Truetzschler Group, specialising in optimal fibre preparation for downstream processing, is celebrating its 125^th anniversary this year. The company believes it has achieved success due to its high innovative strength, close customer relations, good service, long-term success orientation, and the flexibility of a family-owned company.

The company is a specialist in spinning preparation, nonwovens and man-made fibre market, as well as corresponding card clothing and  has approximately 3,000 employees worldwide at nine production sites.

Today, Truetzschler stands for technological leadership and occupies a top position concerning economic efficiency and reliability of the machines and systems provided, the company says.

Start up

Paul Heinrich Truetzschler registered a forge and metal working shop in Crimmitschau on 1 August 1888. Focusing on service for textile companies and repairs, the business soon started manufacturing first machines in-house, and received its first patent in 1902.

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

Second generation

The second generation, Bruno, Willy and Karl Truetzschler, developed the company to an industrial enterprise during the 20s and 30s of the last century, with Truetzschler machines shipped worldwide.

After the Second World War, an attempt was made to rebuild the company. However, Crimmitschau was located in the Soviet occupation zone, not allowing for the family business. Ultimately, the company was expropriated, and the brothers Karl and Willy were detained.

New beginning

In 1947, the third generation, Hermann and Hans Truetzschler, decided to start again in Rheydt/Moenchengladbach. This new foundation started its international expansion already in the end of the 60s by establishing a production facility in Charlotte, USA. Later, production facilities were established in Curitiba, Brazil, and Ahmedabad, India.

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 start up of the in-house construction of electronic controls at the end of the 70s.

Successful development

In the rapidly growing market of China, initially a technology cooperation was formed with a local partner in 1993. In 2001, a company-owned production facility was established in Shanghai.

In a joint development with Toyota Industries, 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 Schuerenkraemer and Heinrich Truetzschler, three new business divisions were established during the past 10 years. The founding of Truetzschler Card Clothing in 2003 was based on an acquisition of the clothing specialist Hollingsworth. The business division Truetzschler 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 fibres) and SwissTex (machines for industrial and carpet yarns) make up the fourth business division, Truetzschler Man-Made Fibers.

www.truetzschler.com