In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Andreas Wirz, CEO, Crealet AG India, outlines key global textile trends and India’s growing importance in the evolving market.
The Switzerland-headquartered Crealet AG is advancing global textile manufacturing through intelligent warp feeding systems that enhance precision, automation, and process transparency. In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Andreas Wirz, CEO, Crealet AG India, highlights trends shaping the global textile and apparel industry and importance of India in this changing market.
As a leading player in electronic warp feeding systems, how is Crealet AG serving the global textile industry?
At Crealet AG, our mission is to bring precision and intelligence to warp feeding technology. Our electronic systems enable textile manufacturers worldwide to achieve stable processes, consistent fabric quality, and higher efficiency.
We work closely with machine builders, technology and electronics companies, and textile producers to develop solutions that meet the increasing technical demands of modern weaving, particularly in the field of high-performance and technical textiles.
Could you share some of your recent innovations in this space?
Our recent innovations focus strongly on digitalization and process transparency. By integrating advanced technologies with intelligent control systems, our warp feeding solutions enable real-time monitoring and precise adjustment of yarn tension during production, while minimising manual intervention.
Moreover, these systems provide valuable process data for performance optimization, helping Crealet AG support textile mills in achieving higher quality, increased productivity, and improved process stability—key requirements in today’s increasingly automated and data-driven manufacturing environments.
How do you view the current landscape of the global textile machinery market? What is driving demand for advanced warp feeding systems?
The textile machinery industry is undergoing a significant transformation. Manufacturers are looking for technologies that combine productivity, flexibility, and sustainability.
The rapid growth of technical textiles, the need for higher production reliability, and increasing automation are major drivers. As fabric structures become more complex, precise warp feeding systems become a critical component in ensuring consistent production results.
How important is the Indian market for Crealet AG? What opportunities do you see there?
India is transitioning from a traditional textile producer to an emerging global hub for advanced and technical textiles, making it one of the most dynamic textile markets worldwide, and therefore highly important for us. The country is investing significantly in modern manufacturing technologies and expanding its capabilities in technical textiles.
We see strong opportunities to support Indian manufacturers with high-precision solutions that help them enhance quality, increase productivity and strengthen their competitiveness in international markets.
With India strengthening its technical textiles ecosystem, how can your company contribute?
Technical textiles require extremely stable and controlled production processes. Our electronic warp feeding systems enable accurate yarn tension control and consistent warp delivery, which are essential for producing advanced textile structures used in industries such as automotive, filtration, infrastructure, and medical applications.
By providing reliable and precise technology, we support manufacturers in moving toward higher-value and more specialized textile products.
How will the India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) deal enhance collaboration with Swiss technology providers?
The trade agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association, which includes Switzerland, marks an important step toward closer industrial and economic cooperation. It has the potential to further strengthen trade relations and create new opportunities for collaboration between companies.
For the textile and textile machinery sector in particular, the agreement can facilitate technology exchange, encourage investment and create a stronger framework for long-term partnerships between Swiss technology companies and India’s textile industry, while also supporting the continued modernisation and growth of the sector.
What key trends will shape the global textile and apparel industry over the next decade?
Over the next decade, the industry will be shaped by three major forces: automation, digitalization, and sustainability. Production environments are becoming increasingly interconnected and data-driven, while manufacturers are under pressure to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and produce more complex materials.
At Crealet, we are investing in intelligent warp feeding technologies that integrate seamlessly into these future-oriented production ecosystems.
What is the outlook for your company in 2026? What are your growth plans for India?
We are optimistic about the outlook for 2026, particularly as demand for advanced textile technologies continues to grow in the technical textiles segment. Innovation, sustainability, and performance requirements are driving further investments across many application areas.
India will remain a key strategic market for us, and we expect the Indian technical textiles sector to continue growing in the coming years. We aim to further expand our presence by strengthening cooperation with local partners and textile producers, while supporting the ongoing modernisation of the Indian textile industry.