Farewell Greenville

This year's ATME-I made a memorable exit.Textile World Asia Special Report

ATME-I Review
Textile World Asia Special ReportFarewell GreenvilleDespite pre-show uncertainties, this year's ATME-I — the last to be held in Greenville, South Carolina — made a memorable exit.

Organizers gathered for the opening of ATME-I® at the Palmetto Expo Center in Greenville, South Carolina.In the turbulent world of U.S. textiles, the American Textile Machinery Exhibition-International ® (ATME-I®) 2004 presented opportunities for the U.S. textile industry and technology suppliers to come together in the context of a changing textile industry. There were two schools of thought on the exhibition floor — one stuck in a reminiscent view of the good old days of ATME-I and the other focused on meeting the challenges of change in the American marketplace. For the second group, lower expectations gave way, in most cases, to an active show floor — where key textile decision- makers were present, interested, requesting proposals and buying.The show, sponsored by the American Textile Machinery Association and U.S.-based Textile Hall Corp., was held at the Palmetto Expo Center, Greenville, South Carolina. It drew 483 exhibitors from 23 countries, including the United States. Iranian and Pakistani exhibitors had to withdraw from the show because of visa conflicts. Twenty percent of the exhibitors were first-timers at ATME-I — an interesting twist for a show at which many industry perennials chose not to exhibit. Some of those who failed to take space at the show were seen in the aisles, and it seemed that as the last ATME-I in Greenville got underway, few with a history in U.S. textiles could bear to stay away.Butler B. Mullins, ATME-I director, and president, Textile Hall Corp., said the show contained three firsts. ATME-I 2004 was the first complete show since 1973 that did not follow the usual split-show format. The show offered its first co-location, featuring the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists’ (AATCC’s) International Conference and Exhibition. And, it was the first time ATME-I presented a full slate of conferences during the show.AATCC attracted 110 on-site registered visitors and featured a full conference schedule. AATCC seminars were conveniently located off the entrance to Hall A, which housed numerous exhibitors catering to dyeing, printing and finishing needs.Although ATME-I got off to a slow start, exhibitors reported better attendance and interest on the second and subsequent days of the show. Key U.S. decision-makers from various sectors of the textile industry were visible on the show floor. Many of the larger traditional exhibitors reported interest from domestic mills, as well as from international manufacturers, particularly from Latin America. First-time exhibitors reported similar results.With ATME-I’s uncertain future, U.S. mills may need to follow the traveling herd of exhibitors to see the latest textile technology, as global textile machinery manufacturers participate in the proliferation of shows around the world in the race to find growing markets. Takeshi Okubo (left), Murata Machinery Ltd., with A. David Anderson, Murata Machinery USA Inc. Moninka Fehrer, president, Textilmaschinenfabrik Dr. Ernst Fehrer AG Egon Wirth (left) and Peter Dornier, Lindauer Dornier GmbH Charles Beauduin (left), NV Michel Van de Wiele, with Benjamin E. Mackey, Van de Wiele of America SMIT S.p.A. President and Managing Director Luciano Corain Alberto Lovisetto (left) with Paolo Barchietto, OBEM S.p.A. Flainox S.r.l.'s Valerio Zaffalon presents the ARC/HT, a sample high-temperature, high-pressure, garment-dyeing machine for all materials including polyester. Joël Jegou, Stäubli Textile,with the Unival 100 Left to right: Patrick Lämmili, Rene Frei and Hans J. Reiser, Jakob Müller AG Jochem Schoellkopf (left) and Gene Anthony, Menzel, with the Menzel Vision System Groz Beckert KG had a very active booth.
Winter 2004