November 2012

Long standing
partners
join forces
HONG Kong-listed Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd. has
acquired a 100% stake in A. Monforts
Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG from L. Possehl
Co. & mbH. The acquisition includes the Austrian
subsidiary Montex-Maschinenfabrik Ges.m.b.H.
with its machine production site in St. Stefan plus
the 50% stake in the Monforts Fong’s Textile
Machinery Co. Ltd.
The jointly controlled entity between Fong’s and
the Monforts Group, is also part of the transaction.
In addition, Possehl has agreed to subscribe a 9.9%
stake in a Fong’s subsidiary, which directly holds
Monforts and Monfongs.
Both companies, through their joint venture
Monfongs, which was established in 1998, have
built up a strong and successful partnership.
A further milestone in their cooperation is the
‘textile machine factory of the future’ planned in
the Chinese city of Zhongshan.
The closing of the deal is subject to approval by
the relevant authorities and the customary closing
conditions; Fong’s and Possehl agreed not to
Groundbreaking
disclose the financial terms of the transaction –
Zhang Jie, Chairman of the China
expected to be completed in December 2012.
Hi-Tech Group, visits Monforts
“Monforts and Fong’s fit together perfectly,” said
Mr. Alex Wan, Chief Executive Officer of Fong’s. ZHANG Jie, Chairman of the China Hi –Tech
“Monforts is the leader in innovation in textile Group recently visited Mönchengladbach to see
finishing machinery. It will considerably strengthen for himself the latest addition to his group of
our international competitiveness, which has set companies with its worldwide activities.
course for worldwide leadership and excellence in Together with Monforts Managing Director,
the textile machinery business.” Continued..P2 Roland Hampel, they performed Continued..P2
1
 Long standing partners join forces, continued Groundbreaking, continued
dimensional structure which in a With dry crosslinking, the
Mr. Roland Hampel, Managing Director of
Monforts, underlined: “The announcement the groundbreaking ceremony for the new
MXL helps sense has a degree of shape
memory and even if wrinkled will
fabric is opened in the stenter
and all chemicals are applied by
intensifies our long-standing cooperation with
Fong’s and opens up new opportunities for
Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) that is to
be built on an approximately 1,500 square
bed sheets return to its original form,” Peter
explained. “It’s also possible to
padder, the fabric is then dried in
the stenter and cured.
Monforts. metres site.
Innovation stands at the core of our daily work In the future, the ATC will also serve as a remember achieve exactly the opposite of
this, and provide products with
“This can be appropriate for
90% of cotton products, but the
and we look forward to strategically developing training centre to attract young people to resulting fabrics are not entirely
new business areas for our customers with our textile machine engineering. The MXL (moist crosslinking) permanent creases, in trousers,
for example.” wrinkle free and the results vary
trusted and successful partners in China.” The China Hi-Tech Group, as the only process is now being widely significantly depending on the
“The Monforts MXL process,”
One of the main areas of future business that state-owned textile machine manufacturer in adopted by manufacturers cotton quality,” said Peter.
he added, “differs significantly
the heads of both companies emphasised is that of China and the world's second-largest textile of bed linen – having initially from both conventional dry Conventional moist
technical textiles, a new and innovative machine supplier, is the owner of the Chinese established itself on the crosslinking methods and other crosslinking is somewhat
technology which offers even more specialised Fong's Group. market for the production technologies for moist different, in employing chemicals
and tailor-made machinery solutions for its Zhang Jie, accompanied by Fong's CEO, of crease-free shirts. which canot be applied
customers. Alex Wan, both emphasised during their visit at high temperature. As
“WRINKLE-resistant
that Germany is an ideal centre for research a consequence, the
bed sheets which
and development. process is carried out
require limited ironing –
The new Monforts technology centre on the at around 80°C to
if at all – are allowing
Blumenberger Straße is to go into operation at protect and support the
manufacturers to
the beginning of 2013. It is almost twice as large reaction at low
differentiate with easy
as the old technical laboratory at the former site temperature and then
on the Schwalmstraße. care products in a very
dried down to defined
"On show will be the Montex 8000, a new competitive market,”
residual moisture.
coating range that can be flexibly employed says Peter Tolksdorf,
Afterwards the fabrics
for technical textiles," explained Klaus A. Head of Product
have to go through a
Heinrichs. Management for Dyeing
24-hour batch curing
“Monforts aims to further expand this and Application. “As a
process.
business area, as the market for technical consequence we’ve had
“The disadvantage
textiles is booming and promises further growth. notable success in
is that it is a lengthy
We will be able to show our customers what selling our MXL range
process time and offers
Monforts machines are capable of under real recently, and particularly
only limited opportunity
production conditions." in India.”
for variation in the
Seminars and training courses will also be Crosslinking involves
treatment of fabric,”
held in the new centre. the resin finishing of
Peter said. “In addition,
"We want to attract young people to textile cellulose material,
there’s a very narrow
machine engineering and show them that usually cotton, to
temperature band for
textile finishing is high-tech," added Klaus. significantly reduce a
crosslinking, bringing a number optimising parameters which
The company already has a long-serving fabric’s propensity to wrinkling.
Upon application, the reactive of benefits – not least a vast adds an element of risk,
employee in its ranks, Peter Tolksdorf, who is
resins penetrate into the fabric reduction in processing times, in and the fabric must be
responsible for the promotion of young talent
and catalyse the fibres during addition to greater flexibility and thoroughly washed off
at the Association of German Textile Finishers
heating and curing. increased safety compared to afterwards.”
and can therefore approach young researchers
“This creates a dry other systems.”
directly. continued on page 16

2 3
 Three examples of ‘Blue Competence’
‘Blue Competence’ is an initiative launched by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) to washing, a total of around 1545 The ECO Applicator dyeing liquor. The term ‘liquor’
demonstrate the ‘know-how’ and it’s experience for sustainable solutions. Key ‘points’ of the kg of chemicals are required for The ECO Applicator is a unit is generally used to refer to an
campaign are technologies and products that conserve raw materials, reduce emissions and dyeing processes. An immense which significantly reduces the aqueous liquid in which textiles
sustainably to improve the living conditions of people. Klaus Heinrichs gives three examples to
amount of energy is also initial moisture content before are washed, bleached, dyed
show how innovative solutions for the future can look.
required for the subsequent the drying process. and impregnated.
drying process. As a rule, the fabric is The ‘wet’ fabric is then dried
Together with Dystar, one of transported through a trough by means of a stenter. The
the leading producers of containing the finishing and drying energy Continued..P6
dyestuffs, Monforts has
developed the Econtrol process
for pure cotton textiles. In the
process the dyestuff is fixed
during and not after drying
using a controlled chamber
climate with 25% v/v steam;
eliminating a complete
steaming process. Now, only 20
gm of salt are required per litre.
Furthermore, the dyeing result
is available after just two
minutes and not only after 12 to
24 hours.
For fibre blends (polyester/
cotton), Monforts has
developed the Econtrol TCA
process together with Dystar. It
WE HAD no hesitation in severe impact on the Econtrol enables polyester and cotton to
participating in the VDMA’s environment. During textile dyeing, chemicals be dyed simultaneously and not
‘Blue Competence’ initiative. The energy costs are high, are used to fix the dyestuffs on in two process steps as to date.
Energy management has been and the use of chemicals the textiles. Classic processes This is made possible by an
one of our primary goals for absolutely essential. But with for the dyeing of cotton textiles, innovative dispersion dyestuff
many years, driving us to innovative ranges and for example, includes 250 that is alkaline-resistant and
develop energy-efficient and intelligent ancillaries, Monforts grams of salt per litre of can be applied at the same
resource-conserving solutions. has succeeded in optimising treatment fluid. When time as reactive dyestuffs.
For many years textile these processes. calculated for three-shift When dyeing mixed fabrics, the
finishing has operated with The savings benefits that we operation, up to 500 t of salt is use of chemicals can be reduced
chemical and thermal have achieved in recent years required annually. by around 86%, the use of
processes which, by present- are in some cases, quite For the dyeing and cleaning water by 63% and the energy
day standards, can have a very considerable. process with subsequent consumption by roughly 50%.
4 5
 Blue competence, continued
is a major cost factor.
In the ECO Applicator, the
liquor is applied very thinly by
steel rollers. As a result the new
unit achieves a maximum
energy yield - because moisture
that is not applied to the textile
fabric does not later have to be
dried.
Savings in heating and
electrical energy of up to 65%
are possible if the
initial moisture content in
the textile is reduced from 70%
to 40%.
Energy Tower and
ECO Booster
The ‘Energy Tower’ is a stand-
alone air/air heat exchanger for
heat recovery. Thanks to its
design it is a versatile and
flexible retrofit module that
enables even older ranges to
benefit from the principle of
heat recovery.
The module draws in the
exhaust air from the drying
process and returns it via heat
exchangers to the range so that
the air is preheated to around
90°C and only has to be heated
to 150°C. The high drying
temperature is therefore
reached more quickly and
energy costs are reduced.
The Eco Booster HRC can
also help to minimise the
6 7
energy costs when
using stenters. By
contrast with purely
static heat exchanger
modules, the new
module actually cleans
the stenter during
operation; eliminating
standstill times for
maintenance. Only 100
litres of water are used
for cleaning.
The Eco Booster
permits a computer-
controlled adaptation
of the heat exchanger
performance to the
prevailing waste air
stream. This optimised
efficiency further
reduces the process
costs.
The Eco Booster runs
fully automatically so
that the operator has
no additional duties to
carry out.
Energy efficiency
remains a challenge
The trendsetting Monforts
technology continues to prove
itself and recently left a long
lasting impression at ITMA Asia.
Asian producers have also
recognised the ‘sign of the
times’ and the importance of
energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is an
important global topic with
textile producers faced with the
challenge of coming to terms
with volatile energy and raw
material prices and the
ecological demands of retailers
and ultimate users.
More efficient technology
may cost more, but the
procurement costs account for
less than 20% of the life-cycle
costs if you take the total costs
for energy into consideration.
The payback period for the
Monforts technology generally
lies in the order of 18 months to
two years.
At your service... quality and efficient fabric
production for the customer
with the lowest possible energy
Wolfgang Stenzel, recently appointed Head of the highly consumption.”
successful A. Monforts Textilmaschinen’s Service Team outlines Online support is provided
his vision to further improve the company’s service back up for its free of charge during the
customers.
warranty period of a machine
WOLFGANG Stenzel recently number of key guarantees to and for a further month after it
joined A.Monforts purchasers of new machines in expires. The internet has greatly
Textilmaschinen as Head respect of service, initially accelerated what the service
of Service - heading a 30- involving high quality team can quickly achieve.
strong team - 25 of “Over the past five years, we
whom are based in have signed
Germany, with three approaching a
at the Monforts hundred Teleservice
operation in Austria contracts in addition
and one each in to those that are
Turkey and Thailand. guaranteed for
This team is machines under
supplemented warranty.”
by a further 25 “This is an aspect of
service personnel the service we provide
employed with local that is greatly
representatives in appreciated by our
Italy, Turkey, India, customers. In 2007
Pakistan, Indonesia, Monforts introduced
China and Colombia. broad-band ISDN web
He has a solid access connection to
background in the our machines
textile finishing worldwide. This
machinery industry provides rapid and
spanning just short easy access to PC,
of 40 years; starting PLC, converters and
his career in 1973 all software regulators
with Moenus AG in mechanical installation on site, online.
Mönchengladbach, where he the commissioning by “It allows us to remotely
worked until 2000, before going experienced electronic diagnose, and in most cases
on to prominent positions with engineers and the on-site solve all software-related
Küsters Textile and Benninger. training of the customer’s problems without requiring a
Outlining his plans to further operator and service technician on site. In the past
improve the service back-up for personnel.” this would have resulted in
Monforts customers he explained, “Our support is squarely delays and machine downtime.”
“Monforts provide a significant aimed at establishing high In addition, Teleservice
 customers are able to quickly
and easily secure spare parts
and consult with experienced
Service team members on
issues associated with several
generations of Monforts
machines.
“Our aim is to meet the
expectations of customers in
the shortest possible timeframe
and at the lowest possible cost
to companies who often may
have limited resources in terms
of qualified and experienced
personnel.
The availability of a range of
upgrades and modernization
packages has been another
highly successful aspect of the
8 9
Service business in recent years.
“Upgrades, conversions and
modernizations are of very high
importance nowadays because
the core mechanical parts of a
machine will be operational for
up to 25 years of production
and these components can
normally easily be repaired.”
“By contrast, certain
components relating to
automation such as bus
connectors may only last between
five and eight years, and the
drive systems themselves are
good for between eight and
fifteen years. The ability to
replace these rather than invest
in a completely new machine is
highly appreciated.”
Energy saving measures
have been another important
aspect of machine adaptations
in recent years.
“Meeting customer
expectations is what our
business is all about, from the
preparation of the next new
machine to be delivered and
through upgrades and services
for the thousands of machines
already in day-to-day operation
worldwide,”
Concluding he added,
“It is highly rewarding to be
responsible for a really
profitable business unit of the
company.”
New technical textiles
specialist appointed
Monforts strengthens its commitment to technical
textiles with the appointment of a new Business
Development Manager to expand its product
portfolio for this growth market.
JÜRGEN Hanel has
been appointed the
new Business
Development Manager,
strengthening the
commitment to
technical textile
applications.
A specialist in textile
coating, Jürgen was
formerly Senior Sales
Manager at Coatema
Coating Machinery
GmbH. He had
previously been
responsible for
developing the textile
coating department at
DyStar Textilfarben in
Frankfurt.
This together with
his work in the
research and
development of emulsion
polymers for the textile industry
at Rotta GmbH will ensure his
experience can be used to the
benefit of Monforts.
“I’m a textile person through
and through and looking
forward to the challenge,”
explains the 55 year old.
“Technical textiles have a
specific demand profile during
the finishing process. For
example, they react strongly to
moisture or differences in
temperature. We are
developing new techniques
tailored specifically to technical
textiles,” he added.
“The market for technical
textiles is steadily growing. We
see further potential
here because of its high
demand,” explains
Monforts’ Klaus A.
Heinrichs.
Technical textiles
and fabrics are being
used more widely in a
large number of areas.
Fields of application
include fire protection
(for example,
glassfibre fabrics
with intumescent
coatings), protective
work clothing such as
foundry protective
clothing or protection
against chemicals
and special textiles for
the automotive industry.
For this purpose
Monforts already offers
a modified stenter which
is proven in the coating of
airbags.
“I am convinced that with
Jürgen Hanel as an industry
insider, Monforts can also set
trends in the field of technical
textiles,” says Heinrichs.

Back to the future
with retrofitting
Upgrades have become a significant part of business for
Monforts over the past few years, both in respect of mechanical
parts and electronics.
AS PART of ongoing efforts to
reduce energy consumption for
our customers we have been
developing a comprehensive
range of machine retrofit
upgrades.
The conversion of fan drives
to stepless speed control on
older Thermex dyeing ranges,
Montex stenters and Dynair
relaxation dryers has, for
example, proved an extremely
popular upgrade, according to
Sales Manager Wolfgang Poos.
“Modern frequency converter
technology now makes it
possible to operate the fan
drives of heat systems at
variable stepless speed,” he
explains. “This saves electricity
Modern frequency converter technology now makes it possible to operate
the fan drives of heat systems at variable stepless speed.
10
by controlling the required fan
output and brings a number of
other advantages.”
Individual and flexible setting
of the fan output allows simple
adaptation to the different
requirements of fabrics and
makes fault diagnosis and
remedy by remote service
possible on many machines.
High operational reliability is
guaranteed by this retrofit, with
a two-year warranty on
components.
The conversion of DC
equipment to three-phase
systems is another popular
service and can be carried out
on the machines in one of three
ways.
installation and start-up; completely eliminated. structure of the stenter,”
replacement parts are also more
readily available.
Upgrades for improving
efficiency in terms of energy
Wolfgang explains. “It uses
energy from the exhaust gas to
Energy savings
The latest Hercules-Long term
consumption, meanwhile, are
also frequently requested.
A highly efficient integrated
preheat up to 60% of the
incoming fresh air entering the
stenter.
lubricated (LT) stenter frame heat recovery system is now “Depending on production
chain with a fully sealed bearing fitted as standard on all new conditions, this provides energy
is another simple addition Montex stenters and over the savings of 10-30% and a typical
customers can make to their past year, the company has payback period of around just
existing lines; significantly been working on developing a 12 months; depending on
reducing lubricant consumption. way for this to be added to the energy prices.”
Service intervals of over 12,000 existing stenters in the field. Featuring large diameter
operating hours can also be “The system on our new vertical tubes, the heat
achieved. machines comprises a compact, exchanger requires very little
The problem of oil or grease air-to-air heat exchanger, which maintenance, with extended
“The most economic method stains on fabrics is also is installed within the roof service, Continued..P12
is to gradually replace individual
drives over time, and once the
last of the existing drives has
been replaced, the digital control
system can be converted to a
modern CAN bus,” says
Wolfgang, “but while the related
costs of this approach are
modest, a lot of work is involved
in such a long-term proposal.”
For rapid installation and
start-up, it is better to replace all
of the drives and the control
system together, by simply
removing the old control cabinet
and replacing it.”
By far the most effective
approach, however, is to
completely replace the entire
electrical system of the machine
with not only a new control
cabinet, but with new controls,
consoles and motors.
This provides a ready-to-
connect control cabinet with
new operator controls and
consoles and ensures rapid
11
 depending on production cycles the technology is commercially
and fabrics being processed.
The company believes it will
launched.
Another recent retrofit
be able to supply this technology
as an upgrade to already
installed stenters within the
success story is the Eco-
Applicator – an improved soft
coating solution which also
provides a significant energy
next six month.
savings and reduces drying
The company has already
times, while eliminating the
enjoyed considerable success
need for a conventional wet-on-
with its ‘stand alone’ Energy
wet padder.
Tower, particularly in Europe.
The Eco-Applicator employs
It was introduced for adding to
trough and roller techniques to
existing stenters or hotflues with
apply precisely the required
restricted access above the units.
amount of liquid/coating to the
What’s being called the new
fabric via contact with the roller.
Eco Booster, however, is likely to
It can apply the liquid or coating
be able to be much more widely
to either side of the fabric
applied to existing mills
individually, or both, or even
worldwide, once
separate formulas to either side.
Wolfgang reports
that a further
12
key area for the retrofitting team
is in upgrading pre-dryers.
The company has worked with
Future glimpse of a new
supplier Maxon to develop
systems where only essential
components of the unit need to
Frank dynasty - at Girls Day’s
be replaced, rather than the TAKING part in the sure if it would be
entire unit. nationwide ‘Girls an office job –
“We have been experiencing Day’ -aimed at “probably not,”
very good business with this attracting young she thought.
retrofit, particularly in India, students into But sales could
where the price of gas is industry - 13 year be an option - for
changing daily – and always old student, Julia those recognising
going upwards,” he says. “The Frank, recently the Frank name,
price for this service is very spent a day touring Julia is the
competitive in terms of payback Monforts. daughter of
time and it involves very little During her brief Sales Manager,
machine downtime. visit she toured Henning Frank.
“I think retrofitting will Marketing, Sales, Fluent in
become a bigger and bigger Accounts, English, French
part of our business as we Procurement and and Italian,
continue to innovate and work Service. She was Henning has
out new methods of adding also able to see passed on his
advances to existing first-hand activities linguistic skills
machines in the field.” involved in to Julia ‘virtually
manufacturing from the cradle’
textile machinery. and she seems
In the production to enjoy learning
hall, for example, languages.
she witnessed the “The world is
manufacture of moving closer
enclosures. together and for
“I was very those who like
surprised that so many opportunity to attract attention to travel and are able to speak
components go into each to the company by Klaus languages, it offers excellent
cabinet,” she said. Heinrichs. “We need to actively career opportunities,” he said.
Julia was also surprised by reach out to the younger “We need people who are
the versatility of the different generation and show them that flexible, want to learn about
tasks involved in the industry offers attractive and the world and are eloquent,”
manufacturing process. challenging positions,” he added. added Heinrichs.
“I did not realise that it took “It was a great day for me and Perhaps we have witnessed
so much to build a machine,” I could see the possibility of the first glimpse of a possible
she confided. working in the company,”said new Frank dynasty in Sales.
The Girls Day was seen as an Julia, adding that she was not
13
 Customer New Advanced
MXL young Technology
sample generation Centre on
sheets activities ‘schedule’
CUSTOMERS for the MXL OPEN to all company
cross linking range are employees below 35 years of
encouraged to submit a age, the new ‘Young Generation’
sample of their fabric and Club is intended to promote
offered suggested settings Monforts products in action for
and chemical mixes to staff members who never have
achieve a perfect product. the opportunity to witness
These include the Moist operating equipment. With
cross-linking index mixes staff from, for example, the
such as Knittex FA Conc, Accounts, R&D, Forwarding year, a group of almost 20 club automotive upholstery -
Dicrylan Wk new; Turpex Acn and Administration departments, members visited the production including BMW’s - and fabrics
New and Ultravon CN plus they rarely, if ever, witness the facility of MG-based Willy for trouser wear.
Thomas Päffgen (left) and Fred Vohsdahl
pre-softening and top-finish. company’s products in action. Schmitz. It is hoped that the newly (Manager of the new ATC – Advanced

Customers are also offered Formed earlier this year and The company has a number of formed ‘club’ will hold two Technology Center Monforts)

MXL treated fabric samples. with two planned meetings a Montex stenters and produces meetings a year. THE NEW Advanced
Technology Centre (ATC) is on

Presentation ITMA Asia proves to be a success
A COMPLETE new range for attracting considerable The latest Thermex
A GOLD plated chain element from a Montex stenter was
technical textiles was on attention from visitors Hotflue chamber made its
presented to Alex Wan, CEO, Fong’s Industries and Director
display at the recent ITMA Asia representing virtually every international debut in the MxL®
Monfongs, during his visit to Germany late last year by JV board
exhibition in Shanghai; region across the world. mode of operation and was
member Ralf Bischof.
manufactured in stainless steel
to withstand the process’s
acidity.
The MXL process is proving
particularly successful
throughout the region offering
non-iron and laundry-fresh
properties on cotton materials,
with the shortest treatment
times.
It also offers greater flexibility
and high process safety than
conventional systems.
14
target to open in the first quarter
of 2013 offering field trials under
‘real’ conditions.
Approximately twice the size
of the old showroom, the new
facility will include a Montex 8000
stenter for treating technical
textiles, a Montex 6500 stenter
for treating knitted fabrics, and
a Thermex dyeing range
together with Econtrol Dyeing
and Moist Cross Linking MXL
techniques.
A compressive unit will also
be included.
Customers will be able to
submit fabrics and participate in
complete trials under full working
conditions.
15
 MXL helps bed sheets remember,

China’s Lufeng adds continued from P3

With the MXL process the
Thermex to new complete process and drying
are carried out simultaneously at
production line a higher temperature of 100°C
and relative humidity of 30%.
Lufeng Co has expanded its dyeing and finishing
“Because of the very special
production line by adding a newly launched Monforts
climate that’s created, the
Thermex 6500 continuous dyeing range; offering
process is much less risky, since
substantial reductions in dyeing times, chemicals, energy
the residual moisture is
and water consumption.
consistent from start to finish,
Lufeng Co Ltd - part of Luthai that the continuous dyeing and very good control can be
Textile Co Ltd, one of China’s process offers reduced chemicals,
achieved with the unit’s
biggest textiles and garments energy and water consumption
measurement system. The
producers - has invested in the when compared with
process is extremely precise and
recently launched Thermex 6500 conventional pad-dry thermosol
reproducibility is guaranteed and
continuous dyeing range for pad-steam processes, together
it can also be with aromatic and
expansion of its dyeing and with lower investment costs and
wellness treatments to provide
finishing production line. excellent fabric fastness.
further product differentiation.”
The Thermex was delivered A more detailed article will
“For the mills, it also leads to
and commissioned by K & E shortly be available on the
Company Ltd. Monforts News and Events process simplification and
Roney Kung of K & E says webpage. improved logistics.”

A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG

Postfach 10 17 01 D-41017 Mönchengladbach

Blumenberger Strasse 143-145 D-41061 Mönchengladbach
Telefon: +49 - (0) - 21 61-401-409
Telefax: +49 - (0) - 21 61-401-498
Internet: www.monforts.de PUBLISHED BY MONFORTS
eMail: info@monforts.de MARKETING GROUP
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