Interview with Mrs Laila El Gammal, Nobeltex President and Eng Nayla El Tawil , Vice President of Nobeltex
By: Kohan Textile Journal
The private sector started to enter the field in the 1970s, but it was only in 1979, when Oriental Weavers was established, that the machine-made carpets and rugs as we know them today were introduced in the market.
Egypt is an important producer of carpets in the Mena region. Please let us know more details about Carpet industry in Egypt and its history.
Egypt was traditionally known for its traditional schools for handmade rugs that are mainly concentrated in rural areas. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government started limited production of machine-made rugs to cater to public institutions and religious entities, like mosques.
The main manufacturer at the time was the state-owned Arab Carpet Company. The private sector started to enter the field in the 1970s, but it was only in 1979, when Oriental Weavers was established, that the machine-made carpets and rugs as we know them today were introduced in the market.
In fact, Oriental Weavers revolutionized the carpet industry and adopted new standards that were not seen before in Egypt. This not only led them to dominate the domestic market but also to secure a considerable share in various export markets. It also raised the standard for other competing manufacturers pushing them to raise their own quality bar too. As a result, and after 40 years, the company has created an Egyptian brand that presented the industrial power of Egypt to the world and allowed global companies to enter Egypt seeking to source their rug and carpet needs.
As a textile machinery expert, How do you evaluate the carpet industry in Egypt in term of technology and machinery?
The carpet industry in Egypt is now well recognized worldwide and is known for mastering the weaving process and also for the unique and innovative products that are produced and sold both in the domestic market and in more than 130 other global markets.
The efficiency of the carpets and rugs produced in Egypt is highly enhanced by the fact that the machines used are considered state-of-the-art in terms of their capabilities, productivity and advanced technology. The majority of carpet looms to be found in Egypt today are from prominent producers in Europe and the knowhow of the Egyptian technical gurus guarantees the optimum utilization of these looms.
Egyptian carpet producers have a good export to the international market, but how do you evaluate Egypt domestic market for carpet and flooring?
The domestic market in Egypt is a very promising market for the carpet industry and is considered a market that consumes a lot of carpets and rugs regularly. The big population of Egypt and the presence of different income layers create a lot of opportunities in the domestic market. Also, because more than 60% of the population in Egypt is young, the chance of more people getting married and looking for carpets and rugs for their homes is even higher.
It is expected that the demand for rugs and carpets in Egypt will keep increasing, especially with the expansion in the population, and also with more of this population joining the middle class that usually buys the most carpets.
What is obstacle and barriers for Carpet manufacturers in Egypt for development?
There are a lot of benefits for carpet production in Egypt, like low cost of production, availability of government support, geographic location of Egypt, etc. However, there are also some obstacles that carpet manufacturers face. For example, not all raw materials needed for carpet production can be sourced in Egypt, which means they have to be imported.
Another obstacle is the limited availability of skilled labor needed for the carpet production process. In recent years, there was a floatation of the Egyptian Pound and this created a burden on the cost structure of manufacturers. Another obstacle is related to the export subsidy that exporting manufacturers receive when they export their products. In many instances the payment of this subsidy is delayed, which may disrupt the financial plans of manufacturers.
COVID 19 shows us we should rely more on sustainability and green products, how we can improve sustainability in Carpet and flooring industry?
Like in other places in the world, the carpet industry in Egypt has started to realize the increasing importance of sustainability and green economy. The demand for sustainable products is rising and more customers and institutions are asking for more solutions and innovations related to this theme. The fact the carpets and rugs are used inside homes and places with human traffic, like hotels, means that people are keener now to have eco-friendly and hygienic products that would contribute to health and cleaner environment.
Leading the way, Oriental Weavers has initiated a lot of research efforts to guarantee that part of the products manufactured in Egypt would be sustainable and meet the expectations of its customers who seek cleaner and safer products. The research efforts resulted in creating and introducing different types of sustainable products. One of the product lines following this theme is the products made of natural yarn, like cotton and wool. Such products are considered very safe both to people and the environment.
Another type of sustainable products is the hygienic line, which will certainly receive more attention after the spread of COVID-19 in the world during 2020. The idea behind such hygienic rugs is to develop and invent rugs with built-in capability to fight and terminate bacteria and viruses that could be inside the yarn of the rugs. The company is doing a lot of research in this field with the hope that in few years several rug lines the company introduces would have this feature as being anti-bacteria and anti-virus.
Also, related to sustainability is the direction of creating rugs and carpets that are recycled and recyclable. Oriental Weavers has already introduced few ranges that are made of recycled yarn and recently also other collections made of recyclable and traceable yarn. Such line of products is very important for the environment as it will strongly contribute to the rotation of resources in the environment.
How do you see the future of Carpet industry in Egypt?
The rug and carpet industry in Egypt has witnessed successful leaps over the last 40 years. Having dynamic manufacturing entities like Oriental Weavers allowed the industry to compete with its counterparts in Europe and USA and actually created new benchmarks in the rug industry that other companies have started to follow over the years.
The future of carpet industry in Egypt is indeed considered very promising especially as the Egyptian government is shifting a big part of its attention to the industrial sector. It is certain that carpet manufacturing in Egypt, with its global recognition as an industry leader worldwide, will reap a lot of benefits during the coming years from this support which will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the further development of the industry in Egypt.
Which kind of machinery you are offering to carpet manufacturers in Nobeltex company?
SSM Textile Machinery (Switzerland)
SSM is leading the technology for yarn processing and winding
The machines produce ATY yarn from POY by heaters and intermingling.
Saurer Technologies GmbH and Co. KG (Volkmann)
production of twisting and cabling machines for staple fiber yarns, carpet yarns and glass filament yarns.
Conitex Sonoco
Manufactures high-performance paper cones and paper tubes
Sonoco plastic
a. Dye tubes
b. Dye springs
c. Winding Tubes
d. Separator Blades
Sonoco Alcore
Tubes to wind BCF Yarn
Electrojet
Palletising &Packing Automatic Systems
The palletising &Packing automatic System allow achieving an important step Forward in the automation of the store &expedition areas. This means the rationalization of the last part of the textile manufacturing process, eliminating both the physical efforts & the possibility of human mistake. The automation of this part of the process is always realized made to measure for each customer as it must be adapted to the specific needs of each mill & to the appropriate automation level desired in each case.
Xorella
Part of Fongs Group
XORELLA is specialized in design and manufacturing of steam setting and conditioning equipment for yarns and fabrics.
AB.Carter
A. B. Carter is universally recognized as a superior supplier of spinning solutions for the fiber and yarn manufacturing sectors of the textile industry. Core products include steel and nylon travelers, rings, bobbins, tapes and belts, air splicing and knotting equipment, laboratory testing equipment, and stainless-steel belts, counterbands, pressure rolls and other accessories for the carpet industry.
Jumac
To deliver quality cans, catering to the Jute & Textile Industry.
Golden Eagle Mackie
Textile machinery spare-parts specially for linen materials for all spinning line machines. Textile Machinery Manufacturer, Spare Parts and Technical Consultancy.
Shriji Sparekraft
Shriji Sparekraft Impex PVt. Ltd. Is one of the leading Manufacturer & exporter for complete range of genuine Quality replacement spare-parts, suitable for most modern winding machines like SCHLAFHORST Autoconer (Model 138 / 238 /338 / AC-5) & Murata Mach Coner (Model 7-11/ 7-V / 21-C / QPRO Process Coner) of all models. With optimum precision levels that are compatible with world-class standards.
LAROCHE
to produce different kinds of Non – Woven fabrics for multi-purposes.
Luwa
Luwa stands for well-engineered, innovative systems, plants, and solutions for textile and other industries. Their fields of activity revolve around creating the required climate conditions for an efficient operation of manufacturing facilities Textile Air Engineering, For Spinning, Weaving, Non-Woven and Tissue Paper.
Steinemann
production of Central Vacuum Systems tailored to customers’ specific needs from numerous distant vacuum sockets to one collecting and emptying point, with high speed up to 300 km/h.
Bluereed
Blue Reed developed a wide range of reeds that cover the technical requirements and approvals requested by the manufacturers of all types of looms, warping, sizing, beaming, carpet or ribbon looms, etc.
PRADEEP INDUSTRIES (SUN BRAND)
Manufacturing Drop Wire
Maksteel
Maksteel has made rapid progress in the area of Jacquard Harness and Parts for all types of Jacquard looms like Rapier, Air jet and Water jet.
Maksteel’s major products are
• Wire healds with Spring Assembly
• Harness Cord
• Comber Board
• Guiding Board
• Aluminum and Stainless Steel Frames for comber boards and return motion elements
ZSK
ZSK Stickmaschinen manufactures multi-head embroidery machines starting from single head to 56 embroidery heads machines with head spacing starting from 162 Mm up to 600Mm and embroidery depth starting from 500Mm up to 1500Mm.
Type of Applications;
-Garments
-Terry Towel
-Home Textile
-Carpets
-Leather
-Technical Applications
BEJIMAC
BEJIMAC, a specialist in the field of the surface treatment of textiles used in numerous applications like Singeing machines for woven & knitted fabrics.
Xetma
Manufacture of machine systems for the surface finishing of textiles of all types. Xetma Vollenweider is about innovative brushing and emerizing machines, shearing machines, raising machines, cloth cleaning machines and carpet shearing and finishing machines.
Uster
Uster Technologies is the global leader in textile testing and quality control.
Services include:
• Quality Management
• Laboratory Systems (Cotton Classing / Fiber Testing / Staple Yarn Testing / Filament Yarn Testing)
• In-line Process Control
• Fabric Inspection
Picanol (Goblan)
Picanol develops, produces and markets high-tech weaving machines, based on air (Airjet) or Rapier technology. Type of Applications:
– Bed Sheets
– Terry Fabrics
– Technical Fabrics
– Goblan Fabrics
-Wide Machines up to 5.4 meters
Stäubli Bayreuth
Stäubli manufactures high-speed textile machinery and offers solutions adapted to the requirements of each user. Carpet Weaving (Stäubli Bayreuth GmbH – Germany)
Stäubli Lyon SAS
Stäubli manufactures high-speed textile machinery and offers solutions adapted to the requirements of each user.
Jacquard machines LX, LXL and LXXL for large-pattern fabrics with heavy load.
Stäubli Faverges
Stäubli manufactures high-speed textile machinery and offers solutions adapted to the requirements of each user. Its shedding machines and accessories, including cam motions and rotary dobbies, as well as high-performance harness motions and quick links, cover all fields of textile production
Stäubli Sargans AG
A complete program from warp beam stock to weaving machine. Stäubli offers advanced system solutions for reading in of warps at sizing machines, automatic drawing-in, warp leasing, and warp tying, as well as supporting means for quick style changes on the weaving machine.
Lietti
Lietti Ltd deals with medium and heavy metal carpentry work, creating, designing, buildings, sheds, warehouses, industrial plants and structures for jacquard machines, in addition, It has developed a new type of Jacquard gantry, with a structure that is entirely tubular.
NedGraphics
NedGraphics products allow designers to exercise full creative freedom while improving efficiency, productivity, and accuracy to create production-ready artwork.
NedGraphics has worked directly with top companies in the retail and apparel, home decor, and floor design industries
Fongs
Fong’s has the effective, advanced and flexible technological possibilities to present the integrated dyeing solutions which cover and satisfy the different demands of customers as follow:
The different yarn dyeing machines whether for mass production or laboratory.
All kinds of Atmospheric or high temperature (under pressure) dyeing machine for knitted or woven fabrics, which could achieve a successful and homogeneous dyeing process for all fabric’s material whether natural or synthetic.
Gester
Gester Instruments Co, LTD is professionally engaged in production and R&D of physical properties testing equipment. With more than 20 years of experience in research and development, they specialize in providing the total solutions of Textiles & Garments Testing Equipment, Footwear Testing Equipment, Protective Equipment Testing Equipment.
GESTER Group the subsidiaries company MKM Machinery is a specialist in designing & manufacturing of Mask Making Machine.
main products include:
1. Textile Testing Equipment
Included: Abrasion, Pilling, Tensile, Fastness, Tearing, Bursting and Flammability Tester.
2. Universal Testing Machines
Included: Temperature & Humidity Chamber, Salt Spray Tester and Tensile Strength Testing Machine.
EAS
EAS is proud to be at the forefront of textile finishing technology, offering its services to both the Spanish and international markets. EAS can supply all your production needs – from valves and probes to the full information technology needed to integrate the production process. aiming at giving maximum value to the automation of the textile dyeing business. Dispensing & Piping systems for the chemicals of the textiles industry, and PLC and controllers for dyeing & finishing machines.
Rigmontie Perego
They are making warp beams for carpet looms and weaving looms
RABATEX
Specialized in weaving preparation system Manufacturer and Exporter of Textile Machinery.
Products:
• sectional warper machines
• sample warper machines
• single end sizing machines
• cone creel
• material handling & storage equipment
Pyro protection
• We use Pyro limited protection technologies as complete solutions in fire suppression.
• As experienced engineers we can produce innovative solutions to fire protection problems. all our system designs are compliant with recognized international standards including BS EN 12845 NFPA and FM global and we only install approved equipment.
PROFILLIN
Profilin activities are in textile fibres and waste business.
1. For PP (polypropylene) carpet cutting without backing.
2. PP (polypropylene) carpets. Waste coming from the fairs
TAS international
Screen Printing Machines
1. Model 3000-3X-series
Oversize and All-over prints have never been easier
2. Mini-Max-SERIES
Maximum applications, Minimum floor space
All machines have:
a. Digital touch panel controllers.
b. Quick release pallet
c. Registration system. All print heads registered by roller contact registration
Accuracy guaranteed for a lifetime
Looking machine made carpets to buy.