#Associations

2025-02-27

Textile machinery: Italian companies on display at Igatex Pakistan

From April 24 to 26, Karachi will host IGATEX, the International Garment & Textile Machinery Exhibition & Conference, the leading trade fair for the textile machinery sector in Pakistan. After many years, ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, together with Italian Trade Agency, is once again organizing an Italian collective participation.

A total of 11 companies will take part: 3 in the spinning hall and the remaining 8 in the finishing section. 10 are ACIMIT members companies: Audaces, Biancalani, Brazzoli, Danitech, Fadis, Ferraro, Mcs, Pinter Caipo, Pozzi Leopoldo, Zanfrini

“In Pakistan, the textile sector, after a long period of strong investments in plants and machinery, has experienced a significant downturn due to a worsening macroeconomic situation in recent years,” commented Marco Salvadè, president of ACIMIT. The trend in Italian textile machinery exports to Pakistan reflects the decline in demand. The value of textile machinery sold to Pakistan dropped from 134 million euro in 2021 to 44 million euro in 2023. However, in the first nine months of 2024, Italian sales rebounded to 34 million euro, marking a 27% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

“Despite the challenges faced by Pakistani textile companies in recent years,” Salvadè concluded, “the recovery of our exports confirms the validity of ACIMIT and ICE’s decision to organize an Italian collective participation at IGATEX 2025. I believe it is crucial to maintain a presence in the local market, where we are also active with a technological training center at the National Textile University in Faisalabad, established in collaboration with PISIE – the International Polytechnic for Industrial and Economic Development – and Italian Trade Agency. Innovation and quality, which define Italian machinery, remain key factors in further enhancing the international competitiveness of Pakistani textile companies.”

Turkmenistan: Italian textile machinery focuses on high technology and specialization

The Italian textile machinery industry flies to Ashgabat to participate with a large “Made in Italy” delegation at TURKMEN TEXTILE EXPO 2026, the major international showcase taking place from June 4 to 6, 2026. The Italian presence, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), aims to consolidate Italy’s primary technological role in a highly strategic market with interesting prospects.

Italian Textile Machinery heads to Geneva for Index 2026

An important delegation of Italian companies will exhibit at the upcoming INDEX 2026, the world’s leading event for the nonwovens sector, taking place from May 19 to 22 in Geneva (Switzerland). Numerous Italian exhibitors will be present within the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT, an exhibition area of over 140 square meters dedicated to the latest innovations proposed by the Italian industry.

Textile PRO Forum calls for greater harmonisation of textile EPR systems across Europe

The Textile PRO Forum has published a new analysis highlighting the need for greater harmonisation of textile Extended Producer Responsibility systems across Europe. The document, Toward harmonised Textile EPR Systems in Europe: analysis and recommendations, presents the results of work carried out by Workstream 1 of the Textile PRO Forum, led by Dr. Eng. Viola Corbellini, Strategic Development and Innovation Expert at Erion Textiles, and Eng. Luca Campadello, General Director at Erion Textiles. The workstream focused on reducing administrative burden for textile producers by identifying areas where procedures could be better aligned across countries.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

Keeping products moving with Swedish automation at FILTECH 2026

At FILTECH 2026, taking place in Cologne from June 30th to July 2nd, members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery association – will highlight how the country’s engineering expertise is enabling filtration manufacturers to increase productivity, improve traceability and reduce dependence on labour-intensive manual processes.

Results of the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey

The global textile industry appears to be turning a corner, but this is more likely a fragile and possibly temporary improvement than the start of a durable recovery. According to the 38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey, conducted worldwide during the second half of May 2026, business sentiment, order intake, order backlogs and capacity utilization all improved versus March — yet every indicator remains weak by historical standards, and rising costs cast doubt on how long the upturn can last.

Towards pragmatic and harmonised labelling in the EU

EDANA, alongside 14 European associations, urges the European Commission and Member States to adopt a pragmatic approach for the future harmonised packaging labels, in line with the EU’s agenda for the EU Single Market, simplification and competitiveness. The system should rely on text-free pictograms, available in achromatic or monochromatic versions matching the packaging palette, with the possibility of using digital labelling as a core element. Our associations represent manufacturers of consumer goods across Europe.

"We will become a recycling powerhouse"

The textile industry is now in its fourth consecutive year of crisis, while automation, artificial intelligence and recycling are reshaping the rules of the game. In this interview, Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli discusses the first signs of a market recovery, reflects on his first three years at the helm of the company, explains the integration of Barmag, outlines Rieter’s vision of the fully automated spinning mill and highlights the strategic importance of recycling. In doing so, he explains why the new Rieter Group aims to play a leading role in transforming the textile value chain into a circular economy.

ITM 2026 concludes with strong visitor interest and robust trade volume despite global uncertainties

ITM 2026, one of the world's most prestigious organizations in the field of textile technologies, concluded with remarkable success. Held during a period of global economic fluctuations, regional uncertainties, and postponed investment decisions, ITM 2026 once again demonstrated the strength and future-oriented spirit of the textile technology sector. Welcoming 48,257 professional visitors and investors from 105 different countries, ITM 2026 provided momentum to the textile sector as an event where billions of euros worth of machinery sales and significant business collaborations were realized.