New Technology Sets The Stage For Continuous Improvements
In Home Textiles Product Quality

Advances in textiles technology and state of the art machinery are enabling manufacturers all over the world to produce a wider variety of home fashions products at higher quality levels than ever before. Suppliers are investing heavily in modern equipment and facilities to streamline the production process and enhance the features and benefits of traditional home textiles.

Countries that have a history of being in the forefront of textiles production are expanding rapidly to meet the

Pakistan-based Waqas Textile is investing in modern weaving, above, and finishing equipment, below.

demands of consumers around the globe. Manufacturers in Pakistan, for example, are investing heavily in new technology and equipment. "Pakistan proudly boasts a long and rich tradition of manufacturing and trade in textiles," notes Shahid Tarar, commercial counselor, Consulate General of Pakistan. "The centuries-old tradition has now been blended with the latest technology to produce outstanding textile products at competitive prices in Pakistan.

"Textiles, the dominant industry of Pakistan, is the largest component of the manufacturing sector at 46% and employs the highest number of people," Tarar continues. "Pakistan's textile sector has made considerable advances in production, capacity and technical capability in last five years. As of today, it contributes 68% to our exports and gives us a strong comparative advantage as the fourth largest cotton resource in the world. The average cotton yield in the past few years has reached approximately 15 million bales. The combination of these factors has placed Pakistan at a comparative advantage in textiles."

Manufacturers in Pakistan confirm that they are making substantial investments in technology. "We are in process of setting up a modern weaving plant which will be in operation by the middle of 2009," states Farooq Ehsan, managing partner, Premier Towels. "We have a composite production facility from yarn to pack, and a complete range of machinery for weaving, dyeing, bleaching and stitching."

Pakistani supplier Sapphire is implementing new technologies to enhance product quality.

Faisal Arif, marketing manager for Sapphire, points out, "We are buying and updating machinery because we know to compete in the international market we have to take such important steps." Sapphire is a completely vertical manufacturer with more than 350,000 spindles and a range of up-to-date equipment, including machinery from Rieter, Toyota, Muratec, Benniger, Tsudakoma, Sulzer and Monforts.

Waqas Textile facilities have achieved ISO 9002 certification. "We are fully equipped with the latest technology and modern machinery and are aware of the latest ongoing market trends to meet ever-increasing sales throughout the world," states Javed Aziz Khawaja, chief executive.

Much of the innovation in textile technology is being driven by consumer demands for higher quality products, particularly in the United States and Europe, where consumers are accustomed to fine home fashions.

"The U.S. market is very important to Pakistani manufacturers, with home textiles exports to this country growing substantially in recent years and approaching the $2 billion annual mark," points out Tarar. "Growth rates of home textiles exports to the U.S. have been as high as 30% annually in recent years. The outlook for future growth of Pakistani home textiles exports to the U.S. is excellent.

Egyptian manufacturer United Textiles operates top of the line machinery.

"Behind this impressive growth are large numbers of modern vertically integrated units where conversion is controlled from fiber to the end product," Tarar continues. "Besides price competitiveness, a high level of quality control, social compliance and product innovation presents Pakistan as a unique and very desirable destination for sourcing."

Other traditional textiles-producing countries also are on the forefront of technology. Suppliers in India, for instance, are dedicated to product quality and design. "We are investing in all areas of our manufacturing process to make quality products based on AQL standards," points out Shashi Nangia, proprietor of Swati Exports.

Egyptian manufacturers are also implementing new procedures and adding equipment. "We are currently investing to increase our production capacity to meet our growing client demands," notes Ahmed Salama, president, Pyramids Cotton. "We own brand new weaving machinery, including dobby and jacquard looms; warping machines; sewing machines, skin winder, etc. Our dobby and jacquard looms are the latest models and offer the greatest flexibility in terry design."

United Textiles Co. features first class machinery from Schlafhorst, Saurer, Tsudakoma, Tajima and others. "We operate top of the line circular knitting and weaving machines," comments Mohamed AdelTolan, import and export manager. "In embroidery and screen printing, we can do up to 12

Wujiang Xiangsheng focuses on the latest fabric and dyeing technologies.

colors on fully computerized embroidery machines; we can print any designs with unlimited numbers of separate colors or four-color process printing."

Manufacturers in China are aggressively expanding with new machinery and equipment. Changshu Weisili has invested more than $1.5 million in equipment. "We have a three-year plan for improving the rate of production and technology," explains Yan-ping Zhang, president.

Wujiang Xiangsheng also has invested substantial sums. "Most of our investment is used to develop the latest fabric and dyeing technologies, as customers' tastes are shifting quickly," explains Anthony Gu, sales manager. "We also have invested a large amount of money in environmental recycling in order make less harm to the local community."

The end result of this global investment in textiles technology is product innovation. For example, Chinese producer Shandong Zexiang developed a unique "twist-less" yarn, which produces an extremely soft fabric, suitable for bed linens and sleepwear. "Fabrics produced with twist-less cotton have a wonderful soft touch and excellent water absorbency," explains Ma Yucheng, general manager. Shandong Zexiang received the 2005 Shandong Province product innovation prize for its twist-less fabric, and is continuing to invest in new fabric production technologies.