APLICACIÓN Y SUMINISTROS TEXTILES S.A (ASUTEX) started its journey from 1987 in Barcelona outskirts (SPAIN) and offers a wide and assorted range of different products that able to provide technical solutions for preparation, dyeing, printing and textile finishing.
ASUTEX initially produced chemical for the local mills and then gradually extended the market range to Portugal, Italy, Franc, UK and Morocco. But then crisis started in the overall textile sector in the Europe and new hub of the textile shifted to south Asia.
That was time for ASUTEX to explore a new market with the best solutions by constant innovation in products for the textile industry.
Today, in addition to the headquarters in Barcelona, the company have 5 production centers worldwide, in Casablanca (Morocco), Guang Dong (China), Bogota (Colombia), Medellin (Colombia) and Malaysia. Other than Barcelona all the production plant produces for the local demand of the particular region.
ASUTEX has a good market share in Bangladesh including chemical for garment dye, Garment and AOP Printing, Exhaust and continuous dyeing and denim processing.
Mohammad Anis-Ur Rahman, Country Manager of ASUTEX Bangladesh, informed, “In 2018 we had a sale 17 million of worth in Bangladesh. Our best strength for Bangladesh market that we are the only supplier who is providing complete chemical solutions in Total wet-processing sector maintaining full compliance for all the renown buyers in the world.” We have enough skilled Technicians and salespersons in individual section in Textile.
“Bangladesh is the place where quality gets the main concern about chemical than price,” said Daniel Carreras, CEO of ASUTEX while talking to Textile Today.
He also said, “Bangladesh never compromises in quality though some of its competitors ask the price 1st then talk about the quality.” As ASUTEX works on the quality product so they see Bangladesh as the topmost potential for textile chemical business, he added.
In response to a question for the denim process if ASUTEX can offer chemical that reduces time, cost and more sustainable for the environment, Stefano Putzu, Head of ASUTEX Denim product development said to Textile Today , “Denim process is more to machine base so the performance of the machine is the most responsible for timing and sustainability. But we have continuous lab research to develop chemical that can give good performance.”
As Bangladesh Apparel industry is in a big crisis to compete in the international market because of the low price from the customers, and this cost cut tendency directly goes to chemical suppliers.
So Bangladeshi apparel manufacturers try to squeeze the chemical price to meet the minimum production cost.
In an answer of a question how ASUTEX can help to reduce production cost for the Bangladeshi manufacturer, Daniel Carreras, CEO of ASUTEX informed Textile Today “ASUTEX always try to offer the best price but the squeezing also has a limit. The chemical price is now 30% less than 20 years back, the quality also good and more sustainable. So, we think retailers have to pay a few cents more for the sustainable chemical.”
Development of innovation and technology to offer sustainable and safe solutions to the changing needs of the textile market is the key mission area of ASUTEX.
It also aims to be leader in service and assessment of the customer’s needs and aspirations as well as the materialization of the customer’s objectives. Caring for ecology is the strong commitment of the company to minimize the process of deterioration through a responsible and conscious industrial activity.
25% of revenue from ASUTEX is spent for laboratory research and for development of products. Bleaching, dyeing and washing processes with reduced consumption of water, energy and process time are the key area in the product development.
ASUTEX has a professional team highly qualified and experienced with four laboratories, namely auxiliaries, dyes, printing and garment and denim dyeing.
Adapting the latest technologies and taking care of every detail to offer the most sustainable product they are trying to reach the widest possible markets. This means it can leverage dyes and chemicals portfolio to create and capture value both at the mills and brands/retailers.
The development of dyeing processes without water in conventional machines is the new innovation featured by ASUTEX, namely SAMBA. The invention is the most sustainable process in dyeing.
“All the big retailers should have to promote this innovation that can greatly contribute to protecting the environment. But the retailers are not all-time interested for the process because conventional dyeing with water can make the fabric more softener than SAMBA. If sustainability is only focusing area for the retailers, they have to accept the limitation of new development,” Daniel Carreras commented.
Another new product that the company brings to the dyeing manufacturer is ASUFIX MICRO. The first even, plane and solid reactive dyestuff range for Micronization system. The innovation can deep, brilliant and ternary shades without bath, temperature neither electrolytes.
The R+D+I department of ASUTEX is in constant activity searching for new processes, creating new developments and below are some examples of these developments for denim product:
ASUPREND MNF: This product replaces the usage of potassium permanganate in localized applications into denim, when looking for indigo and sulfur dyes degradation effects.
STONEWASH STAR PLUS: This is enzymatic preparation allows disseizing and stone washing treatments in only one go.
ASUCEL NBT: Is a novel cellulose base enzyme in liquid form to get nice STONE WASH effects at lower temperatures ranging from 35 – 40º C, combining very LOW BACKSTAINING, excellent abrasion and anti-pilling effect.
STONEWASH PN 10 NEW this cellulose-based enzyme in powder form offers an outstanding STONE WASH effect at lower temperatures ranging from 35 – 40ºC combining very LOW BACKSTAINING and excellent abrasion.
ASUTEX ensures the quality of each batch by external laboratory and provides the certificate if needed. This is a bit costly and added new process in the production but they are doing this to confirm sustainability.
“We ensure each batch of production that maintains accurate quality in compliance with Article 31 of the Regulation (EC) 1907/2006. The customer can easily get each batch test report from our system just by inputting the batch number and also can download safety documentation,” said Daniel Carreras.
ASUTEX welcome the opportunity to share global best practice with all its customers in the apparel market and partnering them to add value to their businesses. By incorporating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not only upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.
