Spanish textile machinery industry

Quick Flight to Industry Overview

The European Union has emerged as a one large scale exporter of textile machinery in the international scenario. Some other countable and creditable manufacturers and exporters of textile machinery include Italy, Germany and Spain. In all of them Spain has sprung out as an important manufacturer of textile machinery and has secured its place by the 11th rank world wide. Diversification and innovation played a major role in the retainable position of Spain. About 69 machinery companies gain financial credit worth 245 million Euros in the Spain. This sector evolves 2600 jobs.

Spanish textile machinery industry has flourished with the structure of small and medium sized companies with the strength of less than 50 employees. These companies are still facing very tough competition with the world leaders to achieve the international standards of price, design, quality and service. Weaving machine spare parts, knitting, sewing, accessories and spinning are the different categories included under the textile machinery sector of Spain. 90% of this sector of textile machinery of Spain is occupied by small and medium scale companies which has strength of less than 50 employees.

Now-a-days maximum no. of companies are outsourcing the manufacturers of parts for the workshops designed for special purposes. Some companies have specialization in product research and development and innovations and some have in machine assembly phases.

Technical textile has grown more in the last decade. Major change is seen in “traditional textiles” so changes play major roles in products also like modifying or diversifying products of machinery. The related sectors for this are agriculture, hygiene and medicine, chemicals, packing and packaging and automotive industry.

Research and Development is a Keyword for Growth

Spain is giving special attention on the Research and Development of the textile machinery sector and has started new centers to give way to new innovation process. Spain’s machinery companies took guidance from these centers to provide most technologically competitive machineries and due to this Spain’s textile machinery are always in demand. The export of machinery in Spain is of 70% of its total production.

The most aimed destination for the Spanish exporters is European Union and it is two third of the total exports of the country. The exports in the countries like Latin America, North America and Middle East is also noteworthy. New destinations like USA, Mexico, France, Turkey and India have new developing markets which are the reasons for the rise in the demand of progress. These destinations are five most targeted destinations for exports of textile machinery in the year 2006.

Geographical Distribution and Production

The good research & Development and innovations lead Spain in the global market in the technical textiles. The investment by this sector is 2.30 billion Euros in research and development projects and 4.60 billion Euros in new facilities and capital goods. The production in different regions of Spain is 3% in Valencia, 64% in Catalonia and 32% in Madrid of total sales. There are only two companies in Madrid though its contribution is of 32%.

Progressive Structural Changes of the Sector

Dyeing and finishing is a very much important sub sector of Spain. This dyeing and finishing sector consists of 32 companies and is the leading sector of country. The other sector which follows it is a spinning machinery section with 20 companies. Each sub sector has a potential for new innovations in the Technology. The main innovations in the sub sector are as follows:

Dyeing machinery: with the new innovations machines are operated by computers and especially in ink jet printing and paste printing. Due to this digitalization more speed and precision is seen. Technological fine-tuning is seen in the area of processes and concept. Maximum efficiency is achieved by using minimum no. of reactive agents and with the use of minimum water and minimum effects on the cellulose.

Spinning machinery: in this sub sector many Spanish manufacturers are there and they are making the equipments like compacting spinning systems for short and long fibers, tearing machines, machines for hanking, braiding and technical yarns, garneting machines, rotational machines, torsion frames and twisting machines.

Weaving machinery: Spanish companies have developed many advances which are significant to universities and technology centers globally. These advances are automatic reeling machines, circular knitting machines for fine gauge sweaters and clothing inspection by artificial vision, electronic sectional warping machines with visual width control, re-reeling machines and automatic reeling machines.

Clothing machinery: Some important tools in this section are development of CAD/CAM design tools and logistics. This sector is proving its worth on international level because of ongoing process of investing in development and research of this sector. The main factors which affect the growth of this sector are as follows:
•Strong price-quality ratio
•Equipments are produced on the basis of customer’s requirements so high degree of flexibility and versatility is seen there.
•High level of technology.

Investment from Foreign Countries

The high growth is seen in the foreign investment in this sector. The main fields in which growth has been noticed are footwear and leather goods industry, clothing and fur industry and leather industry. The combined growth seen in these fields is 60 million Euros in the period of last three years.

Key Factors for competition

Day by day new demand is increasing to produce new equipments. Greater horizontal flexibility is required to stop the market diversification. According to the individual characteristics of the sector, the Spanish textile machinery industry gives guarantees of its after sales service and maintenance service of the machinery. This is a beneficial point which helps Spanish textile machinery sector to survive in the tough competition.

Business with Foreign Countries

The figure of Spanish clothing machinery and textile machinery in combined manner exports worth 172 million euros. 16% decline in every year is noted from year 2001.

In the year 2001 Spanish exports reach up to 70% of total sales. The export ratio has retained its consistency from last some years and this consistency is not the part of its strategy only. It shows its commitment towards the global market that it is worth for the eleventh position which it has achieved in the exporting.

In the year 2004 the main five countries to which Spain exported were India, Turkey, Morocco, Italy and Portugal. These countries shared 34% of Export share from the total export share of Spain in the year 2004.

53% export share of Spain is covered by its top ten buyers. European Unions are the most desired destination for the Spanish machinery exports. 42% of machinery export was done to Europe. On one hand the export to the European Union is declining and on the other hand export prospects in the new countries are increasing.

Purchases in Asian countries increased by 114% between the years 2000 to 2004. On the other hand purchases in Latin America decreased by 45%, purchases by Canada and USA decreased by 53%. Purchases by Magherb countries increased by 30% and by African countries increased by 25%.

The increase in the sales is noticed in the countries, India, Turkey, China and Morocco in the last four years whereas stability is seen in the sales of Germany and short-term decline is seen in the other countries due to some factors. The figures of trade balance of Spain in last four years are seen in the following table.

Though Spain supplies world best machinery, it has tough competition with Europe as a leading manufacturer and exporter of textile machinery.

Europe is doing many structural changes in its machinery section and concentrating in manufacturing high tech machinery. By doing this it is retaining its old position in the new upcoming markets like India, Turkey, China, Iran and Pakistan while Spain is still trying hard to gain its position in these markets.

In contexts with Spanish machinery imports China ranks third, India ranks fourth, Iran ranks eighth, Pakistan ranks twelfth and Turkey ranks thirteenth. The figures of Spanish export to the different countries are given in the below table.

Export Sub sectors

Between 2000 and 2004 the exports of spinning machinery by Spain is 196 Million Euro. The rise of 17% is seen in the sales form the year 2002. The exports of textile clothing machinery and spinning machinery are 24% in the year 2004. The figures of Spanish machinery export by its sub sector are covered in the following table.

Between the years 2000 and 2004 the exports of finishing machinery and accessories was 216 Million Euros. From the year 2002 the decrease of 9% is seen. In 2004 it was the second important category in exports worth the value of 23%.

Between the years 2000 and 2004 the total sales of clothing machinery was 221 Million Euros but a decrease of 32% is seen from 2001 to 2004. In the year 2004 the exports of clothing and textile machinery of Spain was 19% of total exports.

Some textile machinery companies of Spain are as follows:

ATYC

ATYC was started in the 1958 in Terrassa in Spain. They started with production of dyeing machines for different types of fibers and fabrics. Right now ATYC has its network in more than 70 countries. Its good after sales service is very praiseworthy and is taking care of the customers worldwide.

ATYC has turnover of 6-12 million Euros.

Its strength is 51-150 employees.

The major products of this company are horizontal jet dyeing machine which is specially designed for very sensitive fabrics, very flexible jet dyeing machine, horizontal autoclave dyeing machine, vertical autoclave for yarn dyeing, pressure rapid dryer which is used for drying directly after dyeing operation and dye house automation system.

Blue Reed

Blue Reed is a reputed company in the supply of accessories and weaving looms and with more precision all types of weaving and preparation reeds. Blue Reed reeds are used in the textile industry world wide. It is known for its reliability, high performance, durability and quality. All the products have guarantee with ISO 9001:00 quality certificate. Blue Reed has very good after sales services and is giving personalized follow ups to all its customers world wide.

Blue Reed has turnover of 3-6 million Euros.

It has strength up to 50 employees.

The major products of this company is flat reeds for all types of weaving machines, profile reeds for all types of air jet weaving machines, all types of special reeds for sizing machines, ribbon looms, carpet looms, warping machines and doubling machines, high quality stainless profiled dents for all type of air jet weaving looms and high quality stainless steel and S-8 carbon steel dent.

Electro – Jet, S.A.

Electro-Jet was started before 35 years in Catalonia in Spain. It is producing high quality machinery which works with high precision due to its technological advances. It is exporting its 80% of production in more than 40 countries.

Electro-Jet has turnover of 12 million Euros.

It has strength of 51 to 150 employees.

The major products of this company are travelling cleaners, automatic roving frames, Turning static ventilator, draft green rollers cleaning machine and cones and boxes automatic palletizing system.

Firsan, S.A.

Firsan, S.A. was started in 1971 in Banyoles in Spain. From the starting it has specialization in manufacturing of ironing, printing, pressing and thermo fusing equipment for knitwear and clothing industry. The products of this company have very good quality standards and more than 15000 machines of this company are exported in 83 countries.

Firsan, S.A. has turnover of 6-12 million Euros.

It has strength of 51 to 150 employees.

The major products of this company are machines for pre-boarding and boarding, pressing and steaming machines, dyeing machines for garments, rotary dryers and industrial washing equipment.

Gali Internacioal, S.A.

Gali Internacional, S.A. was started in 1951 at Sentmenant near Barcelona, Spain. Textile machines are built at this plant. It has its network in thirty countries world wide. The other branches of Gali Internacioal are in Italy, Germany and France. It is ISO 9001:2000 approved.

Gali Internacional, S.A. has turnover of 3-6 million Euros.

It has strength up to 50 employees.

The major products of this company are machinery for flat screen preparation like coating and engraving and stretching, a long range of printing machinery and Gali Auxiliary machines for table washer and cloth extending.

Investronica Sistemas, S.A.U.

Investronica Sistemas, S.A.U. was started in 1980. It has specialization in Computer Assisted Manufacturing, Computer Assisted Design tools and Computer Integrated Manufacturing projects for upholstery and apparel industry. Investronica Sistemas belongs to the one of the largest group of Europe, Induyco group. This company has distributors and delegations in the 90 countries world wide. It has 7500 customers who are using its CAM, CIM and CAD tools.

Investronica Sistemas, S.A.U. has turnover of more than 12 million Euros.

It has strength of 151 to 500 employees.

The major products of this company are Computer Assisted Design (CAD) design tools, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) projects, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Computer Assisted Manufacturing (CAM) for apparel and upholstery industry.

Tupe, S.A. – Tupesa

TUPESA was started in1985. It has specialization in manufacturing of textile machinery for ready made garment sector. The new machinery section has developed in last two years. This includes laser equipments for engraving fabric or garment.

Tupe, S.A. has turnover of more than 12 million Euros.

It has strength up to 50 employees.

The major products of this company are centrifugal washers at low speed and high speed, machines for stone washing and jeans treatment, sandblasting machines for wearing out garments and dryers with front loading and unloading.

References:

http://amtex.amec.es/

http://www.itmalive.com/

http://www.textileasia-businesspress.com/

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