Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest textile producers with an estimated output second only to China and clothing accounting for around 83 per cent of its exports. That is why Bangladesh is one of Mayer & Cie’s most important target markets with the circular knitting machine builder returning from the recent DTG Dhaka exhibition with orders for than 80 machines.

The German circular knitting machine manufacturer is represented there every year by its local rep., Brady. Torsten Meile, Mayer & Cie.’s regional sales manager and another regular DTG visitor, was in attendance with the latest S4 3.2 II model, a 30 ins single jersey machine with gauge up to E24 and currently, the most popular Mayer model in Bangladesh.

Corresponding to a domestic demand for sound, mechanical machines, Meile also noted an increasing requirement for large-diameter machines of up to 46 ins for manufacturing fabrics in large quantities.

The DTG, which is a purely domestic trade fair, recorded more visitors than in the past and exceeded their expectations in that respect, said Meile. They had plenty to do on all fair days and held many promising discussions.

What customers want is productivity and a good service. They benefit from this desire for quality because that is precisely what they deliver. This desire is now a global one, and Bangladesh is no exception; quite the opposite. That was demonstrated by the number of orders that Meile brought back from Bangladesh – orders for nearly eighty machines.

India is also one of Mayer & Cie.’s five most important markets with the company holding down a 36 per cent share in the country's premium and midrange market.

This, the company said equates to at least one in three high quality machines India imports being a Mayer & Cie model with the company booking orders from India in 2016 for well in excess of 200 circular knitting machines. Amongst those orders, the S4 3.2 II was in high demand, followed by the D4 2.2 II. The most popular electronic machine in 2016 was the OVJA 1.6 E, a jacquard machine for double jersey fabric.

Batliboi has looked after Mayer’s numerous Indian customers for many years and collaboration between the two companies continues to be close. Mayer & Cie. sales managers confer with their Batliboi colleagues in India for several days every February with this years meeting held recently in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, one of India’s major textile centres.

Topics discussed at the workshop were the general market situation and, of course, sales targets and challenges in the Indian market. Sales being more than satisfactory, figures similar to last year’s are being anticipated for 2017.

Those application areas with worldwide growth potential were identified by MCT sales manager Wolfgang Müller as the manufacture of clothing and mattress covers with fabric uppers for sports shoes and trainers also worthy of note.

That is why, where machines are concerned, demand for electronic jacquard machines, including the double electronics model, are unabated, and we intend to put this trend to good use, he said. Overall, demand is very strong and has led to long delivery periods. To reduce them is one of their key targets for 2017.