Abstract
Many Czech textile firms have enjoyed success in recent years by focusing on
technical textile production, where the amount of manual labour required is
lower, pressure on prices is less intense, and competition from low cost Asian
countries is not as strong as in the manufacture of textiles aimed at consumer
markets.
Some companies and research organisations belong to a technical textile
cluster called Clutex. Members work together on research and development (R&D)
projects, leading to innovations and new products for their portfolios. In
June 2009 12 members combined to present their product ranges at a stand at
Techtextil in Germany. Clutex has 23 members with combined sales in 2008 of
Kc4.3 bn (about US$250 mn). But none of the four biggest players - Juta,
Kordarna, Pegas, and Technolen - has joined. Some companies have been badly
affected by the downturn in the automotive sector and weakness in the
construction industry. However, others have escaped the worst of the downturn
by serving highly diversified markets with a wide variety of products. Another
challenge which has proved more difficult to overcome is the appreciation of
the koruna against the euro and US dollar.
Juta, the largest textile company in the country, makes drainage systems,
multi-layer polyolefin roof membranes and nonwoven geotextiles for the
construction industry, as well as mesh tree protection, polypropylene bags and
twines for the agricultural sector. Other products include artificial grass,
belts, and filtration. Mehler Texnologies focuses on tarpaulins, textiles for
boats and garden pools. Export destinations include Germany, Italy and the
Ukraine. Svitap is Europe' s biggest maker of caravan awnings. It also produces
marquees, car ports, camp beds, mattresses, and pouches for banks and postal
services. Technolen makes advertisement banners, fire protection products,
roof membranes and tarpaulins. Pegas is the second biggest textile company in
the Czech Republic and Europe' s second largest nonwovens producer after
Fiberweb serving markets for diapers, feminine hygiene and incontinence
products. Kordarna ranked in 2008 as Central Europe' s largest manufacturer of
technical textiles for the rubber industry and the country' s third biggest
textile company industry. In 2009 the company became insolvent but its
creditors have provided it with breathing space to reorganise itself.
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