Overseas exhibitors from the CEMATEX countries and Japan will present a powerful display of latest textile manufacturing technology at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008 in July.

With all 126,500 sq. metres of stand space now fully booked, the exhibition, to be held from July 27 to 31, is guaranteed to be China’s biggest-ever textile machinery show.

Chinese machinery producers will, naturally, provide the largest national group of exhibitors at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008, but the full participation of companies from both Europe and Japan will ensure that visitors will be offered a truly global perspective on technical innovations across the entire processing sequence, from fibre to finished fabric.

Breaking new ground as the first combined show – uniting the global ITMA brand with the leading Chinese exhibition – the 2008 edition of ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008 clearly has a unique and unrivalled appeal for both visitors and exhibitors. It is now part of a cycle of worldwide events that includes the four-yearly ITMA shows in Europe, and follows on from the previous ITMA ASIA events in Singapore in 2001 and 2005, and the series of 10 CITME shows held in Beijing, most recently in 2006.

CEMATEX, the European committee of textile machinery manufacturers, owns the ITMA name, and represents nine national associations in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. The biggest names from each of these countries will be among a substantial European presence in Shanghai.

Says CEMATEX Secretary General Maria Avery: “European machinery manufacturers are acknowledged as the major players in driving technical innovation in textile production methods. Their depth of know-how, commitment to R&D and attention to quality in both equipment and end-product are well-deserved, and these characteristics make their exhibits the star attractions at any major show.

“We are confident that, at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008, visitors will see many exciting new developments in fibre and yarn production, weaving, knitting and finishing -- not forgetting the vital contribution made by ancillary equipment such as testing and quality control systems and automation solutions.

“The fact that leading companies from all the CEMATEX member countries have eagerly snapped up available space in Shanghai underlines their belief in the importance of the Asian and Chinese markets and signals that there will be an impressive display of technology at the show.”

Among CEMATEX countries, Germany will have the largest single contingent at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008, with net space totalling over 9,100 sq. metres, followed by Italy with more than 7,200 sq. metres net, then Switzerland with 5,100 sq. metres net. The show’s partner country, Japan, occupies 3,000 sq. metres net. From the host nation, China, there will be a massive display of equipment, covering more than 33,000 sq. metres net.

In terms of major product categories on view, the yarn production and processing (spinning and winding) sector will occupy the largest stand space area, with a total of about 30,000 sq. metres net. Dyeing, finishing and printing machinery will cover more than 18,000 sq. metres net, with weaving machines and knitting and hosiery machines each taking up around 11,000 sq. metres net.

ITMA ASIA + CITME is jointly owned by CEMATEX and a Chinese consortium made up of CCPIT (Sub-council of Textile Industry, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade), CTMA (China Textile Machinery Association), and CIEC (China International Exhibition Centre Group Corporation).

The show will take up all 11 halls at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, which was opened in 2001 in the city’s Pudong business district. The halls are laid out in two blocks and the exhibits will be arranged according to the familiar CEMATEX product categories, as follows:-

● In the Eastern block, halls E1, E2 and part of hall E3 will accommodate dyeing and finishing machinery and accessories.

● Hall E3 will also feature making-up, testing, dyestuffs and chemicals and software.

● Halls E4 and part of E5 will house knitting and hosiery machinery and accessories.

● Hall E6 and part of E5 will accommodate weaving machinery and accessories.

● In the Western Block, all five halls (W1 to W5) will feature machinery for spinning and winding, with a section of Hall W4 devoted to nonwovens equipment.

Main Entry points to the fair site are located at the North and South ends of the complex, with car parking all around the perimeter. All the halls feature pillar-free, single-storey construction, with all necessary expert services available on-site.

A strong visitor promotion campaign is currently underway, with visitors being encouraged to register on-line at www.itmaasia.com to take advantage of early-bird ticket price reductions.