In an interaction with Fulvio Carlo Toma, Group Sales & Marketing Director, Itema.
ITJ Editor: According to recent reports, Itema has done very well in the global market. What are the developments? Give details of its performance.
Fulvio Carlo Toma (FCT): The year 2014 has been a tough year for the weaving machinery industry but, despite the slowdown of the market, we, at Itema are more than satisfied with our performance. We registered an increase in the number of weaving machines sold compared to the previous year, and this itself is a hugely significant result considering the brilliant growth Itema obtained in 2013 and the decline in the market. A special mention also goes to our original spare parts business unit, which is going through a revival period and enjoying growth and success worldwide, thus confirming the unbeatable quality and the undeniable benefits that only original spare parts can ensure.
During the last year, we shipped our weaving machines all over the world, long and wide our globe, from Japan, going west all the way to the USA and from UK going south to Brazil, leaving our mark in places as diverse as Lithuania, Yemen, Cameroun, Belgium, and India, to name just a few, reaching in total over 50 different countries and our geographic reach is growing every year. Among these countries, we experienced the most amazing success in terms of number of machines installed, first and foremost, in India, but also in Turkey, the western Europe and China.
ITJ Editor: How has been India figuring in the strategies of ITEMA in the recent past and how is it faring?
FCT: India represents for us at Itema a market with a remarkable potential for growth and one of our top priorities. And this not only because in the last two years Itema India experienced a period of unprecedented growth. The Indian market is unique in over the world, thanks to the quality of the raw materials used to weave sophisticated and excellent fabrics and to the ambition and prowess of Indian weavers to produce a wide range of products in the same weaving mill. Every customer we have in India is for us a source of pride and every Indian textile company we have the chance to serve is an exciting experience. Our machines are weaving tirelessly since the Somet, Sulzer and Vamatex times, and in recent years, since the inception of Itema India, we are experiencing a renewed surge and intent to growing even further our presence in the market.
Itema India is a well established organization, ready to answer to every customer´s need, from sales to after-sales services, with excellent spare parts, technical support and repair services centers. We have offices in Mumbai, New Delhi, Ichalkaranji and Coimbatore, employing more than 55 highly qualified employees. At the helm of the company´s operations in India Updeep Singh, Itema India´s Managing Director, who joined our Group in March 2014 bringing with him an impressive career in the textile market as senior manager in well-known international groups like Welspun and a unique and invaluable viewpoint and track record. We strongly believe we are now well placed to leverage our strengths in terms of reinforced local organization in India, full support from corporate headquarters to facilitate the Indian organization´s pursuit of continued growth and excellence, and priorities at the highest level within our company to drive our presence in the Indian market to new heights in the near to mid-term.
ITJ Editor: Which are the latest machines of ITEMA and what are its Unique Selling Points? How have they been faring globally?
FCT: Itema is the only manufacturer worldwide to provide the top three shuttleless weft insertion systems: rapier, airjet and projectile. The co