Malkan Machinery took part in the 17th Central Asian International Textile Machinery Exhibition. The CAITME 2026 exhibition was held at Uzexpocentre NEC in Tashkent from September 8 to 10, 2026, using all of the venue's exhibition halls. The event also opened Global Textile Days week.

At the fair, Malkan Machinery presented shirt and jersey ironing systems alongside vacuum ironing tables and ironing benches. The company has developed ironing, pressing and steam systems since 1971 and exports to 95 countries today. Taking part in the CAITME 2026 exhibition was a new step in sharing that experience directly with manufacturers in Central Asia.

The reason for taking part lies in the region's industrial structure. According to the event description, textile and light industry hold second place in Uzbekistan's industrial production volume. A sector of this scale needs reliable machinery and repeatable finishing quality on a continuous basis.

This news article covers the key facts of the CAITME 2026 exhibition, Malkan Machinery's participation, the technical foundations of shirt and jersey ironing systems, and the company's 2026 fair calendar. It also places the CAITME 2026 exhibition within Malkan Machinery's Smart Manufacturing approach.

1. What Is the CAITME 2026 Exhibition and Why Does It Matter?

CAITME is presented as the largest specialized exhibition for textile machinery and technologies in Central Asia and the CIS countries. The organizer, Iteca Exhibitions, states that this claim rests on an independent audit. The CAITME 2026 exhibition is also a UFI Approved Event.

The CAITME 2026 exhibition at a glance:

• Date and venue: September 8-10, 2026, Uzexpocentre NEC, Tashkent.
• Edition: the 17th Central Asian International Textile Machinery Exhibition.
• Organizer: Iteca Exhibitions.
• Opening: Global Textile Days week.
• Topics: spinning, dyeing and finishing, weaving and knitting, garment production equipment, textile chemicals.

The host city, Tashkent, is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. According to Wikipedia, it was the leading contributor to national GDP, accounting for 19 percent in the first half of 2024.

In its pre-event announcement, the organizer expected 250 companies and brands from 20 countries. Final exhibitor and visitor figures are expected in the organizer's post-show report.

According to the Malkan Machinery team, the CAITME 2026 exhibition saw a clearly visible decline in exhibitors and visitors compared with previous years. Global economic difficulties were felt in this region as well. Even so, the will to produce, the search for technology and the search for new markets were evident throughout the fair.

According to the organizer's visitor profile page, about 6,000 enterprises operate in Uzbekistan's textile and garment sector. In its annual surveys, 55 percent of visitors are business owners or decision-makers. This profile makes the CAITME 2026 exhibition meaningful for investment-driven products such as finishing technologies.

The event description also notes that the exhibition supports modernizing existing production facilities and creating new, highly efficient plants for high value-added products. For that reason, the CAITME 2026 exhibition is a natural meeting point for manufacturers who want to compare technologies before an investment decision.

2. Malkan Machinery at the CAITME 2026 Exhibition

At the CAITME 2026 exhibition, Malkan Machinery displayed shirt and jersey ironing systems together with vacuum ironing tables and ironing benches. These product groups are designed for the finishing needs of garment and knitwear manufacturers: form, quality and repeatability.

The company's 55 years of manufacturing history, its R&D background and its export experience across 95 countries are the strength behind these product groups. Malkan Machinery came to Tashkent to share that experience with manufacturers in Central Asia.

Shirts and jersey garments are two high-volume product groups in ready-to-wear. In lines that run at high volume, a small inconsistency at the finishing stage can affect a large number of products. For this reason, repeatable ironing quality matters particularly for these two groups.

The interest shown in the products during the CAITME 2026 exhibition pleased the Malkan Machinery team. That interest held up despite the overall decline in participation across the fair. The team also had the chance to observe, first-hand, how regional manufacturers approach their finishing lines.

Malkan Machinery's view of Central Asia is not based on sales alone. The company gives priority to learning which fabrics regional manufacturers work with, what capacity they run at and which bottlenecks they face at the finishing stage. The CAITME 2026 exhibition provided a valuable basis for this learning process.

Three agenda items stood out at the CAITME 2026 exhibition, and they align with Malkan Machinery's product approach:

• The will to produce: demand for finishing solutions that raise capacity and standardize quality.
• The search for technology: interest in program-controlled, vacuum-based systems that reduce dependence on the operator.
• The search for new markets: manufacturers who want to meet new suppliers and new product groups.

Investment evaluation was among the subjects discussed at the CAITME 2026 exhibition. Decision-makers in Central Asia do not look only at the initial purchase price. Service life, spare-parts availability, service speed and energy consumption also shape the total cost of ownership.

3. Shirt and Jersey Ironing Systems: A Closer Look at the Product Groups

The last operation before a garment reaches a store shelf or an e-commerce package is ironing and pressing. This stage determines the product's form, surface appearance and dimensional stability. However flawless the stitching, poor finishing lowers the perceived quality of the product.

Malkan Machinery's garment and ready-to-wear range includes ironing systems for different product groups such as shirts, jersey and jeans (denim). The shirt and jersey groups featured at the CAITME 2026 exhibition represent the part of this range that serves both knitted and woven fabrics.

Shirt Ironing Systems

The shirt ironing systems category includes inflatable ironing robots, ironing presses and tables, fusing presses, stain removal machines, yarn cleaning and dusting machines, and steam boilers. This range covers most of the post-cutting finishing steps in shirt production.

A pneumatic inflatable ironing robot for shirts places the product on a form and irons it by inflating it with air and steam. This method aims to reduce quality differences that depend on hand ironing and to deliver consistent results across shifts.

On a shirt, the collar and cuffs shape the perception of quality. Fusing presses bond the interlining in these parts to the fabric through a balance of heat, pressure and time. Faulty fusing returns as bubbling and form defects after washing.

Stain removal machines and yarn cleaning and dusting machines help clean the product before it goes to packing. These steps support catching visual defects before they reach the customer. As a result, losses from returns and rework decrease.

Jersey Ironing Systems

The jersey ironing systems category includes a T-shirt inflatable ironing robot, a multi-station knitted fabric setting machine, vacuum ironing tables, transfer printing presses, stain removal machines and steam boilers. The category can be reached through the jersey ironing systems page.

Knitted fabrics need extra care because of their elastic structure. The loop structure can distort under excessive pressure, and the width and length of the fabric can change. Fabric setting and a vacuum ironing table help keep these risks under control.

Transfer printing presses manage print application on jersey products through temperature, pressure and time settings. Having ironing and printing systems on the same line gives the manufacturer compatible solutions from a single supplier. That also makes coordination easier during installation and service.

Knitted fabric setting machines help the fabric reach dimensional stability. Carried out before cutting and sewing, this process aims to reduce the risk of length shrinkage and width change in the finished product. The multi-station design allows the process to run in controlled stages.

Vacuum Ironing Tables and Ironing Benches

A vacuum ironing table holds the product in place with airflow that draws the fabric to the surface, removes steam and preserves the form. Unheated high-vacuum tables and ironing benches are listed on the ironing benches (table-passboard) page.

Among vacuum finishing solutions, a vertical-system vacuum ironing press is also available. Vacuum helps to fix the form of the product and to remove moisture.

The Parameters That Decide the Pressing Result

Industrial pressing rests on the balance of five elements that constantly influence one another:

• Temperature: prepares the fibers to take shape. Too much causes shine and scorching, and too little leaves wrinkles in place.
• Steam: carries heat and moisture evenly into the fiber. Dry, steady steam directly improves the result.
• Mechanical pressure: gives the fabric its form, crease and flatness.
• Time: sets how long heat and pressure act on the fiber.
• Vacuum and cooling: remove moisture and heat to fix the form that was applied.

Critical Risks by Fabric Type and the Right Approach

Not every fabric group can be processed with the same parameter set. For this reason, program-controlled systems work with recipes defined for each fabric group:

• Fine woven fabrics (shirt fabrics): wrinkles that cannot be removed, yellowing and distorted collar and cuff form stand out. Balanced heat and steam with the right form reduce these risks.
• Jersey and other knitted fabrics: loop distortion, loss of weight, curling and width-length change can occur. Precise pressure control, fabric setting and a vacuum table protect the fabric structure.
• Synthetic and elastane blends: shine, fiber damage and loss of elasticity are the risks. Low temperature and soft pressure preserve the hand feel of the product.
• Denim and heavy woven fabrics: loss of form and non-permanent creases are the main risks. Sufficient moisture, controlled pressure and effective vacuum fix the form.

From Operator Dependence to Program-Controlled Automation

In a traditional setup, finishing quality depends largely on the operator's experience and fatigue. The difference between the setting used on the morning shift and the one used in the evening shows up as inconsistency within the same batch.

PLC-controlled systems record temperature, steam, pressure and vacuum values. The operator selects the recipe suited to the product group, and the system applies the same parameters every time. As a result, the quality gap between the first product and the last product of a shift narrows.

Steam Quality and Energy Management

Steam quality is among the invisible factors that affect finishing quality. Wet steam can cause stains and stiffness in the fabric. Dry, steady steam transfers heat to the fibers without damaging them.

Choosing boiler capacity to match the number of machines, draining condensate correctly and keeping pressure steady are basic conditions for finishing quality. Because steam generation is a major energy item in garment plants, manufacturers also look at how the boiler and the ironing line perform together.

Ergonomics and Safety

For an operator who repeats the same movement for hours every day, working height, ease of movement and ambient temperature directly affect productivity. A well-designed system protects the worker's health and keeps output stable. Protective and safety features are part of the same approach.

4. Malkan Machinery's Engineering Approach and Smart Manufacturing

Malkan Machinery treats a machine not on its own but as part of the production line. The company's corporate strategy, Malkan Vision 2025-2026, aims to combine the quality standard with continuous improvement and to tie energy efficiency to measurable targets.

In a Smart Manufacturing perspective, what is expected of a machine is not only good output. A repeatable process, traceable data and predictable maintenance are expected too. Malkan Machinery's PLC-controlled management screens, precise temperature control and remote fault detection answer this expectation.

The Smart Manufacturing approach can be summarized in four components:

• Recipe management: ironing programs defined by fabric group.
• Data monitoring: tracking of production and consumption data.
• Predictive maintenance: turning unplanned stoppages into planned maintenance.
• Energy optimization: efficient management of steam and heat use.

The AI-assisted ironing systems that the company presents in its technical publications aim to detect the type and structure of the fabric and to suggest settings. Applications of this approach in Latin America were covered in detail in the Exintex 2026 report.

On the energy side, steam generators, central boiler solutions and energy recovery technologies developed under the ThermoSteam brand stand out. The aim is to meet the steam demand of the ironing line with more stable and lower energy consumption. This approach matters especially in regions where energy costs are closely monitored.

R&D at Malkan Machinery is centered on field feedback. Observations gathered at fairs and during customer visits feed into new model development and improvements to existing systems. Observations from the CAITME 2026 exhibition add a Central Asian perspective to this feedback pool.

The strategic partnership between Malkan Machinery and Indupress, which represents German engineering culture, supports the goal of precision and durability in pressing technologies. Details of the partnership's products and engineering are available in the company's corporate publications.

Malkan Machinery holds the CE certificate that allows its products to be exported to European Union member states. This document shows that the company meets safety and conformity expectations in international markets. At multinational platforms such as the CAITME 2026 exhibition, that reference builds trust in first meetings.

5. The CAITME 2026 Exhibition Within the 2026 Fair Calendar

In 2026, Malkan Machinery made technical and commercial contact in four different regions. Each fair allowed the company to focus on a different regional market and product group:

• Exintex (March 10-13, Puebla, Mexico): smart ironing systems for plants that produce close to their markets in the Americas. See the Exintex 2026 news for details.
• Texprocess (April 21-24, Frankfurt, Germany): an engineering vision for the sustainability and quality expectations of the European market. The process was covered in the Texprocess Frankfurt fair guide.
• ITM 2026 (June 9-13, Istanbul Tüyap, Türkiye): the meeting where Malkan Machinery and Indupress presented their joint technologies. Details are in the ITM 2026 news.
• CAITME 2026 exhibition (September 8-10, Tashkent, Uzbekistan): shirt and jersey ironing systems with vacuum ironing tables and ironing benches for Central Asia's textile and garment industry.

These four stops help the company keep its export mix diverse without depending on a single market. Experience gained across the regions creates a basis for comparison that feeds product development decisions.

Every fair has its own customer profile. Near-shore production stands out in Mexico, European regulation and quality expectations in Frankfurt, and the regional trade network in Istanbul. In Tashkent, the technology search of a fast-developing textile and garment industry is decisive.

6. Three Topics Standing Out in the Central Asian Market

Central Asia is a region in which the weight of the textile value chain is moving from raw material toward finished product. Uzbekistan's reputation for cotton production lays the groundwork for an integrated production structure that runs from yarn to ready-to-wear.

Garment manufacturing, the last link in the chain, is where value added shows most clearly. In this transition, finishing quality becomes one of the basic conditions for meeting the standards that export markets require. Loss of form, shine or inconsistent measurements can lead to rejected orders.

Malkan Machinery answers these topics not with a single machine but with a product family. The inflatable ironing robot, the vacuum table, the fabric setting machine and the steam boiler complement one another on the same line. This approach lets a manufacturer grow its line step by step.

Preserving Form and Dimensions in Knitted Fabrics

Field situation: an elastic loop structure can distort under excessive pressure. The width, length and weight of the fabric can be affected.

Malkan solution: fabric setting machines and vacuum ironing tables help preserve the loop structure by applying form mainly through steam and vacuum.

Energy Costs and Steam Lines

Field situation: condensation and heat loss in long steam lines can raise the energy cost per unit of product.

Malkan solution: ThermoSteam steam generators and energy recovery technologies aim to keep costs under control by bringing steam generation closer to the point of use.

Skilled Operators and Consistency Between Shifts

Field situation: in a fast-growing industry, finding experienced operators and training new staff takes time.

Malkan solution: inflatable ironing robots and control screens with predefined recipes make selecting the product group enough for the operator. This shortens training time and supports quality consistency.

7. Conclusion: Next Steps After Tashkent

The CAITME 2026 exhibition marked a concrete stage in Malkan Machinery's relationship with the Central Asian market. The interest shown in the products gave the company a valuable observation about how regional manufacturers view finishing technologies. Commercial results will become clear in the coming period.

After the CAITME 2026 exhibition, the company continues to offer technical information, needs analysis and project-specific configuration support to interested manufacturers. Businesses that want an assessment tailored to their production line can get support through Malkan Machinery's contact channels and service network.

The next steps proceed along these lines:

• Field needs analysis: clarifying the product group and capacity expectations of interested businesses.
• Technical assessment: reviewing existing steam and finishing lines against production targets.
• After-sales planning: defining installation, training, maintenance and spare-parts processes in advance.

Malkan Machinery's approach treats machine sales as a starting point. Installation, training, spare parts and service continue the relationship with the manufacturer throughout the machine's life. That understanding is also highlighted at international platforms such as the CAITME 2026 exhibition.

Official information about the CAITME 2026 exhibition is available in the organizer's press release. Final participation figures will be announced by Iteca Exhibitions in post-show reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was the CAITME 2026 exhibition held? It was held at Uzexpocentre NEC in Tashkent on September 8-10, 2026. With its 17th edition, the fair opened Global Textile Days week.

Which product groups did Malkan Machinery present at the CAITME 2026 exhibition? Malkan Machinery presented shirt and jersey ironing systems, vacuum ironing tables and ironing benches. These groups serve the finishing needs of garment and knitwear manufacturers.

What does an inflatable ironing robot do? An inflatable ironing robot irons a product on a form by inflating it with air and steam. The method aims to reduce quality differences that depend on the operator.

Why is a vacuum ironing table important for jersey fabrics? Vacuum holds knitted fabric in place, removes steam and preserves the form. This lets the loop structure be corrected without applying excessive pressure.

What does a fabric setting machine provide? A fabric setting machine helps knitted fabric reach dimensional stability through heat and steam. It aims to reduce size deviations in later cutting and sewing stages.

How can manufacturers reach service and spare-parts support? Malkan Machinery provides after-sales support through its service network and spare-parts list. Requests can be sent through Malkan Machinery's contact channels.

What do ThermoSteam systems offer textile plants? ThermoSteam steam generators aim to manage steam production according to demand and to reduce fuel consumption through energy recovery technologies. This approach matters for garment plants that watch energy costs closely.