No.3-The first ITMA ASIA + CITME combined show gears up to be Asia’s most significant textile machinery exhibition

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008  () 2007-01-18 

 Show owners expecting 2008 show to sell out as textile machinery manufacturers are attracted by quality showcase

17 October 2006, Beijing – The first combined textile machinery show, ITMA ASIA + CITME, will be Asia’s biggest and most significant exhibition, endorsed by the presence of the world’s leading manufacturers. This was the view shared by the show owners at a press conference held this evening at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing.

The combined strengths of the two leading brands of ITMA ASIA and CITME will have a very positive impact on upgrading the technological equipment level of the textile industry in Asia, promoting the exchange and cooperation among both textile circles and textile machinery circles of different countries, facilitating regional integration of the textile machinery exhibition market and, very importantly, reducing the participation costs of both exhibitors and visitors.

CEMATEX (the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers), the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT-Tex), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA) and China Exhibition Centre Group Corporation (CIEC) are all confident that the branding and quality of the show will encourage global industry brands to have a stronger presence than normal in China, and major Chinese and other Asian manufacturers are expected to follow suit.

Following the tradition of ITMA and ITMA ASIA exhibitions, only manufacturers of textile machinery and accessories are qualified to take part in the combined show, and exhibitors must display original equipment on their stand, creating added interest for visitors.

In response to current concerns about the protection of intellectual property in China, there will be strict controls on the credentials of companies applying for space, and measures will be taken to prevent the infringement of patents at the show.

Backed by the strong track record of ITMA, ITMA ASIA and CITME, the 2008 show (which will be held from 27 to 31 July 2008) is expected to be a sell-out. The show owners have projected that the inaugural event will fully occupy the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (over 100,000 square metres). More importantly, it will be the quality showcase of the latest technologies and innovative solutions by original manufacturers for the vibrant Asian market, especially the mega Chinese marketplace.

Commenting on the benefits of the combined show, Mr. Du Yuzhou, Chairman of CNTAC, said: “The combination of CITME and ITMA ASIA is a result of the development of the Chinese and world textile industry. It is a symbol that the cooperation between Chinese and European textile machinery industry has come to a new stage. The European textile machinery manufacturers provide the latest technological equipment while the growing Asian textile industry opens the most important market, especially in China. During China’s 10^th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005), equipment worth about US$18.8 billion were imported and played an important role in China’s development of new textile products, improvement of quality and promotion of efficiency. For the 11^th Five-Year Plan (from 2006-2010), China’s textile industry will be focused on technical innovations, development of Chinese own brands and increase of the added value of our products.  All these must be carried out with advanced equipment. It is based on China’s demand of advanced equipment and the outstanding achievements made by European textile machinery manufacturers that the two established events—ITMA ASIA and CITME are combined. ITMA ASIA + CITME will follow our principle of encouraging industrial technical improvement and will offer our exhibitors and their end-users better service.”

Mr Edward Roberts, President of CEMATEX, and of Vanwyk Systems, Vald. Henriksen, and Brugman, Netherlands, explained: “China’s textile industry has enjoyed a period of rapid growth and now has one third of the entire world textile production capacity.  The country has become one of the largest buyers of textile machinery, which is one of the key reasons why CEMATEX made the important decision to move ITMA ASIA from Singapore to China. 

“The date in 2008 has been chosen in order to enable us to react as quickly as possible to the changing requirements of the Asian market.  We have decided to work on this show with CTMA (the owners of CITME) because they share our own objective of offering our exhibitors and their customers a high quality cost-effective exhibition, and we are delighted that they will be our partner in the combined ITMA ASIA + CITME show.”

Against the backdrop of the buoyant textile sector in China, the move to combine the two shows into one mega high-quality event has already been lauded as an important step forwards by the world’s leading textile machinery manufacturers, and it has the full backing of all nine CEMATEX European textile machinery associations and JTMA (Japan Textile Machinery Association), all of whom have given strong statements of support.

Mr Bruno Ameline, President of UCMTF (French Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association) and Chairman of NSC Groupe, France, enthused: “ITMA ASIA has been a vital part of our shows calendar in the past, as it has enabled us to meet all of our existing and potential buyers in the space of 5 days and in one location.  We are sure that ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008 will bring us similar success, providing us with valuable sales leads not only in China but in many of the other developing economies in the region which we would otherwise have more difficulties to reach”.   

Dr Paolo Banfi, President of ACIMIT (Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association) and Managing Director of Comez, Italy, said: “The arrival to the Chinese market of the ITMA brand should be considered a positive note providing a further boost for many textile machinery manufacturers. The partnership with CITME provides added value to the operation. We are confident that the first edition of ITMA ASIA + CITME in 2008 will be a resounding success”.

Mr Johann Philipp Dilo, President of VDMA (German Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association) and President of Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik Kg, Germany, also welcomed the move to combine the shows: “ITMA is the world’s largest textile machinery show and a truly unique opportunity for visitors to examine and compare equipment from all their potential suppliers.  This is very rare in the world of exhibitions.  So we welcome the news of ITMA ASIA's combined show with CITME, and also the frequency of every two years in China – this gives us a show which serves all our needs in this important market – and with the right timing."

Mr Gao Yong, the Vice President of China National Textile and Apparel Council and also the President of CTMA, emphasised: “The recent rapid growth in the Asian textile industry has led to the launch of a number of textile machinery shows of varying status in the region, but such shows have failed to meet the demands of the textile industry’s long term development.

“ITMA ASIA and CITME are different because these shows are owned by textile machinery associations. Hence, they are organised by the textile industry for the textile industry. We understand the needs of the industry, and the principal aim therefore is to offer a high quality and relevant show for exhibitors and customers alike, and finally to strive towards the upgrade of the whole industry’s science and technology level.”

And Mr Zhang Yankai, the Vice President of China National Textile and Apparel Council and also the Executive Vice Chairman of CCPIT-Tex, commented: “No doubt, the integration of CITME and ITMA ASIA will bring new opportunities to Asia and the world textile industry and textile machinery industry. It is firmly believed that under the joint efforts of all related parties and the great support of our partners in the textile circle, the combined exhibition will become a flagship textile machinery exhibition in Asia.”

Mr Yao Rui, Vice President of China International Exhibition Centre Group Corp., one of the leading exhibition organizers in China, said: “The cooperation has positive meaning to the development of both China’s exhibition industry and China’s national economy. The integration of ITMA ASIA and CITME opens up a new way of Sino-foreign cooperation on holding exhibitions.

“While maintaining the respective brands, the integration will be favourable as it draws on the strengths of each of the shows. Domestic exhibitions can improve their organisational skill and service quality with the support of foreign exhibitions, while foreign exhibitions can open up the local market with the aid of domestic exhibitions. With China’s exhibition industry opening to the outside world, such integration represents the direction of future development.”

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008 is organised by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Co Ltd and MP International Pte Ltd who are both present at CITME 2006 to launch the promotion of the combined show.

For more information on exhibiting or visiting ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008, please visit booth  3M01 and 8D 128 at CITME.

Note to Editors:

·         Additional statements of support from textile machinery manufacturers and industry associations from Europe and Japan can be found in the addendum attached to this press release).

·         Logo of ITMA ASIA + CITME 2008 available on request

Issued by: CEMATEX & China Textile Machinery Association

For further information, please contact:

1.       Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Company

No. 12, East Chang An St,

Beijing 100742, China

Tel： 010-85229422 / 85229406

Fax：010-85229026 / 85229480

Email：itmaasiacitme@ccpittex.com

 2.       Miss Maria Avery

CEMATEX

PO Box 248

Newcastle upon Tyne  NE7 7WY

United Kingdom

Tel - +44 7967 477305

Email – info@cematex.com

Website – www.cematex.com