Talking Heads is a new KnittingIndustry.com column featuring exclusive interviews with the industry’s ‘movers and shakers’. In this Talking Heads we talk to Patrick Silva, Marketing Manager at Santoni Group, the leading Italian knitting and hosiery machine-building powerhouse.

Santoni is known for its groundbreaking innovations and as part of the Lonati Group, the world’s No1 in hosiery and socks knitting machines, is gearing up for this year’s ITMA, which will be held in Milan from 12-19 November. We asked Patrick about prospects for the Group in 2015 and about the company’s ITMA plans.

KI: How was 2014 for your business and what are the prospects for your business in 2015?

PS: 2014 was a positive year for our entire Group. We are working on various activities and business plans that we expect to close within this year so that a positive result can be confirmed also for 2015. 

KI: Which are currently your best selling products and which are your best markets?

PS: With our entire Group we cover different fields and markets and each gives, in different times and quantities a different percentage of profit.

In fact, our range of machines includes: seamless electronic knitting machines for seamlesswear, large diameter circular knitting machines, warp knitting technology, socks and hosiery knitting machines, circular knitted garment length  Mec-Mor  machines; and our automatic sewing machines division and boarding and packaging machines for the textile industry .

There is an active drive to use the synergies within the Group. In fact currently the Santoni Group is the unique combination of a technological and commercial synergy among related companies. " All in one Group" means that, with this combined innovation and leadership, machinery solutions are constantly created for customers to allow them to meet the continually challenging demands of the textile fashion world.

KI: As the industry waits in anticipation for the ITMA 2015 in Milan, can you give some insight into what it can expect from your company by way of new products/services.

PS: We will be at ITMA with a booth with a total area of 1200 square metres, where all of the Group’s different machines (60 machines), will be on show. There will be various technological innovations on show and on the upper floor the related final product samples can be seen proving the machines’ technological excellence.  Santoni guarantees the highest performances and the latest technical innovations to ensure that our customers have the best textile machinery in order to match promptly the market changes.

We have involved in this project ITS MACHINA LONATI, the fashion and design professional institute sponsored by the Lonati Group. This school gives the possibility to young designers to show their creativity and talent with their own collections.  One of the issues we are focusing on is eco-sustainability and technological innovation.

KI: What do you see as the most important market trends at the moment that affect your business?

PS: Currently, sportswear is the liveliest sector. Here, technology and know-how are a must.

KI: Is there anything else you would like to bring to the attention of our readers?

PS: Santoni was among the first Italian Companies that paid attention to the environment. For this commitment its machines were equipped with the Green Label received by ACIMIT, the Italian Machinery Manufacturers Association.

Further innovations towards the eco-sustainability of its machines are certified by the Supplier of sustainable technologies Label supported by ACIMIT and RINA (Certification of Green label issue process). The updated green label, showing the lower carbon footprint, is fitted also on our machines on show at the forthcoming exhibition ITMA MILAN 2015.

Considering our Group is investing so heavily in this exhibition we would say it is worthwhile to visit our booth for a personal evaluation of the innovations on show.

KI: We look forward to seeing the Santoni Group’s exhibits at ITMA in Milan. If history is anything to go by, we should expect some very interesting developments.

www.santoni.com

Read more Talking Heads interviews with the industry’s movers and shakers.