ITMA Asia + CITME 2018, Asia’s foremost trade fair dedicated to textile machinery, which opened its doors today in Shanghai, is once again marked by a significant presence of German companies both in their number and in the quality of their technology.

Visitors to the fair will have an opportunity to appreciate the high level of technology being proposed by more than 100 exhibitors from Germany, including more than 80 VDMA member companies, which cover nearly all different machinery chapters with a focus on spinning, nonwoven, weaving, knitting, warp knitting and finishing.

The overall exhibition space occupied by German machinery manufacturers is more than 7,000 square metres, confirming Germany’s leading position among exhibiting foreign countries. The German exhibitors increased their booth space by approximately 15% compared to 2016.

Original technology makes the difference

Choose the original – Choose success is the message of the VDMA Textile Machinery at this trade fair. “Copycat machines may look similar to the systems they are designed to emulate. But only originals do not simply follow but are pacesetters of technological progress,” said Karin Christine Schmidt, Technical Director VDMA Textile Machinery. “Original technology is a keystone of innovation. It has the potential to successfully turn visions of entirely new possibilities in the textile production into reality.”

During today’s VDMA press conference, 18 spokespersons of VDMA member companies discussed how original technology can play a major role in China’s and other Asian nation’s efforts to increase the resource efficiency of the textiles industry and to interconnect information technology and manufacturing processes. Topics of the companies included automation, performance improvement, quality, sustainable solutions, Industry 4.0, digital AR/VR services, platforms and software.

Digital solutions

“Digital solutions considerably extend the possibilities to enhance the efficiency of our customers’ production processes. This is the reason why Karl Mayer set up its own software start-up company, as most important strategic step in this respect, namely the Karl Mayer Digital Factory,” commented Antonia Gottschalk, Karl Mayer. “The newcomer’s main objective is a rapid and flexible development of efficient digital solutions for the clients’ benefit, solutions which will be offered under the company’s own, new umbrella brand. The launch of the digital brand, the presentation of the entire solution portfolio and the demonstration of its first products will be highlights on Karl Mayer’s stand at ITMA Asia + CITME 2018.”

Jürgen Hanel, from Monforts, said that the company is already ahead of progress in the Industry 4.0 technology by using latest interface and visualization technology with slider function for machine operation. “This system can also be connected to a so called WebUI where current production parameters are monitored on mobile devices via remote service. The proven teleservice is also based on remote service, updated and extended to predictive maintenance possibilities helping to reduce machine standstill. Furthermore, the energy consumption can be improved by automatic optimization of machine parameters,” he said.

“The textile producers are increasingly requesting digitalised machines and services from the OEMs,” said Anda Sun, Lenze. “We expect that in five years, more than 80% of all machines will be communicating with the cloud. Lenze already supports the OEMs with industry-proven IoT solutions today – but goes even further towards a holistic digital value stream.”

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