The VDMA has put in place a new network for machinery manufacturers engaged in the development and production of technologies for the manufacture and quality control of composite materials. Initially, firms from four different VDMA associations have come together to form the VDMA Composite Technology Forum, in order to create a platform for exchanges among themselves, with users and with research establishments.
Jochen Zaun, managing director of Georg Sahm GmbH & Co.KG, Eschwege, was elected honorary spokesman of the VDMA Composite Technology Forum at the inaugural meeting.
Composites: Keys to producing and saving energy
Lightweight construction is a central challenge as regards design engineering, and composites are the key materials for fuel-saving transport equipment as well as for sustainable sources of energy.
The tremendous weight savings made by using fibre-reinforced materials in modern aircraft, for example, make a substantial contribution to reducing kerosene consumption. Lightweight composite materials used in modern wind turbine rotor blades, which are capable of withstanding high mechanical stress, lie behind the success of this renewable source of energy. The automotive industry, too, is looking to make ever increasing use of composite materials.
Challenges: Manual work involved, cycle times, component quality
The technology chain for composites begins with the manufacture of reinforcing fibres from glass, carbon and other materials. The textile reinforcing structures are then embedded in a plastic or concrete matrix to create semi-finished and finished products. All this, and the processing of composites, including materials testing and component quality, needs to be increasingly automated.
Just in time before the leading trade fair in Asia, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2010, which will open its doors end of June in Shanghai, the economical sky for the textile machinery industry finally brightened again. Incoming orders where 130 percent above the result of the first quarter of the year before. VDMA Textile Machinery Association predicts an increase in sales volume of 30 to 35 percent compared to 2009.
“After two extremely difficult years, the German textile machinery manufacturers are guardedly optimistic for the future” explains Fritz P. Mayer, Chairman of the Textile Machinery Association and Managing Partner of Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH.
Order inflow clearly increased
In 2008 and 2009, the companies of this branch had to accept a historical slump with its consequences on production and export. After a soil had developed in the first quarter of 2009, from the fourth quarter 2009 the incoming orders significantly increased. As a result, the exports also developed positively. In the last quarter of 2009 they reached a volume of 555 million Euros. In January and February 2010 already, textile machinery worth 533 million Euros have been exported so that – even with a conservative estimate – a clear increase of the exports has to be expected for the overall first quarter.
Asia dominated the purchase markets
55 percent of the overall exports in 2009 representing 1.8 billion Euros went to Asia. The two big volume markets alone, China and India, imported German textile machinery and accessories of roundabout 628 and 161 million Euros respectively. In January and February 2010, the exports to China rose by 37 percent to 83 million Euros compared to the same period the year before. Besides China also the exports to other Asian countries showed a clear stimulation of the market: Iran 6.8 million Euros (+50 %), Thailand 4.1 million (+42 %), Vietnam 1.7 million (+35 %), Bangladesh 2.7 million Euros (+8 %).
5,000 square meters made in Germany
This favourable economic trend is also reflected by the German participation in ITMA ASIA + CITME 2010. With 105 exhibitors the German companies represent the biggest European group within the CEMATEX countries. All renowned manufacturers will be present at this leading fair in Shanghai and show innovative textile production technique “made in Germany”.
