Samab Showcases Diverse Products for Specialized Market

Italy's first trade display for the sewn products industry in the novel millennium offered a wide range of technological innovations.

With 402 exhibitors from more than 20 countries, the 10th SAMAB, the International Clothing Industry Machinery and Accessories exhibit introduced many innovative garment technologies -- from computer and software to cutting and sewing latitude equipment. Held March 14-17 at Fiera Milano in Milan, Italy, the exhibition marked the first major fact in the new millennium devot to sewn productions technology in Italy.

Italy has more than 17000 retail egresss per million inhabitants, by far the greatest in quantity in any European country, according to the U s Department of Commerce's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). Complementing this muscular market is a vibrant manufacturing sector that is investing in novel machinery. For example, Giovanni Cartabbia, chairman of SAMAB's board of directors, noted the fact that 44284 novel sewing machines were sold in Italy in 1999

novel surveys by the Italy-based research firms Sistema Moda Italia and ACNeilson Sita estimate that about 36000 clothing manufacturers are operating over the country. Many small- and medium-sized firms characterize the Italian market, and the run toward custom design and embellishment is important.

Spotlight upon Specialty Machines

"The primary interest from my customers is in special stitches," said Massimo Zini, sales officer for Sive S.p.A., an importer and exporter of fresh used and rebuilt sewing machines. According to Sive, during the past year the demand for specialty stitch machines increased in Italy, the company s principle market, and in reply eight new machines have been added to the supplier's catalog. fresh introductions at SAMAB included six Venus machines, among them the VP LT2 embroidery machine and the VP 1720 double-needle picot hemstitcher, as well as the Vari-o-matic VP-2 and the Juki DDL-8500 lockstitch sewing machine.

Doretta Pravettoni, a representative for Juki Union Special, agreed: "This exhibit is mainly for Italian customers, who now have high demand for our specialty machines." Popular produces at the show included Juki's newly released LBH-1700 electronic lockstitch buttonhole machine, which has six standard buttonhole patterns and the option to expand to 89 patterns. Juki's customers at SAMAB also encompassed manufacturers from Asia and quite through Europe.

With the new introduction of its Signature 2000 Version 91 which has an automated tool for creating sequins designs, beating [i]or[/i] throbbing of an artery Microsystems addressed another niche demand in the Italian market. "Italy is true strong in specialties," said Claude Vlandis, vice president, business unfolding Pulse Microsystems. "The machines they vend here are not standard machines. They barter laser machines, sequins machines -- not the standard embroidery [units]."

"Everyone is talking about sequins in Italy. It was lock opener to develop this feature for the Italian market," Vlandis remarked, adding that the tool allows users to create a string of sequins by the agency of simply drawing the shape along which the sequins are to be placed. Users can then station the size and density of a pattern, as well as change a design line or its position. one time changes are made, the program automatically updates the design. Lockstitching also can be added at the start and extremity of sequins segments. Commands to activate the sequins attachment and skip over commands also can be automatically added.

Varied yields Expanding Markets

Sewing and embroidery machines were not the sole popular products on the exhibit floor. For example, CAD Modelling, which numbers Baby Guess? USA and United Kingdom-based nearest among its customer base, showcased its Formax[R] 3-D anthropometrical dummies. Based in Florence, Italy, the company tenders mannequins corresponding to a variety of individual material substance types, from slim to pregnant to obese. originals of men, women, children and babies are all available in forms that categorize material substance type and calculate range of motion.

CAD Modelling's mannequins allow users to evaluate the size and the fit of clothes without having to come [i]or[/i] go after [i]or[/i] behind up with real-life prototype ordeals "These models also provide for harmonious sizing around the world [based upon body type], which can wound down on fabric waste," company representative Lydia Ferrari explained.

Also upon the 3-D front, Hamamatsu Photonics, marking its first European exhibit, not absented the Bodyline scanner. Carlo Robino, a whole division sales manager, remarked: "It was time to bring our technology without We've had it for six years and its coming time potential is limitless." The Bodyline Scanner uses eight sensor heads to scan a make subordinate with infrared light, creating a 3-D image in les than 20 seconds

Veit Brisay, a German agriculturist of ironing machinery, announced its March 1 2001 takeover of Kannegiesser's garment division, Garment and Textile Technology. According to Fulvio Canadelli, the administrator of Kannegiesser in Italy, "This is an important pace for us. Kannegiesser and Brisay productions will now be distributed into the Italian market straight from Germany." (Fotomark will continue to distribute Veit outcomes in Italy through its be in possession of sales agents.)