During ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Kohan Textile Journal spoke with Andreas Rass, CEO of Zimmer Austria, about the values that define the company and the strategy behind its success in digital textile printing. Rass explained why reliability, strong customer support, and continuous innovation have become Zimmer Austria’s competitive advantages, particularly in specialized markets such as carpet printing and technical textiles.
If you had to describe Zimmer Austria in three words, what would they be?
Andreas Rass: It’s not an easy task, but I would choose reliability, service orientation, and innovation.
Reliability is at the heart of everything we do. Our customers expect our machines to perform whenever they are needed, and that’s exactly what we aim to deliver.
The second is service orientation. Our relationship with customers doesn’t end after selling a machine. We work closely with them through our local service teams and our service center in Kufstein to keep their equipment running efficiently throughout its lifetime.
The third is innovation. We constantly develop new technologies and solutions—not only for our existing customers but also for new markets and new applications.
What differentiates Zimmer Austria in the digital printing market?
Andreas Rass: We have deliberately focused on specialized, high-value niche markets rather than trying to compete everywhere.
Our strongest positions are in digital carpet printing and technical textiles, where customers require not only advanced technology but also long-term reliability and expert support.
For many manufacturers, choosing a technology partner is about much more than machine specifications. They want to know whether spare parts are readily available, whether local service engineers can respond quickly, and whether the supplier will still be supporting them many years later.
I recently spoke with a customer whose Zimmer flatbed printing machine has been operating since 1978—the year I was born. That demonstrates the level of durability and long-term support we strive to provide.
In sectors such as military textiles, where production reliability is critical, customers prioritize quality, dependable equipment, and partners they can trust over simply choosing the lowest-cost supplier.
Read More: ITM 2026 Results Confirm Global Industry Confidence
Long-Term Partnerships Through Reliability
Zimmer Austria continues to differentiate itself by combining durable machinery with strong after-sales support and continuous technological innovation. Rather than competing across every market segment, the company focuses on specialized applications where performance, reliability, and long-term customer relationships create lasting value.
As demand grows for advanced carpet printing, technical textiles, and industrial textile applications, Zimmer Austria’s strategy of investing in niche expertise and customer support continues to strengthen its position in the global textile machinery market.
