The European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers (CEMATEX) and the European Apparel and
Textile Federation (EURATEX) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for closer
collaboration in research, technological development, innovation and industry promotion. MoU
signatories, CEMATEX President Steve Combes and EURATEX President Dr. Peter Pfneisl, noted the
growing importance of research and technological innovation to the European textile, apparel and
machinery industries in maintaining a global competitive advantage. They also announced upcoming
joint activities, including a European Textile Research Pavilion in September at ITMA 2011 in
Barcelona, Spain, where the organizations will host a European Commission delegation, among other
visitors. CEMATEX also will offer a 60th anniversary grant to ITMA exhibitors from research and
education institutions.
“[T]he European textile and clothing industry will not stop in its relentless efforts to
innovate in its products and processes to always remain one step ahead of our global competition,”
Pfneisl said. “These innovations are unthinkable without the right machines and equipment with the
right functionalities and capacities, available at the right time. We don’t see anybody better
placed to provide us with these innovation tools than our colleagues from the European textile
machinery industry and we look forward to fill this collaboration agreement at European level with
a wealth of mutually beneficial activities for many years to come.”
“We believe that EURATEX and CEMATEX, pooling our talents and abilities towards a common
purpose, will accomplish more than continuing to work independently,” Combes said. “A united
textile-making and textile machinery cluster will consolidate our position in the global market,
and help increase our market share.”
January/February 2011
