Providing dedicated solutions to respective requirements including low energy consumption concepts is a part of innovation concept of Stäubli, which is a manufacturer of mechatronics solutions for the global weaving industry.
Stäubli that considers proximity to customer base as one of the important principles of sustainability is managed through their own company organization also in Turkey as in many countries since 1996 with their sales & service branches in Istanbul, Denizli, Gaziantep and Bursa. Stäubli suggests that economical, environmental and social dimensions have to be kept in balance in sustainability. We have conducted an exclusive interview with Mr. Fritz Legler, Vice President, Marketing/Sales & Services, Stäubli Sargans AG, regarding sustainability, sustainable weaving and their steps with respect to sustainability. Fritz Legler, a worldwide expert in sales, service & product management, marketing of textile machinery for about 2 decades has been appointed as the Vice President in Stäubli September 2010.
Today sustainability has become a management topic which has been intensively discussed recently ever more than before. What made the topic this intriguing?
Management has to pay careful attention to resource allocation when taking far-reaching decisions these days. Sustainability has to be at the forefront of dedicated management principles. Availability of resources is not endless – we have to care about our environment!
Today an increasing value is placed on energy and raw material efficiency in the whole textile production and distribution chain. How does Stäubli handle this challenge?
Stäubli is a manufacturer of mechatronics solutions for our global weaving industry. As such, our company can have an influence on energy efficient warp control solutions used in warp preparation (e.g. automatic drawing-in machines) or shedding solutions on weaving machines (e.g. jacquard machines, dobbies or cam motions). Furthermore, our weaving machines – Alpha series 400 or 500 under our brand of Schönherr – cater for energy efficient drive concepts as well. It is part of
our innovation concept to provide our existing and prospective customers with dedicated solutions to respective requirements – including low energy consumption concepts.
Today’s definition of sustainability involves permanently sustainable development in both the economic and the ecological and social realms. How would you define sustainability in weaving?
Sustainability in weaving has to address all those points mentioned by you, i.e. it suggests that companies have to have the economical ability to quickly satisfy customers` needs as well as production requirements at highest efficiency and lowest possible cost. Sustainability in weaving also means proximity to the customer base. Product solutions have to guarantee any kind of reductions of emissions or energy savings. Socially speaking, companies have the responsibility to make co-workers aware that the company cares about the environment and to actively support initiatives in this regard coming from employees.
How does Stäubli view its obligation to the environment?
As outlined above, our company takes an active role in R&D to foster energy efficient and sustainable solutions, applies efficient manufacturing techniques and so forth.
Can you brief Stäubli products with 4 main sustainability aspects which could be summarized as 4e’s such as energy, environment, efficiency and ergonomics?
• our latest jacquard machines of SX series • our latest shed forming solutions by dobby mechanism – series 3000 and 3200 • our latest drawing-in machines Safir S80 for high end applications • our latest carpet weaving machines – Series Alpha 500 – under our brand Schönherr. all those solutions mentioned above adhere to our innovation principles: • less energy consumption despite much higher performance rates • less emissions either from machines respectively in our manufacturing • higher efficiency through less moving parts, better material pairings or optimized drive chains • better ergonomics through smaller sizes, low built machines and better user friendliness
Can you brief us the economic advantages of the Stäubli products? In which period these investment costs can be amortized by the manufacturers?
Economical advantages are not enough – our customers want to see economical benefits – something back in their pockets – depending on product range from our portfolio, benefits would range from: • higher machine out (e.g. on weaving machines) • better fabric quality (e.g. less seconds) • lower down time of weaving machines (e.g. quick style solutions with our drawing-in or warp tying machines) • higher weaving machine efficiencies (e.g. with our latest shed forming technologies or drawing-in machines) • lower waste or spare parts consumption • lower space requirement (e.g. new dobby generation) • lower labor requirement (e.g. with our new drawing-in machines) • and so forth resulting in lower total cost of ownership at fair initial investment outlay
What are your final remarks to the world markets regarding sustainable innovation and production?
What we have come to understand is that it is very important that Stäubli customers can profit from getting service and technical support from local teams, no matter the technology used from Stäubli or our other brands Schönherr or Deimo. In most of the important textile markets around the globe, Stäubli is present with its own set-up. Customers can speak to Stäubli directly, in their own language and their time zone. Many thanks for your interview.
