Visitors to ITMA ASIA + CITME 2012 are said to have greatly appreciated the commitment of the German textile machinery industry on the issue of sustainability. On occasion of the region’s leading textile machinery exhibition from 12th to 16th June in Shanghai, the VDMA Textile Machinery Association presented its sustainability initiative Blue Competence for the first time in the Asian market.

According to the VDMA, the reaction from visitors to the campaign was positive and they especially welcomed the VDMA’s approach to focus on practical examples instead of certification experiments.

The success stories from German companies themed ‘Sustainability meets profit’ are said to have showed textile manufacturers exactly how to realise substantial raw material and energy savings with the help of German technology, thereby fulfilling the obligations of governments, brands, retailers and consumers.

German exhibitors draw positive conclusion

Covering a net total of 6402 square meters of space, Germany was the biggest foreign exhibiting nation in Shanghai with 112 exhibitors showcasing their products and services.

The German companies were pleased with their presence at the third edition of ITMA ASIA + CITME as Fritz P. Mayer, Managing Associate of Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik and Chairman of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association explained:

“We benefited greatly from our participation at ITMA ASIA + CITME as it had a targeted audience and enabled us to feel the pulse of the industry. The vast majority of the visitors are serious buyers and we are extremely happy with the business opportunities gained from this show.”

The VDMA’s survey of German exhibitors indicates that in general ITMA ASIA 2012 was promising in spite of the general economic uncertainty. The association says the survey indicates that the majority of German exhibitors evaluate the prospects for post exhibition business to be positive.

The survey also shows that the economic expectations for the Asian market vary between the sectors. The majority of manufacturers of knitting machinery, hosiery machinery and spinning machinery expect a stagnant period or even a decrease in business until the end of 2012. In the longer-term perspective until the end of 2014 however, positive increasing market development is expected.

 The vast majority of exhibitors from the finishing machinery segment are expecting an increasing and positive development of the Asian market in both the short-term and the long-term perspective until the end of 2014.

ITMA ASIA 2012’s good results are also reflected in the trade fair planning of the German companies with 61 % of German exhibitors at the 2012 show already intending to take part at the next show from 16th to 20th June 2014 in Shanghai.