large number, however, we have to set priorities on the one hand and on the other hand, we have to react flexibly to the challenges of global developments between national, regional and global trade relations. We will of course continue to attend the major global trade fairs for textile machinery and we will choose all other trade fairs according to demand and capacity.
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Considering the current instability in the textile industry, with customers being very cautious about new investments, how do you see the future of the textile industry?
Well, it is true that customers are still holding back orders and the overall mood is still one of “wait and see”. Anyhow, we believe that once the current uncertainties are overcome, the overall outlook for the textile industry shall be positive. Our times are characterized by increased environmental awareness and the textile industry is at a crossroads between innovation and responsibility.
Today’s consumers not only demand quality and style, but are also increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their clothing choices. Studies show that a growing number of consumers are willing to make informed choices and support brands that align with their values. The textile industry will need to respond to these requirements and we see very good opportunities for our products and technologies, as this has always been our claim too.
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Countries like Turkey, India, and China are making significant strides in textile machinery manufacturing. How can European textile machinery manufacturers stay ahead of these emerging competitors?
Of course, we are also feeling the effects of increasing competition from these markets. In order to stay ahead of the game, we need to offer our customers energy-efficient machines, sustainable technologies, provide them with comprehensive advice and respond to their very specific requirements. This has always been our great advantage and will continue to be our philosophy also in the future. It must be possible to operate a machine with a minimum of personnel, maintenance and cleaning work must be as automated as possible and the machine should be as energy-saving and resource-efficient as possible. The challenge will be to convince our customers of all these advantages from which they will also benefit significantly.
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What are your upcoming plans for international exhibitions?
For the year 2024 we have planned our participation at FEBRATEX in Blumenau, Brazil in August, following by CAITME exhibition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September and finally ITMA ASIA in Shanghai, China in October. Next year we are going to focus on ITMA ASIA which will be held again in Singapore after a long time. We hope that this location will attract many visitors from many different countries in Asia.
Bruckner’s participation in ITM 2024 highlights the importance of innovation, sustainability, and strategic market engagement. With a strong focus on customer needs and environmental responsibility, Bruckner continues to lead the textile machinery industry, anticipating a positive outlook despite global challenges.
