#Associations

2019-07-24

ITMA 2019: Resounding success for Italian textile machinery manufacturers in Barcelona

The 18th edition of ITMA, the global textile machinery trade fair which has just concluded in Barcelona, has proven to be a great success for Italian textile machinery manufacturers. ACIMIT President Alessandro Zucchi stated that he noted “a great many satisfied exhibitors and visitors, which is a clear sign of optimism for Italy’s textile machinery sector.”

ITMA 2019, held in Barcelona last 20 to 26 June, has closed with some positive figures. Overall, the halls that held 1717 exhibitors witnessed the passage of 105,000 visitors from 137 countries over the show’s seven days.

Italy confirmed its leadership position as the Country with the most exhibitors (364), coming in second in terms of the number of visitors (10% of the total attendance figures), just behind Spain. The main visitor Countries also included India (8%), Turkey and Germany (7%).

“ITMA remains a must-see event for the industry, and the primary global stage at which to show new developments in technology,” emphasizes Alessandro Zucchi, President of ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. “As far as our own Country is concerned, the number of Italian exhibitors and visitors bears witness to the vitality of our textile industry. The visibility of Italy’s contingent and presence is the result of the profound commitment, including in economic terms, made by our businesses, along with indispensable support in the realization of significant promotional initiatives for ITMA carried out by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and the Italian Trade Agency."

Solutions for increasingly eco-sustainable textile processes were being proposed by the majority of exhibitors. Here too, Italy proved to be top of its class, with a product offering that provides savings in water, energy and raw materials.

Sustainability was also the main focus at the ACIMIT press conference, at which the ACIMIT Green Label Awards were assigned to two Italian machinery manufacturers, Tonello S.r.l and Loptex S.r.l., who have stood out for their outstanding commitment among ACIMIT’s associated members, in reducing the quantity of equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide produced during the operation of their machinery over the last few years.

Italian companies have also been major players in the wide scale modernization project of the textile industry in Egypt, presented at ITMA by representatives of the Egyptian government. Projected investments between 2019 and 2021 will amount to one billion euros, with the first phase including machinery by some notable Italian machinery manufacturers: EFI Reggiani, ITEMA, Marzoli and Savio.

In conclusion, president Zucchi’s comment: “The many innovations we’ve seen in Barcelona, both in the areas of sustainability and digitalization, certainly enhanced the interest of countless visitors. I believe that for a great many machinery manufacturers, the combination of sustainability and innovation will once again represent the key to success at the next edition of ITMA, slated to be held in Milan from 8 to 14 June 2023.”

Italian textile machinery orders show quarterly recovery in Q2 2026

In the period between April and June 2026, order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers showed mixed but encouraging signals for the second half of the year. The order index at constant prices stood at 46.6 points (taking 2021=100 as the base year), showing a slight decrease of 3% compared to the same quarter of 2025. This trend was largely due to the contraction recorded in the domestic market, which fell by 25% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Textile machinery: Italian technology charts the course for revival

Operating in a scenario characterized by geopolitical instability, slowing industrial investments, and new protectionist pressures. This is the main challenge for the Italian textile machinery industry that emerged during the General Assembly of ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), held today in Milan at the Shareholders’ Hall of Palazzo Edison.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.