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The Textile Magazine
MARCH 2012
Demand in the man-made fiber
sector remained steady at a high
level, primarily because of the rapid
rise in Chinese domestic demand
stimulated by government policies
encouraging the switch-in to man-
made fibers. Order backlog totalled
CHF 1 053 million (previous year’s
level: CHF 1 197 million) and the
Segment’s order book now extends
through 2014. All of Oerlikon Tex-
tile’s production facilities are oper-
ating at near full capacity as a result.
In regional terms, the primary
drivers of growth were the Chinese
and Indian markets. The Segment
also registered growth in Europe,
Turkey, South America and the US,
while markets in the Middle East
were broadly stable.
In China, the most important
world textile market, Oerlikon is the
technological leader and one of the
largest textile machine manufactur-
er. The Chinese market accounted
for 40 per cent of the Segment’s
total sales in 2011 remaining on the
same level as 2010. Asia’s overall
share totalled 68 per cent (2010: 64
per cent). Europe’s was 15 per cent
(2010: 15 per cent) and North Amer-
ica 7 per cent (2010: 11 per cent).
To further improve strategic po-
sitioning, the Segment continued to
fine-tune its range of products dur-
ing the course of the year. The Oer-
likon Neumag Business Unit divest-
ed its carding business, where about
250 employees make special equip-
ment and components for nonwoven
production, to the Chinese Hi-Tech
Group Corporation. The Segment’s
position as the industry’s techno-
logical leader was further enhanced
in 2011.
At the world’s largest textile trade
fair, ITMA held in Barcelona in
September, Oerlikon Textile pre-
sented ground-breaking innova-
tions, including seven newly-devel-
oped machines and more than 20
new components. These innovations
were characterized by lower energy
consumption, higher efficiency,
flexibility and quality.
Focus on Asia
At the end of 2011, Oerlikon Tex-
tile announced that it would further
concentrate its focus on Asia and
simplify its organization. The Seg-
ment, which has been doing busi-
ness in Asia for nearly 50 years, will
intensify its market and customer
centricity in this most critically im-
portant region. Focusing of Oerlikon
Textile involves three key elements:
• Organizational streamlining
by merging the five businesses
into three business units (BUs) ef-
fective January 1, 2012:
Oerlikon
Barmag and Oerlikon Neumag have
been combined to create the new
Manmade Fibers BU. Oerlikon
Schlafhorst and Oerlikon Saurer
have become the Natural Fibers BU.
The structure of the Textile Com-
ponents BU was not affected by
the realignment. Branding will not
change.
cover story