Kansan Materials, the nonwoven machinery division of the Turkish engineering company Kansan Group, has rapidly emerged as one of the most influential players in the global nonwoven industry. With deep expertise in wetlaid technologies, converting lines, and end-of-line automation, the company is expanding its footprint across hygiene, medical, and technical textile applications. As Kansan Materials consolidates its position as a fully integrated solutions provider from nonwoven production to end-of-line solution, its capabilities are further elevated by a major strategic development: the global partnership with Dilo Group GmbH, the German leader in fiber preparation, carding and needling technologies.
Together, Kansan Materials and Dilo Group are redefining what complete nonwoven lines can offer, combining advanced technologies, engineering strength, and a shared vision for sustainable growth. In an interview during Techtextil India, Mr. Gokhun GUNGOR, Sales Executive – Nonwoven Division, Kansan Materials, discussed Kansan Materials’ evolution, market presence, and the transformative potential of this partnership, particularly for key markets such as India.
Kansan’s Evolution into a Global End-to-End Nonwoven Solutions Provider
Kansan Group’s journey began in Izmir, Turkey, where it established itself as one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of wet wipes converting lines. Over time, its capabilities expanded across three divisions. The wet wipes machinery line divisions focus on converting, packaging, and lid application systems. The Andropack division specialises in case packers, palletizers, depalletizers, and multipack labelers. The newest division, Kansan Materials, represents the company’s strategic push into the nonwoven production landscape, specifically through wetlaid and related technologies.
According to Mr. Gungor, Kansan Group’s entry into the nonwoven machinery sector was motivated by market demand and strengthened by the company’s global dominance in wet wipes equipment during the pandemic years. “Before, during and after the pandemic, we were already the number one in the world for wet wipes converting line manufacturing.
This encouraged us to enter the nonwoven machinery business, starting with wetlaid technologies from headbox to the rewinder, all made in-house,” he said. This ability to manufacture every stage of the production chain is one of Kansan Group’s defining advantages. “We are the only company providing
the entire sequence, from fiber processing to package palletizers. This complete value chain is our biggest strength,” he added.
Today, Kansan Group operates three modern manufacturing plants in Izmir-Turkiye, producing advanced machinery for customers worldwide. With more than 1000 machine installations, the company has established a strong market presence across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the United States, and Asia.
India: A High-Potential Market and Strategic Focus Area
India has emerged as one of the Kansan Group’s most important international markets. With established installations in India for more than 15 years, Kansan Group enjoys deep familiarity and trust within the Indian nonwoven and wet wipes sector.
However, the market remains complex and price-sensitive, with strong competition from low-cost Chinese machinery. Mr. Gungor acknowledged these dynamics yet highlighted Kansan Materials’ resilience. “India is a beneficial but challenging market. There is always a China option, and we need to compete with that. But customers know us well, and we know them. Our service network in India is large, and we are very active here,” he said.
He noted that India’s growth trajectory makes it a focal point for both Kansan Materials and Dilo Group. “India will be a superpower in the nonwoven business. If we have two eyes, we must open four eyes toward India,” he remarked, underscoring the market’s long-term potential.
Kansan Materials –Dilo Group Partnership: A New Era of Integrated Nonwoven Lines
On April 29, 2025, Kansan Group and Dilo Group officially announced a global strategic partnership, marking one of the most significant collaborations in the nonwoven machinery sector. This partnership merges Dilo Group’s unparalleled expertise in fiber preparation, carding, needling, CycloPunch® and MicroPunch® technologies with Kansan Group’s strengths in wetlaid nonwoven machinery, hydroentanglement, converting, and end-of-line solutions.
Dilo Group will serve as the main contractor, integrating technologies from both companies into complete custom nonwoven lines. The partnership enables producers to benefit from a seamless, end-to-end manufacturing ecosystem from fiber opening and carding to wetlaid processing, bonding, converting, and packaging.
Mr. Gungor explained that the collaboration was driven by customer demand. “Clients asked whether we could supply carding or related technologies. That’s why we began discussions with Dilo Group. Their expertise is unmatched in carding and needling. Together, we can now offer multiple machine options for the entire nonwoven industry,” he said.
The partnership also resonates strongly with Kansan’s engineering philosophy. As Mr. Gungor noted, “Integrated Engineering for Nonwovens” reflects the capability of this unified portfolio and the combined strength the companies bring to global markets.
Advanced Capabilities for Hygiene, Medical, and Technical Markets
The core focus of this partnership is the development and supply of advanced nonwoven solutions for specialized sectors. These include hygiene and medical applications where short and long staple fibers, hybrid structures, and high-performance absorbent materials are essential. Short-cut cellulose fibers, particularly those around 8 to 20 mm, offer significant advantages in absorbency, biodegradability and flushability, making them ideal for wipes, feminine hygiene products, and medical consumables.
Kansan Materials’ wetlaid systems are designed to process such fibers efficiently through hydrodynamic shaping facilitated by advanced headbox configurations. These wetlaid webs can then be combined with carded layers and bonded using either hydroentanglement or Dilo Group’s needling technologies. The result is a broad spectrum of materials, ranging from lightweight, flushable wipes to technically demanding composite structures.
Kansan Materials has already commissioned a state-of-the-art production line capable of processing hybrid raw materials based on advanced hydrodynamic simulation models. This line operates through intelligent software systems that support fully automated, computer-controlled manufacturing, enabling precision, consistency, and high efficiency.
The integration of products manufactured using Dilo Group’s CycloPunch® and MicroPunch® technologies into Kansan Materials’ converting and end-of-line systems further strengthens the combined offering, enabling customers to operate versatile and future-ready production lines.
Sustainability, Efficiency, and Global Market Expansion
The partnership is aligned with a shared vision of sustainability and operational efficiency. Both Kansan Materials and Dilo Group aim to minimize environmental impact through energy efficiency, reduced waste, and support for recyclable and biodegradable materials. Their combined engineering capabilities enhance speed, cost-effectiveness, and customization. These are the key requirements for modern manufacturers seeking sustainable growth.
The collaboration also creates a foundation for expanding into new global markets. Through joint R&D, coordinated marketing activities, and integrated turnkey lines, Kansan Materials and Dilo Group are positioning themselves to serve a broader global customer base, particularly in hygiene, medical, and technical nonwovens.
A Strong Value Proposition for Indian Manufacturers
While India continues to see strong inflows of low-cost Chinese equipment, Kansan positions itself as a high-value alternative offering superior quality and long-term reliability. “Chinese brands are active here, and financially they offer benefits. But we offer Chinese prices with European quality with high-end solutions. That is why Indian investors choose us,” Mr. Gungor said. He also reiterated that Kansan Group’s supply chain is unaffected by tariff complexities, ensuring smoother shipping, installation, and after-sales support for Indian customers.
Kansan Materials Steps Into a Bold New Future
With deep engineering expertise, a complete manufacturing value chain, and a strong global presence, Kansan Materials is poised to play an increasingly central role in the rapidly expanding nonwoven industry. The strategic April 2025 partnership with Dilo Group marks a defining milestone in this journey, uniting two powerful engineering legacies to offer unrivalled turnkey solutions across fiber preparation, bonding, wetlaid processes, converting, and end-of-line solutions.
As the demand for high-quality nonwovens continues to grow across hygiene, medical, and technical categories, Kansan Group and Dilo Group’s unified approach ensures manufacturers worldwide have access to sustainable, efficient, and technologically advanced production systems. Reflecting on this transformative collaboration, Mr. Gungor aptly summarized its potential: “This collaboration creates great strength for the market. In the coming years, you will hear the Kansan Materials and Dilo Group names everywhere.”
With its expanded capabilities and forward-looking strategy, Kansan Materials is firmly positioned to shape the future of global nonwoven manufacturing.
