Apparel Business Industry Expo, Bobbin World Focuses on High Tech
Bobbin World (http://www.bobbin.com) debuted with a firm focus on high technology and a new triennial schedule. Both buyers and exhibitors applauded the changes in this year's show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta (Sept. 10-13), the biggest in Bobbin's 39-year history. Organizer Miller Freeman consolidated Bobbin Americas and the recently renamed Production Sourcing Expo to create Bobbin World. The new effort featured 1,000 apparel business exhibitors spanning more than 1 million square feet. Bobbin organizers estimated that 17,000 visitors from 80 countries attended the four-day expo. (The show is scheduled to run as part of a three-year rotation that will include IMB in Cologne, Germany, and JIAM in Tokyo. In years when Bobbin World is not scheduled, Bobbin Americas and Production Sourcing Expo will be held.)
One of the highlights of the Atlanta show was the new Sewn Products Equipment and Technology Expo, which featured machinery and software. The section was bustling with exhibitors eager to show off their wares, including aggressive apparel technology business newcomer Tukatech of Los Angeles.
"We've declared war on the industry," said Tukatech manufacturing specialist Rupi Arora, whose battle cry was simplicity and low cost. Tukatech unveiled its Single Ply Carlson Cutter, a 17-pound unit that installs on regular spreading tables and can also be used for flat-bed plotting and paper pattern cutting. The machines goes for about $15,000, according to Tukatech chief executive officer Ram Sareen.
With economic turmoil roiling Asia, South America and Russia-and threatening to affect growth in the U.S.-Sareen said Tukatech is keeping its focus on being a low-cost provider as a way to ride out any rough patches.
Tukatech's No-Frills Approach "We just sell technology not the glitter," said Sareen. "The current economy actually helps us grow because people in the industry have to make a good decision about their investment, [and] we're giving them affordable options."
Tukatech (http://www.tukatech.com), which has seven offices in five countries, also debuted TUKAjet POWER, a high-speed plotter that can churn out markers at 120 yards an hour.
Tukatech's first Bobbin show netted sales to Los Angeles- based manufacturers Koos Manufacturing and XOXO, Sareen added. Across the room, Lectra Systems seemed to be sparing no expense for its glitzy spread, which included fashion shows three times daily. Participants included Carlsbad, Calif.-based Rip Curl and Beach Patrol of Carson, Calif. Lectra Systems (http://www.lectra.com) prominently displayed its new design solutions by Computer Design, which was acquired by Lectra earlier this year. Daniel Harari, chairman and chief executive of Lectra, said the company is looking for more acquisitions.
"We'll have 20 percent growth this year with the [Computer Design] acquisition," Harari said, adding that revenue for 1998 is expected to exceed $50 million.
Tolland, Conn.-based Gerber Technology's (http://www.ggt.com) exhibit was buzzing with interest around its new high-tech Total Leather Cutting Solution, which is designed to minimize waste by scanning leather hides for flaws before patterns are nested and cut.
"Other equipment saves labor, but this technology saves material-and for leather, that's significant," said Del Rose, manager of world marketing. Despite a less-than-desirable location at the show, Culver City, Calif.-based ModaCAD (http://www.modacad.com) was pleased with attendance. ModaCAD, rolled out a new store layout tool, dubbed 3D Visual Merchant, that creates realistic renderings of store layouts and merchandise from just about any perspective, including a bird's-eye view. The software is equipped with a catalog of generic architectural and design elements such as signage, racks and wall fixtures in addition to a custom feature that can display the manufacturer's actual merchandise and shop components.
"It's hard for manufacturers to manage the retail end," said Joy Crossett, senior product manager. "This product makes sure that everyone knows exactly how the shop is supposed to look."
Montreal-based apparel business PAD System Technologies (http://www.padsystem.com) was enjoying a more computer savvy crowd at this year's Bobbin show. "The industry is getting more literate [about] technology," said President Pierre Desrochers. "It makes our job a lot easier because we don't have to explain the basics as much-they want to get right to our products now." Overall, exhibitors were upbeat about the attendance and enthusiasm of this year's crowd. "This show was hyped just right," said Tukatech's Sareen, who echoed the sentiment of others. "They made the right decision to hold it every three years because it takes time to get the new technology out." The next triennial Bobbin World is scheduled for September 2001 in Orlando, which marks the first time in more than 22 years that the primary Bobbin show will be held outside Atlanta. Bobbin Americas will stay in Atlanta for the 1999 and 2000 shows."