Itema Increased Weaving Machine Sales During Pandemic Process

Ugo Ghilardi, Itema Group CEO

 

We interviewed with Ugo Ghilardi, Itema Group CEO for the ‘Italy Special Section’ of our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Explaning that the measures taken by Itema Group during the pandemic process, the importance of Turkey market, and its projects for 2021 Ghilardi said, “The pandemic confirmed how Turkish weaving companies can effectively answer to market requests by providing high-quality fabrics with short delivery times and reinforced the country role as preferred sourcing hub for European brands.”

First of all, the sectors in Italy are going through a very difficult process due to the pandemic, as in the whole world. How was the year 2020 in terms of your company? How did your company create a roadmap to get through the process with less damage?

The consequences of the severe Covid-19 outbreak were felt early on by textile manufacturers in Italy. In March 2020 Italy and Lombardy especially – the Region where Itema and the main Italian industrial sector are located – have been among the first areas in the world to heavily experiencing the devastating effects of the pandemic. At Itema we immediately reacted by putting in place sanitary protocols to ensure our employees and their families a safe working environment. We also introduced digital ways of working and meeting. Our fast and prompt reaction allowed us to continue our main activities without any disruption to our ongoing business. I can testify that by this experience our companies and our people have been fortified and made even more effective. The financial results are encouraging too. Focusing on the weaving machines sales, we registered +4% compared to 2019. Particularly good performances have been guaranteed to us in Turkey, where the home textile sector – especially furnishing, curtains and bed sheeting – that our company is traditionally leading, registered a significant increase in production and thus reflecting in new investments in advanced weaving technology.

“I am more than optimistic about the future of the textile industry”

In the post-pandemic period, there will be some changes in the products, production models and supply points needed in the textile industry. What kind of changes do you think will happen for the sector? What actions should companies take to keep up with these changes?

Despite the uncertainties caused by the corona crisis, I am more than optimistic about the future of the textile industry. This industry is incredibly capable to reinvent itself by innovating its products and drastically changing its processes as demonstrated during the Covid-19 emergency by many weavers who decided to switch their production to meet the increased request of protective wear and medical fabrics. In this perspective, the establishment of Itematech – the Itema division exclusively dedicated to technical textiles born in 2019 from the merger of the Itema know-how in the field with that of PTMT (formerly Panter) – proved to be a forward-looking choice in the light of the events that affected 2020 and not only due to the increased demand in weaving technology dedicated to producing technical fabrics for medical and protection purposes but especially for the support we have been capable to provide to our Customers. The Itematech versatile and flexible machines have been easily and quickly adapted to weave the new fabrics, also thanks to the professional support of the skilled Itematech team. Moreover, Covid-19 emergency forced international companies to accelerate certain core aspects that are set to make the difference in the future. These aspects are exactly those on which Itema is focusing which are digitalization, sustainability, machinery connectivity and predictive maintenance. Our customers know that by choosing Itema as their weaving partner they get innovative and reliable weaving machines, timely after-sales service and the best price-quality ratio of the market, this is granted. The challenge is to provide added value through a series of advanced digital solutions that impact on the machine itself but also on the way we serve the customer from the initial negotiation stage up to many years after the installation. These are the targets on which companies should focus on to be successful in the market in the coming years.

Turkey, especially in pandemic process has become an important supply point for Europe again. How do you assess the importance of Turkish textile sector? Do you have any new projects or products for Turkey market?

Turkey has always played a central role in the worldwide textile production and is among the five largest importers of weaving machines in the world. Thus, making the Turkish market fundamental and extremely important for Itema. We are traditionally present in Turkey since Somet, Vamatex and Sulzer times (today merged into Itema, ndr) and over the years we established a structured network of skilled technicians and sales managers. The pandemic confirmed how Turkish weaving companies can effectively answer to market requests by providing high-quality fabrics with short delivery times and reinforced the country role as preferred sourcing hub for European brands. Itema ever since closely cooperates with Turkish weavers and we are traditionally the preferred weaving technology provider when it comes to weaving demanding and sophisticated fabrics for which Turkish weavers are worldwide renowned such as furnishing and curtains, terry towels and bed sheeting. In fact, the Itema weaving machines and their unbeatable versality and fabric quality are since longtime making the difference in Bursa and Denizli weaving clusters.

The effects of the pandemic seem to continue in the first months of 2021. As ITEMA what are your expectations from 2021? Are you planning to make new investments?

In the last quarter of 2020, the market moved in a positive way generating important business opportunities. Itema has been appointed as weaving partner in significant projects in many sectors – from denim to technical textiles and passing through home textile – and we are determined to seize each market opportunity that 2021 will offer. We entered 2021 with a consistent order backlog, thus allowing us to positively look at a promising 2021. And this is of fundamental importance to us, since our strategic projects pipeline is full of significant and disrupting initiatives with the ultimate target to generate value for our customers and stakeholders. Innovation is, ever-since, our main driver and one of the founding elements of the whole Itema Group. And today, it goes hand in hand with digitalization. When I talk about digitalization, I am not only referring to the goal of making our processes and production sites smarter – field where actually we are implementing all the latest digital transformation principles in what is a massive system manufacturing renovation, but I also refer to products and services, to make the life of our customers easier. In 2021 we will also launch the evolution of our innovation hub Itemalab as a full-fledged engineering lab with more than 60 engineers and digital experts ready to implement and develop innovative product and process solutions for the weaving industry and not only.

 

Interview: Dilek HAYIRLI