The Textile Industry Still Has the Driving Forces to Overcome the Crisis

Dr. Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Germany Textile Machinery Association said; ‘Every crisis will come to an end. The driving factors of the global textile industry are still there: a growing population and growing purchasing power e.g. in emerging countries.  Besides garment and home textiles, the importance of technical fibres and textiles will grow in the future due to new applications. The textile machinery industry will play a significant role here.” 

2024 has been a year of growth challenges for many textile machinery manufacturers worldwide. However, this process has led to innovative changes in the industry and a greater emphasis on sustainability-oriented technologies. The German textile machinery sector also continues to offer a promising vision for the future of the industry, despite challenging global economic conditions and geopolitical uncertainties. VDMA Textile Machinery companies are developing processes and technologies for recycling, providing the technical prerequisites for the efficient reuse and recycling of textile raw materials, whether natural or man-made fibres. In our interview with Dr Harald Weber, Managing Director of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association, we discussed the current situation in the sector, the importance of the Turkish market and expectations for the future. 

First of all, how was 2024 for German textile machinery manufacturers and the sector? Can you explain this with machine production, machine sales figures and growth figures?

Throughout 2024, the market situation in the textile industry was characterised by a reluctance to invest. Reasons for this include geopolitical uncertainties, inflation and thus consumer restraint in key markets. The order intake in textile machinery manufacturing remained very weak. None of the major volume markets, such as China, Turkey, India and the USA provided any impetus. Between quarter one and quarter three, the textile machinery production decreased by more than 20%. The same is true for exports. However, this is not a single effect for Germany as the export from all European countries decreased. They all have to cope with the weak demand combined with the growing competition coming from Asian machine manufacturers.

“Until November 2024, Germany Exported 207 Million Euros Worth of Machinery to Turkey” 

Which machines do German textile machinery manufacturers export the most and to which countries are the machines sold the most?

The biggest sub-sectors in terms of exports are machines and accessories for the spinning and manmade fibre industry followed by technologies for knitting and hosiery and finishing machines. The export figures for 2024 are not complete yet. Until November the following markets have been the biggest ones: China (German exports worth 410 million euros), EU (355 million euros), Turkey (207 million euros), USA (162 million euros) and India (142 million euros).

What kind of transformation do industrial digitalization and automation create in textile machinery production? How do you contribute to this transformation as VDMA?

In the debate about digitalisation, it is important to emphasise that digitalisation is not an end in itself. A precondition for the transformation of the textile industry is the offer of innovative, highly efficient and resource saving production technologies and the provision of cutting-edge machines and equipment for recycling. In both cases, digitalisation is a means to improve both efficiency of the process and quality of the products.

One example of how VDMA is contributing to this transformation was a project in which VDMA Textile Machinery developed the interface specification called OPC UA for textile testing devices. At ITMA 2023 in Milan a web-based demonstrator for digital networking of machines using the OPC UA standard was presented. Devices from exhibiting companies used this specification to send live data to a demonstrator. In addition, VDMA is offering its members comprehensive information about the usage of digital tools including AI not omitting consultation on how to deal with the related regulations.

Have there been any developments in the R&D investments of textile machinery manufacturers in Germany? What kind of developments do innovative technologies provide, especially in terms of sustainable production and efficiency?

The R&D investments in the textile machinery sector are consistently high. A major topic has been technologies for textile recycling. The EU Commission’s 2030 vision for textiles is that all textile products placed on the EU market are durable, repairable, recyclable and to a great extent made of recycled fibres. The companies of VDMA Textile Machinery develop processes and technologies for recycling and provide the technical prerequisites for the efficient reuse and recycling of textile raw materials, whether natural or man-made fibres.

Besides this, a constant improvement of the machines with regard to functionality, quality and efficiency is essential to stay in a top position.

“VDMA Plays an Active Role in Encouraging Young Engineers”

The insufficiency of qualified labour in the textile machinery sector is frequently mentioned. What kind of education policy is being followed as VDMA to overcome this problem? What should be done for the younger generation of engineers to take more place in this sector?

The VDMA Textile Machinery Association is actively involved in promoting young engineers through its Walter Reiners-Stiftung Foundation. Every year, the foundation awards promotion and sustainability prizes in the Bachelor and Master categories. By providing financial support for university excursions to VDMA member companies and to the leading trade fair ITMA, it enables students to gain regular insights into practice. Furthermore, our members maintain close relationships with the respective schools and universities in their regions.

How are the collaborations of German textile machinery manufacturers abroad developing? How do they interact with other manufacturers on a global scale?

German textile machines are in use in more than 150 countries around the world. A local presence is essential to ensure a permanent exchange of information between textile companies and textile machinery manufacturers. The presence in the sales markets ranges from local agents to own sales offices or even own production facilities. 

Energy crisis, wars, increase in raw material prices, etc. problems affect the textile machinery sector as well as all other sectors. How are VDMA member companies affected by these crises? What is the roadmap of the companies regarding this process?

The geopolitical tensions weigh heavily on business. During the last weeks, we already saw the imposition of duties by the Trump administration and the global economy must expect further trade barriers from the US. But trade restrictions and protectionism are also very popular elsewhere. Consequences for the industry will be that companies will intensify their efforts to minimise strategic dependencies and to make their supply chains more resilient. This will occupy the industry in 2025 and beyond.

On the subject of energy: High energy prices are more relevant for machine utilisation than for production. Highly efficient machines with low energy consumption and technologies that help to conserve resources (water, chemicals, etc.) enable textile manufacturers to remain competitive on the global market. 

“The Biggest Challenge for 2025: Low Order Revenue”

What kind of changes will occur in the export markets of global textile machinery manufacturers? Are German textile machinery manufacturers conducting any work for these markets?

Having said that, machinery companies are currently making great efforts to become less dependent on individual sales markets. The buzzwords de-coupling and de-risking are currently on everyone’s lips – not only in mechanical engineering, but in the entire German industry.

What are your expectations and goals regarding the global textile sector and especially the textile machinery sector in 2025?

The time ahead will remain tough for the textile machinery sector. The biggest challenge is the low order income. The current downturn is longer than previous ones, e.g. the deep 2008/2009 crisis. But every crisis will come to an end. The driving factors of the global textile industry are still there: a growing population and growing purchasing power e.g. in emerging countries. Besides garment and home textiles, the importance of technical fibres and textiles will grow in the future due to new applications. The textile machinery industry will play a significant role here.