Savio Invests in the Future with Innovative Technologies and Sustainability

Interview : Tuğba Karademir

Savio maintains its commitment to innovation and sustainability despite the challenges in the textile machinery sector. The company, which continues to provide efficiency and energy savings through R&D investments and Industry 4.0 integrations, aims to gain a strong position in the market with its strategic goals for the future.

2024 was a year of many challenges for the textile machinery industry. While economic and political uncertainties around the world led to a decline in demand for textile products, leading companies like Savio responded to these challenges with innovative solutions. With its investments in R&D and industrial processes, Savio is taking advantage of the advantages offered by Industry 4.0 technologies to make its production processes more efficient and environmentally friendly. With its machines equipped with advanced technologies, customer-oriented development processes and sustainability-oriented vision, the company is taking firm steps towards its growth targets in 2025. “Savio continues to invest in R&D and industrial processes in order to remain competitive,” said Gabriele Tonin, Savio’s Turkiye Regional Sales Vice President. In our interview with Gabriele Tonin, we learned more about the company’s performance in 2024, new technologies and future strategies.

How was the year 2024 for your company? Could you evaluate it in terms of your production volume, orders, and export markets?

The textile machinery sector is currently affected by a significant drop in demand, which is attributable to the reduction in consumption of textile products due to the unfavorable economic situation and unstable political situation worldwide. So the year 2024 has not seen an increased production in terms of volumes and orders.

Despite the challenging phase of whole textile sector, Savio is continuing to invest in R&D and industrial processes in order to remain competitive. The main export markets continue to be India, China, Turkiye, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies provides several benefits, including improved productivity, enhanced product quality, energy savings”

Could you elaborate on Savio’s approach to technology and its integration with Industry 4.0? What advantages does the integration of your new products with Industry 4.0 provide?

Savio has embraced Industry 4.0 solutions since many years by integrating advanced technologies into its textile machinery, focusing on automation, data exchange, and smart solutions. The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies provides several benefits, including improved productivity, enhanced product quality, and significant energy savings. Savio offers various levels of Industrial IoT solutions, from simple connectivity and data downloading to remote machine setup and real-time operator interactivity. This allows for more efficient and flexible operations.

Smart Booster, new device for bobbin unwinding that increases the winding speed and reduces yarn tension

New machines like the Proxima Smartconer® are drawing attention, especially in areas such as efficiency and low energy consumption. Could you provide more detailed information about the innovations used in these machines?

Proxima Smartconer® has been designed with the foremost attention to the customer’s needs in the optimal utilization of a winding machine. Thanks to the innovations, spinners will get a machine featuring high-tech capabilities, thanks to a design with a strong focus on the main benefits for customer’s competitive advantage: high productivity, low energy consumption, premium yarn quality, automation, and data connectivity. The high productivity of the machine is obtained thanks to multiple factors that help optimizing the performances. More kgs of yarn produced, high productivity thanks to:

– Smart Booster, new device for bobbin unwinding that increases the winding speed and reduces yarn tension;

– Fast bobbin change cycle plus 1 extra bobbin in reserve;

– Less power consumed per Kg of yarn produced;

– New yarn tensioner and shorter splicing time.

Who is the target customer base for the Lybra Smartspinner®? In which sectors do you expect air-jet spinning technology to revolutionize?

The Lybra Smartspinner® is designed for yarn manufacturers in the knitting, home textiles, and sunshade sectors. Its versatility and cost-saving features make it an attractive option for these industries. Air-jet spinning technology is expected to revolutionize sectors that require high production rates and low processing costs, such as knitting and home textiles. The technology allows for the production of soft, smooth yarns that are ideal for creating functional and fashionable fabrics.

What kind of impact do you believe air-jet spinning technology will have, especially in terms of cost advantages and production speeds, in areas such as home textiles and knitting?

Air-jet spinning technology can significantly reduce production costs by minimizing the number of processes required to produce high-quality yarn. This results in lower labor and energy costs, leading to more cost-effective manufacturing. The technology allows for faster production compared to traditional spinning methods. This means higher output and shorter lead times, which is particularly beneficial for industries like home textiles and knitting, where demand for quick turnaround times is high. Air-jet spinning produces smoother and more consistent yarns, which enhances the quality of the final products. This is especially important for home textiles and knitting, where the feel and appearance of the fabric are crucial.

“Savio’s approach to machine development focuses on understanding and addressing customer needs.”

Savio places great emphasis on innovation. How were machines like the Proxima Smartconer® and Lybra Smartspinner® developed by focusing on customer needs? What has the process of evolving these products based on customer feedback been like?

Savio’s approach to developing machines like the Proxima Smartconer® and Lybra Smartspinner® focuses on understanding and addressing customer needs. For example, the Proxima Smartconer® was designed with features like  Smart Booster and faster splicing and bobbin change cycles based on customer demands for higher productivity and efficiency. The process of evolving these products involves regular updates and improvements based on customer feedback. This ensures that the machines remain competitive and continue to provide value to customers.

Do you think technological innovations and customer orientation have strengthened Savio’s position in the market? What developments do you expect from continuing these strategies in the coming years?

By prioritizing customer feedback and developing products that address specific needs, Savio has built trust and loyalty among its customer base. This customer-centric approach has led to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.

Continuing these strategies will likely lead to further advancements in technology and product innovation. Savio can expect to see new product lines, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced automation features in the coming years. The focus on sustainability, environmental responsibility and recycled materials will also play a crucial role in future developments, aligning with global trends and customer expectations.

For the future, the development and processing of recycled materials is one of Savio’s strategies. What long-term impacts could these innovations have on the textile machinery industry?

The development and processing of recycled materials can significantly reduce waste and lower the environmental footprint of the textile industry. Emphasizing recycled materials supports the principles of a circular economy, where products are reused, repurposed, or recycled, extending their lifecycle and promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns.

The shift towards recycled materials will surely drive innovation in textile machinery in the future years, requiring new technologies and processes to handle recycled fibers effectively. Precisely with a view to the future development of recycled materials, Savio has entered into a collaboration since September 2024 with the Recycling Atelier of Technical University of Applied Sciences Augsburg and ITA Augsburg in Germany. Savio will support the Recycling Atelier in the areas of winding and quality control of yarns. This cooperation completes the process chain for mechanical textile recycling and opens up new research possibilities. The partnership adds another step to the process chain for mechanical textile recycling, completing it and opening research possibilities in the areas of winding and quality control of yarns.

“Sustainability and environmental responsibility are core values at Savio.”

How important are sustainability and environmental responsibility in Savio’s production processes? What steps are you taking to improve energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact in your new machines?

Sustainability and environmental responsibility are core values at Savio, these are parts of our company mission. The company is committed to reduce its environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices throughout its production processes.

Savio has implemented several measures to improve energy efficiency, such as equipping its manufacturing plants with photovoltaic panels to produce clean energy and reduce CO₂ emissions. The company also focuses on developing energy-efficient machines, like the Proxima Smartconer®, which optimizes energy use and reduces consumption.

Savio also adheres to international standards such as ISO 14001 for environmental management. This certification ensure that the company maintains high standards of environmental responsibility and workers safety.

We would like to learn more about Savio’s future growth plans and objectives. What are your targets for 2025?

The company aims to continue promoting and consolidating new machines like the Proxima Smartconer® and Lybra Smartspinner®. These innovations are expected to strengthen Savio’s position in the market and expand its product offerings.

As far as exhibitions and market presence, Savio will participate at the major exhibition like ITMA Asia Singapore 2025 to showcase its latest technologies and strengthen its presence in key markets.

For industrial Investments, Savio is contuining its industrial plan started in 2022/2023, investing over 20 million euros in industrial projects. This includes optimizing production processes, adding new production lines, and establishing an automatic warehouse.