The VIth edition of Salón Internacional de la Logística (SIL), held in Barcelona last May, broke all record figures for participation and attendance on the part of professionals, according to information supplied by the planners, though within the clothes-making sector results were similar to those obtained in 2003.
It was clear, however, that throughout the four days in which the trade show was held, logistics stood out as a key activity for the future of Spanish economy, and that it is becoming more important to the textile and clothes making sectors, in view of the improved distribution system for products that go to different markets, which involves careful storage, control and delivery systems.
The trade show was attended by renowned professionals, and we interviewed just a few, in order to learn their views.
Results were similar to those in 2003
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Schönenberger Sistemas España S.A.
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Albert Martorell, the Commercial Director of Schönenberger Sistemas España S.A., a company that has been participating at SIL since its first edition, explains “our presence at this trade show has always been positive, though this year we are especially satisfied because there were more visitors and most of them were excellent contacts”.
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Presing Plus S.L.
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Ricard PIé, the Marketing Representative for Presing Plus S.L. states they have been taking part in SIL for four years and that “we find results for this edition are similar to those for 2003, and that is the conclusion we draw from this event”.
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Móstoles Industrial S.A.
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Móstoles Industrial S.A. has been taking part in this trade show for four years, and Luis Vives Serrano, the Director of Inner Logistics, offered his views on the past edition, stating, “We find results were similar to those for the 2003 edition, for both the extension of the area occupied by stands and the number of exhibiting companies and attendants”.
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Kurt Kauf
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Kurt Kauf has been taking part in SIL for five years, longer than other companies. The Director of Logistics Solutions for this company is José Castelló, and he says, “We find there was no increase in the number of visitors, but even so we were able to meet and continue interesting business contacts with both existing and potential clients. We need to bear in mind it is difficult to make new contacts at a trade show that is held once a year”.
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Rápida Sistemas Integrales
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Rápida Sistemas Integrales, has only been taking part in SIL for the past two years. Ferràn Leria, heading the Logistics Department of this company, states, “results have been similar to those for 2003 and we could say our expectations have been met by about 60%, with a good number of contacts with clients coming from different countries including Tunisia, Morocco, Germany and Mexico, of about the fifteen or twenty we regard as potentially positive for our business”.
A professional trade show, but an expensive one
Among the positive aspects of this trade show, Albert Martorell points out, “SIL is a highly professional trade show and visitors attend because they are really interested in seeing the novelties and innovations in this sector. I believe it is a major event for companies and professionals in the logistics business”.
Ricard Pié believes the trade show should not be held only once a year, “for you cannot present novelties every year in this field”.
Luis Vives thinks planning and promotion should be improved for the coming editions.
José Castelló states SIL is a referential meeting point for the logistics sector in Europe. That is a positive aspect, though there is a negative one as well, represented by the fact of its being held once a year. He believes it should be held every two years, in order to really become a trade show where innovation and novelties are shown.
Ferràn Leria says one of the positive aspects is “the location, in Barcelona, and the sectors that make up the structure of the trade show. A negative side to this trade show is its cost, as participating companies find it expensive”.
Differentiating element
As to the evolution of logistics for companies in the textile-clothes making sectors, the Commercial Director of Schönenberger comments, “people are becoming aware of the significance of efficient distribution, so companies should be paying attention to the new systems presented at specialized trade show. Evidently, there is still so much to do, though logistics are becoming increasingly essential within this industry sector and I believe we are on the right road to success”.
Luis Vives shares his views, stating, “the clothes making sector is currently making great efforts in the matter of logistics”.
José Castelló points out, “logistics and service have become differentiating elements for the companies. Within our sector, whoever is not on board this boat will surely find obstacles and difficulties in the near future. We find it is not enough to “compete”, but rather that we need to excel and this is only possible if you work hand in hand with partners such as Kurt Kauf, with top-quality products”.
Ferràn Leria explains, “Logistics and technologies at the service of warehouse management are essential to the clothes making industry today for outsourcing is a common practice and this requires sophisticated systems to classify items. We need to make use of updated technology and I believe logistics and related equipments will become increasingly necessary”.
Air transportation systems are leading
Many visitors coming from several European countries found novelties at the Schönenberger stand. Among them, the lightweight aerial transporter CC 2100, with motorized transportation systems consisting of a trolley running along aluminum roller rails. The systems offers a number of diverse applications, including transportation of packages, clearing of working areas, production chains and long-distance transportation for the foot and automotive industry sectors, for instance.
The ESF flat product classifier features a transportation system based on a structure of rails that are placed one on top of the other, in order to guide the straight line along the classifiers. The inner rail has guard rails that resist side forces, as for instance, at the time of filling the trolley. Material transported will circulate with freedom because the rail has a circular design.
As to dragging and conveyor systems, the belt is designed to resist stretching and it is connected by means of trays, ensuring accurate movements. The metal stop is used to direct the classifier towards the connections available. There are two types of trays (single or double opening), and these are also available in a number of shapes and sizes (single, double, twin and square). Once the tray arrives at its destination, the wheel is activated by means of a solenoid that moves the disc towards the trail. You need one or more activators to classify destinations. These activators are placed alternatively along the classifier rails, which results in a flexible, independent system regardless of the size of the tray.
Among visitors to the Presing Plus stand, there were Spanish professionals and also many coming from Chile. As to the novelties introduced by this company, there was special interest in its finishing tunnel and the machines used to put clothes on hangers inside plastic bags.
Móstoles Industrial’s stand was visited only by Spanish professionals, and among their novelties we can mention the “Pick to Light” system, used in the preparation of orders to be delivered. There were also a number of aerial transportation systems for folded clothes and clothes on hangers, and transportation systems for heavy products, as well as automatic classifiers, bar-code reading systems and volume calculator systems.
Alongside the new versions of equipment already known and the novelties in aerial transportation for clothes, Magic Tube was greatly acclaimed. Grupo Rápida presented this offer at SIL, to great acclaim. The system features special characteristics (see information published in CONFECCIÓN INDUSTRIAL, past quarter issue), and it proves to meet every need in the clothes making industry sector.
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