2006-4-3

 

The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) and the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) will hold a technical workshop on Italian textile machinery for the production of technical textiles and nonwovens in United States. The seminar will occurr at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh (NC), on next May 25^th-26^th, 2006.

 

At the technological meeting some Italian manufacturers of machinery for technical textiles and nonwovens (Comez Spa, Corghi Spa, Cormatex Srl, Nuova Roj Electrotex Srl, Ommi Spa, Plm Impianti Srl, Reggiani Macchine Spa, Smit Spa) will introduce their updated technologies, as well as exchanging views and ideas on technology and holding trade talks with local textile operators. The workshop will be introduced by Mr. Paolo Banfi, President of ACIMIT.

 

United States is a leading market for the Italian companies involved in the production of textile machinery. In 2005 the Italian sales in US market totalled a value of Euro 81.6 million, up to 6% on the previous year.

 

300 Italian companies (with 23,000 employees) that in 2005 produced machinery for a value of Euro 2,500 million, pay the highest attention to the requests of the textile industry to propose new solutions of innovation, productivity, safety with the utmost satisfaction of their clients.

 

The quality of the Italian textile technology is testified by the high number of Countries where the Italian machinery are sold: about 130. In 2005 exports represented 79% of total sales. Asia (with a share of 42%) is the main destination for Italian sector exports, followed by Europe (40%), Latin America (7%) and North America (6%).

 

The sector of technical and innovative textiles is a reality which is gaining more and more importance in terms of size, thanks to the technological features of its products and to its continuous offer of new and promising market niches. The growing importance of this sector is confirmed by following figures:

-   technical textiles account for 23% of the European textile market;

-   their world consumption is equivalent to Euro 19.6 million and will reach Euro 23.6 million in 2010, with an average growth rate of yearly 3.8%;

-   this sector boasts in Italy a turnover of Euro 1,200 million and employs 6,000 people.

Italian textile machine manufacturers follow the development of this sector with keen attention. ACIMIT estimates that over 100 of their member companies operate in the manufacture of specially designed or modified machines for the production of innovative technical textiles and nonwovens. This sector is responsible for a though minimal but steadily growing turnover, accounting for 5 to 10% on the total turnover of ACIMIT's member companies.

 

The workshop will be organized in cooperation with North Carolina State University and Nonwovens Cooperative Research Center (NCRC).