Textile machinery “Made in Germany” is highly rated: Mayer & Cie. in Pakistan with the VDMA

Pakistan is one of the textile and clothing industry’s largest locations. In cotton production alone, it is a global Top Five producer with 13 million bales, and its value chain participation ranges from fibre processing to the end product. Yet Lahore and Karachi are not standard destinations for German textile machinery companies’ travelling salesmen. The German engineering industry association VDMA set itself the task of changing this state of affairs with its latest business initiation venture in November 2019.

Mayer & Cie. regional sales manager Hardy Bühler was a member of the VDMA delegation. The range of companies and visionary approaches of young entrepreneurs in Pakistan impressed him. He perceived the interest in machines made by premium German providers to be strong, as did colleagues from other German firms. “Potential customers appreciate our innovative lead,” he says, “but efficiency and sustainability are also key issues. That is why our Relanit machines, cotton specialists with a very high output and an attractive price-performance ratio, were often discussed.” With these machines, Mayer & Cie. has taken part in the bidding for a large-scale project and hopes to make the running due in part to the Relanit machines’ low yarn waste level. Benefits in consumables sustainability are delivered by the Senso Blue RS oiler, which reduces the use of fresh needle oil.

Delegation members felt the timing was astute, given that both the investment climate and the security situation have improved in Pakistan. Thanks to China’s Silk Road project, the country’s infrastructure is being upgraded. In addition, Pakistan benefits from the EU’s GSP Plus scheme, which provides for customs easements.

So circular knitting machine man Bühler’s summary is correspondingly positive. “Irrespective of the current investment backlog,” he says, “Pakistan seems to offer stable medium-term growth rates. That should be ensured by the transfer of textile production from China to Bangladesh and Pakistan.”