In a context of increasing regulation and reduced competitiveness, Friday Sept 11, CEMATEX and EURATEX jointly welcomed a delegation of the European Commission Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) and the Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) for a study tour along textile & textile machinery factories. CEMATEX is thankful for the support of the European Commission delegation, Vandewiele, Sioen Industries and EURATEX FEDUSTRIA to realize this initiative.

Providing factory floor experience to the EU Commission

The factory visits help the EU Commission delegation understand what it means to develop, produce and sell textile machinery & textiles products. That experience should guide them while regulating & supporting the textiles value chain in Europe in their transition to dark factories that can compete on a global level.

The visits were interspersed with moments of conversation on challenges, competitive landscape, impact of legislation and requests for future policy. Hot topics were the need for tougher market surveillance, worries about phasing out of some PFAS chemicals while there are no alternatives, CBAM and trade measures.

Competitive factories that drive economic growth

The in-completion of the Single Market, high energy & compliance costs and an uncertain geopolitical situation reduce the sentiment of companies to invest in their EU factories. Though, the most important threat EU manufacturing faces, is the aging of the labour market. To prepare for that and regain competitiveness, EU companies need to gear up to install fully automated & flexible production systems with AI controlling systems that make factories work flawless 24/7. Such factories are clean, safe and generate economic growth to support our society. That is a vision the EU Commission & member states should help to realize now (before it is too late …).