Interview with Leen Osterloh

On a global perspective, Nonwovens is and will continue to be the fastest growing field in textile applications, showing a compounded annual growth rate of 7%. After a dip in the growth path during the global economic crisis, we now again see solid demand and growth figures. In the wake of increasing global wealth, the demand for nonwovens applications is inherent, thus above average growth for nonwoven applications is especially driven from developing countries. Furthermore, we see a tendency for substituting different materials by nonwovens. However, we will need to carefully monitor the prices and availability of raw materials. Once again, Truetzschler Nonwovens has set a new standard to the hydroentanglement industry and recently installed the first Fleissner Aquajet running at a line speed of 400 m/min, giving the customer a maximum return on investment. Despite our well-established and well-known equipment, we have introduced some further important innovations such as the Fleissner high speed binder bonding, our new Erko random card for natural fiber products and multi-layer products made with Fleissner Aquajet. Additionally, we will show some quantum leap innovations during ITMA in Barcelona.

Demand is generally very high at the moment. It all starts with hygiene products, whether they are spunlaced, binder bonded or thermobonded. We see that products like filtration and geotextiles are rapidly becoming of increasing importance in developing countries. The market for filtration medias in China is already big and India is following in the same direction. Since Truetzschler Nonwovens is capable of supplying all major web forming web forming and bonding technologies we see a constant growth throughout the industry.

I have traveled to India several times in recent years and the growth is impressive. However, I think that India still has a lot of obstacles to overcome such as a necessary improvement of infrastructure and a focus on environmental sustainability. Furthermore, inflation will be a topic.

The current raw material prices are certainly reflected in a tendency towards lighter weight products. We are offering technologies that enable the customer to reduce weight of their products while keeping the performance of a high weight product. Furthermore, geotextiles, hygiene and filtration products will have big impact. I also expect new applications to emerge.

We will have the biggest benefit for global wealth if each region concentrates on their competitive strengths. That implies that we will have a big exchange on all levels between developed and developing countries and we should not have any hesitations whatsoever to cooperate. Truetzschler group for example already has subsidiaries in important emerging markets such as India, China and Brazil.

Companies that adapt the concept of sustainability will have a competitive advantage in the long run. Truetzschler Nonwovens can offer quality products that have a long lifetime and that are optimized for energy consumption and efficiency rates. Consulting and supporting our customers in terms of sustainability is a must.

Thank you. ITMA is a very important event for us in this year. Please visit our booth to see our world of innovations and discuss tailor-made solutions for your application that will give you an optimum in quality and productivity.