The Road to Growth in Textiles with Berger Textiles and Spandex
Image By Courtesy of BERGER TEXTILES
Luxembourg, June 2024 — The Spandex Group, a leading supplier in diverse sectors such as visual communications, automotive, building window films, and décor, is experiencing significant growth in the textiles sector, spearheaded by Berger Textiles.
Andrew Coulsen, Global Chief Executive Officer – Spandex, recently sat down with Alessandro Lanfranconi, CEO of Berger Textiles, to discuss this exciting growth trajectory and what lies ahead for the company.
Andrew Coulsen (AC): Alessandro, we’re here in Luxembourg, and it’s the perfect time to talk about opportunities in textiles. Could you share some background on Berger Textiles and how it fits within the Spandex Group?
Alessandro Lanfranconi (AL): Berger Textiles is an international provider of digitally printable textile solutions with over 170 years of tradition and experience in the market.
It’s an exciting time to be leading this company.
Since joining the Spandex Group a decade ago, our aim has been to expand the range of products and solutions for customers in the visual communication space.
Today, we serve multiple market segments, including visual communications, architecture, home décor, and garments.
AC: Could you outline Berger Textiles' core product offerings and explain the types of customers you work with?
AL: Our core product offerings for the visual communications market include both woven and knitted textiles.
We are proud of our award-winning soft-signage fabrics like Samba®, Lumina®, and Mozaik®.
Additionally, our home & décor ranges cater to demand for functional architectural textiles that address practical challenges like smell and noise absorption.
AC: What’s the secret to Berger Textiles' successful portfolio evolution in recent years?
AL: Our success stems from our commitment to our brand values:
Competence: Expert textile engineers work closely with customers daily.
Product Innovation: Direct customer feedback drives our sustainable initiatives.
Quality: High standards maintained through our internal quality department.
Service: Guarantees immediate product availability for fast delivery.
AC: What have been the key trends and areas of innovation that Berger Textiles has focused on and why?
AL: Sustainability remains a key focus. Earlier this year, we shared our Sustainability Manifesto, reaffirming our commitment to a sustainable and circular business.
We’ve launched the EVO range, which uses GRS-certified recycled yarn, and commenced lifecycle assessments (LCAs) for our best-selling Samba® and Samba® EVO ranges.
Additionally, we continue to innovate in the décor segment with functional textiles that absorb noise and smells, capitalizing on growth opportunities and complementing Spandex’s wider offerings.
AC: Textile materials for soft signage applications have received a lot of attention. What drives this trend?
AL: Textile substrates are practical, portable, and easy to mount and demount.
When used with aluminum frames, they are also reusable, offering a sustainable solution for exhibitions and events.
AC: How does the wider Spandex Group support Berger Textiles and your customers?
AL: Being part of Spandex, with its deep expertise in visual communications and growing verticals like architecture, helps us understand customer needs better and expand our market presence globally.
Our ability to collaborate across group businesses supports continuous development and improvement.
AC: What are you most excited about for Berger Textiles in the year ahead?
AL: Growth! The textiles sector has recovered well post-COVID, and demand remains strong. We are particularly excited about our growth in North America and new markets like the Middle East and Latin America. The versatility and potential of textiles, both within soft signage and beyond, promise a bright future.
About Spandex Group
The Spandex Group is a leading supplier of innovative solutions across multiple verticals, including visual communications, automotive, building window films, and décor.
Our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction drives our continuous growth and innovation.
About Berger Textiles
Berger Textiles is a specialist provider of complete textile solutions with over 170 years of experience.
Part of the Spandex Group, Berger Textiles offers a diverse range of high-quality, innovative products across various market segments, including visual communications, architecture, home décor, and garments.
