Monforts, one of the global manufacturers of textile finishing segment, became one of the most spoken brands both with its technologies and the point arrived in the cooperation carried out with FONG’S, at ITMA ASIA CITME exhibition held in Shanghai on 12-16 June. All of Monforts’s shares were taken over by Hong Kong-centered Fong’ s Industries. Klaus A. Heinrichs, Vice President of Marketing in A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH& Co. KG, made statements on the new owner of the company in the new period and market expectations, especially for Textil Dünyası.
Long Term Cooperation Turned into Joint Venture
Monforts was spoken during the exhibition as the cooperation carried out with Fong’s for a long time turned into a joint venture as well as with its solutions for textile finishing processes. Klaus A. Heinrichs, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG Vice President of Marketing, provided important explanations on the acquisition of 100 percent shares of Monforts by Hong Kong-centered Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd.
Emphasizing that there is a long-standing cooperation of 13 years between Monforts and Fongs, Heinrichs reminded that the two companies decided to enter a joint venture in 1998. Heinrichs said; “Of Monfongs constituted, 50 percent was owned by Fong’s and 50 percent owned by Possehl. The relations between the two groups have improved and continued. Next phrase of the cooperation was merger. Monforts has a new owner now. Monforts now is owned by Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd.”.
Underlining that there was no effect of the global crisis in global markets for this acquisition, Heinrichs mentioned that Monforts was a German company before and changed hands. Heinrichs reported that the former owner Possehl had so many different areas of activities so the company management was given to the hands of”best owner priniciple”. Heinrichs explained that Fong’ s belongs to the China Hi-Tech Group and continued; “With Hi-Tech Group, a very professional, very fast moving, and very big international partner, the future of our company is very positive. There have been no changes in the organization of Monforts. The headquarter will continue to be in Mönchengladbach as since 1884, similarly our brand production plant Montex in Austria has been in the global market for 31 years.”
Stating that they manufacture technical textile machinery in addition to the classical finishing machines for woven and knitted fabrics, Heinrichs said they have new energy and environment-oriented machines as well as stenters and dyeing machines. Heinrichs claimed that they will reach more flexibility and capacity for production with the new investment in China and that among their target regions China and Asia stand out.
Monforts Brand to Continue
Klaus A. Heinrichs stated that Monforts has been regarded in the sector as a whole mark of “quality, durability and excellence” from past to present and explained that after the acquisition by Fong’ s, the brand Monforts will continue. Stating that the production in Austria will not be replaced by another place such as China, Heinrichs said; “Also, the excellent service of Monforts, its current position in the market and service facilities will continue to be handled”. Heinrichs repeated that the production of Montex machines in Austria will continue, and as in the case of production, the management of Monforts will not be transferred to Asia. Heinrichs added that Roland Hampel, Managing Director of Monforts, stays as it was before.
Heinrichs said that for Monforts, the Asian market is one of the most important and said; “Apart from that we have high volume regional markets, for instance in Pakistan, in Bangladesh, in Indonesia and many more markets that are coming in the near future. So I think the future is in Asia for the textile machinery business”. Mentioning about Turkish market, Heinrichs underlined that they have a high market share in this market.
Saying that the production facilities to be opened in Zhongshan of China within a few months will be the most modern production facility ever constructed, Klaus Heinrichs reported that they are building a new showroom in Mönchengladbach of Germany. Heinrichs specified that in this showroom the customers will be able to see the latest models of all finishing machines developed for technical textiles and this building is 3 times larger than the former.
Saying “Professionals in the Turkish market have the best knowledge of textile treating and there is a very good education in the Turkish market”, Heinrichs stated that hence, not all of the production is going to Asia and supply continues to continuously growing Turkish market. Heinrichs said they see also that there is a trend towards technical textiles in Turkey and there will be a big presentation of VDMA on technical textiles in Istanbul and in Gaziantep in November 2012. Heinrichs said; “In the development on technical textile finishing, Turkish textile sector will get a significant advantage for competition with the new technologies to be offered by us”.
Jürgen Hanel: Our Technical Textile Segment is Expanding
Jürgen Hanel, Monforts Business Development Manager for Technical Textiles, provided information on the new Thermex MXL hotflue/dryer highlighted by Monforts at ITMA ASIA, and said that this machine is developed for moist crosslinking of creaseless shirting material and bed linen. Hanel explained that, in addition to this system, they presented Matex Eco Applicator for double side padding with an energy saving effect of up to 40% and as well as new technical possibilities for hydrophobic/hydrophilic treatments.
Stating that both technologies where highly demanded during the exhibition, Jürgen Hanel, Business Development Manager Technical Textiles, said; “This demand is not restricted to Asia. We have made order discussions with several customers”. Hanel specified the innovations of MXL process as follows; “Thermex MXL is predominantly in use for shirting fabrics, it speeds up the process from more than 24 hours to less than 5 minutes. It reduces the amount of chemicals which is necessary to get excellent “non-ironing” effect and reduces the energy usage at least for 20 percent”.
We said that recently Monforts began to emphasize solutions related to technical textiles and asked Jürgen Hanel what solutions are offered for this segment in this respect and he said; “Our new technical textile portfolio contains i.e. a new stenter for technical textiles which is suitable for organic solvents, PVC curing and foaming up to 300°C. We already supply coating solutions for all kind of technical textiles. You can read in detail our technical textile solutions for clothtech, protech, hometech, indutech, mobiltech, buildtech, geotech, medtech from our web site.”
Hanel said that they see the changes in technical textiles in global market and some of the estimated developments already have become real and underlined that the growth in the field of technical textiles is all over the world visible. Hanel emphasized that in this respect they follow this by extending their production range with innovations which are suitable to the demands of the new technologies. Stating that they have strengthened themselves by entering new fields on technical textiles and the construction of the research center in Germany continues, he explained when it is completed, researches and trials in the Technical Textiles field will be carried out there. Hanel said; “For instance, organic solvent based coatings and treatments, double sided effects and energy savings with the Matex Eco Applicator, new coatings for carbon fibre prepregs, etc. can be done on wide width machines under real production conditions”. Hanel explained that, details are confidential but, they will develop a multi-functional coating head and some special drying/curing ovens for this highly technology driven market in the forthcoming period.
Hanel stated that they are in close cooperation with universities for technological works on technical textiles and that the master students are supported within the company. Hanel reported that R&D activities offering personal solutions through close dialogue with customers strengthen their works.
480 Monforts Machines Operate In Turkey
Evaluating Monforts’s position in Turkish market, Jürgen Hanel stated that in the Turkish market Monforts leads the market in finishing and dyeing ranges, stenters, denim machines, sanforizing and Econtrol dyeing. Hanel said: “Almost all of the 480 Monforts machines in Turkey are used by textile companies for export and they guarantee their high quality textile productions with Monforts”.
Reminding that all of the machines for the Turkish market are equipped with PLC-control for highest quality and reproducibility of fabrics, Hanel emphasized that all machines are nowadays equipped with Teleservice online for quick commissioning, immediate fault diagnosis and lowest downtime. Hanel stated that the demand of Turkish textile producers for energy-saving ecological production is getting much stronger, and therefore the demands for the Matex Eco Applicator and Thermex MXL as well as Econtrol dyeing are growing.
Finishing Became Different with MXL
Monforts, predominantly working on technical textiles and having started to include the technologies developed for this segment in its product range more, was happy to find the interest expected at ITMA ASIA CITME exhibition. They introduced the technologies developed for MXL (moist cross linking) process. This process not requiring ironing and dry-cleaning was presented at the exhibition in association with the Thermex 8000 continuous dyeing unit.
The MXL process, developed by Ciba Specialty Chemicals together with Monforts, guarantees treatment on cotton materials with the shortest times. MXL® range ensures to reduce processing period from 20 hours to just 3 minutes. It also offers greater flexibility and high process safety than conventional systems. The Thermex Hotflue chamber, in MXL® process making its international presentation, is manufactured from stainless steel to withstand the process acidity.
Monforts also demonstrated the latest software in process control technologies to ensure economic and ecological solutions. References for technical textile applications can also be displayed. Further, Monforts technologies offer advice for ’classical’ textile and technical textile processing techniques.
The features of Monforts MXL process that eliminates the need for ironing in finishing and smoothes fabrics at a glance; pick-up 70-80% faster, temperature 110°C, reaction time in 3 minutes, residual moisture 7-8%. The formulation of the process includes synthetic resin, catalyst, silicon macro emulsion, polyurethane emulsion and wetting agents. As the catalyst in the process is highly acidic, the equipments in Monforts range are particularly well protected against corrosion with high-quality stainless steel components.
