Interview with Mr. Thomas Päffgen, Area Sales Manager of Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH at ITM 2024
My name is Thomas Päffgen. I am the Area Manager at Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH in Germany, responsible for the Turkish market. We are here at ITM 2024 to showcase our latest technology, focusing on environmentally friendly processes to reduce energy consumption and water usage.
Environmental Initiatives
At Monforts, reducing the CO2 footprint is a top priority. We are introducing new coating technologies that use minimal water and innovative heat recovery systems that significantly cut down energy consumption. We are also developing methods to heat textile machines using green hydrogen, aiming for CO2 neutrality in our processes.
Market Presence
Turkey has been a crucial market for Monforts, with over 600 machines operating there. While the market is currently quiet, this is a global trend. We also have a strong presence in North Africa, particularly in Egypt, which remains a key market for us.
Sustainability Efforts
Monforts has long been committed to sustainability. We use energy-efficient motors and various heating systems, including biomass, which is CO2 neutral. Our technologies for continuous dyeing processes reduce water, chemical, salt, and alkali usage, contributing to a lower environmental impact.
Digitalization and Automation
Our machines are equipped with user-friendly HMI systems that allow for easy operation and data transfer to servers. This helps our customers monitor process parameters, energy consumption, and costs, leading to better control and optimization of their processes.
While robotics play a role in some areas of textile manufacturing, they are less applicable to our types of machines, such as stenter frames and continuous dyeing ranges. Our systems are designed to run continuously with minimal human intervention, focusing on energy consumption and process costs rather than labor costs.
Innovation and Future Goals
Celebrating 140 years, Monforts has always aimed to stay ahead through innovation. We develop new technologies like continuous reactive dyeing systems and advanced coating heads. Our goal is to offer better quality, reduced energy consumption, and reasonable prices, ensuring our competitiveness.
Monforts produces standard machines in China and specialized machines for technical textiles in Austria. We focus on reducing water usage, recycling, and using environmentally friendly energy sources like hydrogen and biomass.
Conclusion
Our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and efficiency positions Monforts as a leader in the textile machinery industry. We continue to work towards creating cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly textile processes.