Two names in textile machinery that springs to mind when talks revolve around Belgium are Picanol and Van de Wiele - the first one a major loom manufacturer and the second a specialist technology provider for carpet weaving. Things have moved beyond this. Today, the Belgian textile machinery industry is internationally known.

With winds of diversification and globalisation blowing across the length & breath of the country, Belgian textile machinery manufacturers offer a wide range of products, from equipment for processing raw materials to capital goods for manufacturing finished products, for all kinds of traditional applications as well as for technical textiles.

Belgium counts about 30 textile machinery manufacturers and a dozen manufacturers of accessories, employing a total of some 5,000 persons. The four major companies together represent 85 % of the production. In 2006 this production represented a turnover exceeding Euro 920 million, with an export rate of 85%.

Symatex, the Belgian Textile Machinery Association, is at the helm of the industry affairs. Mr Merc Herman, General Manager, was seen most of the time during ITMA doing the rounds in Halls to ascertain from the exhibitors how they were faring. He took his time off, and spoke to Samuel Joseph, Editor of The Indian Textile Journal in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

ITJ Editor: Can you give some details about Belgian textile machinery industry & their role at this ITMA?
MH: The Belgian textile machinery industry represents about 30 companies, and the most important activity of a majority is weaving. We have two big companies - Picaol and Van de Wiele in weaving. We also have smaller SMEs making components and accessories for weaving. We have some important companies in finishing of carpet, and then rolling, packing for carpet industry. Belgium, as is known well, is famous for the carpet industry.

ITJ Editor: What is unique about Belgium in textile trade?
MH: The Belgian textile machinery industry is an export-oriented industry. Our export figure is about Euro 920 million. About 85% of the production of this industry is exported outside Belgium. And most of these go to Asia. This works out about more than 50%. Today, China and India are the two big markets for Belgian textile machinery industry. Of course, there are other, though minor, markets including Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia for some specific machinery. Overall, Asia is a very, very important market for Belgian textile machinery & components.

ITJ Editor: How has the Belgian textile machinery industry has grown in the last say 10 years?
MH: The Belgian textile machinery industry has grown tremendously. In 1999 at Paris ITMA, we had only about 20 exhibitors. We had about 2,000 to 2,500 sq metres then. In Birmingham ITMA we had 34 exhibitors in about 4,600 sq metres. Now at the present ITMA here, we have 36 exhibitors and nearly 5,000 sq metres. So, our presence in the global market has been increasing steadily. This also is partly due to the stupendous growth in one single group, Van de Wiele, which has acquired new companies and posted big growth.

ITJ Editor: How do you view the Indian market for the Belgian textile machinery?
MH: India is a very big market with a growth rate of around 30%. We are very hopeful of improving our performance in this market. With this in view, we are even planning a cluster of exhibitors for the India-ITME to be held in 2008 in Bangalore. Our companies are looking forward to participating in this exhibition. Firstly, it will give us an opportunity to meet more textile manufacturers in India. May be we will also be exploring opportunities to organise some sort of a seminar for the Indian industry to know better about us. For the symposium, we expect about 10 companies including the two big ones - Picanol and Van de Wiele. Last year, we had such a seminar in Beijing, in which 10 companies took part.

ITJ Editor: How do you rate the present ITMA?
MH: The Munich ITMA is too good, though it is only 4 days now. The response to Belgian textile industry has been overwhelming. There have been visitors from all over the world. I saw many visitors to our stalls from India too. Some of our exhibitors are not so happy about the lack of Chinese visitors. However, the quality of visitors is very good. I have heard from some of our exhibitors that machines have been already sold at the exhibition venue itself.