Tech trends 2019
From opinionated robots to the frictionless flow of data between departments, here are the key tech movements that are likely to transform the way we work.
2019年技术趋势
从固执己见的机器人到部门之间的数据顺畅流通，下面是有可能改变我们工作方式的关键技术变革：自动化与人工智能、人类接口、物联网、智慧城市、数字企业、区块链、网络风险、灵活的劳动力、数字人才、智能决策兴起。
https://www.theguardian.com/delivering-digital-transformation/2018/dec/06/10-tech-trends-and-innovations-for-2019
Key sustainability trends for 2019:
what consumers expect from fashion brands
It is impossible to deny the impact of the fashion industry on the environment. More than 16 million tons of textile waste are generated each year in the United States alone, and the amount has doubled over the last 20 years, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. In the UK, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) estimates 140 million pounds’ worth of clothing end up in landfills every year.
2019年关键可持续发展趋势：
消费者对时尚品牌的期望
时尚行业对环境的影响无法否认。根据美国环境保护署的数据，仅仅在美国每年就产生1600万吨纺织废物，过去20年，废物量翻了一番。在英国，废物与资源行动计划组估计，价值1.4亿英磅的衣物每年都填埋掉了。
https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/key-sustainability-trends-for-2019-what-consumers-expect-from-fashion-brands/2019040242509
Innovation Drives Influence
The countries that global citizens view as the most influential are also leaders in innovation and technology. There is an 87 percent correlation between political influence and innovation, and a 73 percent correlation between a country's perceived economic influence and its technological expertise. Japan, viewed as the most innovative country, moved up three spots to the No. 2 Best Country in 2019.
创新驱动影响力
全球公民认为最具影响力的国家也是创新与技术的领袖。政治影响力和创新有87%的相关性，一个国家的经济影响力与技术实力有73%的相关性。日本是公认的最有创造力的国家，在2019年的榜单中上升了3位，名列第二。
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/slideshows/10-interesting-facts-from-the-best-countries-report
Textile Industry 2019 View Trends, Analysis and Statistics
Reportlinker.com offers immediate download access to top market reports on the Textile Industry.
2019年纺织行业，趋势展望、分析与数据
Reportlinker.com提供顶尖纺织行业市场报告的下载链接。
https://www.reportlinker.com/market-report/Textile/509048/Textile?utm_expid=10280700-49.nYk9PX5kTRu0bfe5YVVQQg.0
Poland’s fashion exports to Europe increase
In 2010 Poland initiated a modernisation plan for its clothing industry through which it managed to create a niche in proximity sourcing and gained a position as a textile hub. This was achieved owing to geographical position, the modernisation of its industry and its low wages (reports MDS).
波兰对欧洲的时尚出口增加
2010年，波兰针对服装行业启动了一项现代化计划，得以在临近采购上创造利基市场，获得纺织业枢纽的地位。这种地位也得益于其地理位置、行业的现代化和低工资。
https://www.textilemedia.com/latest-news/textiles-eastern-europe/poland-s-fashion-exports-to-europe-increase/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=General enewsletter April 2019&utm_content=General enewsletter April 2019+CID_2c8b632be569536c7d53ec58167f098e&utm_source=Campaign Monitor&utm_term=Read more
A GLOBAL TROTTING AMBASSADOR
Michael Pirkotsch, Business Development Manager at TANATEX, has seen a lot of the world. His 40 year-career in chemical textiles is filled with cultural changes, technological developments and good stories.
Michael Pirkotsch clearly incorporates the TANATEX mindset: hardworking, enthusiastic about science but ever modest. During the interview, Michael draws a vivid picture of a textile professional that favours passion over status and cannot be impressed by cultural differences. It’s this world view that has shaped his career and made it so easy to work abroad. But where did it all begin? How did the chemical textiles industry change over time? And how did Michael deal with the changes in Bayer and TANATEX? “I wanted to be part of their transformation; they were so innovative and that suited me,” he says.
From school boy to chemical lab assistant
Michael didn’t start off as the Global Business Development Manager he is today. Forty years ago, he stepped into the Bayer lab as a 15-year old, to work on a school project. “I’ve been interested in science since I can remember,” Michael says. “I was an outdoor boy, always climbing and hiking. And I was fascinated by chemistry, because of the chemical reactions and explosions.” His penchant for chemistry and science was quickly spotted, and Michael was hired by Bayer as a chemical lab assistant.
“The chemical industry used to be very different,” Michael remembers. “People smoked in the laboratory in the 70s!” Rules and procedures didn’t rule the lab and the most important safety rule was common sense. Although he’s safety-conscious, Michael still supports this way of thinking. “Before anything else, you have to understand chemistry to be able to work with it,” he explains. “Admittedly, safety was less regulated back then, so we were all taught to be aware of the dangers ourselves. This freedom kept the creative juices flowing and it really helped us in the development of innovative products.” Michael feels that we might have become too strict in today’s labs. “Which is weird, as household chemistry is way more dangerous!”, he says laughing.
The road to textiles and TANATEX
Michael’s career is shaped by a series of choices. After spending five years in the chemical lab, he started at the real research department, where he really started working with chemical reactions. He then switched to the R&D department, where he focused on textiles, pre-treatment in particular. Here, he worked on the invention of products such as scouring and wetting agents. A textile chemist was born. In 2004, Michael had to decide to stay at Bayer or switch to TANATEX. He chose to take control over his career and joined TANATEX. Michael explains: “I wanted to be part of their transformation; they were so innovative and that suited me”.
Cross border chemistry
In 2009, Michael’s job brought him to the other side of the world. He was asked to go to Shanghai as a technical sales developer for a pre-treatment/OBA project. TANATEX wanted to improve business in China and needed someone to guide the process on premise. Excited? “Of course.” Scared? “Not at all.” When asked why not, Michael explains: “I was self-motivated. I really wanted to go. I’d never go abroad to climb the career ladder, it doesn’t work that way.” Michael chose to go for the experience only. He didn’t have a hard time adjusting to the Chinese culture, he says. “The trick lies in taking things as they come,” is his simple explanation. “In Asia, you need to be highly flexible and selfstarting. Do things don’t go as planned? Deal with it. Do you want to get something done? Just do it.”
It’s this attitude of flexibility and self-motivation that made it so easy for Michael to switch countries. He also lived in Thailand for three years, where he helped start up the new TANATEX plant. “Those were exciting times!” he recalls. “There, I joined the traditional Thai ceremonies from the first start, together with people from the local community, which was really special.”
Business the Asian way
Despite of the many national differences, Asian countries do have similar ways of doing business, and it’s of a different kind to Europe. “You have to build a relationship first”, Michael explains. “It’s not that Asian people don’t like companies from abroad, they even like European businesses for their high-quality standards. But they’ll always need you to be a trusted partner first. At the time, most Asian people didn’t speak English. We needed translators, and real good ones too, and ones you can trust. In the end it’s really not that different from doing business in Europe.”
What about today?
After so many years of travelling and changing countries, Michael now works from the TANATEX head office in the Netherlands. It’s a welcome change, he says. “The air is cleaner, and it’s quieter than a 24-million city such as Shanghai.” He’s not done with Asia, though. Michael now uses his international experience to support his colleagues in their communication with Asian clients.
“In China, you get one shot. They don’t believe in promises and you have to deliver”, he says. “I’m glad that I can use the experience I gained during my work abroad to help TANATEX getting a foothold in the Asian market.”
Solid chemistry
Apart from building cultural bridges, Michael also has another mission, which is the mentoring of young chemists. “I remember that in the end of the 90s, almost an entire business unit was retiring and all of their experience and knowledge with them, which was disastrous!” Michael recalls. Today, history seems to repeat itself. “Young chemists are highly needed and they’re scarcer than ever”, Michael says. “The textile industry is changing fast, so we need people that can keep up with today’s development pace.” He explains that today, availability is a plant’s most important challenge, which is why they work with several suppliers to keep everything up and running. “We therefore shouldn’t aim to be the only supplier; we should aim to become the very best there is.” When asked how, Michael doesn’t have to think long: “Before anything else, we need new people and teach them solid chemistry.”
一位全球疾走的大使
拓纳业务发展经理Michael Pirkotsch走遍了世界很多地方，他40年纺织化学品的职业生涯也充满了文化变化、技术发展和有趣的故事。
Michael Pirkotsch已经融入了拓纳的思维：努力工作、对科学充满热情、总是保持谦虚。在采访中，Michael 为我们生动刻画了这样一位纺织专业人士，对热情的热爱胜过地位，文化差异不会让他举步维艰。正是这样的世界观塑造了他的职业生涯，也让他非常适应在国外工作。但一切从何而来？纺织化学品行业随着时间流逝又是如何变化的？Michael是如何应对拜耳和拓纳的变动的？“我想成为转型的一部分；他们这么有创新性，适合我，”他说。
从学童到实验室助理
Michael一开始并不是担任全球业务发展经理这个职位。40年前，他踏进拜耳实验室才15岁，做一个学校项目。“自从记事以来我就对科学很感兴趣，”Michael说，“我是个喜欢户外活动的男孩，不是爬山就是远足。我对化学也十分着迷，就因为各位化学反应和爆炸。”Michael对化学和科学的兴趣很快就被发现了，拜耳雇佣他为化学实验室助理。
“化学行业过去非常不一样，”Michael回忆道，“70年代的时候人们竟然在实验室里抽烟！”规则和程序并不能管理实验室，但最重要的安全规则是常识。尽管他有安全意识，他仍然支持这样的思考方式：“在做任何之前，你必须了解化学原理才能有应对方案，”他解释说，“说实在的，安全过去没有那么规范，所以我们都被教导要自己注意防范危险。这种自由也会让创新性的想法迸发出来，真正帮助我们开发创新性的产品。”Michael感觉如今的实验室可能太严格了，“奇怪的是，家庭中的化学反应要危险多了！”，他笑着说道。
迈向纺织品和拓纳的路程
Michael的职业生涯由一系列选择构成。在化学实验室工作5年后，他开始在真正的研究部门工作，真正接触化学反应。然后调岗到研发部门，他主要关注的是纺织品，尤其是前处理，这里他参与研发的产品有精炼和润湿剂。一位纺织化学人员由此诞生。2004年，Michael面临留在拜耳还是调往拓纳的决定。后来他选择自己掌握自己的职业生涯，加入了拓纳。他解释说：“我想成为转型的一部分；他们这么有创造性，适合我。”
跨国界的化学
2009年，Michael的工作把他带到了世界的另一端。他要去上海工作，作为技术销售研发人员，专攻前处理/荧光增白剂项目。拓纳当时需要扩展在中国的业务，因此需要人员在当地指导工作。兴奋？“那当然。”害怕？“一点也不。”问到原因，他解释：“我是自我激励型的人。我真的想去。我到国外去，从来不是寻求晋升，不是那样子。”Michael选择去中国仅仅是为了经历。他适应中国文化非常顺畅，“技巧在于随遇而安，”他简单解释说，“在亚洲，你需要非常灵活，敢为人先。做事情不按照计划来？适应一下。如果想做成什么事情？尽管去做。”
正是这种灵活和自我驱动的态度让Michael可以在不同国家之间自如切换。他还在泰国生活了3年，他帮助设立了拓纳泰国工厂。“那是令人兴奋的时光！”他回忆说，“在那里，我一开始就和当地人参加了传统的泰国节日庆典，真的非常特别。”
亚洲为商之道
尽管亚洲国家之间也有许多差异，但为商之道类似，且和欧洲是不同类型的。“你先要建立关系，”Michael解释说，“并不是亚洲人不喜欢国外的公司，他们甚至因为高质量标准而喜欢欧洲公司，但他们需要你先成为值得信任的伙伴。那时候大多数亚洲人不会说英语。我们需要翻译，真正的好翻译，可以信任的翻译。说到底，和在欧洲做业务也没有那么不一样。”
如今怎么样？
在不同国家工作生活多年后，Michael现在在荷兰拓纳总部工作。这是一个值得欢迎的变化，他说，“空气更清新，比上海这样2400万人的城市更安静。”他和亚洲的联系还在继续。现在他会凭借国际化的经验，在同事与亚洲客户沟通中提供支持。
“在中国，通常你只有一次机会。他们不相信承诺，你得交货才行，”他说，“我高兴的是，可以利用海外的工作经验帮助拓纳在亚洲市场立足。”
坚实的化学知识
除了建立文化桥梁外，Michael还有一项使命，就是指导年轻的化学人员。“我记得在90年代末，一个业务单元的人都退休了，他们的知识和经验都随之走了，这是灾难性的！” Michael回忆。如今，历史似乎在重复上演。“年轻的化学人员非常需要，比以往任何时候都紧俏”，他说，“纺织行业变化迅速，我们需要能跟上今天发展步伐的人。”他解释，目前供应是一家工厂最重要的挑战，这也是为什么他们要找好几家供应商来确保一切正常运转。“我们不用成为唯一的供应商；但我们要努力成为最好的供应商。”如何做？他思考一会就回答说：“在一切之前，我们需要新人，向他们传授坚实的化学知识。”
