The general conditions for the mechanical engineering industry have been dominated by the coronavirus pandemic since spring 2020. But the economic outlook for the textile machinery sector brightened noticeably at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021. The investment activities in major markets have picked up significantly. One challenge the industry is facing now is the shortage of materials. And sales activities are still affected by travel restrictions and postponed trade fairs.
Due to travel restrictions, companies as well as VDMA as an association have increasingly been using web conferences / webinars to keep in touch with customers around the world. With the web series “Textile Machinery Webtalks”, the VDMA has developed a marketing platform that is attractive to potential customers and members alike.
The new customer portal “Textile Machinery Newsroom†started in April on the IndustryArena platform. It provides visitors with technical and marketing information in English for textile and nonwovens manufacturers.
IndustryArena as the umbrella platform of Textile Machinery Newsroom is the leading specialist portal for the manufacturing industry with more than 500,000 registered members and 3,000 providers. The most prominent sections of “Textile Machinery Newsroom†include supplier news, company and product videos, a sourcing service and the webtalks section.
VDMA’s successful “Textile Machinery Webtalks†series that started in summer 2020 is now published and promoted via this portal.
Companies can participate and book future-oriented technology webinars either alone, in pairs or in the tried and tested three-part format. All VDMA members (not only companies supported by the Textile Machinery Association), textile research institutes in the EU and EFTA as well as textile and nonwovens manufacturers (customers) with whom VDMA member companies realised a joint project, for example, are entitled to participate.
Recent webtalks covered topics such as “Design for Recycling – a major step on the road to sustainabilityâ€Â, “Digitalization in textile finishing – integration of energy and maintenance management†or “Technologies for fine gauge fabrics in the circular knitting industry”.
After the presentations, the experts are available to answer the participants’ questions and there have always been fruitful discussions between machinery builders and textile and nonwoven producers.
The Textile Machinery Webtalks have been very well received, especially in India. On average, more than 500 textile specialists from India, including staff from textile and nonwovens producing companies, universities and research institutes have participated.