“We Hope That the Economic Situation Will Recover Quickly for All Concerned”
Georg Stausberg, CEO of Oerlikon Manmade Fibers segment, stating that all sectors were affected by the coronavirus epidemic,”We hope that the economic situation will recover quickly for all concerned and that we all can look forward together to a positive future for the manmade fiber industry” he said.
We interviewed with Georg Stausberg, CEO of Oerlikon Manmade Fibers segment, for the “Yarn Technologies Special Issue” in our Tekstil Teknoloji magazine. Stausberg, who has been the CEO of Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment since 2015, explained the trends, latest innovations and its projects in the spinning machinery industry. Stausberg said that, “In the near future we at Oerlikon Manmade Fiber are assuring to be a front runner in the development of sustainable technologies. We will focus on the development of green technologies, such as recycling or Biopolymer processing as we see a good opportunity to generate revenues as innovator in newly developing markets.”
In the yarn machinery industry what are the developments that Oerlikon has seen over the years, and what advantages the machinery that Oerlikon offers over that of its competitors Technologies?
In the spinning mill itself, we offer our globally established Oerlikon Barmag spinning plant systems with energy-efficient technology solutions such as EvoQuench and WINGS. Technologies that are now used by almost all market participants worldwide. A success story for us and all involved.
With regard to texturing, I would like to mention again the new eAFK EVO introduced last year at the ITMA Barcelona and highlight the three technologies EvoCooler, EvoHeater and EvoTake-up.
This new generation of automatic texturing machines offers high flexibility in the configuration of the core components. It achieves 20 percent higher production speeds with 25 percent less energy consumption. We can demonstrate extremely high doffing efficiency and produce excellent yarn quality on the eAFK Evo.
We are similarly innovative in staple fiber spinning. Whether cotton-type or fibers for technical applications – we have the right solution for every material with production capacities of up to 300 tons per day. With Oerlikon Neumag we just recently successfully commissioned three staple fiber bicomponent systems here in China. With capacities of 50 tons per day each, the systems are being used to manufacture core sheath bicomponent fibers made from PP/PE or PET/PE at two long-standing Oerlikon Manmade Fibers customers. These fibers are used to make hygiene products.
Companies in Europe Should Start Carbon-Neutral Production by 2050
Are there any trends that you’re excited about?
As machine and plant manufacturers, there is always one thing that will drive us all forward: sustainable technologies. We all strive for innovative industrial solutions for a better world. And how could we achieve this? We in Europe should all consistently follow the goals of the announced Green Deal of the European Union and produce carbon neutral by 2050 – or better still much earlier for climate. The whole textile industry should work close together on a global circular economy that recycles valuable materials.
Digitalization with all its innovative possibilities, for example through the use of artificial intelligence, can and will help us in this. And last but not least, automation. The interaction of automation and digital processes will ensure more sustainable Industrie 4.0 production solutions for the manufacture of manmade fibers and their production machinery and equipment.
At Oerlikon, we are already excellently positioned within the textile production value added chain. Technology solutions “From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwovens” are our promise to you. With our Oerlikon technologies we define the quality of each consumer product within the whole textile value added chain. Because each high-quality fabric is built on excellent yarns and fibers.
What popular requests do you receive from customers these days regarding their machinery?
We are currently realizing our vision together with our long-term customers. We are looking forward to an “Zero Waste” fully automated and digitized production plant. We are working of several projects here in China and other countries to realize our mission: Clean Technology. Smart Factory. We engineer those comprehensive plant solutions and offer them as a one-stop service to you. All quality influencing technologies are developed and controlled by Oerlikon. For sure, at the end in your production facilities, it’s your stuff that is operating the machine equipment very easily thanks to an intelligent software design and ergonomic machine design. This is part of our already in the year 2004 successfully introduced e-save initiative. And, also part of this e-save sustainability program is, that we are offering an energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly production that is also in line with your expectations.
We are Assuring to be A Front Runner in the Development of Sustainable Technologies
Are there any plans for launching new products targeted at textile industry?
Of course. Recycling is on everyone’s lips these days. But the way to a functioning recycling economy, nationally or even internationally, is still very long. However, the efforts everywhere are great. Ours is no exception. That is why I am confident that we can all make it together. Step by step.
For the textile industry, there are numerous challenges just for the top topic “recycling” alone: competing markets and technologies, political framework conditions, the collection, separation and sorting of the used but still very valuable raw materials, and last but not least the question of a new, sustainable textile design. This is an area where the industry must reach a consensus.
Mechanical recycling from bottle to bottle, bottle to textile, but also from textile to textile is already feasible today. In the field of chemical recycling the last step is still missing – and textile to textile is simply the supreme discipline.
Today, Oerlikon Manmade Fiber acts as gateway to polymer process chains with a key position in promoting sustainable solutions. Our current Oerlikon machinery are producing yarns based on fossil-based resources. We are offering sustainable technology solutions potentially substituting current polycondensation technology. The process ability and spin ability of recycled polymers on Oerlikon Manmade Fibers machinery has to be assured.
In the near future we at Oerlikon Manmade Fiber are assuring to be a front runner in the development of sustainable technologies. We will focus on the development of green technologies, such as recycling or Biopolymer processing as we see a good opportunity to generate revenues as innovator in newly developing markets.
As you know, the whole world is struggling with the coronavirus pandemic recently. How did the pandemic affect Oerlikon? What are your plans for the post-pandemic period?
Oerlikon actively began accompanying the coronavirus situation from a very early stage, deploying crisis teams at group and segment level. Extreme transparency, a high level of decisiveness and swift, pragmatic action were, and remain, the keys to successfully fighting the spread of coronavirus as well. The, in part radical, measures taken and the seriousness with which all employees have adjusted their personal behavior have ensured that the virus has had no chance to manifest itself at the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers sites to date. Maintaining the health of our employees worldwide was and still is the top priority.
The sales markets for manmade fiber systems and equipment have been primarily located in China, India and Turkey for many years now. Together, these markets – above all China – make up the lion’s share of the project landscape at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers. And this is paying positive dividends at the moment. Because the production facilities of the major manmade fiber manufacturers in China and Turkey have been systematically fired up again over the past few months, with capacity utilization increasing consistently. And, new projects are still being discussed.
What is your annual R&D budget? Any recent or upcoming projects you would like to discuss?
For years we have been investing between 3-4% of our turnover in R&D, ca. 30 Mio CHF p.a.. Due to this and especially due to the excellent performance of our engineers at all development locations worldwide, we are able to maintain our innovation and technology leadership within the manmade fiber industry. The most important thing at present is that we all return to normality. I wish you all and all market participants one thing above all: health. We hope that the economic situation will recover quickly for all concerned and that we all can look forward together to a positive future for the manmade fiber industry.
Interview: Dilek HAYIRLI
