Business

Staubli Respects Competition, It Is Up To Us To Excel And Speed Up Innovation And Customer Benefits

How was ITMA Asia + CITME 2014 for Stäubli? Any new product launches?

We at Stäubli were very satisfied with the recent ITMA Asia + CITME in Shanghai. The amount of visitor traffic from China but also from neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan, Turkey, Thailand and so forth was beyond our expectations. Furthermore, the level of decision makers was on a high level too.

Stäubli presented its well known technologies in active warp control (i.e. shed forming technologies based on dobbies, cam motions or jacquard machines, the SAFIR S30 drawing-in machine, multi-layer leasing machine OPAL as well as warp tying machines). Under the brands of Schönherr and Deimo carpet weaving solutions respectively electronic control systems were on display. On top of this, our service and spare parts solutions were shown to our global visitors.

Novelties were our latest versions of direct drive concepts for jacquard machines enabling their efficient running without any mechanical connection to weaving machines.

Chinese companies have over the years improved their technology for making jacquards, considering their cost factor, do you foresee tougher competition in future?

Frankly speaking, we think that it is neither correct nor fair to refer to Chinese jacquard technology as being THEIR technology. Most of their machines and drive concepts are based upon intellectual property of others - e.g. such as Stäubli. Having said this, we respect our global competition no matter what - it is up to Stäubli to excel and speed up innovation and customer benefits. In this regards, any kind of competition keeps us focused and going! Our Indian customers very much appreciate our technology, support and respective benefits they get from our jacquard shed forming solutions.

Stäubli is also making inroads to Chinese markets even with Chinese made looms. Your comments.

It is certainly correct that Stäubli provides Chinese weaving machine manufacturers with our shed forming technologies like dobbies or cam motions from our company in Hangzhou. These machines are made in China for the use in China.

It is observed that investment in textile business in China has slowed down. To what extent has it affected the weaving sector and Stäubli's business?

Current market activities in China are within the usual cyclical business spells. There was an incredible investment activity in 2013, whereas the level of today`s business is more in line with activities in 2012.

How was business so far in the year 2014 for Stäubli? With the new Indian government in place, how does Stäubli look at the business scenario in the country?

Our business is running as per expectations. We have noticed that there are massive expectations toward the new government in India. The country was ready for a change and everybody expects that this was a change for the better. India has laid out clear plans for a growth strategy including the whole value and supply chain through to garmenting. As such, there are no two ways about growing the weaving capacity within India. Stäubli is ready and committed to supply and service the weaving industry in India. We have continuously strengthened our local team.