“We See 3-Digit Sales Numbers in Turkey and Work Hard to Maintain This Level”
We interviewed Stefan Bühler, Regional Sales Manager of , Mayer & Cie. for the ‘German Textile Machinery Industry Special Issue’ of our Tekstil Teknoloji Magazine. Evaluating the year 2022, Bühler said that they were affected by the increased energy costs due to the war between Russia and Ukraine and the increased freight prices during the pandemic period. Bühler continued his words as follows: “We were forced to make price adjustments. If we hadn’t done this, we might have gotten into financial turbulences, as sems to be the case elsewhere.” The highlights of the interview are as follows:
“We closed 2022 with a turnover of around 110 million Euro”
In terms of sales, the past year was a very successful one for Mayer & Cie. Order books were filled well, due to the significant increase in demand since mid-2020. We closed 2022 with a turnover of around 110 million Euro. This was a significiant increase in comparison to 2021’s 103 million. However, the different crises – Corona, war in Ukraine to name only the main ones – affected our business in two ways. Firstly in terms of energy prices. They skyrocketed same as freight costs. Delays in supply chains was another issue; we could have produced many machines more if parts had been available in time. Secondly, all kinds of uncertainties affect the textile market nearly unfiltered. A subdued consumer mood is quickly reflected in the textile machine market. As mentioned above, we are affected by these events in terms of prices of energy and raw materials just as by delays in the supply chain. Thus, we were forced to make price adjustments. If we hadn’t done this, we might have gotten into financial turbulences, as sems to be the case elsewhere.
“We Received A High Level of Incoming Orders During the Pandemic Period”
We experienced a high level of incoming orders since the fourth quarter 2020. Certainly, one of the reason for this development was the popularity of comfy lounge wear which became the perfect home-office attire. Athleisure and sports wear have remained strong all over this time, too. We cater for this with many widely popular machines, such as our Relanit models, the D-line machines and the OV QCe in particular.
Mattress ticking was quite big during the corona pandemic, presumably due to people staying at home more and thus willing to invest in their homes. Demand has flattened a bit but remains to be an important segment for Mayer & Cie.
Braiding is an distinctive business unit within Mayer & Cie., independent from circular knitting. Braiding forms part of Mayer & Cie. in Albstadt since 2019. Overall, we are satisfied with how the business unit integrated into the company – and significantly contributes to its turnover.
“We Offer Machine-Specific Upgrade Kits”
We experience strong demand in our well-known machines. Customers know they can depend on these machines, for a long time, with different types of yarns. They know that they get a dependable performance. We’re working on further strengthening these machines’ capabilites by offering machine-specific upgrade kits. With them, knitters can profit from technological advancements for machines already in use. Besides, we strive to advance our own machine production. Just recently, we introduced a new method of tempering our cylinders and dials to once more upgrade their precision.
“We aim to offer our customers lean and innovative processes”
Sustainability in the broadest sense of the word is the main trend in the industry. This includes efficient operation of Mayer & Cie. machines at our customers knitting mills as much as our own sustainable production. Digitization plays an important role in this regard. At the same time, digital advancements will significantly improve the customer experience. There is the knitlink platform which records the operating data of your Mayer & Cie. circular knitting machine(s) and visualizes it. All our current machines will be compatible to this platform. Remote maintenance also form part of knitlink.
Our web shop for spare parts is accessible both from within knitlink as well as via internet.
We aim to offer our customers lean, innovative processes and new experiences in order to do justice to our claim to be the market’s technology and innovation leader.
Bangladesh is currently playing a more important role again
Our most important markets remain to be Turkey and India. Bangladesh is currently playing a more important role again and Uzbekistan has secured itself a place in our top five within the last five years. Due to to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the recent terrible earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, which struck in region that are strong in textile production, nobody can foresee how this will influence demand in textiles – and consequently in textile machinery.
“Our Relanit Machines Save 30% Energy”
Sustainability is the major trend in the industry which we cater for in various ways. In terms of machines, there are our Relanit machines which save our customer about 30 % of energy in comparison to a conventional machine. This is thanks to Relative technology. Its shorter, flatter course of the needle has a positive overall effect on the machine’s energy consumption. Our oiler system Senso Blue RS is another example. It reduces consumption of fresh needle oil by up to 30 %.
“Turkey will continue to be an important market for Mayer & Cie.”
Sustainability and digitization are our focal points in terms of development. This is important to keep our lead in the market. And to continue to provide our customers with the means of production to achieve their own goals. At ITMA, we will present some innovations in this area. Turkey will remain to be a major market for Mayer & Cie. We see three-digit sales numbers there and work hard to maintain this level in the future.
Interview: Dilek Hayırlı
