Indian market looks promising
The impulse to embellish fabrics with decorative stitches dates back thousands of years. Before computers were affordable, embroidery machines were controlled by a so-called automate. By punching a pattern onto a paper tape, the design was transferred from the punching card to the fabric. Today computers are playing a major role in the embroidery process.
Initially, embroidery was primarily or even almost exclusively women’s work. This changed abruptly with the introduction of embroidery machines. One such brand that has made a mark for itself in the history of textile embroidery is Saurer from Arbon. The company, established in 1853 by Franz Saurer, manufactured a variety of trucks and machines before embarking on the production of embroidery machines.
Saurer Embroidery is a worldwide market leader for embroidery machines. With over 135 years of experience in Schiffli machines, it is today the leading provider of sophisticated embroidery systems and design software. The Swiss machine manufacturer also furnishes the embroidery industry with innovative solutions, starting from the embroidery sketch to the finished embroidery product.
Headquartered in the scenic town of Arbon, 100 km from Zurich, the company’s manufacturing and pre-assembling department offers state-of-the-art technology as well as a modern working environment. Equipped with an in-house R&D as well as a sampling laboratory which works closely with customers it ensures that individual requirements are taken into account.
The Saurer brand name has been involved in the manufacturing of shuttle embroidery machines for more than 135 years. During this period, Saurer has endeavoured in building and maintaining a trustworthy relationship with its customers by offering them high technology machines and efficient service. Saurer has sold over 10,000 embroidery machines to their customers in over 50 countries worldwide.
“Our embroidery machines as well as our attachments and different design software give our customers extensive scope for their creative ideas. Priorities for our customers are maximum productivity, simple and highly effective setting possibilities and the excellent embroidery quality achieved on our Epoca 6 embroidery machines. Our latest attachment, the SoutacheHead, has the additional benefit of unprecedented flexibility for embellishing garments. Our products give your creativity free rein,” says Mr. Thomas Benzer, Head of Sales-Saurer Embroidery.
Saurer’s Schiffli embroidery machines are quite unique in terms of design as well as productivity and embroidery quality compared to multi-headed embroidery machines. The shuttle itself looks similar to the hull of a sailboat. “Schiffli” means “little boat” in Swiss German, so these machines came to be known as “Schiffli” machines.
With ground-breaking technologies and major investments in their production facilities in Arbon, Saurer has secured itself a leading position in the world market. The latest member of the Saurer Embroidery family, Epoca 6, is helping the Swiss brand to dominate the textile embroidery industry.
Epoca 6 pro – Inspiration for Embroidery
The Epoca 6 pro opens new dimensions with regard to adjustability and productivity and are tailor-made for an era where order sizes are decreasing and requirements are steadily increasing. In addition, orders have to be executed with fewer manpower, and in a considerably shorter time frame. Saurer’s Epoca 6 pro will be a product that fulfils these requirements.
The new concepts for its drives, adjustability and thread cutting guarantee maximum productivity and absolute reliability. The average production speed for the Epoca 6 pro is up to 30 per cent higher while guaranteeing complete reliability as well as best embroidery quality. The unique setting options set the benchmark in shuttle embroidery. The fast and innovative thread cutting device with its new individual actuation and secure thread clamp system results in minimum downtime. This ensures economical production even for the most complex designs with the most varied yarns.
The motorized application heads, aka SoutacheHead, allow the customer to achieve a production speed of up to 500 rpm. The user-friendly positioning and accessibility of the heads drastically reduce downtimes during production and resetting. The multi-functional Soutache wheel enables processing of the most diverse materials: starting from the most delicate Soutache cord, a variety of ribbon widths and technical yarns.
Epoca 6 is currently the most sold machine of Saurer. The production site in Arbon has a capacity of up to 25 machines per month. Saurer offers its customers machines from five yards length to 33 yards in length. Usually, the longer machines like 22 yards, 27 yards and 33 yards are preferred by customers manufacturing home textiles. Smaller ones like 16 yards are preferred by lingerie manufacturers.
International lingerie manufacturers like Triumph, Victoria Secret, Intimissimi, Lise Charmel, La Perla, Chantelle, Mey, Marie Jo, Bella Donna, Valisere and many more use Schiffli embroidery machines for their collections.
Saurer on the Indian market
In an exclusive interview to The Textile Magazine, Mr. Thomas Benzer observes: “Historically the Indian market was and still is very important for us. It is one of the three main markets along with China and Turkey. The embroidery industry in India has been lying low for almost 5 years, but things are slowly improving.”
The last two decades saw a major shift in textile embroidery which moved from Europe to Asia. China and Turkey are the key contributors with India not far behind in the race.
“Currency conversion rate is our biggest enemy. As the Swiss franc is becoming stronger, we are finding it difficult to convert inquiries into orders. However, we have sold already 9 machines to India this year and further projects are under negotiation. The outlook for next year is very promising”, adds Mr. Benzer.
D’Decor, Shahiba Exports, Shrikant Embroideries and Alok Industries are some of the satisfied customers using Saurer Schiffli embroidery machines in India.