On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2026, Trützschler Nonwovens shines a spotlight on the women who contribute their expertise, creativity, and leadership to the company’s global success. The German machinery manufacturer, known for its advanced solutions for the nonwovens industry, marked the day by sharing the inspiring stories of four female colleagues whose roles span engineering, marketing, after-sales service, and corporate leadership.
Through a special video released by the company, Trützschler Nonwovens celebrates not only professional achievements but also the courage, passion, and dedication that women bring to the modern textile machinery sector.
The initiative reflects a broader commitment within the organization to support diversity, foster talent, and create a workplace environment where individuals can grow and contribute meaningfully to the future of the industry.
Recognizing the Women Driving Innovation
At Trützschler Nonwovens, women play key roles across technical, strategic, and customer-facing departments. Their work contributes directly to the development, promotion, and support of advanced nonwoven production technologies used worldwide.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, the company invited four colleagues to share their personal journeys and reflections on their careers within the organization.
Their stories highlight how different professional backgrounds and perspectives help strengthen innovation and collaboration inside a technology-driven company.
The women featured in the video represent four important departments within the company:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Human Resources and Legal
- After-Sales Service
- Marketing
Together, they illustrate how diverse expertise contributes to the success of Trützschler Nonwovens and the broader nonwoven industry.
Engineering Excellence: Designing the Machines of the Future
Among the voices featured in the video is Antje Ratsch, who works in mechanical engineering at Trützschler Nonwovens.
For nearly 25 years, she has been involved in designing and developing components that bring the company’s machines to life. Her work demonstrates the depth of technical knowledge and dedication required to create high-performance equipment used in modern nonwoven manufacturing.
Working in a field traditionally dominated by men has never discouraged her. Instead, she sees engineering as a discipline driven by ideas, precision, and problem-solving.
According to Ratsch, the experience of being a woman in engineering reinforces an important message: talent and passion matter far more than gender. When individuals are supported and encouraged to pursue what they love, they can make a meaningful impact on technological progress.
Her career journey reflects the evolving landscape of engineering, where diverse perspectives increasingly contribute to better design, innovation, and problem-solving.
Leadership at the Intersection of HR, Legal, and Business
Another perspective comes from Kerstin Willers, Director of HR and In-house Lawyer at Trützschler Nonwovens.
Her role connects human resources, legal oversight, and business strategy — a complex intersection that requires both analytical expertise and strong interpersonal skills.
Willers emphasizes the importance of creating solutions that are both forward-looking and legally compliant, while supporting the long-term growth of both the company and its employees.
Leadership in such a role requires balancing strength, empathy, and foresight. By cultivating a working environment built on trust and collaboration, she helps ensure that employees can fully contribute their abilities while working toward shared organizational goals.
For Villas, the trust placed in her by the company and the broad scope of her responsibilities provide valuable opportunities for personal and professional development.
Her experience demonstrates how leadership roles in industrial companies increasingly require a blend of legal understanding, strategic thinking, and people-oriented management.
Supporting Customers Through After-Sales Expertise
Customer relationships are another essential pillar of Trützschler Nonwovens’ global operations.
Marisa Rathmer nunes, who works in the company’s after-sales department, highlights the importance of staying close to customers and understanding their operational needs.
Her role involves listening carefully to clients, identifying potential challenges, and helping them find the right solutions to keep their production lines running efficiently.
After-sales support in the textile machinery industry is built on trust, reliability, and technical expertise. By maintaining close communication with customers, teams like Rathmer nunes’ ensure that machines continue to perform at their best throughout their lifecycle.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Rathmer nunes also balances her career with family life. As a mother working part-time, she emphasizes how meaningful it is to remain entrusted with important projects.
For her, this trust sends a powerful message: commitment and expertise are not measured only by working hours, but by dedication and impact.
Transforming Technology into Stories: The Role of Marketing
Innovation in industrial machinery must also be communicated clearly to customers around the world.
Jutta Stehr, Head of Marketing at Trützschler Nonwovens, explains how her team transforms complex technologies into compelling narratives that resonate with customers.
Working in marketing for a medium-sized machinery manufacturer requires creativity, curiosity, and constant learning.
According to Jutta, launching a new machine begins with a deep exploration of the technology itself. She describes the process as similar to pearl diving — diving deep into technical details, gathering insights from engineers, product managers, and sales teams, and collecting the most valuable ideas.
Once these insights are gathered, the next step is to organize them into a clear and inspiring story that helps customers understand the value of the technology.
For Jutta, this storytelling process is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. By translating engineering innovations into meaningful messages, she helps give new machines their identity and purpose in the market.
A Message of Inspiration for the Textile Industry
By highlighting these four career journeys, Trützschler Nonwovens aims to celebrate the broader contribution of women across the textile machinery and nonwovens industries.
Women are increasingly playing important roles in engineering, management, customer support, and strategic communication within industrial technology companies.
Their participation brings diverse thinking, new perspectives, and collaborative leadership styles that strengthen innovation and organizational culture.
The company’s Women’s Day message underscores the importance of creating workplaces where talent can thrive regardless of gender.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Trützschler Nonwovens concluded its message with a simple but powerful statement:
Happy International Women’s Day.
By sharing the voices of women within its organization, the company hopes to inspire both current and future generations of professionals in the textile and nonwoven industries.
The initiative also highlights how modern industrial companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusion as drivers of innovation and long-term success.
As the nonwoven sector continues to evolve with new technologies and sustainability challenges, the contributions of talented professionals — regardless of gender — will remain essential in shaping the future of the industry.
