TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson:

“Many European companies have been forced into testing new working methods and looking at what it’s possible to do remotely, and how to exploit automation to the full, in order to become more flexible. Others have been taking risks where they see opportunies and there’s a new sense of solidarity among companies. It’s extremely encouraging, for example, that over five hundred European companies from across our supply chain are reported to have responded to the shortages of facemasks and PPE – protective personal equipment – by converting parts of their sites or investing in new equipment.”

New supply chains

Amongst them are TMAS members of the ACG Group, who quickly established a dedicated new nonwovens fabric converting and single-use garment making-up plant to supply to the Swedish health authorities. From a standing start in March, this is now producing 1.8mn sqm of converted fabric and turning it into 692,000 finished medical garments each month.

Therese Premler-Andersson:

“In 2020 so far, we have seen new value chains being created and a certain amount of permanent reshoring is now inevitable. This is being backed by the new funding announced in the European Union’s Next Generation EU plan, with Euro 750 billion marked for helping industry recover. As the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has stressed, ‘green and digital’ transitions hold the key to Europe’s future prosperity and resilience, and TMAS members have new solutions to assist in both areas.”

Remote working

Automated solutions have opened up many possibilities for remote working during the pandemic.

Texo AB

Texo AB, for example, the specialist in wide-width weaving looms for the paper industry, was able to successfully complete the build and delivery of a major multi-container order between April and May.

Texo AB President Anders Svensson:

“Our new Remote Guidance software now makes it possible for us to carry out some of the commissioning and troubleshooting of such new lines remotely, which has been helpful."

Svegea of Sweden

Svegea of Sweden, which has spent the past few months developing its new CR-210 fabric relaxation machine for knitted fabrics, has also successfully set up and installed a number of machines remotely, which the company has never attempted before.

Svegea managing director Hakan Steene:

“The pandemic has definitely led to some inventive solutions for us and with international travel currently not possible, we are finding better methods of digital communication and collaboration all the time.”

Baldwin Technology

Eric Norling, Vice President of the Precision Application business of Baldwin Technology, believes the pandemic may have a more permanent impact on global travel.

Eric Norling:

“We have now proven that e-meetings and virtual collaboration tools are effective. Baldwin implemented a home office work regime from April with only production personnel and R&D researchers at the workplace. These past few months have shown that we can be just as effective and do not need to travel for physical meetings to the same extent that was previously thought to be necessary.”

IRO AB

Pär Hedman, Sales and Marketing Manager for IRO AB, however, believes such advances can only go so far at the moment.

Pär Hedman:

“Video conferences have taken a big leap forward, especially in development projects, and this method of communication is here to stay, but it will never completely replace personal meetings,” he says. “And textile fabrics need to be touched, examined and accepted by the senses, which is impossible to do via digital media today. The coming haptic internet, however, may well even change that too.”

Social distancing

The many garment factories now equipped with Eton Systems UPS work stations – designed to save considerable costs through automation – have meanwhile benefited from the unintentional social distancing they automatically provide compared to factories with conventional banks of sewing machines.

Eton Systems Business Development Manager Roger Ryrlén:

“These companies have been able to continue operating throughout the pandemic due to the spaced nature of our automated plant configurations. The UPS system has been established for some time, but planned spacing has proved an accidental plus for our customers – with improved productivity.”

Therese Premler-Andersson:

“Innovations from TMAS member companies have been coming thick and fast recently due to their advanced know-how in automation concepts. If anything, the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have only accelerated these initiatives by obliging our members to take new approaches.”