Exclusive interview with Achim Gesser, Area Sales Manager, Monforts, at Techtextil North America 2025
As global demand for sustainable and high-performance textile finishing grows, Monforts continues to position itself as a key innovator in the wet and dry finishing sector. At Techtextil North America 2025, The Textile Magazine sat down with Achim Gesser, Area Sales Manager, to discuss the company’s technologies, market outlook, and its commitment to driving efficiency and sustainability in the U.S. technical textiles space.
A Trusted Name in Wet and Dry Finishing
Monforts, a name synonymous with advanced textile finishing, showcased its flagship solutions at the show—particularly stenter frames, dyeing ranges, and sanforizing lines designed for the technical textile segment.
“We are here to support the U.S. market, especially in technical textiles, with solutions that focus on energy efficiency and sustainability,” Gesser explained. “Our goal is to help customers improve production while convincing them of the long-term value of German engineering.”
Accelerating Innovation Through Collaboration
At the heart of the Monforts’ innovation strategy lies its Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) in Mönchengladbach, Germany. This world-class facility features full-scale production machinery that supports testing, training, and R&D in collaboration with sensor developers and measurement specialists.
“We work hand-in-hand with industry partners to optimize parameters like energy consumption, quality consistency, and production speeds,” said Gesser. “It’s all about delivering precise, market-ready innovations that respond to real production challenges.”
Strong Engagement at Techtextil NA
Commenting on the show itself, Gesser was enthusiastic about the international diversity of attendees. “I was surprised to see visitors not only from North America, but also from India and Peru. That really highlights Techtextil North America’s growing global relevance,” he said. While the show is more of a networking and lead-generation platform than a place to close deals, Gesser noted that the initial discussions were promising and paved the way for future collaborations.
Targeting Growth in the U.S. Technical Textile Sector
For Monforts, the United States remains a strategic market—particularly in applications such as filters, coated fabrics, airbags, and other functional technical textiles. Despite global uncertainties and political headwinds, Monforts sees enormous potential in expanding its U.S. footprint. “We want to grow our market share in technical textiles, and being present at events like this helps show customers that we’re committed,” Gesser stated. “Technical textile applications in the U.S. are highly specialized, and our machinery is perfectly suited to meet those specific demands.”
Pioneering Sustainable Finishing Technologies
Sustainability is central to Monforts’ current and future offerings. The company is actively developing low-emission and renewable energy-based solutions. Most Monforts machines today use gas or thermal oil heating, but the company now offers electric heating options to reduce CO₂ emissions.
“We’re also involved in a Germany-backed R&D initiative to develop hydrogen-powered heating systems,” Gesser revealed. “This could eventually lead to entirely CO₂-free finishing operations—something that aligns perfectly with both European and American environmental goals.”
India: A Bright Spot in a Challenging Market
While the global textile machinery market faced headwinds over the past two years, Gesser pointed out that India has emerged as Monforts’ strongest-performing market in 2024. “We’ve received a significant number of orders from India this year” he said. This momentum reflects the country’s increasing focus on textile modernization and value-added manufacturing, particularly in segments that require advanced finishing solutions.
Expectations from Techtextil NA 2025
Looking ahead, Gesser expressed optimism about Techtextil NA’s role in supporting Monforts’ long-term U.S. strategy. “Our expectation is to enhance brand visibility and reinforce our reputation for high-quality, German-engineered finishing equipment,” he said. “Ultimately, our aim is to help U.S. customers boost production, reduce environmental impact, and adopt smarter, more efficient finishing technologies.”
Conclusion
With decades of expertise and a strong R&D foundation, Monforts is reinforcing its leadership in the field of wet and dry finishing—particularly in technical textiles and sustainable manufacturing. As the U.S. market looks to upgrade infrastructure and meet stricter sustainability benchmarks, Monforts is poised to play a pivotal role through its localized engagement, world-class innovation, and forward-thinking energy strategies.
