“Turkish Customers Prefer Our Machines That Reduce Environmental Impact and Increase Efficiency”
Interview: Dilek Hayırlı
Spanish company TVE Escale, operating in the field of wet finishing and washing machines, participated in ITM 2024 with its innovative and environmentally friendly products. “ITM 2024 provided an excellent platform to showcase our progress in developing wet finishing processes,” said Arnau Farré Escalé, Sales Manager at TVE Escale.
We interviewed with TVE Escale Sales Manager Arnau Farré Escalé for the July issue of Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Escalé gave information about the environmentally friendly products they have developed and their export markets, and also made evaluations about the ITM 2024 Exhibition.
First of all, can we hear the story of TVE Escale from you? Could you provide details such as the number of employees, products in your portfolio, and your production volume?
TVE Escale was established in 1993 as a result of the merger between the Spanish company Escale, S.A., and the American Textile Vacuum Extractor Co. The vision was to integrate American vacuum technologies into wet finishing processes to enhance efficiency and significantly reduce water and utility consumption.
The 2008 financial crisis posed considerable challenges, compelling us to reinvent our business model. Since then, our focus has been on engineering and innovation. We have retained core departments like mechanical, software, and electrical engineering, as well as assembly under our roof, while partnering with trusted local manufacturers for production. This strategy has enabled us to remain flexible and uphold our high standards.
Today, TVE Escale employs 17 dedicated professionals and boasts an annual turnover of 3 to 4 million euros. Our product portfolio includes advanced machinery like the ‘Optimus’ system, ‘Hydra’, and ‘Orion’, which cater to various needs in textile wet finishing and washing processes.
How was the first half of 2024 for your company in terms of production volume and export figures?
The first quarter of 2024 began with widespread optimism, reflecting a global desire to move past recent challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and various geopolitical conflicts. However, as the year progressed, we witnessed a slowdown in demand, largely influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions and global inflation.
Despite this, our focus on specialized products that meet specific market needs rather than mass production has allowed us to maintain our production levels relatively stable compared to previous years. Our ability to adapt to the changing landscape has enabled us to weather the challenges better than many in the global textile market.
In which key markets does TVE Escale have a strong presence, and what are your views on promising and emerging markets for the future?
Our recent developments, emphasizing versatility and sustainability, have solidified our strong presence in European markets. These markets require flexibility in production and short delivery times without compromising on sustainability to remain competitive against high-volume country producers.
Our latest range of machines, designed to be flexible, compact, and efficient with low utility consumption, aligns perfectly with these needs. Looking forward, we see significant potential in the large, emerging markets of the subcontinent. These regions, while focusing on high-volume production, also have niche areas requiring specialized, value-added fabric treatments that our advanced machines like ‘Hydra’ and ‘Orion’ can effectively address.
“Turkey with Growth Potential is an Important Market for TVE Escale”
What is the importance of the Turkish market for your company? Do you have any plans for the Turkish market, and which products are most in demand among your Turkish customers?
The Turkish market is crucial for TVE Escale due to its significant growth potential and increasing emphasis on sustainable textile practices. Our Turkish customers particularly demand machinery that enhances efficiency while minimizing environmental impact.
Our ‘Optimus’ system is highly popular, known for its ability to remove up to 95% of polyester oils with minimal water usage, earning recognition from the European Commission. The ‘Hydra’ machine, which supports various pre-treatment and washing processes with low water consumption, is also in high demand, endorsed by Inditex for its sustainability. The ‘Orion’ machine, catering to modern textile needs with versatile washing solutions and minimal water usage, is another favourite. These machines align well with Turkey’s transition towards sustainable and efficient textile production, positioning TVE Escale as a key partner in the market’s growth.
Can you tell us about the newest technologies you have developed in recent years?
In recent years, our focus has been on integrating high-performance washing technologies such as vacuum systems and submerged suction with the jigger concept. This approach aims to create products that match or even surpass the efficiency and utility consumption of continuous lines while maintaining the versatility of the jigger. By reducing the footprint typically associated with jiggers, we cater to the modern textile market’s needs for efficiency and flexibility.
What features and advantages set your products apart from your competitors? Can you evaluate them in terms of time, energy, water saving, cost, and efficiency?
TVE Escale stands out due to our long-term investment in cutting-edge mechanical technologies, particularly vacuum and submerged suction systems, which significantly enhance the efficiency of the wet finishing process. While it may initially seem that these technologies increase power consumption, they actually provide substantial performance benefits that far exceed the energy costs involved.
Our latest patented semi continuous lines, such as the ‘Hydra’ and ‘Orion’, are designed to be more compact and efficient, consuming less water, steam, and chemicals. These results in a significantly lower total energy consumption per kilogram of fabric produced. These semi-continuous lines exemplify the effectiveness of vacuum and submerged suction technologies, achieving some of the lowest consumption rates in the market for pre-treatment and washing processes.
Overall, our focus on innovative and efficient technologies positions TVE Escale as a leader in delivering high-performance, eco-friendly textile machinery
Sustainability, automation, and digitalization have been key priorities in the textile machinery sector in recent years. How does your company address these issues, and do you update your machines with these features?
At TVE Escale, sustainability, automation, and digitalization are fundamental to our operations. We are dedicated to enhancing our technologies to meet global sustainability standards. In collaboration with major brands like Inditex, we develop eco-friendly fabric processing methods that minimize environmental impact and improve efficiency. This commitment drives our continuous research and development efforts to create technologies that reduce the textile industry’s ecological footprint.
Our investment in semi-continuous machines has significantly advanced our automation capabilities. These machines operate autonomously for extended periods with minimal human intervention, only requiring supervision for fabric loading and unloading every four hours. This setup ensures efficient and consistent production, reflecting our focus on reducing labor and enhancing operational efficiency.
In the realm of digitalization, we work closely with our customers to integrate Industry 4.0 technologies. Our machines connect seamlessly with customers’ ERP systems, providing valuable production data for better decision-making. This connectivity helps customers optimize their operations and adapt to the complexities of modern textile production.
Overall, our commitment to sustainability, automation, and digitalization, coupled with our partnerships with leading brands, positions TVE Escale as a leader in driving the textile industry towards a more sustainable and innovative future
How was the ITM 2024 Exhibition for your company? Did it meet your expectations, and what do you think about the importance of ITM Exhibitions for the sector?
The ITM 2024 Exhibition was a significant event for TVE Escale, providing an excellent platform to showcase our advancements in improving wet finishing processes. We received a warm welcome and positive feedback for our contributions to enhancing sustainability in the textile sector. Despite current challenges in the Turkish textile market, the exhibition was a beacon of optimism, highlighting the demand for innovative and eco-friendly solutions. The diversity of exhibitors and attendees enriched our networking opportunities and knowledge exchange, reinforcing our commitment to driving progress in the industry. We eagerly anticipate future editions and the continued opportunity to foster industry growth.