Success is built on close business relationships and reliabilityInterview with Dr.Janpeter Horn,Chairperson of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association

With an export rate of 95 per cent,the German textile machinery industry is one of the strongest in terms of exports.The domes—tic market is an important one.What custom—ers here are looking for are machines that guarantee energy and resource efficiency on the highest level.High productivity is the most efficient way to save resources and energy that are increasingly costing.

Outside the country,many VDMA mem—ber companies already have a broad customer base in Southeast Asia.VDMA regularly orga—nized symposia and business initiation trips to countries such as Vietnam,Indonesia orThailand.In Africa,business initiation trips and conferences already took place in Ethiopia and as an online event in cooperation with Algeria.In general,Africa is a region of growing interest and customer base.

What VDMA member companies offer to customers,goes far beyond pure technology.We are not just looking at being ahead with our machines but also with the technical advice we can give to our customers.Our focus as a general industry is to give our customers an overview on how to manage better the whole factory.Not only single machines but the whole concept should be best.We have good set—ups in many countries all over the world,so we can support customers all over the world with services and advice.German technology focuses as per the headline to provide future—oriented solutions for all markets.

Success is built on close business rela—tionships and reliability.Many VDMA member companies can proudly point to decades of close customer relationships which are based on mutual trust.These relationships are founded on a number of success factors: tech—nology that is always focused on user needs as well as comprehensive after—sales service and excellent spare parts supply.

China is the biggest market,German companies are planning to participate in it.However,due to the current challenges,the par—ticipation of German companies will be smaller compared to the pre—pandemic ITMA ASIA +CITME trade fairs.