Excerpts from the interview with Fritz Legler, Director ´ Marketing, Sales & Service, Staubli.
ITJ: How has been your company´s performance over the years with special reference to 2014 & first quarter of 2015?
Fritz Legler (FL): Thanks to our reputation as a reliable supplier´with important field follow-up and services´our machinery is highly appreciated worldwide and we could maintain a high business level until now. Splitting up the textile business into regions, especially the weaving sector, we can state the following: Activities in China were within the usual cyclical business spells in 2014. There was an incredible investment activity in 2013, whereas the level of 2014´s business was more in line with activities in 2012. This year it continues like in 2014 and investments for creating new weaving mills are fairly rare. But as China focuses on more sustainable business and on higher quality output, investors are relying on Stäubli dobbies, like the S3000 series or the famous and worldwide proven Jacquard machine SX/LX and DX, which assure long-life with low maintenance costs, less downtimes and a reliable fabric quality. Profitability is the key word as well in Indian weaving mills where any production process has to be optimised. Therefore the Stäubli weaving preparation solutions are highly appreciated and more and more mills invest in automatic drawing-in machines, like our successful SAFIR S30. This machine consists of a mobile drawing-in unit and can serve one more stretching frames and is particularly suited for mills that produce standard textiles or filament weaves using a maximum of 12 heald carrier rods and no drop wires. In India, we have continuously strengthened our team to be ready for the rising weaving industry, which should profit from the new government measures which were taken to improve the whole value and supply chain through to garmenting. Mainly Indian textile investors are still ordering a high percentage of cam motions Stäubli Series 1600/1700 – suited ideally for weaving various plain weaves on weaving machines with all weft insertion systems. In addition the interest in weaving with dobbies is constantly increasing. Automation in weaving preparation is key in India as well. Many automatic drawing-in machines are being ordered and supplied to Indian customers. Turkey is a very important market as well which is slowing a bit down after a high investment activity in 2013/2014. In general, today we are in line with our expectations and with the worldwide activity.
ITJ: How do you look at the prospects in the rest of months in 2015 and beyond-ITMA Milano for your company?
FL: We feel that Stäubli technologies are considered as a sure value to progress and consist in uncertain periods which hit some of important textile producing countries.
We always have a positive attitude and are looking forward to ITMA Milano where we will surprise the weaving industry with path braking machinery and technologies. We hope that our customers will be satisfied and invest further in Stäubli to improve their production facilities and that we can gain new customers who will rely on us, our know-how and services. We hearten every weaver to come to this important European event and discuss with us about latest projects.
ITJ: Give a brief note on some of the technological breakthroughs achieved by your company in the recent times.
FL: Stäubli is covering a wide range of products and solutions to weavers in areas of simple, standard fabrics, household goods, apparels, shirting materials, terry fabrics, technical applications, carpets and so forth. It all starts with getting a perfect warp onto weaving machines using Stäubli`s warp preparation technology (i.e., automatic drawing-in, leasing or warp tying machines), followed by g