Dollfus& Muller, felt and conveyor producer, has an important position among French textile machine producers. Celebrating its 200th anniversary last year, the firm continues its way as a family company. It joined ITMA ASIA fair in Saloon E2, Booth G30 between 12-16 June and took serious attention from Asian-predominated visitors with its production segments. As Textil Dünyası Magazine, we had an interview with Hugues Schellenberg, General Manager of Dollfus & Muller, during the fair. Underlying that Dollfus & Muller is one of the major producer of conveyors and felts in Europe, Schellenberg stated that they have three main product groups in terms of textile industry.
The firm produces conveyor belts ans transfer printing felts for the printers, felts for sanforized fabrics in knitted fabric finishing, compressive sanforizing machines or felts for Palmer units of sanforizing machines, Finroll and Heat Shrinkable Felts for better handling of woven woolen fabrics, satin wrappers for semi-continuous and discontinuous decatizing, conveyor belts enabling woolen fabrics to enter into machine for steaming machines, conveyor belts for nonwoven thermo-bonding. Pointing out that the belts they produce are high temperature resistant, Schellenberg said that they produce these with materials such as Nomex®, PEEK, Teflon® coated glass fiber, Kevlar®, Polyester, Ryton® (PPS). Implying that they use a variety of fiber types in felt production, Schellenberg continued; “We use high temperature and chemical resistant fiber that we select very carefuly”.
Hugues Schellenberg informed that nowadays, 3 lines in their plant in France-Heimsbrunn are very busy with production. Schellenberg said; “Our belts and felts, too, have been in an increase since 2009, just like other firms having been seriously damaged due to crisis. We provide 90 percent of our sales and turnover from export markets. Dollfus & Muller is a firm that exports to 85 countries”. Schelenberg underlined that they make the whole production in his plant in France.
Sales Increase More Than Profit Rate
Hugues Schellenberg, stating that 2011 sales are far more better than the year 2010, added that increase in profit rate has not been at the same degree. Schellenberg implied; “Increase in price of raw material and electric costs have been efficient in the profit rate remaining low. We face increase in prices of all elements in our production process, but our customers do not accept increase in costs in any way, so profit rate decreases”.
Schellenberg, emphasizing that Turkish market’s improvement and development graphic after the crisis is equivalent to the global market, informed that as Regional Manager Turkey, Cengiz Tekin takes place in Dollfus & Muller. Noting that due to Tekin’s being Turk in origin and knowing Turkish, he is in a closer and more direct dialogue with the market, Schellenberg added; “We attended as firm managers to ITMA ASIA fair and Mr. Tekin could not come. Because he has a 10-day-long Turkey program in his Schedule. We attach great importance to Turkish market, Turkish textile industry is constantly growing, so, we always want to increase our share in this market”.
Schellenberg noticed that first quarter numbers of 2012 have been realized over their expectations and informed that they are also in a better situation in comparison to 2011. Stating that they do not think of a new investment in the near future and they do not need such a thing, Schellenberg pointed out that their production is guaranteed by being fed from orders. Schellenberg said; “Catching the orders means a good production process. We do not need to buy any new type of machines. My target is reaching a turnover of nearly 10 million Euros in 2-3 years time. Last year, Dollfus & Muller reached 8 million Euros turnover”.
We Always Give Importance to Fairs
Stating that Dollfus & Muller always gives importance to attending in fairs, Hugues Schellenberg reminded that they attend 6-7 textile fairs in 2012. Schellenberg told that by attending the fairs, they expect to reach new customers, distributors and potential business links.
Schellenberg, underlining that the ITMA ASIA fair held in China is seen as important in this respect, said they signed a number of agreements during the fair. Re-emphasizing that they attend every fair with the target of reaching new customers and agreements, Schellenberg announced that they have collected information regarding future trends of the industry thoroughout the fair.
Schellenberg made statements with regards to Chinese market, by saying that they have not seen any similar firms in their product segments in Chinese markets. “Our felts have a quality level which Chinese products could not reach yet”, Schellenberg stated, and informed that they are one step ahead of Chinese producers in terms of quality. Schellenberg added; “Hence, we constantly do R&D. With these studies, we become sure that we are ahead of our Chinese competitors who move rather quickly”.
Hugues Schellenberg, informing that Dollfus & Muller is a small firm which employs 47 people despite having a powerful production in its segment, stated that they have a team qualified in their fields of R&D, production, sales and after sales. Schellenberg ended his words by saying; “We have a professşonal team. In this aspect, we stand ready at the right time, at the right place, with the most correct product for the customer and with the most correct price”.
Dollfus & Muller, having a 200 years history, has reached its current structure by integration of the firms Dollfus & Noack and Manufacturer Muller in 1995. Two firms, operating in various industrial fields since 19th century, began production in textile finishing at the beginning of the 20st century. The firm had celebrated its 200th anniversary with an exclusive party arranged in ITMA Barcelona period. Giving great importance to Turkish market, the firm has customers especially in textile cities such as Çorlu-Çerkezköy, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Denizli, İzmir, Adana and Kayseri.
