‘Industry Must Tackle the Sustainability vs. Tech Cycle Paradox’ – Bernd Bräuer, Dürkopp Adler

Apparel Resources

In an exclusive interview with Apparel Resources, Bernd Bräuer, Director of Sales and Marketing, Dürkopp Adler shared insights into the company’s innovative sewing machines, automation in the industry and its future growth plans for the Bangladesh market.

“While our machines are designed to last over 20 years, many buyers are hesitant, fearing that today’s technology might become obsolete within five years. It’s a tough balance between innovation and sustainability. For instance, the second-hand market might rise as newer technology becomes available more quickly,” said Bernd Bräuer, Director of Sales and Marketing, Dürkopp Adler, a leading German company known for making high quality industrial sewing and automation machines.

The company’s products are used in areas like technical textiles, upholstery, automotive, shoes, leather goods, apparel, special applications and more, including digitising the textile industry through QONDAC.

In a recent exclusive interview with Apparel Resources, Bernd shared insights on the company’s innovative products and its plans for the Bangladesh market. Find some edited excerpts from the interview.

AOB: How did Dürkopp Adler fare globally and in Bangladesh in 2024?

Bernd Bräuer: The year 2024 proved to be less successful for Dürkopp Adler compared to previous years, primarily due to global economic challenges. Factors such as the war in Ukraine,

ongoing climate discussions and uncertainties surrounding the US elections contributed to a downward trend across various industries. The automotive sector was particularly affected by the ongoing debates surrounding battery-powered versus traditional combustion engine vehicles.

In Bangladesh, the situation mirrored global trends, as the economy is heavily dependent on consumer demand from the US, Europe, Japan and Australia, all of which remained subdued. This led to a reduction in investments and orders. However, there were positive signs of recovery toward the end of the year, with October and November experiencing a 20 per cent increase in activity. This gives us hope for a more favourable outlook moving forward.

In fact, we are actively working on expanding our footprint in Bangladesh. We’ve already hired a local manager and are working on setting up an office. By 2025, we plan to have full operations here to offer technical training and on-the-ground support to our customers. This will help avoid the hassle of expensive travel and visa issues for technicians. We’ll provide two types of training: one for machine maintenance and repair and another for operators and line managers to learn how to use the machines. If there are any warranty issues, our local service team will handle them and we’ll have spare parts available when needed.

AOB: Tell us about your flagship products and what industry challenges do they solve?

Bernd Bräuer: Our core product categories include Automatic Sewing Machines (Automats), Lockstitch Machines, Overlock and Serger Machines, Specialty Sewing Machines, CNC Machines and Sergers and Edge Sewing Machines.

We’ve been rolling out some exciting innovations, all designed to make sewing more efficient and precise. One of our standout launches is the CNC sewing unit 911R with rotating sewing mechanics which sets new standards in terms of seam quality and is particularly suitable for use wherever the focus is on visually perfect decorative seams. The unlimited clockwise and anticlockwise rotation opens up new design possibilities that are difficult to realise with conventional CNC sewing units. The focus is set on applications in the automotive interior sector and the production of leather goods. The rotary mechanism is compactly installed in the sewing head so that the 911R starts with a sewing area of 300x200mm and has a small footprint. Its compact design allows a small footprint to sewing area ratio and higher dynamics compared to common rotating head CNC automats.

We introduced it at the Texprocess show in Frankfurt in April 2024 and started production in September 2024. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and we’ve sold many units already. In 2025, we plan to expand our range of CNC machines with more innovations on the horizon.

Another star in our lineup is the 261- 02 series of single-needle lockstitch machines which are equipped as standard with bottom feed and automatic functions like sewing foot lift, backtracking and thread trimmer. Depending on the subclass, the machines are equipped with a special short thread trimmer, which enables a thread end length of maximum 3 mm. The control panel is perfectly integrated into the machine arm. Therefore it is easily accessible for the operator and allows quick settings for individual sewing. The minimum oil lubrication of the needle bar and the hook ensures a clean sewing area and guarantees a long service life for the machines.

Our Apparel Sewing Units—models 1200-7, 1280/81-7 and 755/756-S and A—help boost productivity by reducing sewing time and automating feeding and stitching processes.

AOB: What trends do you foresee in the sewing machine industry?

Bernd Bräuer: Automation remains the key trend. Even in Bangladesh, where labour costs are low, businesses are prioritising automation to reduce costs. We’ve observed increased investments from China and other countries in Bangladesh, solidifying its position as a hotspot for the next 10-20 years. South Asia and Southeast Asia—Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan— will continue to grow, while Africa remains a long-term prospect.

AOB: How do manufacturers view automation – do they prioritise efficiency and speed or are they more focused on reducing costs?

Bernd Bräuer: While many manufacturers have focused on cost cutting in recent years, there’s a shift towards prioritising efficiency and speed, as quality for international customers becomes more important. Sustainability is now a key consideration and manufacturers are looking for energy-efficient solutions that minimise waste. Automation plays a key role in achieving this.

Modern sewing technology, combined with automation, helps reduce material waste and improves the overall sewing result. These systems are designed to be energy efficient, which also reduces production costs.

For example, our 261-02 series of single-needle lockstitch machines feature an energy-saving, integrated direct drive, which helps manufacturers lower energy consumption while maintaining production efficiency.

Similarly, the investment costs for automation and CNC machines must not only be weighed against the low labour costs, but the increased efficiency (through reduced cycle times and streamlined processes) and the massive quality improvement through automated production must also be taken into account. In addition, the production processes no longer depend so heavily on employees and their fluctuation. These factors must be taken into account when making an investment decision.

This interview was published February 24, 2025. DAP America, Inc. is a member of SPESA.

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