Business

Trützschler completes 125 years in business, celebrate anniversary

Trützschler - world’s leading textile machinery manufacturers, completes its 125th anniversary on August 1, 2013 that brings enriched experience of technology, machinery manufacturing and customer service. The journey began in 1888 when Paul Heinrich Trützschler registered a forge and metal working shop in Crimmitschau on 1st August. Right from its birth the company focused on service for textile companies. While initial emphasis was on machinery repairs, it was only a matter of a few years when the first machine was manufactured in house. In 1902, the company received its first patent.

Trützschler’s main products were tearing machines and cotton cleaning machines. The ‘Cotonia’, a cotton cleaner and cotton waste cleaner, was the most popular product of that period.

2nd Generation: Leap forward

The second generation of entrepreneurs Bruno, Willy and Karl Trützschler developed the company to a successful industrial enterprise during the 20s and 30s of the last century. During this period, Trützschler expanded its market and machines were shipped worldwide. However, the company’s business had adverse impact during the Second World War. After the war, attempt was made to rebuild the company but Crimmitschau was in the Soviet occupied zone and the concept of family business was not allowed. Ultimately, the company was expropriated and the brothers Karl and Willy were detained.

The 3rd Generation: Rebuilding and Enrichment

In 1947, the third generation, Hermann and Hans Trützschler, made a new beginning in Rheydt/Mönchengladbach. This new foundation quickly found market acceptance and turned into a company with international stature. Trützschler started its international expansion towards the end of 60s by establishing a production facility in Charlotte, USA. From mid to late 70s, production facilities were established in Curitiba, Brazil, and Ahmedabad, India. Founding these companies in the large markets and in close proximity to customers was an outstanding corporate accomplishment. The milestones in the development of the company are pneumatic card feeding in 1963, introduction of the first card in 1967, addition of the draw frame to the product range in 1992, as well as startup of the in-house construction of electronic controls at the end of the 70s.

Current Generation: Expansion, Collaboration and Innovation

The fourth and the current generation, Heinrich Trützschler (son of Hans Trützschler) and Dr. Michael Schürenkrämer (son-in-law of Hermann Trützschler) joined management in 1991, after several years with the company. Under the present management, Trützschler entered the rapidly growing market of China, through technology cooperation with a local partner in 1993. In 2001, a company-owned production facility was established in Shanghai. This step was crucial for Trützschler's success in the Chinese spinning preparation machine market, even in the face of fierce local competition.

In a joint development with Toyota Industries Corp., the product range for spinning preparation installations was expanded by the comber. In 2012, the comber was presented for the first time. Under the direction of Dr. Michael Schürenkrämer and Heinrich Trützschler, three new business divisions were established during the past 10 years. The founding of Trützschler Card Clothing was based on an acquisition of the clothing specialist Hollingsworth in 2003. The business division Trützschler Nonwovens emerged from the former companies Fleissner (dryer, hydroentanglement), Erko (opener, roller card, crosslapper, needling machine) and Bastian (winder).

The segments of Fleissner (machines for the production of man-made fibers) and SwissTex AG (machines for industrial and carpet yarns) make up the fourth business division, Trützschler Man-Made Fibers. The development of Trützschler over the course of 125 years and four generations has been a success. The factors that contribute to the company’s success are high innovative strength, close customer relations, enhanced service, long-term success orientation and the flexibility of a family-owned company. Today, Trützschler stands for technological leadership and highly regarded for economic efficiency, reliability of the machines & systems it offers.

With the history of 125 years, the company has become a global textile machinery and technology giant with approximately 3,000 employees and 9 production sites across continents.