#Associations

2023-10-06

VDMA TFL: Sales still on growth track, order intake declining

The sales of the German manufacturers of Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies remain on a growth path: in the period January 2023 to August 2023, sales increased by 20 percent in real terms, with sales from Germany up 61 percent year-on-year and from abroad up 9 percent. New orders, on the other hand, fell 17 percent short of the previous year's result in the same period, with orders from within Germany down 7 percent and orders from abroad down a full 20 percent. In the most recent three-month period, June to August 2023, new orders fell by as much as 37 percent.

Sales grow by 20 percent

Order intake down 17 percent

New board elected in the trade association

Rising exports throughout the Textile care, Fabric and Leather technologies sector German suppliers of laundry and dry-cleaning technology increased their exports by 2 percent to 239 million euros in the first seven months of 2023, with Poland, France and the USA the most important export markets. German sewing and garment technology also saw exports rise by 3 percent to 247 million euros in the same period. The most important customer markets were Italy, the USA and France. Manufacturers of shoes and leather technology in Germany even recorded an increase of 19 percent to 37 million euros in the period January 2023 to July 2023, with the main customer countries being the USA, Mexico and France.

In the previous year 2022, exports of German laundry and dry cleaning technology increased by 15 percent to 421 million euros. Exports in the sewing and garment technology sector weakened in 2022, falling by 5 percent to 429 million euros. German manufacturers of shoe and leather technology, however, increased their exports by a full 25 percent to 59 million euros in 2022.

Italian technology suppliers reported growth in exports in all three sectors in 2022. Italian exports in the laundry and dry-cleaning technology sector increased by 2 percent to 442 million euros in 2022 and were primarily shipped to Turkey, Poland and Bangladesh. Exports by Italian sewing and garment technology manufacturers also increased by 17 percent to 317 million euros in 2022. The main customer countries were Turkey, the USA and Bangladesh. Italian shoes and leather technology suppliers increased their exports by 9 percent to 309 million euros in 2022, with the main customer countries being China, France and Spain.

"The mood among European manufacturers of Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies is currently subdued, the outlook uncertain," said Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies at the trade association's industry meeting in Stuttgart. "The continuing tense geopolitical situation, the ongoing labor shortage, as well as the still rising costs for energy and primary products are putting a strain on the entire industry and causing unrest in the markets. However, the resulting steady increase in customer demands for automation, digitization and sustainability, give hope for a surge in investment and thus an improvement in the order situation."

New board elected in Stuttgart

In the context of the industry meeting in Stuttgart the new board of the trade association for the coming four years was selected. Günther Veit, Managing Director Veit GmbH, has again been confirmed in his office as Chairman, as has Klaus Freese, Managing Director DESMA Schuhmaschinen GmbH, as Vice Chairman. Also elected as Vice Chairman for the first time was Fabrizio Giachetti, CEO Morgan Tecnica Spa.

Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA © 2023 VDMA

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

Young researchers recognised for cutting-edge work in recycling, fibre technology and textile mechanics

At the Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference held in Aachen at the end of November, Peter D. Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation of the VDMA, honoured five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability prizes were awarded in the categories bachelor/project theses and diploma/master theses. Academic theses that develop solutions for resource-saving products and technologies, for example, are eligible for the sustainability awards.

VDMA members at ITMA ASIA + CITME in Singapore

With 69 exhibiting member companies, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 is once again marked by a strong presence of VDMA companies. Altogether 82 companies from Germany will exhibit at the show, covering about 3,500 square meters of exhibition space, topped only by China and Italy. VDMA initiated a German Pavilion with two group stands (spinning in hall 4 and finishing in hall 7) with a total of 30 exhibitors.

VDMA member companies on display at ITMA ASIA

ITMA ASIA + CITME end of October in Singapore will see a strong participation of around 70 VDMA member companies. They will cover nearly all different machinery chapters along the textile value chain including spinning and man-made fibres, nonwovens, weaving, braiding, knitting & warp knitting, finishing & dyeing as well as technologies for textile recycling and processing of recycled material. VDMA initiated a German Pavilion with two group stands (spinning in hall 4 and finishing in hall 7) with a total of 30 exhibitors.

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Turkmenistan: Italian textile machinery focuses on high technology and specialization

The Italian textile machinery industry flies to Ashgabat to participate with a large “Made in Italy” delegation at TURKMEN TEXTILE EXPO 2026, the major international showcase taking place from June 4 to 6, 2026. The Italian presence, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), aims to consolidate Italy’s primary technological role in a highly strategic market with interesting prospects.

The future of textiles, the power of trade, and the summit of technology come together at ITM 2026

ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, one of the most prestigious organizations in the textile technologies sector, opens its doors to visitors between June 9-13. Expected to break records in terms of both exhibitor and visitor numbers, as well as the technological vision it presents, ITM 2026 will transform into a global trade hub with machine sales, and new business collaborations.

ATCO Hygienics, Uzbekistan, orders baby diaper production line from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from ATCO Hygienics to supply a new baby diaper production line for its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The order is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the first quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the production line is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.