To support global customers optimally Groz-Beckert, the world’s leading provider of industrial machine needles, precision parts and fine tools as well as systems and services for the production and joining of textile fabrics, operates with agencies, production and distribution subsidiaries in more than 150 countries around the world. Through this dense network of distributors and trading partners, customers have direct access to all products and services available with the company.
Bangladesh has emerged as a very important market for Groz-Beckert and the focus is on providing sound advice, training and support through pioneering ideas and solutions to ensure not only top product quality but also success in a tough competitive market. In its commitment to penetrate deeper into the market, the company is not only participating at the 12th DTG, in Dhaka, but is also planning three road shows in 2015 to focus on topics like ‘quality’, ‘cost reduction’ and ‘productivity’ in order to show the customers their hidden potentials.
In an exclusive interaction with Apparel Online Eric Schöller, Member of Executive Board, Groz-Beckert shares the product strength of the company and strategy for 2015 and beyond…Excerpts from the interview…
AOB: What gives Groz-Beckert needles a unique name in the market?
Eric Schöller: Knitting machine needles, system parts and knitting cylinders from Groz-Beckert fulfil the highest requirements of machine builders and knitting mills all over the world. For a durable high-quality production it is crucial that needles of one and the same type are really identical from one lot to the next, Groz-Beckert guarantees it!
Another important element of our needles is the unique combination of ‘innovative and sustainable product’– offering great advantages for our customers. Leading this range is the knitting needle ‘Litespeed’, which effectively combines ecology and economy in a manner that is quite unique. Because of optimized shank geometry the needle can reduce the machine temperature and the energy consumption up to 20%. Tests have provided impressive results in terms of sustainability: if all relevant machines worldwide were equipped with Litespeed needles, it would result in an annual CO2 reduction of over 475,000 tonnes.
AOB: What has been the response to innovations such as the Litespeed needles in Bangladesh? Does the industry realize the advantage of using a premium quality needle?
Eric Schöller: In recent years, Bangladesh has become one of world’s most important suppliers of textiles. Accordingly, the textile manufacturers did significant investments in their machinery parks, so that the equipment of most manufacturers is very modern today. Of course, this also means that this manufacturer uses ultra-modern needles as well, like Litespeed needles from Groz-Beckert. Customers appreciate their immense benefits, as modern high-performance circular knitting machines frequently have their speed reduced by high temperatures. The combination of lower heat build-up, optimized oil distribution in the shank area and improved needle shank flexibility enable higher machine speeds and, as a result, an increase in productivity.
AOB: Is there a market for fine gauge needles used in Bangladesh?
Eric Schöller: Nowadays the most common fine gauges lie between E20 and E28 in Bangladesh; so today ultra-fine gauges do not play a big role in this country. But there is a little trend to finer gauges up to E32 to E36. But this still doesn’t mean ultra-fine. Ultra-fine gauge starts in single jersey from E50 and in interlock from E40. Ultra-fine fabrics are often used for lingerie and sometimes for technical textiles.
AOB: What is the specialty of Groz-Beckert’s ‘CylinderMaster’ tool? How has it helped the knitting industry?
Eric Schöller: Cylinder exchange on circular knitting machines is often difficult and dangerous, personnel-intensive and time-consuming. The Groz-Beckert CylinderMaster is the solution to this problem as it has the advantage of fast and safe changes with a unique lifting tool that is easy and user-friendly in handling. The CylinderMaster, consisting of multi-component guide rails and a winch, is secured to the feeder assembly. The winch is used to lift out the cylinder or lower it into place. The guide rail is used to move the cylinder easily and safely once it has been raised for removal. The standard equipment package includes not only a fixture for fastening at the feeder assembly but also a fixing cross with three extending arms.
Using specially developed accessories that are compatible with the standard equipment package, the CylinderMaster can quickly and simply be converted to work with other cylinder types, for example cylinders without threaded bore, or for other feeder assemblies.
AOB: Groz-Beckert due to its focus on quality, has been able to partner with leading knitting machine suppliers for delivering a quality knit product. How important are such collaborations for your company?
Eric Schöller: Machine manufacturers have always been one of our key development partners, as it is important that all components must be perfectly matched and work together seamlessly in the knitting process in order to produce high-quality fabrics. If machine manufacturers are developing an entirely new machine type, it may be necessary to think also about a new or an adapted needle. Therefore, such associations are advantageous for machine builders, needle manufacturers and knitters.
The opening of the Technology and Development Center (TEZ) in 2010 at Groz-Beckert’s headquarters in Albstadt, Germany, reflects the importance of such cooperation, as the TEZ offers an ideal platform for cooperation between the stakeholders.
AOB: Have people from the industry gone for training at the Technology and Development Center (Groz-Beckert Academy)?
Eric Schöller: Groz-Beckert was never just a technology partner to the textile industry but also a provider of valuable expert knowledge. The Groz-Beckert Academy is continuing to fine-tune its profile to match the requirements of customers worldwide. Today, the Academy is a centre of knowledge sharing for co-development of textile-related market-ready products and applications, new opportunities and productivity increases along the textile value chain, know-how transfer and training, services and experiments, co-development and co-innovation, in fact it has become a short path from idea to final product. Here there is pooling of expertise of the Groz-Beckert Group, including Central Laboratory, Product Portfolio, Mechanical Engineering Expertise for new developments in textile manufacturing and joining methods as well as textile applications.
The Groz-Beckert Academy is characterized by a comprehensive and dynamic training program combined with a flexible approach to individual courses. Because of the experienced textile experts who teach at the Groz-Beckert Academy, training is available not only in German and English, but courses in Spanish or Chinese can also be booked. This reflects the importance of these languages on the international textile market. As a result, ever since its foundation it has already had around 1,100 participants, and interest in the courses offered is growing steadily all the time.
