Tell us about Zimmer Austria and its history?

Zimmer is the leading textile printing machinery manufacturing company in the world based in Austria with a wide global presence.

Zimmer was founded by Franz Zimmer in 1874. Zimmer can proudly claim to be pioneer in the textile printing business with such developments as the Copper Roller Printing Machine and the first Duplex Blanket Printing Machine in 1950.  The truly revolutionary Automatic Flat Screen Printing Machine was developed in 1955 with a world patent for its new Magnet Roller Squeegee.  In 1960 Zimmer introduced the first  Rotary Screen Printing Machine that changed the face of the textile printing. The world’s first wide rotary screen printing machine was delivered to Cherokee Finishing in Gaffney, SC, USA in 1965 which convinced the vast majority of printers in America to switch to rotary screens.

Today, the complete line of printing machines designed and built by Zimmer remains unsurpassed. As a customer-oriented company, Zimmer continues to specialize in finding custom-made solutions to client problems– instead of "mass producing" machines of lesser quality in low labor-cost countries.  Zimmer today is producing not only printing machines for all types of textile and garments but also produces specialized machines for denim and even paper industry.

Tell us about Zimmer’s presence in Pakistan?

Zimmer’s association with Pakistan goes back more than 20 years when Zimmer started marketing the state of the art printing machinery through their representatives Al-Ameen Trading Corporation. 

Since then Zimmer has been providing the latest textile technology to Pakistan’s textile industry.  Pakistan is a very important market not only for Zimmer but for all leading textile machinery suppliers.

Which sector of Pakistan’s textile industry are you referring to in particular?

I am talking about the textile industry in general starting from the spinning industry to the weaving and the textile finishing.  Pakistan is blessed with abundant raw material that is short staple cotton which is particularly suited to produce 16to 30 count yarns  which are ideal for the home textiles sector.  The home textiles industry in Pakistan developed from low quality polyester based fabrics to high end cotton based home textiles for export market in the wider width.  Continuous investment in machinery and technology in this sector has given Pakistan a unique advantage over  competition from China and  even India. 

Another sector in which Pakistan has excelled is denim manufacturing. Zimmer also offers solutions for Denim finishing which can be of great benefit for Pakistan’s denim manufacturers.

How can Pakistan’s textile industry  remain competitive?

First priority should be the quality of the textile products in view of the enormous choice the textile buyers have at the moment globally.  The weakest link in the textile chain in Pakistan is finishing on which the quality of textiles greatly depends. Investment in the right  and the latest technology is off course imperative  to achieve the best quality at the optimum production costs.

Furthermore, the delivery times need to be strictly followed to remain competitive.   Investment in trained manpower is also needed to match the new technology.

 If these basic concepts are followed Pakistan will certainly be able to remain competitive in the future.