Burdens and honours

by Matteo Grazzini

Swiss, president of his country's textile machinery association, president of the SFB centre, board member of the International textile Manufactures Association and finally board member of SSM, a company specialising in yarn processing machinery: Ernesto Maurer is at the helm of Cematex, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers that organises ITMA. An experienced manager sitting in the command post of a machine that is based on the union of many national realities: a prestige to lead it but also a great responsibility.

You became president of Cematex at a very difficult time for the world economy. Three years on, how do you view the general economic situation and the mechanical textile industry in particular?

I was elected to be the president of Cematex in June 2020 for a four-year term. The coronavirus pandemic started that year, which adversely affected the global economy, and face-to-face exhibitions around the world were cancelled or postponed. This impacted our combined show in Shanghai. ITMA Asia + CITME in Shanghai in 2020 and 2022 had to be postponed. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of local sourcing and manufacturing. This has led to an increase in domestic demand for textile machinery, in emerging and established markets alike. We expect this trend to continue in the coming years. Overall, as much as the global economic situation remains challenging, the textile industry is well-experienced and well-positioned to weather the storm and emerge stronger than ever. The industry is adapting to the “new normal” by embracing digitalisation and sustainability, and we see a bright future ahead.

How much has the pandemic affected the results ITMA 2019 in Barcelona?

We are pleased to note that ITMA 2023 will gross 200,000 square metres with a showcase of cutting-edge technologies from about 1,700 exhibitors. This is a very strong demonstration of the capability and performance after the pandemic, considering that we had 1,717 exhibitors in 2019, and 1,691 exhibitors in 2915. Europe now seems to be 100% back on track, in the East however, where are we in terms of trade fairs and business?

The situation regarding trade fairs and business in the East varies depending on the country and industry. Many countries have resumed in-person events. Our ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibition in Shanghai has received remarkably good response after China abandoned its strict Covid controls late in 2022.

What do you expect from ITMA 2023 and what should visitors expect?

ITMA 2023 will be the first mega textile machinery exhibition in the post-pandemic aera. The exhibition theme is Transforming

Svizzero, presidente dell’associazione dei meccanotessili del suo Paese, presidente del centro di formazione SFB, membro del board della direttivo dell’azienda SSM, specializzata in macchine per la lavorazione un aumento della domanda interna di macchine una buona posizione per superare la tempesta adattando alla "nuova normalità" abbracciando the World of Textiles. It is underscored by four trending topics: automation and digital future, advanced materials, sustainability and circularity, and innovative technologies. It will be an exciting demonstration of the best-in-class solutions as many exhibitors will be showcasing their latest innovations from across the entire manufacturing value chain. These innovations will help textile and garment manufacturers to become more competitive, as well as to demonstrate their ability to produce more sustainably. ITMA is not only a launchpad for innovative technology, it has always been an important event for networking and collaboration within the textile industry. With greater emphasis on collaboration among various stakeholders, ITMA 2023 will present great opportunities for dialogues and sharing of knowledge among industry groups. Cematex brings together manufacturers' associations from many nations. How do you maintain the balance between entities that are competitors in the market?

Cematex is a conglomerate of nine national textile machinery associations within Europe. The organisation of such exhibitions is the core business of Cematex. As owner of ITMA and ITMA ASIA exhibitions, we help to ensure that our members will be able to promote their machinery at high-quality, cost-effective exhibitions for the textile machinery industry. Organised by the industry, for the industry, ITMA remains a relevant platform to drive the development of this business sector. While our members may be competitors, through ITMA, Cematex is able to offer a level playing field for European textile machinery manufacturers.

Cematex members can leverage ITMA to showcase their latest technologies and innovations, and to network and collaborate with other industry stakeholders. By fostering an environment of open dialogue and cooperation, ITMA helps to drive the development of the textile industry as a whole, while also supporting the business interests of individual manufacturers.