Saurer’s Passion for Innovation Plays an Important Role in Developing New Technologies

Saurer’s Passion for Innovation Plays an Important Role in Developing New Technologies

Saurer Group, one of the strongest manufacturers in the spinning technologies market, exhibited the latest innovations including automation technologies from its Saurer Spinning Solutions and Saurer Technologies segments at ITMA 2019.

Saurer Group held a press conference at its stand at ITMA 2019, providing information on its fields of activity and new products. We interviewed Saurer CEO Clement Woon after the conference and he provided comprehensive insight into the company’s strategy, growth figures and the Turkish market.

What does Saurer focus on when designing and manufacturing new technologies?

We focused on repositioning the Saurer Group as a solution provider. Innovating for our customers is our main aim. Beyond providing our customers with only textile machines, we aim to partner with them in order to realize their business ambitions. Our passion for innovation plays an important role in developing new technologies.

We focus on meeting the needs of investors and operators of spinning mills as they strive to reach their goals. For us, the solution consists of more than just machinery; like automation, digitisation, service, training, consulting and even Project financing.

While our E³ (energy, economics and ergonomics) principle still forms the basis of our design philosophy, we are now focusing on adding intelligent technology. Our machines’ self-learning features optimise the speed to suit the material being processed. The Saurer products within a given system can be linked, which saves on labour and makes production processes more efficient and less wasteful, with a major impact on profitability.

We Have Further Extended Our Spinning Product Portfolio

Saurer Spinning Solutions participated in ITMA with a wide range of products. Can you list your products and latest innovations?

As Saurer we focus on delivering perfect package quality for each spinning application from one source. We have divided the systems into ring spinning (Zinser) and open-end spinning (Schlafhorst). The Zinser System focuses on flexibility and intelligent linkage in high-speed ring spinning; and features a new modular structure and intelligent RFID-based material flow. In open-end spinning, the Schlafhorst System embodies versatility with solutions for different yarn structures. As vital yarn characteristics are already determined during the preparation of the raw material, we set ourselves the goal to be able to control and manage the entire process, ensuring best sliver quality for the five end-spinning processes. With the addition of the new innovative Autocard and the draw frame Autodraw, we have further extended our spinning product portfolio.

What were the outstanding products of the Saurer Technologies Segment?

Saurer’s direct cabling machine CableCorder CC5 is already in its fifth generation. There are new series of CarpetCabler/CarpetTwister in the carpet yarn sector. We will also be launching the latest generation of the CompactTwister; which has already demonstrated its dominance in the market with sales of over four million spindles.

We are also offering a complete top-down embroidery solution – customers can complete each step of the ennoblement process; from the first drawing of the design to the final step on Epoca 7 machine. Its HeadLine application system, also incorporating a new laser head that can cut virtually any fabric, allows customers to produce limitless designs.

The new 68 shore J468A cots, launched by elastomer components business line and positioned between the soft and hard cots, is able to meet all the needs of the users.

Saurer also leads the industry in automation and digitization. Can you tell us about your strategy and products in this sense?

Saurer’s strategy encompasses the technological advances brought by Industry 4.0. The main focus here is on automation and sensor technologies as well as data analytics. The new Saurer Technology Center in Arbon, Switzerland, supports engineers in the group to integrate smart technology into Saurer’s products.

Whether they are in spinning, embroidery or twisting, all our clients can benefit from Saurer’s mill management system Senses to analyse production, quality and machine data. As an added advantage, this system is also compatible with third-party machines. Users can tap new optimisation potential by controlling the production process and making it more transparent.

Clients will also have the option of linking our machines and the new laboratory equipment from our Autolab series, which premieres at the exhibition, to the software platform. The powerful combination of analytical capacity gives the user a clear picture of all the processes making up their operation in real time.

As with all our products, we have also integrated automation technology in our embroidery machine. The new Automatic Rear Carriage adjustment helps in reducing the machine setting time while the intelligent thread watcher SmartMon drives the precise and fast detection of yarn breaks, on both shuttle and needle side, which drastically lowers mending costs.

Some of Saurer’s business lines and products celebrate anniversaries. What would you like to say about this?

This ITMA is a special one for us, as several product lines as well as our service offering are celebrating anniversaries. The TechnoCorder has been in existence for 20 years, we launched the first Saurer ring-spinning machine 70 years ago and entered the embroidery sector one-and-a-half centuries ago with a manual machine. The most long-lived of which, our embroidery business, was founded 150 years ago.

We Increased Our Revenues by 6% in 2018

If you evaluate the sales figures, how did 2018 and the first six months of 2019 go for your company?

With our strong performance in 2018, we increased our revenues by 5.8% to 9 220 million yuan. We increased our net profit by 14.3%.

Spinning Solutions increased its sales by 6.4% and Saurer Technologies by 3.7% on an annual basis. Sales in the Saurer Technologies segment increased by 47%, the Chinese market, while sales in the US market increased by 44%. In Turkey, the Spinning Solutions segment has experienced growth.

If you assess in terms of export market, what is the importance of Turkey for your company?

Turkey is an important country. It plays a big role in the market thanks to its deep-rooted position in the textile market. For us, it is also of great importance in terms of approaching customers to determine their individual needs and gaining further market insight.

Despite political uncertainties affecting sales, Turkey continued to grow as the 3rd largest market for the Saurer Spinning Solutions segment.