Switzerland centered Oerlikon Group obtained a growth with all its business departments in the first half of 2017. Saying that they had encountered a difficult year 2016 for manmade fibre André Wissenberg imparts they are seeing a recovery for the first half of this year.
Oerlikon Manmade Fiber Segment under the roof of Oerlikon Group provides new technologies and services to the global market in yarn production with Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag brands. Oerlikon Group increased all order and sales numbers in all the segments (Surface Solutions Segment, Manmade Fiber Segment and Drive Systems Segment) in the first half 2017. Compared to the previous year’s same period orders gone up to 1,436 million CHF with 21,6% increase, sales have gone up to 1,297 million CHF with 10,9% increase in the first half of 2017. Net profits for the Group has gone up to 48 million CHF with 11,6% increase in the first half of 2017.
From Melt to Yarn
On a closer look on Manmade Fiber Segment implementing the strategy of “From Melt to Yarn” we can see an increase of 51,4% in order intake and an increase of 17,7% on sales compared to the same period of the previous year for the first half of the year.
Vice President of Marketing, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment André Wissenberg reminds that 2016 was in general a difficult year for the manmade fiber industry. Overcapacities in China and the Chinese government’s 13th five-year plan resulted in an extreme market slowdown shares Wissenberg, investments have been postponed and orders put on ice.
Wissenberg: “For us as a manmade fiber solution provider, this has been a critical development as China is the most important market in terms of pure sales volume for us and our competitors. Other strong markets, such as Turkey, India, Europe and the US, have not been able to fully compensate this decline.”
Turkish and Indian Markets and Oerlikon Group ’s strong global staple fiber business
Wissenberg described one of the reasons for the recovery was the considerable increase in investment in Turkish and Indian Markets and Oerlikon’s strong global staple fiber business. They have also benefited from their takeover of the Trützschler synthetic staple fiber technology in 2016 according to Wissenberg – by the way a strategic move at the right time. Furthermore he summarized the new developments in China as; ”the current Chinese five-year plan is focusing above all on investing in modern, sustainable technologies – despite also concentrating on reducing overcapacities. To this end, we are confident that the current market upturn is sustainable again.”
Against the background of the current economic developments in Turkey a reliable forecast for the upcoming months is quite difficult according to Wissenberg. But with this he informed they are seeing further investments for the filament spinning and texturing, the synthetic staple fibre spinning as well as the BCF carpet yarn production processes.
will offer innovative solutions for their business
Wissenberg; “As a long-time partner for the textile industry in Turkey we will be with our customers as in the past and will offer innovative solutions for their business.” He also told that they are looking positive into the future and placing an emphasis on comprehensive solutions for the Turkish Textile Industry.
The whole Oerlikon Group is expecting the positive wind; that they have seen in the first half to blow in the second half as well. They forecast a growth in advanced economies such as Europe and USA; as well as in Asian Markets specifically in China and India.
New products have been launched for meltblown systems from Oerlikon Group
On the subject of new products launched on the first half of 2017 André Wissenberg informed that; they have launched a new forming table and the FAUS control for the Oerlikon meltblown systems. Wissenberg described the new products such as; “The new forming table is characterized by its integrated multi functionality and its simultaneously considerably reduced footprint. It can be moved horizontally and vertically under the nozzle and has various storage areas; which can be multiply-segmented and custom-adjusted.
This enables extremely high formation flexibility and hence increased product diversity. And, the new FAUS system control and operating unit enables the comprehensive automation of meltblown systems; and ensures a considerable increase in their productivity and reliability. In its expandable delivery state, FAUS comprises five different modes of operation with a total of eight different programs; which guarantee that future high-end meltblown nonwovens can be manufactured even more efficiently.”
Manmade Fibers Segment of the Swiss Oerlikon Group was entered into strategic partnership
Wissenberg also mentioned the Manmade Fibers Segment of the Swiss Oerlikon Group was entering into a strategic partnership; with the Italian company Teknoweb Materials s.r.l. aimed at extending the nonwovens production systems portfolio; to include the high-growth market for disposable nonwovens. Announcing two companies established a new, jointly-owned company Wissenberg said; “With this development, we strengthen the Oerlikon nonwovens systems business within our Manmade Fibres Segment; and expand into the attractive disposable nonwovens market.”
Techtextil Frankfurt Fair’s Importance has been proved
André Wissenberg has said that the Techtextil Frankfurt taking place in May; once again proved to be an important catalyst for exciting discussions with customers; and partners and this provided excellent opportunities for intensive discussions relating to the entire process chain; – right down to the finished product. Industry 4.0 being one of the most important topics driving the textile industry according to Wissenberg; “We – from the Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Segment with Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag solutions; for the production of manmade fibers, BCF, filaments, staple fibers, nonwoven and artificial grass –; are focusing on this topic and presenting ourselves since nearly a year at ITMA Asia, at ITME India; and now at Techtextil in Frankfurt with solutions in the field of industry 4.0.”
Wissenberg imparted that they are opening up new horizons for their customers with ‘Intelligent Plant Control – IPC 4.0’; that has been developed within the context of their customer services digitalization strategy. Wissenberg also added that their customers are able to ‘walk’ through their manufacturing systems using augmented reality glasses; and acquire support for optimizing their production processes by means of ‘remote access’.