Pandemic accelerated digital textile transformation: Italy's ACIMIT

21 Jul '21

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

COVID-19 severely impacted the textile machinery sector, however, it helped entrepreneurs in the industry to realise the urgency of enacting a digital transformation of their business. This is why ACIMIT accelerated its Digital Label project for certifying Italian machinery that adopt a common set of data, for better integration with clients’ systems.

At Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers’ (ACIMIT) general assembly, this was seen as an opportunity to consider what the sector had lost in 2020, while also presenting a variety of future projects to relaunch the industry, the association said in a press release.

In 2020, Italy’s production of textile machinery fell by 22 per cent compared to the previous year, with a similar drop in exports (-21 per cent). The production of machineries between the first and second quarter of 2020 had almost stopped and the recovery in the second half of the year was only partial. Travel restrictions also contributed negatively to performance in the industry, and still do not allow companies to seize the opportunities created by a recovery of the textile sector.

“In this first half of 2021, the overall economic situation appears to be improving both in terms of exports and in our own domestic market in Italy. The resumption of trade fair events in attendance in our sector has provided a positive sign of a progressive return to normal business conditions,” said ACIMIT president Alessandro Zucchi.

“The competitive edge of each individual company, as for the entire industry will increasingly depend on the level of digitalisation to which we will have been able to elevate our production and organisational processes. ACIMIT’s digital certification wants to achieve this goal,” said ACIMIT’s president.

In addition, the general assembly confirmed Alessandro Zucchi, who is CEO and partner of the company Ferraro, as the ACIMIT’s president for two more years. Also confirmed were the charges of Federico Businaro as vice president (Santex Rimar Group), Cristian Locatelli (Marzoli, Camozzi Group) and Andrea Piattelli (Unitech). The latter are joined by Ugo Ghilardi (Itema Group), elected vice president for the first time.

ACIMIT also awarded a historic group of associated machinery producers, which since ACIMIT’s founding in 1945, or from its inception (companies that entered the group prior to 1950), have been a part of the Association. These companies are: Crosta, Gaudino, Marzoli, Mezzera (a brand owned by Reggiani), Noseda, O.C.T.I.R. (an Autefa Solutions Italy brand), Reggiani, Sant’Andrea, Savio and Zonco.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)

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