Oerlikon Continues Investing at Full Speed – Oerlikon, a leading technology developer for the manmade fiber industry, is making investments that deliver technology to wider areas, as well as volume growth in the market.
Leading technology developer and supplier of manmade fiber industry Oerlikon has attended the ITM 2018 exhibition with their Turkey representatives Tekstil Servis. Offering solutions to the textile industry with Oerlikon Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag brands, Oerlikon group has a strong position in the Turkish Market. Closely involved with visitors from Turkey and the region throughout the exhibition, Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications and Public Relations André Wissenberg answered our questions.
Wissenberg, who expressed satisfaction with the ITM 2018 exhibition, said they had a great exhibition: “Since the first day of the exhibition, we have seen a lot of visitors coming to our booth.” Wissenberg noted that they have provided information about all of their product portfolios during the exhibition. Sharing that customers from Turkey, as well as Iran, Syria, Uzbekistan, Russia, Algeria and from Egypt have visited the exhibition, Wissenberg; “Our sales team and our engineering team were here to explain our solutions to visitors coming from these markets. We evaluated the future of the industry with them. And, we have received signals that there will be more projects to come in the near future.”
Oerlikon Continues Investing at Full Speed: capacity expansion with the purchase of AC-Automation
Saying that Turkey has made progress in the market for the last two years, Wissenberg underlined that large investments has been made particularly in the manmade fiber industry. Wissenberg noted that this development was not only in BCF carpet yarns projects, but also in textile polyester and nylon areas as well. Wissenberg said; “Turkey is currently at the same level with India. India has been making huge investments for the last two years. However, China is dominating the market and there is a serious distance in between. In the global market, 70% of all chemical fibers are supplied from China. Turkey is trying to find solutions to become the number one supplier for the European market. Turkey has many advantages to offer for the very flexible supply demands of the European textile industry.”
Wissenberg, whom we asked what kind of strategy Oerlikon is pursuing with the recent investments and acquisitions, said: “Oerlikon has recently acquired AC-Automation, a German company with 60 most highly-qualified engineers. This German-based company, which also has facilities in Bernkastel-Keus and Augsburg, offers automated and robotic solutions. We will implement those in our manmade fiber production solutions. Our concept is to deliver comprehensive production plants; from the poly condensation or extrusion of the melt to the final product, to the final yarn, to the final bobbin. And now with the integration of AC-Automation we will also offer the complete logistics. That means we will offer plant solutions that ends with a packaging and warehouse system.”
High quality of the yarn and the yarn production
Wissenberg noted that the main focus for Oerlikon, besides growing with new investments, is still the high quality of the yarn and the yarn production because it is the most value-creating element for Oerlikon’s customers. Wissenberg said that this is true for the production of polyester, nylon and polypropylene. He voiced that product portfolio is the same; “Our customers can rely on what we do and what we offer to them, today and also in the future, but from now on in an extended way.”
Wissenberg stated that integration of hardware and software, robotics and automation will grow together step by step, and that the integration of AC-Automation will give them an opportunity to follow the Industrie 4.0 idea further and create new solutions for their customers; “And you will see by the end of this year at the ITMA Asia and also next year at the ITMA Barcelona that all companies will come up with Industrie 4.0 solutions. And we already have a more than a plan in our hand today, we already have something new top present.”
New Codes of the Future: Industrie 4.0, Additive Manufacturing, Virtual Reality
Wissenberg, referring to Oerlikon’s recently gaining momentum additive manufacturing (3d printing), virtual reality, augmented reality and industrie 4.0 activities; said that it is just one aspect of their work. Wissenberg; “Automation and robotics will definitely change the whole future of the textile industry. And for sure we as one of the largest suppliers for manmade fibers solutions; will play an importan role for that development.”
Noting that digitalization will change all industries as well as the textile industry; Wissenberg argued that additive manufacturing (3d printing) would have a great influence on how to produce in the future. Wissenberg said; “There is a good chance for 3d printing components for production machinery for example; or original parts, this could be something where additive manufacturing can add additional value also for our textile industry. It will definitely shape the whole industry in the upcoming years
Wissenberg said virtual reality and augmented reality are already part of explaining very complex plants to their customers; “We have developed our so called Intelligent Plant Control IPC 4.0 with remote access via HoloLens from Microsoft.”
Fiber Industry is having a transformation
Wissenberg noted that for the last three years; large investments in staple fiber machines have resulted in more staple fiber production. Reminding that Oerlikon continues to offer these solutions, Wissenberg said; “PCI figures show that manmade fiber demand will grow until 2030. That is the latest study. But the cotton demand will be more or less stable. We will see more and more polyester staple fibre will be used in blended yarns; so that means for us we have a huge opportunity to offer furthermore staple fiber plants. In China, in India we see a lot of capacity going up, here in Turkey as well.”