As the Association’s president, Davide Maccabruni’s role is to lead the board in defining strategies and key focus areas. He is also expected to support its members in fostering innovation initiatives and education. A major focus is on joint market access campaigns, through a successful programme of international symposia.
To understand the new President, we ask Davide Maccabruni the pressing questions on core competencies and success factors, technology and innovation, and explore the future of competitiveness and business.
Swiss machinery has historically a strong reputation. In this light, how are machine manufacturers balancing legacy engineering strengths with the demands of rapid digitisation?
Davide Maccabruni: Swiss companies are not trading legacy for digital. They are integrating the two. Precision engineering remains our foundation, but today’s machines embed intelligent systems, advanced sensors, and software for predictive maintenance and process optimisation. Industry 4.0 is no longer a concept – it’s operational reality. Our members are shifting from product suppliers to solution partners, offering digital interfaces, cloud connectivity, and data-driven services alongside their innovative hardware.
Given the strong emphasis on sustainability, how are your members designing machines for circular and resource-efficient manufacturing, and how are these efforts measured or certified?
Davide Maccabruni: Sustainability is now integral to machine design. Our members are engineering for lower energy use, water savings, reduced waste, and modular upgrades. Metrics such as energy consumption per unit of output and recyclability of machine components are being tracked. Certifications and audits – whether internal or third party – are increasingly tied to ESG strategies. Some companies now develop entire lines around closed-loop manufacturing or biodegradable inputs.
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“Swiss companies are not trading legacy for digital. They are integrating the two.”
What role do you see for digital twins, predictive maintenance, and integrated data systems? Are machinery makers ready to become platform providers?
Davide Maccabruni: These are no longer future concepts: they are embedded realities. Predictive maintenance reduces downtime, digital twins optimise design and commissioning, and integrated data systems unlock continuous improvement. Swiss firms are ready to evolve into platform providers – offering ecosystems around machines, not just the machines themselves. It’s a shift from products to solutions, offering new value dimensions to the textile producers.
How can Swiss textile machinery remain competitive facing increasing price pressure from Asian manufacturers? What’s the strategy to maintain or grow market share in key markets?
Davide Maccabruni: Swiss textile machinery maintains its edge through deep-rooted innovation, unmatched precision, and a commitment to quality that goes beyond short-term cost advantages. While price-performance pressure from Asian manufacturers is real, our strategy is not to compete on price but on value. This includes pushing the frontiers of automation, digitisation, and sustainability – areas where Swiss engineering leads. In key markets like India, China, and Türkiye, we work closely with local partners, adapt to market-specific requirements, and emphasise lifecycle value rather than upfront cost.
How can members use their described strengths to further sustain success?
Davide Maccabruni: Some Swiss firms are moving toward more customisable, application-specific machinery. This a deliberate pivot away from volume-centric models. Rather than chasing scale alone, our members are focusing on smarter, more adaptable machinery tailored to niche segments like technical textiles, nonwovens, protective gear, and smart fabrics. These areas demand flexibility, precision, and the most modern technologies, which Swiss technology delivers. It’s not abandoning volume but redefining it through specialisation.
Assessing the challenges facing the industry, what is your message to meet the challenges?
Davide Maccabruni: The Swiss textile machinery industry still holds unique strengths that can secure its success well into the future. To achieve this, however, we must focus on aligning our capabilities, working together, and supporting one another.
We thank to the editor, Mr. Subir Ghosh for his support with the interview.
About Davide Maccabruni
Davide Maccabruni is the Chief Executive Officer of Uster Technologies AG, taking the helm on April 1, 2022. He brings deep textile-industry expertise – formerly serving as CEO of SSM Schärer Schweiter Mettler, General Manager of Savio Group Components, and CTO at Sultex/ITEMA. He holds a Master in Management and Production Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy and earned a Ph.D. in Management, Technology & Economics from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Davide Maccabruni (born 1974) holds both Swiss and Italian citizenship and is married with two children.
