F
or thousands of years, rope-making has been of great importance for mankind.
Traditionally, ropes have been manufactured using braiding and twisting processes. There is now a
new rope-making technology available, and Switzerland-based rope maker Seilerei Herzog AG has
played a very important part in its development.

The family-owned enterprise was founded in 1950 by the grandfather of current managing
director Guido Herzog, who in 2010 succeeded his father, who had served as managing director from
1988 until 2010. The company is located in Willisau, near Lucerne, and has eight employees at two
manufacturing sites. Herzog places particular emphasis on training apprentices to become textile
technologists in the areas of rope and lifting technology.

Seilerei Herzog supplies the largest portion of its production to business customers, but it
also sells directly to end-consumers. Manufacturing includes, among other products: braided ropes
for firefighters; nets; climbing ropes and nets for playgrounds; cords and headstalls for animals;
and heavy ropes for industrial and construction applications.The company’s exports, primarily to
Germany, represent somewhat above 5 percent of total sales. However, inquiries from other
neighboring countries are increasing.

Production And Plant


Seilerei Herzog produces ropes with diameters from 1 to 30 millimeters (mm) on traditional
braiding machines, and woven ropes with diameters from 3 to 10 mm on three new MultiSphere NG2M and
NG3M weaving machines from Switzerland-based narrow loom manufacturer Jakob Müller AG. Textile
World recently visited Seilerei Herzog and spoke with Guido Herzog about his company’s operations
and its use of the MultiSphere technology.

TW: The MultiSphere weaving machines are very particular products. What were the
reasons that your company bought three of these machines?

Herzog: During my textile engineering studies, I had to have an internship, which
I arranged at Jakob Müller. By the time I was writing my master’s thesis, Jakob Müller developed
the first prototypes and the first products, and I thought they could offer something for our
company. My father and I tested the first ropes, and the decision was then certain: We wanted to
buy this machine because it offered great possibilities for us.

System Differences



TW: What are the most important features of the machine?

Herzog: Regarding machinery, there is the longer operating time without
interruptions to change bobbins, and less working staff is needed to run the machines. This leads
to lower labor costs. However, one must understand the weaving technology as such and also develop
the know-how for this machine. You have to know the MultiSphere technology very well to capitalize
on the great possibilities it offers.

Minimum quantities for braided and woven rope orders are quite different. For braided ropes,
a minimum of 500 to 1,000 meters (m) are needed to build a sensible production. For woven ropes, we
require 10,000 to 20,000 m, and sometimes, for complicated items, up to 40,000 m.



TW: Why is that so?

Herzog: Braiding is very easy to handle, but with woven ropes, the setup is much
more complicated and takes much more time. The output is mainly determined by the rope’s diameter.

TW: What are the fundamental differences between the braiding and weaving
systems?

Herzog: Braiding is an old technology for producing ropes. Woven ropes are a
little stiff. Twisted ropes are rather flexible. The MultiSphere needs more setup time, but the
woven ropes are more economical to produce than are braided ropes for the same quantities.

TW: How long have you been running the MultiSphere machines?

Herzog: We got the first machine in 2007. The second followed by the end of 2008,
and the third in 2009. With this setup, we always have sufficient capacity when there is great
demand.

TW: Are you satisfied with the results?

Herzog: Very much so. The spare parts are a little more expensive than braiding
machine parts, but the running characteristics are very good. There are great possibilities to
intermingle the knowledge of braiding and weaving. However, the fiber and yarn know-how should not
be underestimated.

Large Product Range



TW: What are the most important market requirements for your products?

Herzog: These are mainly price and quality. However, quality comes first because
we are also producing for security applications.

TW: Do you develop special products for your customers?

Herzog: Yes, these are joint developments that also are funded by the customer. If
the trials lead to an order, these development costs are compensated, of course.

TW: Do you have a standard range from which the customer can choose?

Herzog: Of course. Standard items have short delivery times. In braiding, we
supply polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ropes in standard diameters from 2 to 16 mm. For woven
ropes, it is 3 to 8 mm. Fiber materials like PET, polypropylene, polyamide; but also Kevlar®, other
aramids and hemp are processed.

TW: How is it possible to protect products? This seems to be very important for a
small company.

Herzog: Yes, but patents do not pay off for small enterprises. One must always
simply be the first to bring new products on the market.

Innovation First


Herzog was born in 1981. His hobbies are music, walking and skiing. And what is his personal
challenge?

Herzog: One must be innovative — in front with the proverbial one step ahead — and
open up niche markets and not produce exclusively mass products. And, according to our company
philosophy, we want to work with local staff who are trained very well and have a personal
relationship with their company. This is the only way to be successful, and that is our deep
conviction.

TW: How do you see the current market situation for your products?

Herzog: The year 2010 was a good year for us, and the expectations for 2011 are
even better.FutureHerzog said he would buy the MultiSphere machine again any time. Over the last
few years, the required rope quality has further increased. On the other hand, there are price
pressures. Still shorter delivery times are also demanded. One problem is the fact that today,
virtually none of his customers places larger orders. Everything must be produced immediately,
which complicates a regular scheduling of raw material.

TW: How do you see the future for your company?

Herzog: If our experience and the price/performance ratio are correct, we can keep
our production in Switzerland. If the product and the price are correct, it doesn’t matter where
the machines are producing. Perfect service, listening to the customers’ requests and fulfilling
their requirements are the most important prerequisites for success. We are prepared well for the
future with different product groups. MultiSphere technology offers us new possibilities to remain
at the top. We are a Swiss company, and we intend to remain here.

May/June 2011

P
roduced by Atlanta-based Messe Frankfurt Inc. — the U.S. subsidiary of international
exhibition organizer Messe Frankfurt GmbH — in partnership with cellulosic fiber manufacturer
Lenzing AG, Austria, Texworld USA integrates Lenzing’s Innovation Asia, a fabrics trade fair
formerly held in parallel with the international fabric shows in New York City. Texworld USA
debuted in July 2006 in New York City, and since then, the show has been held biannually in January
and July. Its eleventh edition will take place July 19-21, 2011, at the Javits Center in New York
City.

Touted by Messe Frankfurt as the largest apparel fabrics show in North America, Texworld USA
presents an international business platform for apparel fabric buyers, R&D and product
development specialists, designers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, merchandisers, trading
companies and sourcing professionals. Product groups to be presented include cotton, denim,
embroidery, fibers, functional fabrics, knits, lace, linen, prints, silk, silky aspects, wool and
findings/trims. End-use groups include activewear, childrens/infantwear, juniorwear, ladieswear,
bridal/ special occasion/cocktail, menswear, sportswear and swimwear/lingerie.

Colocated Shows


Messe Frankfurt has partnered with The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, China Council for
the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT-TEX) to produce two additional shows that colocate
annually with the summer edition of Texworld USA: the International Apparel Sourcing Show (APP) and
the Home Textiles Sourcing Expo (HTSE). The shows debuted alongside Texworld USA in July 2010, and
altogether, the three shows drew 459 exhibitors and 5,013 visitors.

APP is focused on the production supply chain for contract manufacturing, private label and
original design manufacturing. Product groups include childrenswear, womenswear, menswear and
activewear; knits, wovens, denim/jeans, collections, suiting and contemporary; intimates/lingerie
and loungewear/sleepwear. The inaugural show hosted 108 exhibitors from eight countries, and more
than 1,000 attendees.

HTSE is the only U.S. event focused solely on the sourcing of fabrics and finished soft goods for
home applications, according to Messe Frankfurt. Product groups include finished fabrics/components
including cotton, dobby weaves, eco-friendly materials, fire-resistant materials, jacquard weaves,
knits, lace, leather, linen, outdoor fabrics, pile fabrics, polyester, prints/printers, silk, silk
look, synthetics, trims, vinyl, wool, and man-made cellulosics; and finished products including
bath, bedding, floor coverings, outdoor furnishings, tabletop, upholstery, wall coverings and
window coverings. The inaugural show hosted 66 exhibitors from 5 countries, and 623 attendees.

Expectations


As of

Textile World
‘s press time, Messe Frankfurt had confirmed 170 exhibitors for Texworld USA and more than 60
exhibitors for HTSE.

“The Messe Frankfurt New York textile events — Texworld USA, International Apparel Sourcing
Show and Home Textiles Sourcing Expo — are on track to exceed 600 total exhibitors in July 2011,”
said David Audrain, president and CEO, Messe Frankfurt North America. “This unique sourcing
destination for apparel fabrics, garment production, home textiles and soft goods was established
in an effort to deliver international and domestic resources to the North American marketplace in
one convenient location.”

Both CCPIT-TEX and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) have committed to
bringing exhibitor groups from their respective countries to all three shows. The Korean Textile
Trade Association has committed to bringing exhibitor groups from Korea to Texworld USA and HTSE.
Messe Frankfurt also expects councils and government agencies from Mexico and India to bring
exhibitor groups.

Partners


Phoenix-based Supima, the organization of growers of Supima® extra-long-staple cotton, grown
in California and the Southwestern United States, partnered with Messe Frankfurt to incorporate the
Supima Premium Fabric Show (PREFAB) into Texworld USA starting with the July 2010 edition. Each
Texworld USA show now has a designated section featuring Supima’s licensees.

Stylesight — a New York City-based global provider of trend content, tools and technology
for the style industry — was named Texworld USA’s official trend partner in 2010, and the companies
debuted their partnership at the January 2011 show.

“The January edition of Texworld USA was just the beginning of our innovative partnership.
[For the July show,] we’ll be offering even more inspiring, cutting edge information and technology
for exhibitors and attendees,” said Frank Bober, founder and CEO, Stylesight.

For the upcoming show, Stylesight is curating and helping to design trend areas/forums
categorized into three themes: apparel, sourcing and home/interiors. The company also will present
a series of eight seminars related to those themes, and its Fall/Winter 2012-13 Materials Forecast
comprising four trends it describes as follows:

Raw Energy: Taking inspiration from the body, materials play with the color red in
a myriad of shades with a tone-on-tone interplay of anatomically sticky coatings. Texture and
volume are inspired by corporeal roundness while energetic surfaces take cue from explosions, blood
vessels and fleshy explorations. Fabrics take on sculptural forms with an organic curve.

Sensing Matter: Sensual materials envelop the body with epidermal-like qualities.
Skin and earthy stonetones synthesize in materials that are soft and gentle, composed of modern
blends or supple leathers. Second-skin materials are gently pleated and delicately textured, while
voluminous shapes are softened when dressed in a second skin.

Wild Craft: Rooted in nature and the wilderness, natural forest foliage, autumnal
mélanges and tactile surface effects mimic nature’s finest features and define this materials
direction. Natural and synthetic blend while surface textures are inspired by mold, fungi and clay.
Delicate growth and wild rustic textures inspire a primitive, back-to-basics story while lost and
found-again fibers abound.

Digital Dimension: Digitally created fabrics are both modern yet comfortable as
3-D rapid prototyping technologies inform a new material aesthetic. Synthetics and blends take on a
new beauty, developing a virtually inspired style. Digitally designed patterns are overtly
intricate, pushing the boundaries of material and form.

Texworld’s July edition marks the beginning of Messe Frankfurt’s collaboration with
Atlanta-based MFG.com, a global online marketplace for the sourcing of custom parts, standard
components, assemblies and textiles. With MFG.com as Messe Frankfurt’s year-round online sourcing
partner, both buyers and suppliers will benefit from a unified offline and online sourcing
experience, Messe Frankfurt reports.

Since the inaugural Texworld USA, Lenzing Fibers has presented a Lenzing Innovation pavilion
spotlighting its customers. At the upcoming show, the company will feature two pavilions — one at
Texworld USA and one at HTSE. More than 30 apparel/fabric companies from countries and regions
including the United States, China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Spain and Taiwan will exhibit at the
Texworld USA pavilion.

Lenzing also is organizing seminars and panel discussions at Texworld USA and HTSE that will
be open to attendees of all three shows. Texworld USA seminars include Fiber Innovations; The
Cellulosic Gap; Textile Sustainability: Impacts, Integrity & Innovations; and Designing for
Style and Impact. HTSE seminars include Retail Challenges for the Home Textile; and Sourcing Home
Textiles from Pakistan — Challenges and Opportunities; among others.

May/June 2011