From the Sector

Fibre and fabric production technologies – especially in the area of composite reinforcements – have played an as-yet largely unheralded role in the development of the UK’s Formula One industry, but the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) aims to change that.

Motorsport Valley
“If there’s one thing the UK does well, it’s Formula One, with seven of the ten F1 teams located within just an hour of each other in the midlands region known as Motorsport Valley,” explains BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “They are all linked to a national network of around 4,500 companies involved in a motorsport and high-performance engineering industry worth around £9 billion annually and employing 40,000 people. This network draws on the services of a significant number of our member companies.”

“With the exception of the engine, virtually every part of a Formula One racing car now starts from a textile, including the bodywork, the tyres and many of the latest fuel systems,” says Richard Kirkbright, project manager at Leeds-based Roaches International. “This has influenced developments in the broader automotive sector, in addition to the aerospace industry.”

Show cars and memorabilia
While best known as the developer of textile testing systems, Roaches has over the years also supplied advanced autoclaves to the UK’s composites industry, including a recent delivery to Northampton-based Memento Exclusives, a specialist in the production of show cars working directly with F1 and its leading teams.

Each major F1 team sponsor is supplied with one or two show cars for use at exhibitions and a wide range of other promotional activities arranged around the racing event calendar. These cars have no engine and their bodies may be made of fewer carbon fibre plies, but they are otherwise identical to the latest cars being raced by the F1 teams.

Memento Exclusives has its own in-house carbon fibre parts manufacturing facility and the integration of the Roaches autoclave has significantly expanded its capabilities in show car production.

Master bakers
“Composite materials undergo a metamorphosis in the autoclave which subjects them to both mechanical and chemical processes,” explains Richard Kirkbright. “Trapped air and volatiles are expelled and plies are consolidated under precise pressure. Heat cycles are then introduced, curing the resin systems and yielding flawlessly crafted components. Autoclave specialists are a little like master bakers, knowing exactly how to treat their ingredients at every stage of the process, to achieve the desired final product.”

“The Roaches autoclave now enables us to cure large components with full control and achieve a swift turnover of parts while ensuring the highest quality finish,” adds Terry Wasyliw, Head of Build for Memento Exclusives.

McLaren’s influence
Woking, UK-headquartered McLaren was the very first F1 team to introduce a car chassis manufactured entirely from carbon fibre composites back in 1981, setting the ball rolling for the creation of a completely new and global supply chain.

McLaren has this year unveiled a world-first in supercar engineering – aerospace-derived Automated Rapid Tape (ART) carbon fibre, developed at the dedicated McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) facility in Sheffield. This is being employed to create the active front wings of the W1 hypercar which has a starting price of $2.1 million.

A rear floor component was also developed for McLaren as part of the recently-completed £39.6 million ASCEND programme involving a range of UK partners, including BTMA member Cygnet Texkimp.

Handling, converting and decarbonisation
A wide range of handling and converting machines are supplied to the composites industry by Cygnet Texkimp, including bespoke creels, prepreg, coating, slitting and filament winding machines.

Its technologies are employed in the construction of composite components for aerospace and automotive, as well as in the production of tyre cord and more recently in the advanced construction of hydrogen storage vessels which are largely viewed as the future of F1 propulsion, along with advanced batteries for electric vehicles.

Cygnet Texkimp has been involved in the F1 supply chain for over 20 years and most carbon fibre used in the industry has been processed on one of its VHD creels. The company is also the largest independent manufacturer of prepreg machines in the world and is currently leading the design and build of the UK’s first carbon fibre research lines for a project led by NCC (National Composites Centre) to accelerate the development of more sustainable carbon fibres.

In addition, Cygnet is licensed to design and build the DEECOM® composite recycling system developed by new BTMA member Longworth Sustainable Recycling Technologies, the first of which was recently commissioned by the Henry Royce Institute in Manchester. DEECOM® is a zero emission, low carbon pressolysis solution using pressure and steam to reclaim pristine condition fibres and resin polymers frocm production waste and end of life composites.

“Decarbonisation is a major priority for manufacturers globally,” says Cygnet CEO Luke Vardy. “At Cygnet Texkimp, we’re developing the capability to process technical fibres in ways that enable lightweighting, hydrogen power and electrification, reduce waste and revolutionise the end-of-life management of composite materials and parts. In collaboration with our industry partners, we’re bringing to market some of the most innovative new fibre processing technologies ever developed to deliver real-world benefits that support the sustainability agenda.”

Prepregging
Another new BTMA member, Emerson & Renwick (E+R), a specialist in print, forming, vacuum and coating technologies, also supplies technology for the production of carbon fibre prepregs, which are integrated rolls of fabrics and resins.

Its most recent 1.7-metre-wide line supplied to a customer in Italy operates at speeds of 40+ metres per minute for web coatings or prepreg fibre and resin consolidation, or a combination of both processes. It is distinguished by an ultra precise three-roll reverse roll coater for the processing of high viscosity thermo-activated resins and enables the automatic changeover of sensitive woven fabric materials at zero tension, with three high precision calendaring nips with hot/cool plates. Multiple unwind and rewind systems for intermediate lamination steps include side loading and reliable lap splicing and zero speed splicing with a web accumulator for the main product rewind.
 
 E+R has also been part of a consortium working on the development of lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries within the £540 million UK Faraday Battery Challenge. Once commercially viable, Li-S batteries promise to provide relatively high energy density at low cost for sustainable electric vehicles of the future – inevitably starting with F1.

Strong links
“In addition to our powerful base of textile testing and control companies, many other BTMA members are working on further F1 and advanced composite projects,” says Jason Kent in conclusion. “We are also forging strong links with the UK’s key research hubs such as Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the Northwest Composites Centre in Manchester, the National Centre for Motorsport Engineering in Bolton and the National Composites Centre in Bristol.

“The BTMA recently became an associate member of Composites UK too, because this sector is the crucible of innovation for tomorrow’s textiles.”

At the forthcoming IGATEX textile machinery exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan, from April 24-26, Monforts will highlight the benefits of its latest Universal Energy Tower.

This stand-alone air/air heat exchanger module enables recovery of the heat from the exhaust air flow of thermal systems such as existing stenters and THERMEX dyeing ranges with infrared predriers, resulting in energy savings of up to 25%, depending on the exhaust air volume and operating temperature.

The Energy Tower has an integrated fresh air fan with speed control. It offers good access to the heat exchanger modules for easy cleaning as well as a large condensate collection tank with a lint filter. Visualisation of real-time temperature and maintenance intervals is also included.

The Universal Energy Tower is one of a series of modular upgrades the company has developed to be added to existing finishing lines already in production, with a significant impact on a manufacturer’s operational costs.

The Matex Eco Applicator is meanwhile an alternative to the conventional padding process for energy-conscious finishing and achieving considerable savings in the energy required for drying treated fabrics. The precise amount of finishing chemical can be applied to the fabric and with less residual moisture after application of only approximately 35%, so that less drying capacity is required in the stenter, which leads to huge energy savings.

Finishing chemicals can be evenly applied on either or both sides of the fabric, and two separate treatments can be applied to front and back.

This makes the unit ideal for the production of, for example, double-performance hydrophobic/hydrophilic fabrics for professional clothing, as well as the over dyeing or finishing of denim fabrics.

A virtual exhibition retracing the history of the Italian textile machinery industry—this is The Heritage, the website created by ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, and Italian Trade Agency, with the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Heritage is the digital continuation of the exhibition event showcased at ITMA 2023 Milan, the world’s leading trade fair for the textile machinery sector. It represents the digital evolution of a photographic journey that was highly appreciated by numerous national and international visitors during the event.

Thanks to contributions from many textile machinery companies, The Heritage presents over 100 years of history of the Italian textile machinery industry through a fascinating gallery of images. An immersive and engaging experience, it narrates the evolution of Italian manufacturing from the past century to the present day. The website is divided into various sections: Machineries, Entrepreneurs, Factories, World, Companies, Exhibition and ACIMIT. Visitors can explore these different areas, discovering drawings and photos of machinery models that have marked the history of individual companies, Italian entrepreneurs attending trade fairs, sector events and vintage images of production plants.

Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT, commented on the initiative: “The main objective of the exhibition held at ITMA 2023 and consequently of the website The Heritage is to give voice, through the lens of photographs and corporate testimonies, to the history, values, and technological evolution of the Italian textile machinery industry. It is an evocative and engaging journey,” Salvadè added, “that tells the story of how Italian manufacturing has evolved over time, from the past century to today. With nearly 300 companies operating in the sector, Italy has become a world leader and continues to look to the future, drawing strength from a history marked by widespread expertise and continuous innovation.”

However, The Heritage is not intended to be the conclusion of the photographic journey presented at ITMA 2023. Rather, it is envisioned as a shared virtual space, continually enriched by contributions from companies providing images that testify to the never-ending story of Italian textile machinery industry.

From April 24 to 26, Karachi will host IGATEX, the International Garment & Textile Machinery Exhibition & Conference, the leading trade fair for the textile machinery sector in Pakistan. After many years, ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, together with Italian Trade Agency, is once again organizing an Italian collective participation. A total of 11 companies will take part: 3 in the spinning hall and the remaining 8 in the finishing section. 10 are ACIMIT members companies: Audaces, Biancalani, Brazzoli, Danitech, Fadis, Ferraro, Mcs, Pinter Caipo, Pozzi Leopoldo, Zanfrini.

“In Pakistan, the textile sector, after a long period of strong investments in plants and machinery, has experienced a significant downturn due to a worsening macroeconomic situation in recent years,” commented Marco Salvadè, president of ACIMIT. The trend in Italian textile machinery exports to Pakistan reflects the decline in demand. The value of textile machinery sold to Pakistan dropped from 134 million euro in 2021 to 44 million euro in 2023. However, in the first nine months of 2024, Italian sales rebounded to 34 million euro, marking a 27% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

“Despite the challenges faced by Pakistani textile companies in recent years,” Salvadè concluded, “the recovery of our exports confirms the validity of ACIMIT and ICE’s decision to organize an Italian collective participation at IGATEX 2025. I believe it is crucial to maintain a presence in the local market, where we are also active with a technological training center at the National Textile University in Faisalabad, established in collaboration with PISIE – the International Polytechnic for Industrial and Economic Development – and Italian Trade Agency. Innovation and quality, which define Italian machinery, remain key factors in further enhancing the international competitiveness of Pakistani textile companies.”

The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is alerting apparel brands, retailers and their supply chain partners to an important change taking place this month.

As of February 24th 2025, the sale of all fluorescent lighting will officially come to an end in the EU and UK, with potentially significant implications for everyone along the supply chain – from designers and fabric manufacturers through to merchandisers and window display artists.

Eliminating mercury
“The phase-out of fluorescent lamps has been in progress for some years because they contain mercury which can be damaging to health,” explains BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Lamps containing mercury were banned for general use in August 2023, impacting lighting in homes, factories and retail environments, but an exemption was granted for specialist applications such as visual and digital colour assessment until this month.

“So far, the legislation only initially applies in Europe and the UK but will rapidly be adopted globally and this means that specialist light booth manufacturers such as our member company VeriVide will no longer be able to sell new fluorescent-based light booths.”

“Colour consistency is vital throughout the textile supply chain and all participants – from designers to fabric and garment manufacturers – have to be working under the same lighting conditions to guarantee it,” adds VeriVide Sales Director Adam Dakin “The colour-matching that is carried out under fluorescent lamps in labs and design offices and passes through successive process steps in manufacturing can come out looking very different once it’s displayed in store under LEDs. This can result in very costly products returns, and even complete batch recalls.”

Colour ecosystem
VeriVide has spent the last decade developing and optimising its industry-leading all-LED light booths as part of its ecosystem of products specifically designed for instantly communicating colour decisions, colour fastness gradings, test reports and more, incorporating the DigiEye and DigiView digital colour measurement systems.

“What the ban means is we’ll no longer be able to manufacture fluorescent light booths,” says Adam. “What we will have going forward is the UltraView all-LED technology. We do, however, have a stock enabling customers to buy replacements for their existing light booths before transitioning to UltraView.”

Retail adoption
Since its launch in 2023, Ultra-View all-LED technology has already been successfully adopted by leading retail brands including H&M, George by Asda, Marks & Spencer, NEXT, River Island and Tesco.

“With UltraView from VeriVide, we are confident that we have future-proofed our capability for the visual assessment of colour,” says Gary Timmons, fabric technologist at NEXT.

“LED technology is the ideal alternative to fluorescent lighting being both mercury-free and using significantly less energy,” says Jason Kent in conclusion. “It’s vital that all players are working to the exact specs, especially because the textile supply chain can be so complex.”

Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions recently hosted its highly anticipated Innovation and Technology Day at the Deltin Hotel in Daman by end of January 2025. The event attracted over 300 participants, including industry experts, partners, and stakeholders, who gathered to explore the latest advancements and trends in the manmade fibers industry in India.

Customer Event in Daman, India
The Innovation and Technology Day commenced with a warm welcome and introduction by Wolfgang Ernst, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions, and Debabrata Ghosh, Head of Sales at Oerlikon Textile India. They provided an overview of the Indian market and its challenges.

“The Indian textile industry, particularly the chemical fiber sector, is experiencing significant growth and transformation. This development is driven by increasing production capacities, strategic investments, and a shift in global consumption patterns”, said Ghosh. India's production of manmade fibers (MMF) is robust, with annual outputs of 4.8 million tons of Polyester Filament Yarn (PFY), 1.7 million tons of Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF), 0.7 million tons of viscose, 0.2 million tons of Polyamide 6 (PA 6), and 25 thousand tons of acrylic. Additionally, the country boasts substantial capacities for PET bottles and films, growing at rates of 7% and 15% per annum, respectively. The Indian market is witnessing significant expansions in PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) capacity, with major projects underway by Indian Oil Corporation, GAIL, MCPI, Reliance Industries, and the Adani-Indorama joint venture. These expansions are set to increase the PTA capacity from the current 6.296 million tons to over 14 million tons by 2030.

Market Dynamics and strategic investments
“The global consumption landscape is shifting towards India and emerging Asia, driven by rising incomes and changing demographics. By 2050, India and emerging Asia are expected to account for 30% of global consumption at purchasing-power parity (PPP), up from 12% in 1997. This shift underscores the growing importance of these regions in the global economic landscape”, Ghosh continuous. Significant investments are being made to enhance production capacities and integrate advanced technologies. Indian Oil Corporation, in a joint venture with MCPI, is establishing a 900 TPD continuous polymerization unit in Odisha, supported by substantial government subsidies. Similarly, the Adani Group, in partnership with Indorama, is entering the petrochemical sector with a $3 billion PTA plant in Maharashtra.

Challenges and Opportunities
Despite the positive outlook, the industry faces challenges such as ensuring cost efficiency, scalability, and the seamless integration of new technologies into existing production processes. However, the sector is optimistic about improving profitability, driven by favorable supply-demand dynamics and strategic investments. “The Indian textile and chemical fiber industry is poised for significant growth, supported by strategic investments, capacity expansions, and a favorable global consumption shift. These developments position India as a key player in the global textile market, driving towards a sustainable and prosperous future”, said Ernst.

After the introduction about the current market situation, the event continued with numerous technical presentations in which Oerlikon and its partners presented their technological and solution expertise along the textile value production chain “From Melt to Yarn, Fibers and Nonwovens”.

“To spin an excellent yarn, you need the prefect melt”, said Moderator André Wissenberg, Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications, and Public Affairs at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions. How this can be produced using extrusion or continuous polycondensation technology was demonstrated by the keynote speakers Sven Streiber, Regional Sales Director at Oerlikon Barmag, Deepak Lokre, Head of Engineering at Oerlikon Textile India, and Matthias Schmitz, Head of Engineering Recycling Technology at BB Engineering (BBE).

The second session focused on Oerlikons technology partner for manmade fiber spinning mills. Presentations covered topics such as enhancing manmade fiber production with innovative air engineering, automatic handling solutions and quality inspections, as well as air texturizing solutions. Notable speakers included Praveen Kumar Singh, Managing Director of Luwa India, and Luca Lacitignola, Sales Director at Irico Gualchierani Handling (IGH), Simone Ducceschi, Sales & Project Manager at Thema Systems, as well as Ralf Morgenroth, Head of Engineering Textile Machinery at BBE.

The third session delved into solutions for producing the perfect fibers and yarns, with a focus on Oerlikon Barmag POY/DTY, FDY, IDY technologies as well as Oerlikon Neumag BCF and staple fiber line plants. Presentations were delivered by Philip Jungbecker, Head of R&D, and Guido Dresen, Regional Sales Director, both at Oerlikon Barmag, as well Chetan Bhagat, General Manager Sales, and Sameer Mehrotra, General Manager Service at Oerlikon Textile India. Ralf Morgenroth added further insights of the compact spinning solution VarioFil from BBE.

Environmentally friendly recycling solutions
The fourth session highlighted environmentally friendly recycling solutions, featuring insights from Sven Streiber and Sudipto Mandal, Sales and Marketing Manager at Oerlikon Textile India, and again Matthias Schmitz, BBE. They provided a detailed portfolio overview in the field of mechanical and chemical recycling. The new partnership between Oerlikon Barmag and Evonik was also presented to the audience. Finally, this was followed by a session on customer services and digital solutions, where Michael Ruebenhagen, Head of Global Service Sales and Ivan Gallo, Digital Solutions, both at Oerlikon Manmade Fibers Solutions discussed current upgrade and retrofit options, the Digital Academy, and the future of digitalization in manmade fiber spinning mills. Shared Kulkarnie, General Manager Service Sales & Workshops, as well as Chandru Gurbaxani, Digital Solutions, performed together with their German colleagues.

The event concluded with closing remarks again from Wolfgang Ernst, who provided a global market overview and outlook for 2025. Final remarks were given by Atul Vaidya, Managing Director of Oerlikon Textile India. Finaly the event ended with a gala evening with more than 500 participants featuring a fashion show, music, dancing, and excellent food, supported by Decathlon and Garden Vareli.

23 Italian textile machinery manufacturers will partecipate at the upcoming Colombiatex, the main Colombian textile fair, which will take place in Medellín from January 28 to 30, 2025, once again confirming the strong connection between local textile companies and Italian suppliers of textile technology.

Despite a decrease in demand for textile machinery from the Colombian textile sector during the first nine months of 2024, the Country remains one of the main markets in the area for textile machinery manufacturers. Specifically, in 2023, Italy was the second largest technology supplier behind China, with an export value of around 13 million euros. In the first nine months of 2024, Italian sales in Colombia reached 8 million euros.

“The Colombian textile and clothing industry has experienced strong growth in recent years, also supported by a technological upgrade in which Italian machinery has often played a key role,” comments Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT. “For many of Italian manufacturers Colombiatex remains an unmissable event in the international trade fair calendar to strengthen partnership with Colombian textile companies”.

In the Italian pavilion organized by Italian Trade Agency and ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, among the 23 exhibitors, the following ACIMIT member companies will also be present: Biancalani, Btsr, Color Service, Danti, Dettin, Fadis, Flainox, Isotex, Itema, Kairos Engineering, Lonati, Mcs, Mts, Monti-Mac, Ratti, Reggiani Macchine, Salvadè, Santoni, Stalam, Tecnorama, Tonello, Triveneta.

Maintaining a focus on innovation despite the uncertainties that characterize the current international scenario was emphasized during the General Assembly of ACIMIT, the Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association, held in Milan on July 9. ACIMIT president, Marco Salvadè, showcased the data of the Italian textile machinery industry. In 2023, production decreased by 16%, settling at a value of 2.3 billion euros, as did exports, which also fell by 16% (2 billion euros).

China, Turkey, India, and the United States remain the main destinations for Italian textile machinery manufacturers. In 2023, demand for machinery in these markets was weak, but some positive signals emerged in the first quarter of the current year, especially from the Chinese market and again from Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, and Japan. “2024 will still be a year characterized by many uncertainties,” commented Salvadè, “mainly due to the uncertainty of the geopolitical situation and fluctuations in final demand”.

In an especially difficult international scenario and with a still sluggish market, the Italian textile machinery sector remains a leader alongside a few other Countries, such as China, Germany and Japan. Accelerating innovation remains crucial, particularly to meet the challenges that await Italian manufacturers in supporting textile companies on their sustainable transition journey.

To highlight the opportunities that the European green transition opens up for technology suppliers, the public section of the ACIMIT General Assembly addressed a very current issue: textile recycling. The EU’s legislative guidelines aim to accelerate the green and circular transition of the textile sector with various actions: from ecodesign to EPR, from waste export regulation to green claims. Meanwhile, there is a growing demand for recycled textile fibers driven by the sustainable policies of brands that should not be underestimated.

With 42 exhibiting member companies, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 is once again marked by a strong presence of VDMA companies. They cover nearly all different machinery chapters with a focus on spinning and man-made fibers, nonwovens, weaving, braiding, knitting & warp knitting, finishing & dyeing as well as technologies for textile recycling and processing of recycled material.
In total, the German participation at the fair is the largest from outside China.

The VDMA team in Shanghai is staffed again with colleagues from the VDMA headquarters in Germany as well as from VDMA China. With these joined forces, the team is well prepared to support the exhibiting member companies on site.

Dr. Harald Weber, Managing Director VDMA Textile Machinery Association, summarised: “Although facing a difficult market situation, this year’s ITMA ASIA is an essential showcase for the member companies of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association. There is definitely no shortage of chances and opportunities in China and other Asian markets. The exhibiting members will demonstrate their smart technologies that can pave the way to a green textile production and are looking forward to welcoming numerous visitors from various countries to their booths in Shanghai.”

China is aiming at a green and low CO₂ development of its textile industry. At a press conference on the first day of ITMA ASIA + CITME, Georg Stausberg, member of the board of VDMA Textile Machinery and CEO of the Oerlikon Polymer Processing Solutions Division said: “Topics, such as energy efficiency and the careful use of resources have become increasingly important for Asian customers in recent years, not least due to stricter legal framework conditions. VDMA members and their technologies are the right partners on the road to a greener and low CO₂ textile production.”
 
Export performance
Already in 2023, the global textile machinery exports decreased by 18.6 % compared to 2022. This was a challenge all major textile machinery producing countries had to face. However, the German exports remained relatively strong and only declined by 3.4 % in 2023. 2024 did not see a change in the global textile industry and thus the German exports have now also dropped significantly. Between January and July 2024, German exports of textile machinery and accessories summed up to 1.2 billion € (2023: 1.6 billion €). The shipping to almost all major markets decreased between January and July: China: 242 million € (2023: 384 million €), Turkey: 140 million € (2023: 180 million €), USA: 118 million € (2023: 152 million €), India: 100 million € (2023: 153 million €).

Sales opportunities in Asia
An economic survey of VDMA in September, to which 20 textile machinery companies replied, reflects the global challenging situation. Around 36 % assessed their current business situation as satisfactory, 54 % said it was bad. Only very few companies expect the global situation to improve in the next six months.

However, looking at the sales opportunities by regions/countries in Asia, most of the responding companies expect a better business situation in the Asian markets except China in six months. The business situation is expected to be on a satisfactory level then. With regard to this, a presence at ITMA ASIA in Shanghai and next year in Singapore is important for VDMA members to continuously show their innovations and to keep contact with the customers in Asia.

Monforts recently celebrated its 140th anniversary at a special event for staff and their families at its headquarters in Mönchengladbach, Germany. Building on a rich history since its foundation by August Monforts in 1884, the company remains 100% dedicated to the development of technologies that will ensure the future success of its textile industry customers.

Under the motto, ‘140 Years of Performance, Innovation and Partners’, Monforts is looking forward to further celebrating this milestone with its representatives and customers at the forthcoming ITMA Asia + CITME exhibition in Shanghai from October 14-18, in Hall 5 at stand C09.

The first Monforts machines were mechanical napping units for raising the surfaces of cotton fabrics, providing softness and warmth and adding value. By 1893, Monforts 24-roller napping machines were drawing appreciative crowds at the World Fair in Chicago – establishing international trade networks was paramount to the company from the outset.

In 1897, August Monforts established an iron foundry equipped with hydraulic casting machines, by which time the company employed 1,200 people. This was followed by the introduction of semi-automatic manufacturing tools – an area in which Monforts achieved a number of firsts, such as the single-spindle lathe which became a big export hit in the late 1930s due to its unique and unmatched precision.

Overseen by successive four generations of the Monforts family, the company’s range of textile machines has been significantly expanded based on decades of accumulated know-how and a dominant position in fabric finishing technologies has been established.

Since 2013, Monforts has been a member of the CHTC Fong’s Group, today one of the world’s largest textile machinery manufacturers.

Since its opening in 2013, the Monforts Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) in Mönchengladbach has proved a valuable resource to customers for achieving new standards in fabric finishing.

Over an area of 1,200 square metres, it houses two full finishing lines, engineered to accommodate an extremely diverse range of processes, in addition to a Thermex range for the continuous dyeing of denim and other woven fabrics, a full colour kitchen and a number of lab-scale systems for smaller batch trials.

“The ATC allows our customers to test their own textiles and technical fabrics on Monforts dyeing and finishing machines under fully confidential, real production conditions,” says Monforts Technologist Saskia Kuhlen. “Using the results from these trials, we are also able to make recommendations for improving many fabric finishes.”