“Our Goal is to Do More Business with Turkey”

Erhardt-Leimer Sales Manager Klaus Baumann

International Textile Machinery Exhibition ITM 2022 brought together the leading manufacturers of the textile industry in Istanbul. Textile machinery manufacturers, who have not been able to come together since 2019, had the opportunity to both meet with other leaders of the industry and exhibit their new products and technologies at ITM 2022. Erhardt-Leimer Sales Manager Klaus Baumann, who is among the important participants of the exhibition, stated that they are aware of the difficulties experienced in Turkey after the latest economic developments, but they believe that the sector and country, which they know the strength of, can overcome these difficulties.

Can we get your opinions on what TM 2022 has brought to the sector?

We were very happy to meet at ITM 2022 after a long break. The most important effect of this exhibition on the sector is that it has ensured that the machines are produced in technology that can achieve more energy savings and more sustainability.

Did ITM 2022 Exhibition meet your expectations?

The exhibition was quite productive for five days. We look forward to doing more business with Turkey. The pandemic is still affecting our production and activities around the world. Right now, the biggest problem for us and our customers is that the supply and delivery chain is not functioning properly.

What are the features that distinguish the products you exhibit at the exhibition from your competitors?

Here we showcased our new seam sensor. We are able to detect seams with this sensor. This is nothing new, but our product works with artificial intelligence. We teach the sensor the stitches, so we can detect many different stitch situations. If there are seams that our customers cannot detect, they send us a photo with the application. We train the sensor with this photo and send it to the customer’s phone. The customer uploads the data received from us to his own sensor and goes into production. Thus, we can provide technical support remotely.

What are your remarks about the Turkish textile industry and the Turkish market?

When we look at the current situation, I think that the biggest problem in the field of textile finishing in Turkey is energy. Another problem is the depreciation of the Turkish lira. But we still have hope for Turkey because we know our customers here and we know the power of the country.

What are your predictions about trends and innovations in textile technologies in the world in the near future?

First of all, we all need to improve the technology we use. The main goal is efficient and easy handling, conserving energy, and producing high-quality products even from crude materials. We have to improve our machines to produce higher quality products.

The effects of the pandemic are gradually decreasing all over the world. How is 2022 going for Erhardt-Leimer?

I can say it is going well. The order quotas in Europe are almost full. As I said, the crucial question is in the supply chain. Sometimes we are unable to provide our customers with a certain delivery date because some parts are not available to us. Due to the price increases we have experienced this year, no one can predict what will happen in 2023.