China Textile： As the worlds largest show of textile machinery- ITMA 2019 is held every four years. Do you think it a too long period between two editions？ ITMA 2019 is just around the corner， what are the main characteristics of this edition？ What about the differences between this edition and the previous ones？

Mr. Fritz P. Mayer： ITMA has been held every four years since 1951. While a four-year gap between exhibitions seems long， ITMA is unlike other trade shows. It is a heavy machinery exhibition and due to our unique selling point of live machinery demonstrations， participation at ITMA exhibitions involves huge investments in resources. Our exhibitors usually take a few years to research and develop new technologies and solutions， and they usually time their launches during ITMA.

The textile and garment making chain is undergoing digital transformation. Hence， solutions leveraging the Industrial Internet of Things will be spotlighted. On display will be innovative technologies and solutions， ranging from 3D knitting and weaving， and nonwovens and composites manufacturing technology to state-of-the-art garment making solutions， digital printing and sustainable finishing options.

In addition， we have launched the ITMA Innovation Lab to put the spotlight on cutting-edge research and knowledge-sharing. The ITMA Speakers will feature， for the first time， presentations by invited industry experts. Visitors can also look forward to vibrant discussions on trends， challenges and solutions at ITMA and co-located events.

China Textile： Today， many developing countries such as India and Vietnam are enjoying rapid development of textile industry， and their demand for European textile machinery is to grow. How about the growth？ Are there any differences between the needs of European textile machinery from China and from Southeast nations？

Mr. Fritz P. Mayer： We are cautiously optimistic about the growth in developing countries. To compete globally， textile manufacturers would be looking at better technologies to improve their product quality and worker productivity. This is where European machinery manufacturers with their strong reputation for advanced technology will be able to enjoy a bigger slice of the market.

There is no difference in the requirements from buyers， be they Chinese or Southeast Asian. Most of the buyers eyeing European technologies are mainly exporters who need to manufacture consistently high-quality products in order to enhance their competitive edge.

China Textile： What characteristics has European textile machinery sale presented till now？ For example， which equipment is more popular with the customers， and which nations and regions are the main sales destinations？

Mr. Fritz P. Mayer： European textile technology is well represented in all segments of the textile and garment making value chain， especially in the spinning， weaving and knitting sectors. At the same time， a lot of research and developments are taking place in the technical textiles and nonwoven sectors. The European machinery sector is also well-known for offering the latest automation and digital solutions， and sustainable technologies. The demand for sophisticated technology is mainly from established manufacturers in Europe and the United States. There is also a growing number of major Asian manufacturers moving into high-end technical textile and nonwoven manufacturing.

China Textile： The textile industry in China is right in a crucial period for transformation and upgrading， for which the state-of-the-art technology is of much importance. What suggestions would you like to give to the Chinese visitors to the exhibition？

Mr. Fritz P. Mayer： ITMA 2019 will have the participation of 1，700 exhibitors from 46 countries. By showcasing exhibits for the entire textile and garment manufacturing value chain， Chinese visitors will be able to explore an integrated range of leading-edge solutions from around the world in one convenient location.

Visitors can look forward to a wide spectrum of green solutions， from chemicals and colourants， to finishing machinery and recycling. In addition， artificial intelligence， robotics and automation will also be critical for visitors looking at opportunities to future proof their business.

China Textile： What do you expect for the upcoming ITMA 2019？

Mr. Fritz P. Mayer： ITMA 2019 will feature innovation and sustainability prominently. As the manufacturing world trends towards Industry 4.0， digitalisation has brought increased automation at all stages of the textile production chain， providing much greater transparency and traceability.

Having a sell-out show augurs well for us， and we hope there would be a lot of collaborative discussions among textile and garment manufacturers， fashion and sports brands， and industrial textile buyers， as well as trade and professional associations， and research and education institutions. This will help to create a more vibrant eco-system that will ensure more innovative and sustainable solutions， as we continue to encounter challenges in the face of globalisation and digital disruption.