Apparel, upholstery units worldwide rely on company’s sophisticated systems
For more than four decades and with a workforce of 900 employees worldwide, Gerber Technology has been a world leader in providing sophisticated automated manufacturing systems. Based out in Connecticut, Gerber Technology is owned by Vector Capital, a San Francisco-based global private equity firm specializing in the technology sector.
For 45 years, Gerber has helped thousands of customers in the apparel, transportation interiors and upholstery industries take advantage of automation to overcome their most challenging business hurdles. In addition, companies from all over the world control their position in numerous niches by relying on Gerber’s software, hardware and IT solutions to overcome everyday challenges in product development, design and manufacturing.
Gerber’s AccuMark family of products is one of the most prominent CAD softwares used in the fashion world today. Undergoing continuous development, the software provides a quick and most accurate way to design a garment using contemporary automation solutions that ensure optimized preparation for the manufacturing process.
With VStitcher, Gerber offers a solution for virtual 3D design and simulation, which allows users to visualize their collections on virtual models by providing true-to-life garment simulations with a set of avatars. After the required adjustments are made, the pattern design gets completed and markers for the cutting process created. The ready cut pieces can then be sewn to make the garment. There is no easier way a garment can be stitched, from a sketch to the final product, Gerber can do it in no time.
Under the Yunique Solutions business brand, the company is relying on a worldwide sales and service network with presence in 130 countries. It also offers YuniquePLM, a platform that supports business decisions via visibility and reporting throughout the product lifecycle management process, and also integrates Gerber’s Pattern Design software AccuMark, just having introduced its newest version with a series of enhancements.
Gerber further offers specialized solutions to various end-user markets, including apparel, transportation interiors, furniture, composites and for making up of ready products from industrial fabrics. Its software connects design, engineering, cost, manufacturing, data entry as well as reporting. Accumark Pattern design software, an intelligent pattern design software system for the apparel/fashion industry and beyond, is currently used by more than 15,000 customers worldwide, with over 50,000 seats installed.
“AccuMark was the first of its kind in the industry…and now it’s become the standard,” stated Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Marketing Director for Gerber Technology’s EMEA region at the recent Texprocess show in Frankfurt to The Textile Magazine.
Yunique PLM is a web-based platform that helps get the right products to market, on time at the right price. With robust functionality the company’s PLM solution enables users to track samples, manage colour palettes, digital assets and raw materials, generate and communicate tech packs and facilitates collaboration with global suppliers and all other partners involved in the process.
Leading companies like Fruit of the Loom, Aeropostale, Wolverine and Jonathan & Fletcher trust Yunique PLM for their product development.
Cutting systems
Gerber’s sewn goods business offers a wide variety of automated textile and leather cutting and spreading systems to apparel and flexible materials manufacturers all over the world. The company supplies a variety of automated cutting systems to cut all materials with precision. They include single ply conveyorized and static cutting machines like Z1, DCS 1500, DCS 1600, DCS 2500, DCS 2500 and DCS 2600, multiply conveyorized cutting machines like GT series,
GTxL, XLC 7000 and Z7. In addition, Keehwa laser cutters are an integral part of the product portfolio under a distribution agreement with the Korean specialist.
GTxL is a low-to-medium-ply conveyorized system capable of cutting up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) of compressed material using Gerber’s reciprocating knife technology and materials with a width of up to 2,2 m. It employs a powerful, intelligent vacuum system to hold material firmly in place while cutting.
The Gerber Cutter Z7 is a feature-rich high-ply cutting system that combines precision with speed to cut the most demanding materials to the tightest of tolerance. The Z7 system has a unique chaff collection system that removes drill plugs through a vacuum tube, thereby extending bristle life and reducing cleaning.
In 2008, Gerber acquired a Virtek Vision International Inc., a Canada-based business which serves the aerospace carbon fibre composite part assembly, sheet metal part fabrication and construction market with spatial, positioning, laser templating and quality inspection systems.
Major markets
Asked about the company’s major markets in the world, Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh said: “India and China belong to our major markets in the world. In India, we partner with IIGM running ten offices for sales and service. Our organization holds 12 offices throughout China with some manufacturing also taking place”. She also says with a huge market share India shall be their potential, and future growing market.
In today’s competitive world, Gerber provides the most comprehensive service offerings as well as quality consumables and aftermarket products with the help of their global network of highway skilled technical support staff. Gerber’s esteemed customers include the Inditex Group, Ling Fu, Ramsay, Cintas, Tailor Hoff, ADA, Automotive Stefani, Canobbio and Peg Perego.
Techtextil 2013
Gerber Technology sucessfully participated in two international tradeshows, Texprocess and Techtextil. At both the shows, the company demonstrated its full commitment to the variety of segments comprising the global sewn goods industry.
Theo Ostendorf, Vice President and General Manager of Gerber’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region, said: “Because Gerber serves customers in a multitude of industries – from apparel to aerospace, transportation interiors to technical textiles, we are delighted to host a variety of visitors to our booth at each of these shows.”
At the show, Gerber demonstrated its complete portfolio of software systems and peripherals used to automate design and product development tasks for many of the world’s leading apparel brands, manufacturers and retailers.