Switzerland: Leading textile machinery manufacturer in the world

Switzerland: Leading textile machinery manufacturer in the world
Today, Switzerland is the leading manufacturer of textile machinery all over the world and the major players themselves consider its outstanding quality and innovative potential. The Swiss play a leading role in the textile machinery world with an estimated global market share of 40%, of which 10 percent is now produced in Switzerland and the rest 30 percent outside the country.
With the most liberal and competitive economies, Switzerland gained economic importance in the world. Switzerland stands among the top 20 states in the world family of 190 nations. In certain sectors Switzerland competes with some of the European and global leaders.

Switzerland occupies a leading position in terms of economic indicators such as competitiveness, expenditure on research and development. In cross-border direct investment, the Swiss economy is among the top, and Switzerland is one of the countries with the highest export rate as a percentage of gross domestic products (GDP).

Switzerland's highly developed economy is largely because of its well-built interlinking with the economies of other countries. The technologically progressive industrial sector is differentiated by highly specialized, internationally experienced, and flexible small and medium-sized companies. The services sector, with world-renowned banks and insurance companies also play an important role in making significant global standards. Purchasing power stability received through low inflation, low long-term capital costs, a good investment climate, as well as sound public finances gives further promise to its success.

Switzerland's major machine industries initially developed by the basic needs of the textile industry; the journey from labor-intensive to mechanized production in spinning and weaving workshops which determines that the machine industry developed through the areas where the workshops existed.

At present, the Swiss textile machinery industry covers some 70 companies - amongst 48 are members of Swissmem, the Swiss textile machinery industry occupies with 8,100 employees.

It gained exports worth Sfr 2,177 billion in 2004 (98.5% of total turnover).In the first half of 2004; exports from Switzerland were increased by 3.5%, but in the second half of the year declined by 3.3% in contrast to the same period in 2003.

In fact, the Asian markets stay hovering. Almost 51 percent of all merchandise exported from Switzerland reached to this state, while the contribution of the European markets set to 36 percent. By country-wise list, India is positioned now on first place (CHF 107 million), followed by China (CHF 93 million), Turkey (CHF 84 million), Italy (CHF 69 million) and Germany (CHF 64 million). More over in the top ten position ranking covers Pakistan, Iran, USA, Japan and Hong Kong.

The largely notable upsurge in compared to the last year semester observed, Iran ( 139%), India ( 131 %), Pakistan ( 58%) and Brazil ( 18%). Noteworthy setbacks had to be recorded in Turkey (-57%), China (-51 %), Thailand (-47%), Hong Kong (-26%) and Indonesia (-19%).

Due to a very low volume of new orders at the end of last year, in the first half of 2005 the overall decrease of exports was anticipated. Though, it has to be observed that the figures are tremendously changing from sector to sector. However, information from the sales front point out that business already bottomed out. Concluding on budgeted level, the growing figure of receiving new orders provides a chance for a pleasing outcome at the end of this year.

Uster Technologies, the world's market leader in textile quality controlling, provides systems and services that enable the textile industry to manufacture optimum quality and competitive products "from fiber to fabric". They have a long history as the Leader in textile electronics. For more than 60 years, their testing and monitoring solutions have enabled the production of high quality yarns and fabrics.

Their proud heritage dates back to 1944 when the large local textile industry contacted the Zellweger Uster Company for help to improve the quality of yarns. The response of USTER was the development of the first yarn evenness tester. Since then, the company has introduced a steady stream of new, market-leading testing and monitoring systems for the worldwide textile industry, covering a variety of testing requirements from fiber to yarn. The beginning of 2003 was an important milestone for USTER: USTER Managers together with financial investors acquired Zellweger Uster and Zellweger Uster, to become Uster Technologies AG. A new company continuing the tradition of standards, leadership and innovation for the textile industry was born. They set the standards for quality control in the global textile industry. USTER provides the benchmarks that are the basis for the trading of textile products at assured levels of quality across global markets. They have emerged as a highly flexible and efficient company, maintaining our position as a respected and trusted partner to the industry, as the leader in quality monitoring systems.

60 years of experience and success - this not only provides their strong position as worldwide leader in textile electronics, but also the creation of the USTER trademark, which is unique in the textile industry. USTER stands for innovative total solutions within the textile chain and has established itself worldwide as the standard in quality control and monitoring. Long-term investments in research and development have contributed considerably to this success, ensuring the availability to their customers of measuring and monitoring systems that are robust, accurate and reliable, essential requirements for monitoring and optimizing quality in textile products. Their staffs, many of whom are acknowledged experts, possess a great potential of ideas, knowledge and ability.

Speaking with fibre2fashion regarding USTER STATISTICS, CEO of Uster Technologies AG, Dr. Geoffrey Scott said "USTER STATISTICS are quality benchmarks, which permit a classification of fibers, slivers, rovings and yarns with regard to world production. USTER STATISTICS are the recognized standard for quality benchmarking worldwide and represents the basis for the specification of yarn trade contracts, for the definition of fiber and yarn quality characteristics in connection with textile machine sales, as well as in all other commercial textile transactions. Companies may improve their production and setting new objectives according to the USTER STATISTICS." It is evidence that the spinning mills have extensive rate of return through the Usterized certificate.

"Within the textile industry there was and still is a clear move towards Asia. 80% of our actual market is concentrated to China, India, Pakistan and Turkey. One very stable and strong business relation is our relation to the Cotton Classing Offices in the United States, Uzbekistan and also in China. We just recently announced the purchase of 40 USTER HVI CLASSING systems for the 2005 cotton season to the USDA and confirmed that the Fiber Inspection Bureau of China is planning to extend its operation by purchasing a substantial number of USTER HVI CLASSING units for this year's cotton season" further he added.

"Our people are the foundation for our reputation in the industry. Many of our people are acknowledged experts. Their know-how and expertise is keenly sought after by our customers who look up to USTER for assisting them as they strive for ever increasing improvements in the quality of their textile products, and in the efficiency of their processes. We share our knowledge with our customers through specific customer trainings, and through an extensive program of seminars and symposia. This sharing of knowledge ensures our customers get the maximum benefit and return from the investment they make, and the trust they put in USTER. We in turn, gain a deeper understanding of the requirements of our customers, about new applications, changes in industry trends and new breakthroughs in technology. We make sure our own people and our customers are constantly informed and educated with local people who are native speakers and are familiar with the customs and traditions of their local markets" - Dr. Geoffrey Scott responded.

Product profile: Uster Quantum 2 provides unique measuring technique, patented by Uster even ensures detection of white and transparent polypropylene. The USTER AFIS is the standard system for NEP measurement (ASTM), accepted worldwide, and used from cotton ginning to yarn manufacturing. USTER INTELLIGIN's automatic control provides the same processing results twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. USTER HVI is the standard tool applied by the cotton manufacturers; ensuring fiber quality agreements are met. USTER TENSOJET 4 - is applied for tensile strength testing.

Rieter

Rieter Textile Systems is a leading supplier of integrated systems for manufacturing yarns from natural and man-made fibers for all applications. Rieter Textile Systems is the world's only supplier with comprehensive know-how covering the entire spinning process and can therefore develop optimal solutions for customers. Rieter not only covers the machines and systems but also the management processes such as pre-sale activities and after sales service.

The Rieter Group comprises two divisions - Rieter Textile Systems and Rieter Automotive Systems. Within the Textile Systems Division we are organized in Business Groups covering the different business segments, such as staple fiber machinery, filament yarn technologies, non-wovens and plastics machinery, and technology components.

Speaking with fibre2fashion on the topic of non-wovens market, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Hartmut Reuter said "The non-wovens business is so far only a niche market for Rieter compared with the dominant spun yarn systems business, but the expansion of the non-wovens business is making progress. Rieter concluded several sales of Spunbond and Spunlace lines in the first half of 2005. The non-wovens sector has considerable potential for the future and Rieter wants to play an active role."

On part of their strategic development plan he said "We are expanding our present Chinese production site in Changzhou. We are expanding our sales and service network and also increasing our product offerings, specifically for Chinese customers. In India, on the other hand, Rieter will enlarge its production capacity, which became possible since acquiring Suessen."

Saurer

Saurer is the world's leading manufacturer of technologically sophisticated systems for chemical and natural fiber spinning, texturizing, twisting and embroidery, and it is also present in the field of nonwovens. Saurer Textile brings together eight brand names: Allma, Barmag, Melco, Neumag, Saurer Embroidery, Schlafhorst, Volkmann and Zinser. The products and services of each of these brands play a key role in the value creation process within the textile industry. A high level of technological competence in the field of textile machinery is combined with a consistent customer orientation providing total solutions such as complete turn-key factories, local around-the-word Service, Marketing support and Financial Services.

Mr. H. Fischer, CEO & Delegated member of the board of Director of Saurer stated "The worldwide textile industry is in a significant change. The concentration of textile industry in Asia will go in its last phase, being launched by the termination of the fiber agreement end of last year. This concentration of customers in Asia has also changed the competitive field of the equipment suppliers and the segmentation of the equipment market."

Saurer will consequently follow its strategy to expand the market leadership position. We want to further improve our responsiveness to our customers needs and meet them with appropriate products and services. We belief that state of the art technology combined with reasonable prices will be a winning proposition.

Our customers need equipment that allows them to react flexibly on changing market demand and helps them to generate differentiation from their specific competitor. That's were we see our role, he added.
Mr. Fischer further said "Our market today and in the future is the world market. Saurer must and will be present in the markets where our customers are, and for the foreseeable future this seems to be Asia. Already in 2004 Saurer realized 72% of its sales in Asia - this might become even more in the future."

Grob Horgen AG
To the woven Fabric Manufacturers all over the world Grob Horgen is known as a trustworthy and foremost supplier of weaving machine accessories.

The products range covers Flat Steel Healds, Harness Frames, Warp Stop Motions and Drop Wires. Their products are exported to customers all over the world, directly to the weavers or along with weaving machines of any make.

Heberlein Fiber Technology
Heberlein Fiber Technology is a supplier of air interlacing and air texturing jets for synthetic continuous filament yarns. Heberlein Fiber Technology has made a significant contribution with a turnover of around Sfr 56 million for 2005.

Twenty years ago, Heberlein discovered the Taslan process for imparting the texture of spun yarns on filament yarns and still it is widely applied in the production of yarns up to approximately 6,000 dtex, which because of their durability, mainly applicable for home textiles and automotive fabrics

Schaetti AG
Schaetti is engaged in the business of specialized coating technology, aiming to bond textiles and other substrates. They are the only company in the world that makes not only thermofusible powders but also the highly sophisticated coating and laminating machinery for perfect bonding and further processing.

For further development of the Schaetti's fix powder range and to establish new markets with its products for technical applications, recently it established a new plant at its Klettgau-Griessen site in Southern Germany

Schaetti Fix products are applied in the clothing and footwear industries as well as coating powders for non-woven fabrics in filters, geotextiles, home textiles and hygiene products. Specific products cover flame-retardant powders for the automotive industry, peeling powders for the cosmetics industry, powders for external cladding and polyamide powders for prototype buildings.

Strahm Textile Systems AG
Strahm Textile Systems AG showcased its range of machinery to the global market at ITMA 2003 and came up with immediate success. The company is providing completely latest convection drying and thermo bonding systems to the textile manufacturers.

Xorella
Xorella AG was started in the year 1967 by Freddy Wanger in Wettingen Switzerland; manufacturer of indirect steam conditioning system of yarns. Xorella renowned quickly among the textile spinners and weavers eve beyond the Swiss borders for its innovative indirect steaming system, which was incorporated in the ONTEXXOR Yarn Conditioning plants, still keeps on focusing with its Contexxor technology. The major advantages of the Contexxor technology in conditioning yarns are in presenting to 15 percent higher strength, up to 30 higher elongations and up to 40 percent reduced lint and fiber fly while processing. In addition the system, it removes electro-static and increases moisture gain (weight) by up to 3 percent.

Cavitec
Cavitec/Santex Nonwoven are a part of the companies of the Santex Group. Cavitec and Santex Nonwoven are working mainly in three areas of skill, namely in coating and laminating, nonwoven and prepreg.

Staubli
With headquarters in Switzerland, Staubli is a multinational company, the leading supplier for shedding motions, such as cam motions, electronically controlled dobbies, shedding machines for technical and industrial fabrics, and high-speed Jacquard machines. The Staubli textile division also covers weaving preparation systems with automatic drawing-in machines, warp tying machines and handling equipment for quick style change on looms.

Its textile machinery product lines covers:
.Shed forming machines
Jacquard machines for all types of weaving machines - Jacquard harnesses - Dobbies and cam motions for all types of weaving machines - Special shedding machines for industrial fabrics - Accessories for shaft weaving - Accessories for jacquard weaving.

. Weaving Preparation Systems
Drawing-in installation systems for the whole range of weaving mills - Wrap Tying installations - Multilayer leasing machines - System Components (UNI-LINK)

. Carpet Weaving Machines
Double face, double gripper machines.

SSM
SSM is a three Swiss company's outcome of its merger namely Scharer, Schweiter and Mettler and has continued the combined 300-year-old tradition of committing to textile machinery and facilities for yarn processing, which has always been exceptional.

Schweiter Group and of SSM itself provides a trustworthy background, made for future development particularly in the fields of R&D and customer service. This provides the solid foundations for long-term partnership with their customers.

SSM are producing the following machines and components:

.Dye package winding, rewinding and assembly winding
TWI-W Preciflex and TWI-D Preciflex, precision package winder
PW2-W Fastflex with digitens, precision package winder for 1,500 m/rnin
CWI-W Classic wind and CWI-D classic wind, groove drum winder
Precitens, the muff-to-cone option, on a DPI-W Digicone Preciflex.

.False twist texturing
DP3-FT Digicone Preciflex, PA texturing with integrated air covering process
Flexwinder, the upgrade option for older textile machines

. Air texturing
DP3-CT Digicone Preciflex, inexpensive air texturing of finer counts. Make-up of sewing threads
Hacoba Thread Prince for speeds up to 1,700 m/min incl. the option tailtucking

. Preparation processes
Hacoba single flex PSA, automatic parallel winder for braiding and embroidery
FA2-W Preciflex, automatic parallel winder.

Uhde Inventa-Fischer
Uhde Inventa-Fischer is the world leading engineering company in the design and construction of industrial plants for polyester and polyamide polymers. They are also engaged in the business of chemical plants, reactors and special process equipment.

With nearly 160 employees, Uhde Inventa-Fischer is located at three sites: Domat/EMS in Switzerland, Berlin in Germany and Shanghai in China.
The following list explains their fields of operation to date.

Polyester (PET, PBT, PEN, PTT) and co-polyester for textile, bottle and film grade
2-Reactor technology
Direct film Casting (DFC)
Melt to preform (MTP)/Melt to resin (MTR)
Polyamide (PA) 6, 66, 11. 12 and copolyamide for textile applications and engineering plastics
Textile high performance polymer (HP). Elastic fibers (ELFIS)
Polylactide (PLA)
Chemical plants
Reactors, dryers and special process equipment.

Xetma

The Xetma Vollenweider Group based in Germany and Switzerland - is engaged in the filed of mechanical finishing of textile fabrics. Their Xetma Vollenweider machine system is high flexibility machine.

Retech

Retech is a producer of textile components especially for the field of synthetic yarn production. The main products of Retech are heating elements, temperature control systems, online monitoring systems etc.
Retech offers RTS Godets with rotary measuring sensor and temperature transmitter for single zone heated godets. The system is well-suited for normal standard analogue temperature regulators and does not need any additional electronics system. The aim of Retech's vital part of know-how is still in the field of heating and drawing, whether in the field of classical draw pins, plate heaters smaller godets or larger godets for spin-draw processes.

Sultex

Sultex is a weaving machine manufacturer offering the right solution to weaving systems including projectile weaving machines, rapier weaving machine, air-jet weaving machines, multi-phase weaving technology and customized weaving technology

Treepoint

Treepoint is a manufacturer of color matching, dyeing, printing and finishing system with their prisma, qtex, colormaster, flex, morapex, formaldimeter brand.
The MORAPEX system offers complete information about the inner material state by means of forced description and in good accordance with standard methods. The COLORMASTER Dyehouse Management system is the solution for efficient production planning in modern textile finishing. The system manages all job scheduling master file data and stock control for dyestuffs and chemical. Furthermore, it works out various cost calculations and prepares production statistics. The main important functions of COLORMASTER subdivide in three functional groups: Master file data administration, production management and stock administration.

WEKO Biel

WEKO Biel is the world's foremost supplier of rotor damping systems for the textile, wood panel, nonwoven, tissue and plastic film industry and it also supplies roller damping systems for the paper printing industry. Weko rotor damping systems are internationally recognized for their precision, contact-free minimum treatment in finishing processes.

SML

With its head office in Lenzing - Austria, SML extrusion technology stands for high-technology extrusion plants and machines based on 35 years of experience and supply to customers in more than 80 different countries. Their product ranges covers polyolefine cast film extrusion, breathable film and MDO-equipment, sleeve touch technology, multilayer sheet extrusion, extrusion coating and laminating etc.

Santex Group

The Santex Group is working in a variety of fields in the textile finishing sector. Their prime focus is on the finishing of woven fabrics, particularly those produced by wool and silk, the treatment of knitted fabrics in all possible variations, the processing of nonwovens, the coating and lamination of textile fabrics.

Jakob Muller
Jakob Muller provides a complete solutions for the production of ribbons and narrow fabrics, offers overall systems from yarn with a worldwide network of more than 70 sales and service centers.

Amsler Tex AG
Amsler Tex AG is Swiss company manufacturing equipment along with the related software for fancy yarn and elastic yarn manufacturers. The machines can be applied as additional equipment to spinning lines of about any type and make for the production of high-quality special yarns.
Nearly 1500 system are effectively working in a variety of major yarn production plants all over the world. The sales plan covers machines for the production of fancy yarns on ring spinning frames and OE spinning machines and a highly automated system for the manufacturing of top-quality CORE yarn.

Luwa
Luwa provides sophisticated air engineering solutions for the textile. Luwa has also started a spare parts shop for customers in the textile industry.

Mathis AG
Werner Mathis AG was established in 1968 and has since then develops into an internationally renowned manufacturer of laboratory apparatus for textile dyeing, finishing and coating. It has built up all of its products in collaboration with other reputable dyestuff and chemical manufacturers in order to keep on always at the highest technology level.

Benninger

Benninger is an international group of companies located in Uzwil / Switzerland with subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, Russia, China, India and the USA. Along with the foundry in Uzwil, the Group has an annual turnover of more than CHF 220 million with approx. 750 employees.

Since its inception in 1859, the Benninger Group has grown into a powerful competitor in the field of textile machine manufacture. With its present production programme of weaving preparation and textile finishing systems, Benninger involves in the processes of weaving preparation as well as those of wet finishing.