TEXTILES.ORG
Cematex, The European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers based in Zurich, Switzerland, appointed Stephen R. Combes as its new president at its recent General Assembly meeting held in Germany. Combes takes over the presidency from Albert Edward Roberts, who retires from the position after six years. Combes spent 13 years as managing director of SDL Atlas Ltd., responsible for the company’s manufacturing and global distribution businesses based in the U.K. and U.S.A.
Combes has also served as a member of the British Standards Institute Steering Committee on the Physical Testing of Textiles, as well as with several ISO committees dealing with pilling and cotton stickiness. He was involved with the CTIC organization in Beijing to create the first Fabrics China laboratory for the development of new Chinese Standards compatible with ISO, and has headed various government-sponsored R & D projects in British and European universities/research associations. He has been a director of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) since 1999, and was elected as its chairman in 2003.