BTMA Brings Together World Textile Manufacturers and UK Textile Machinery Specialists
Examples of British innovation in textile machinery and processing are everywhere. Indeed, the British textile machinery manufacturers have been involved in innovations since 1733 when James Kay invented the flying shuttle that increased the speed of fabric weaving, and 1764 when James Hargreaves invented the spinning reel on 8 reels simultaneously and when the first steam-powered textile factories were established in the UK.
Virtually all textile manufacturing processes – from carding, spinning, weaving, knitting, tufting and non- woven bonding of fibres through to advanced colouration, finishing and printing techniques – began in Britain and still generate a steady stream of intellectual property for BTMA manufacturing companies. Their ac- tivity ensures that the UK will be an R&D powerhouse for many years to come. The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) has an important place in the world textile industry with its historical and economic background. BTMA Chairman Alan Little says, “Let’s not forget that the BTMA was once itself an innovation. It was set up in 1947 as a shop window for UK textile machinery manufacturers who were trying to resume exporting in difficult post-war conditions. It proved so successful that we are still here, helping to bring together the world’s textile producers and UK textile machin- ery specialists.”
Many strengths of the UK’s textile machinery manufacturers focus on innovation and the future. Companies are willing to invite new challenges to keep themselves awake, proactive, flexible and responsive to change.
TURKEY’S EXPORTS TO THE UK INCREASED BY 15%
British textile machinery manufacturers have an important place in the machinery supplies for Turkish textile industry. In addition, the trade between Turkey and the United Kingdom continued with 15% growth in the last 3 years.
According to the UK Country Report published by the Istanbul Ready-Wear and Apparel Ex- porters Association in July 2018, the UK exports are prominently in electrical machines and their parts, machinery and spare parts and components. The USA ranks first in the UK’s exports while Germany first in the UK’s imports. In the list of the UK’s export countries, Turkey is in 12th place with 6.6 billion USD. In the UK’S import countries, Turkey is in 15th place with 9.6 billion USD.
The UK ranked 4th in the world’s ready-wear apparels and ready-wear imports with a share of 5.8% and 26.6 billion USD. The largest ready-wears and apparel supplier in the UK is China with 6.4 billion USD of imports and a share of 23.9%. Turkey is the UK’s 3rd larg- est supplier with 7.1% share.
The largest textile supplier in the UK is China with 580 million USD of imports and a share of 14.1%. Turkey is the UK’s 4th largest supplier with 8.1% share and 334 million dollars.
The UK has been Turkey’s 3rd larg- est export market in 2017 with 17 billion USD on the total ready-wear and apparel exports. In 2017, 321 million dollars of textile and raw materials were exported to the UK, increasing by 5.8%. The UK is the sixth largest export market in Turkey with a total of 8.1 billion USD of textiles and raw materials.
