USTER Highlights 150 Years of Innovation and New Fiber-to-Fabric Solutions
Bangladesh Textile Journal (BTJ) spoke with Joachim Maier, Head of Marketing Management, USTER, during the ITMA ASIA 2025 exhibition in Singapore. USTER, a global leader in textile quality control solutions, celebrated its 150th anniversary this year while continuing to innovate in fiber, yarn, and fabric quality management. The interview was taken by Shawkat Iqbal, Editor in Chief, BTJ.
BTJ: Mr. Maier, congratulations on 150 years! How is USTER celebrating this milestone?
Joachim Maier: Thank you. Yes, 2025 marks USTER’s 150th anniversary, which we are celebrating by reflecting on our history and defining our future purpose: “Empowerment.” We aim to empower our customers to succeed through end-to-end solutions and also empower our teams to grow and develop. It’s all about combining tradition with innovation.
BTJ: What new products and technologies were you showcasing at ITMA ASIA 2025?
Joachim Maier: We were presenting several innovations, especially in fiber and yarn quality control. Notably:
• AFIS 6 Process Control System: The new AFIS monitors fiber quality throughout spinning Cotton, blends, man-made fibers, all in the same unit. A first for USTER.
• Fabric Vision 2: Our automatic fabric quality control system features new hardware and software with AI and machine learning for faster, more precise detection.
• 360Q Platform: The end-to-end solution platform for raw material and yarn management, offers web-based tools, analytics, and subscription-based expertise.
• Fiber2Yarn Solution: This unique feature of FiberQ correlates yarn quality (Quantum) with fiber measurements for optimized production and material utilization.
These solutions emphasize automation, digitalization, and intelligence, helping customers reduce waste, improve productivity, and ensure consistent quality.
BTJ: How do you see the current global market situation?
Joachim Maier: Markets worldwide are recovering slowly. While Greenfield investments are low due to tariffs and economic uncertainty, we are seeing positive signals for the textile sector, especially in quality-focused machinery and automation.
BTJ: Specifically for Bangladesh, what trends do you notice?
Joachim Maier: Bangladesh has evolved from a knitting-focused industry to a strong spinning hub. The market is increasingly relevant globally, and demand for fiber-to-yarn quality solutions is growing. USTER’s systems support efficiency, sustainability, and consistent high quality, which is essential for Bangladesh’s global competitiveness.
BTJ: Any final message for Bangladeshi textile manufacturers?
Joachim Maier: We are committed to providing tools, knowledge, and automation solutions that empower Bangladeshi manufacturers to optimize fiber, yarn, and fabric quality, reduce costs, and stay competitive internationally.
