The Heinrich Mayer GmbH textile printing plant offers a range of products that the company’s name does not make immediately apparent.

Hybrid textiles, for example. That is what managing director Michael Steidle calls his ceramic-coated high-tech fabrics. Patented as CERAPUR, these smart textiles are used inter alia in the automobile and furniture industries. Do they feel like fabric? Well, not entirely. But Steidle is not a “dyed-in-the-wool” textiles man himself – which is not to say that he has turned his back on classical printed textiles. Technical textiles may now account for the lion’s share of the company’s sales revenue, but with a range that extends from screen and rotary to roller printing, Heinrich Mayer GmbH is one of the few remaining German textile printing companies with such a wide-ranging product portfolio.

“Wait-and-see is no help whatever!”

“It was already clear about 20 years ago that changes were under way in our line of business,” says Michael Steidle, managing director of the Mayer textile printing company in Meßstetten-Unterdigisheim. He and his wife Claudia took over the company in 2002 from his father-in-law Heinrich Mayer, who founded it in 1974. Back then textiles were still a mainstay of industry and employment in Germany’s Swabian Alb region. By the 1990s, however, the industry’s eastward relocation was gaining momentum as more and more production stages were transferred to lower-cost locations in other countries. “It hurt,” Steidle recalls, when customers who used to deliver tons of material a week for printing came round just to get samples.

Steidle himself is not a textiles man. He came to the industry by coincidence, as it were, via his wife. He trained as an electronics engineer, learning the trade at the weighing instrument manufacturer Bizerba in Balingen. That, he says, was a defining experience: “For one, there were so many new opportunities in electronics at that time; for another, at the firm where I learnt my trade it was always a matter of putting them to good use to set the company apart from the competition.”

The world of textile printing with which he then became acquainted had by contrast changed little over the decades. So Steidle, the firm’s junior boss at the time, was sure that “wait and see and carry on as before” would not be enough to ensure the textile printing company’s long-term survival: “Just as in other industries we as suppliers had to come up with something new to offer our customers. We had to develop products and create added value of our own”

Cerapur: Perseverance and inventive flair create a unique selling proposition

So in addition to high-quality textile printing the focus was from the outset on opportunities that textile surfaces offered in areas other than fashion and clothing. Instead of printing in colour on fabric, other materials could be printed; that was the approach.

“A textile surface can be the basis for all manner of composites. It is an incredibly versatile carrier material,” says Michael Steidle, presenting a fabric pattern that is easily assigned to sportswear. It is the substrate for Cerapur, a 3D hard ceramic coating that the company has patented. The coating is applied in small burls, large triangles or flat rectangles, depending on the properties the customer requires of the end product. It can also be flame-retardant, anti-bacterial or luminous in the dark – all entirely individual. A lowermost rubberised layer completes the three-surface composite.

Preferred solution: individual

The Swabian family firm’s resourcefulness and ingenuity have become known in the industry. “Customers frequently come to us with their requirements and ask us to develop a suitable solution,” Steidle says. “One order, for example, was for a seat surface for a work chair that was to be low-wear and comfortable and, above all, prevented electrical discharges, which can quickly lead to damage in electronics manufacturing.” The result was ESD fibreX, a patented conductive ceramic composite applied to matching textile carrier materials such as ESD coateX.

For each new order and each new idea the ceramic coating with the required properties must first be developed. In a second step the Mayer textile printing company takes care to ensure a harmonious interplay between carrier and coating material. Trials are always needed in order to achieve the optimal result. Steidle is satisfied with nothing less than optimum. So it is hardly surprising that every machine in the spotlessly clean production hall is a one-off, designed to apply the tough ceramic coating or to achieve the matt effect that is a must in the automobile industry.

… and complete

Supplying smart textiles also means incorporating external processes. In some cases special yarns are required that must be knitted and equipped accordingly. “We prefer to work with regional partners and, fortunately, we have innovative enterprises on our doorstep,” Steidle says, given that he not infrequently needs to do his own sourcing for a customised product.

“Our customers greatly appreciate the fact that we deliver a smart complete solution and they do not need to deal with details such as finding the right supplier,” Steidle says. Behind that lies a great deal of trust that the company has worked hard to earn. Certifications like ISO 9001 testify to the company’s high quality commitment. The GOTS and Ökotex seals of approval stand for sustainability, and they apply to both technical textiles and classical textile printing.

The company has never abandoned textile printing, by the way; quite the opposite. In order to continue to supply longstanding customers Heinrich Mayer GmbH even relocated to Greece. Today the company has a branch operation in Bulgaria. And in Unterdigisheim it still prints in colour on jersey fabrics – even roller printing. “We are one of the last companies in Germany that print tubular fabric,” Steidle says. His customers appreciate that. Most of them come from the surrounding area and are themselves champions in their respective fields.

FESPA Mexico 2018 was held from the 21st – 23rd September. It is the most significant annual exhibition for large format digital printing, screen printing, textile printing, sublimation, garment decoration and signage.

For 3 days, approximately 12,343 visitors attended the CitiBanamex Center in Mexico City. Most visitors were professionals from the graphic arts industry. The event was attended by 150 international leading brands who showcased their products and services. The event also featured live demonstrations, conferences and workshops.

FESPA Mexico 2018 saw a considerable increase in the number of participating distributors from numerous renowned brands. A majority of visitors attended the event with the aim of learning about new trends and products by attending workshops and lectures that were led by well-known figures in the industry.

FESPA’s vehicle wrapping competition the World Wrap Masters Mexico showcased the local talent. The knowledge, ingenuity, creativity and capacity of vehicle wrappers were put to test.

If you could not join us this year, make sure not to miss out next year in 2019. We are certain attending or exhibiting at FESPA Mexico 2019 will exceed your expectations.

We look forward to seeing you in 2019!

Tengiva has developed a web platform that enables buyers to acquire left-over, in-stock textiles worldwide. This allows buyers to acquire textiles in smaller quantities that help support specific stages or needs within the creative process: sampling, sizing sets, small productions or even custom orders.

Tengiva connects buyers and sellers, helping manufacturers improve their bottom line and efficiently distribute textile, while giving buyers increased access to great products, without having to overspend. It’s textile industry matchmaking and circular economics for better resource distribution and use. Additionally, the company educates buyers on textile types, advantages, features, limitations and much more.

Selected, pre-screened manufacturers feature their inventory on a micro-store that’s designed to showcase their excess stock. Each supplier has his own store, under the Tengiva umbrella. Direct contact information is published, so future production orders can be processed directly with a supplier. The platform was designed specifically with industry insider knowledge, so it’s easy to use and features relevant and necessary information that helps buyers make sound decisions. It will have simple dropdown menus and a user-friendly glossary. Buyers can browse by textile type, and also consult educational content that will further their knowledge of the available products and make buying smarter. The company is currently adding textile suppliers to the platform. Fabric will be available for purchasing before the new year.

Uzbekistan and Poland plan cooperation in the textile industry and research and development The two countries celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2017.

Poland exports live animals and animal products (about a third of total exports), chemical products (24 per cent), various machinery, equipment, and motor vehicles (more than 20 per cent) to Uzbekistan. Poland imports mainly cotton and its products (more than 45 per cent), mineral products (25 per cent), chemical products (20 per cent) from Uzbekistan. Currently, 25 enterprises with Polish capital are operating in Uzbekistan. They operate in the fields of energy, textiles, pharmaceuticals and solid waste.

Currently Uzbekistan is the world’s sixth largest cotton producer among 90 cotton growing countries. It produces about 1.1 million tons of cotton fiber annually, which accounts for about six per cent of global cotton production. The country exports cotton mainly to China, Bangladesh, Korea and Russia.

One policy priority of Uzbekistan is further development of its textile industry. The Central Asian country offers investment opportunities. Incentives are being offered to industry in the form of tax holidays, free land for joint ventures with Uzbek counterparts and a cheap and skilled workforce.

Many of the world’s largest viscose manufacturers have not yet adopted responsible production methods and sustainable wood sourcing practices. Companies like Next, Esprit and Inditex are said to have allowed their manufacturers to deliver viscose-based products with little information on their origin or environmental impact. These manufacturers are generally based in China, which accounts for 63 per cent of global viscose production.

Several large Chinese viscose producers dump toxic wastewater into waterways and fisheries, or allow it to seep onto nearby agricultural land. Some big-name brands have collectively funded the development of a new online tool that allows businesses, investors and customers to track the origin of paper, wood and viscose sourced by corporates.

Lenzing and Aditya Birla, two of the world’s largest viscose producers, have committed all their sites to meeting EU ecolabel requirements for viscose production by 2022. With demand for dissolving pulp projected to increase by 122 per cent in the next 40 years, the viscose industry is a growing threat to vulnerable habitats around the world.

Due to the rising use of textile blends among fashion retailers, viscose is now the third most commonly used fiber in the world. As a biodegradable fiber, it has the potential to be a sustainable alternative to oil-derived synthetic fabrics and water-hungry cotton.

Japantex 2018, also known as JTEX, concluded at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, Japan. The three-day event, organised by Nippon Interior Fabrics Association, is the largest interior fabrics exhibition in Japan. Over 300 companies from all over the world participated in the event, where they showcased the best of latest trends and innovation pertaining to the textiles and home textile sector.Collections of textiles, fabrics, yarns, sewing machines, bed linen and carpets among others, were also displayed.

The 37th edition also became a common ground to meet old and new customers looking for new suppliers. Besides, it also helped them learn and assess the best happening in the industry. Around 40,000 visitors visited the fair over the course of three days.

The Gujarat government has signed two agreements with the Intimate Apparel Association of India (IAAI) and the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) to promote garment and apparel sectors. The agreements were signed during a roadshow for the forthcoming investor summit Vibrant Gujarat, in the presence of chief minister Vijay Rupani. The ninth summit is being held from January 18-20, 2019, in Gandhinagar.

Over 30,000 delegates from 100 countries participated in the eighth edition of Vibrant Gujarat last year. The state signed around 25,000 MoUs in sectors such as MSME, chemical, pharma, engineering and IT, among others. In the 2019 edition of the summit, the state expects to sign around 25,000-30,000 MoUs.

About 800 Indian firms that enter the European Union (EU) using the United Kingdom as a gateway are keen to continue their ties post Brexit. Nearly half of India’s investments to the EU goes to the United Kingdom.

The annual trade between both nations stands at $24 billion. India is reportedly keen on deals facilitating the export of software, the movement of information technology and healthcare professionals, and offering a greater access for generic drugs and pharmaceutical firms.

India’s textile and garment sectors are also extremely keen on a trade pact. India’s trade rivals, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam and Pakistan, receive the benefits of preferential agreements or quotas in garments. Indian exports of garments to Europe attract a 9.6 per cent duty, making such products uncompetitive.

India, in its bid to pave the way for a post-Brexit deal, will allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment in insurance brokerages. India is also keen on deals to ease the export of software as well as the movement of IT and healthcare professionals. India’s textile and garment sectors are also extremely keen on a trade pact with the UK. These sectors are major forex earners, after software and gems and jewelry.

Currently around 300,000 people work in Iran's clothing industry, and the figure has the potential to increase to 1 million. But the country is concerned about the loss of 200,000 jobs due to smuggling of clothes. Iran currently has $3 billion worth of smuggled clothes. Easy and high profits make smuggling of clothes economically beneficial. The official import of clothes into Iran last year amounted to $59 million, which is a small part of foreign clothes in the local market.

Another problem that the country faces is the flow of liquidity and circulating capital. For one month, no currency has been given to anybody in the clothing industry. Before that, the country imported major raw materials from China through the Kunlun bank of China, but with the imposition of sanctions, China stopped providing it with textile raw materials anymore.

View Premium Selection will be held in Germany, December 4 to 5, 2018. This is a communications platform for networking, in-depth dialogue and professional, efficient working. A high-energy community benefits from the positive atmosphere, mood and venue and gives priority to quality, innovation and all things special at the same time.

Suppliers will exhibit fabrics to the tune of 400 collections for spring/summer 2020. Supplementing the summery preview programs will be numerous collections with short-term delivery dates. With this broad-based range, the show responds to the trend toward continuous collection development beyond classic seasons.

Trendsetting design studios will introduce visitors to the latest print and pattern developments for spring/summer 2020. Information on the latest fabrics, colors and stylings for spring/summer 2020 will come from leading trend offices, such as Peclers Paris, Laufer Fashion Consulting and The Trend Bunker. The latter will also offer exclusive trend seminars.

New fashion themes are optimistic, bright and luminous in general. Rustic tones mingle with cheerful colors. All areas and facets of sustainability continue to dominate the ranges while re-oriented sportswear draws on street and work wear inspirations. Summer thrives on natural looks, linen, hemp, ramie and cotton. Prints preferably feature on fabrics with irregular surface textures. As always, the Trend Installation will provide topical, concrete examples of this.