Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine Magazine March 2018 | Page 20

EVENT
Review Garmentech 2018
Bangladesh moving fast
towards automation
Garmentech ’18 saw great footfall of visitors
T
he four-day 17th edition of Garmentech
Bangladesh 2018, witnessed technology
providers from 24 countries from around
the world descending at the Bashundhara
International Convention Centre in Dhaka
to showcase the latest in technology to the
industry. A common thread that stood out
quite strongly was the fact that 2018 has
started on a very positive note with many
investments expected to happen this year.
Almost everyone agreed that last year was
a stagnant year and business was not very
exciting but the turnaround has begun and
now the industry is surer of directions.
The unanimous voice of the technology
providers claimed that Bangladesh is now
ready for full-blown automation.
The exhibitors were kept happy as many
bigwigs were seen at the fair, including the
top bosses, like Mahmud Denim, Palmal
Group, Islam Group, Utah Group, Rising,
Univogue, Beximco, DBL Group, Indus
Apparel, Pearl Group to name a few…
Their search was for similar automation
and value adding machines, value in terms
of design and operational excellence. Many
buying offices were also seen visiting the
booths understanding new technology
and many students from local institutes
took the opportunity to have a feel of
the industry that they would enter a few
years later.
AKM Faruque Ahamed (L), Chairman & MD, The Delta Group and Rupak Chakraborty (second from left),
Director (Operations & Marketing), The Delta Quality Denims Ltd., engrossed in understanding the mechanism
of shirt finishing machine at Ngai Shing booth
In fact, the companies that did well in
2017 are those which offered innovative
solutions to issues like rising labour cost.
Euromac was among the few technology
providers which openly admitted that
the year gone by was a year of growth
with the company doubling its capacities
and ready for another spree of capacity
expansion this year… All because of the
rising demand for automation. Another
trend that stood out was the increased
number of companies offering European
technologies that are more expensive than
the Chinese counterparts, but are seen as
assurance of reliability for long-term goals.
Earlier, the stress was on mass production
machines that could offer better
productivity for regular products, but now
the focus is on new product categories.
Even a company like Focus has shifted its
strategy to European automation, realising
the growing inclination for niche machines
to handle high-end products like suits,
trousers and lingerie. higher cost on compliances and other
issues that have led to rise in cost of
production, hence lower margins for the
manufacturers. For a country that has
always been acknowledged for its open
mindset and its receptiveness towards
technology today, adopting new ways to
improve efficiencies and better quality is
even more critical.
Over a period of time, Bangladesh
manufacturers have understood that
technology is their only way of survival
in an industry where the search for
the cheapest destination is a constant
endeavour. Despite being known as
the hub of cheap labour, Bangladesh is
now facing increase in wage rates and The proactiveness of manufacturers and
the push from their side to technology
providers to offer them technologies
which were unthinkable in the country
a few years ago, is starting to create a
synergy between both that will surely
help Bangladesh apparel industry achieve
great heights. An example of the same
20 Apparel Online Bangladesh | MARCH 2018 | www.apparelresources.com
Technology providers were highly
appreciative of the upfront approach of
the exporters and the genuine curiosity of
manufacturers on latest offerings. Sensing
opportunities, every technology provider
has a set strategy to expand their share in
the market and a common thread between
all of them is that they are taking small
steps. With a clear vision that the need
of the market is automation, they are
focusing on this only. They agree that for
next few years, Industry 4.0 will not be
in demand in Bangladesh, so they are in
no hurry to introduce the concept in the
market yet.