Mahlo Maintains Strong Presence in the Turkish Textile Market

Interview: Tuğba Karademir

Mahlo continues its long-standing strong relationships in the Turkish textile industry and reinforces its leading position in the market with its customer-oriented innovative solutions. With its innovative technologies and industry-specific solutions, Mahlo continues to increase productivity while improving quality, reducing environmental impact and providing manufacturers with more sustainable business processes.

The year 2024 marked an important milestone in the company’s journey to success. Despite the global economic challenges, Mahlo managed to keep its production volume stable and accelerate its growth in strategic markets such as Asia and North America. The company’s deep knowledge of the Turkish textile market and strong local connections also play an important role in this success.

Mahlo’s enduring presence in the Turkish textile market is based on our in-depth understanding of the needs of the local industry and our ability to offer customized solutions.” said Thomas Höpfl, Mahlo Sales Manager and Kaan Kaynak, Turkey Sales Representative. The highlights of our interview are as follows:

How was the year 2024 for your company? Can you evaluate it in terms of your production volume, orders, and export markets?

Thomas Höpfl, Head of Sales: The year 2024 presented a mix of challenges and successes for Mahlo. Despite global economic uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating market conditions, we managed to maintain a stable production volume. Our strategic focus on innovation and customer-centric solutions helped us secure a significant number of new orders. In terms of export markets, we saw substantial growth, particularly in regions like Asia and North America, where our advanced textile technologies are in high demand. This growth was driven by our commitment to quality and our ability to adapt to the specific needs of different markets.

“We deeply understand the local needs of the Turkish textile market and offer customized solutions.”

What is the main factor behind Mahlo’s long-standing presence in the Turkish textile market? What can you say about the interest of Turkish manufacturers in Mahlo technologies?

TH: Mahlo’s enduring presence in the Turkish textile market can be attributed to our deep understanding of the local industry’s needs and our ability to provide tailored solutions. In addition, we have been working with a local representative for a very long time and, with Adnan Andac, we had a representative in our own ranks for many years who was well-known throughout the industry. After his retirement, we were fortunate to find a successor who is also at home in the Turkish textile industry. So it’s a great pleasure for me to introduce my new colleague in Sales, Kağan Kaynak. He joined our team last year and is responsible for the Turkish sales region, among other things.

: Turkish manufacturers have always shown a strong interest in our technologies due to their reliability, precision, and efficiency. Our products, such as the Orthopac series, are particularly valued for their ability to correct fabric distortions and ensure consistent quality, which is crucial for the competitive Turkish textile sector. Additionally, our local support and service organisation in Turkey have strengthened our relationships with manufacturers, fostering long-term partnerships.

What is Mahlo’s role in advancements aimed at improving quality and enhancing productivity within the textile industry? Which of your key products contribute to achieving these goals?

TH: Mahlo plays a pivotal role in driving advancements in quality and productivity within the textile industry. Our technologies are designed to address critical production challenges and enhance operational efficiency. Key products like the Orthopac RXVMC-20, Orthopac RVMC-15 and the Optipac VMC are at the forefront of these efforts. The Orthopac RXVMC-20 offers advanced distortion correction capabilities, ensuring that fabrics meet the highest quality standards. The Optipac VMC provides comprehensive process control, optimizing parameters such as moisture, temperature, and air permeability. These products help manufacturers achieve consistent quality, reduce waste, and increase throughput.

“We offer our customers many important benefits such as improved product quality, reduced material waste and better resource efficiency.”

What are the major benefits of Mahlo’s measurement and control technologies in textile production? How do these solutions address the most common challenges faced by manufacturers?

KK: Mahlo’s measurement and control technologies offer several major benefits, including enhanced product quality, reduced material waste, and improved resource efficiency. These technologies address common challenges such as fabric distortions, uneven moisture distribution, and inefficient energy use. For example, our Orthopac systems provide real-time monitoring and correction of fabric distortions, ensuring that the final product meets stringent quality standards. Our Optipac systems optimize drying and finishing processes, leading to significant energy savings and consistent product quality. By integrating these solutions, manufacturers can achieve higher efficiency and lower production costs.

“Digitalization and Industry 4.0 integration are central to Mahlo’s technological development.”

How does digitalization and Industry 4.0 integration play a role in the technologies developed by Mahlo? What advantages do these technologies offer to manufacturers?

TH: Digitalization and Industry 4.0 integration are central to Mahlo’s technological development. Our mSmart platform exemplifies this approach by enabling seamless connectivity and real-time data analysis across production processes. This integration allows manufacturers to monitor and control their operations with unprecedented precision and agility. The advantages include improved decision-making, faster response times to production issues, and enhanced overall efficiency. By leveraging digital technologies, manufacturers can achieve greater flexibility, reduce downtime, and optimize their production workflows, ultimately leading to higher productivity and competitiveness.

Recently, there seems to be increasing interest in Mahlo’s products such as the “Orthopac RXVMC-20” and “Orthopac RVMC-15”. What are the standout features of these technologies, and what innovations do they bring to the sector?

KK: The Orthopac RXVMC-20 and Orthopac RVMC-15 have garnered significant interest due to their innovative features and contributions to the textile sector.

The Orthopac RXVMC-20 is renowned for its high-precision distortion correction, which combines advanced control and regulation mechanisms to quickly and accurately address fabric distortions. This ensures that the final product maintains consistent quality.

The Orthopac RXVMC weft straightener features two individually controlled and driven straightening modules. The first straightening module at the fabric inlet is equipped with three skew and two bow rollers. The second one at the outlet incorporates one bow and one skew roller. Due to the number of correction rollers the adjustment of bow and skew can be accomplished in small increments. This enables a very fine and precise straightening procedure. The drive of the correction rollers is equipped with stepless, hydraulic actuators. The intelligent, self-optimizing and with AI boosted control algorithm ensures an ultra-precise and fast response to measured distortions. The separation and individual positioning of the respective straightening modules has brought about an entirely new kind of actuation concept. A scanner assembly (TK12, CK15 or Hybrid) located at the inlet of the weft straightener detects variations in distortion even before they reach the correcting rollers. The evaluation electronics moves the rollers of the first straightening unit to a calculated position immediately after the distortion change occurs. The incoming distortion is thus realigned from the very first centimetre of product.

The Orthopac RVMC-15, on the other hand, is celebrated for its versatility and ease of retrofitting, making it adaptable to various production environments. Both technologies incorporate state-of-the-art sensors and control systems, providing manufacturers with the tools needed to enhance quality and efficiency.

“Our solutions are designed to optimize resource use, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste.”

How would you define Mahlo’s approach to sustainability? How do your new technologies and solutions help textile manufacturers reduce their environmental impact?

TH: Sustainability is a cornerstone of Mahlo’s corporate philosophy. We are committed to developing technologies that help textile manufacturers minimize their environmental footprint. Our solutions are designed to optimize resource use, reduce energy consumption, and minimize waste. For instance, our Optipac VMC system enhances energy efficiency in drying and finishing processes, leading to significant reductions in energy use. Additionally, our measurement and control technologies ensure that materials are used more efficiently, reducing waste and improving overall sustainability. By adopting Mahlo’s technologies, manufacturers can achieve their sustainability goals while maintaining high production standards.

Can you provide more information about Mahlo’s sensors and straightening  systems? What role do these systems play in automatic correction processes, and what benefits do they provide to manufacturers?

TH: Mahlo’s sensors and straightening systems are integral to our automatic correction processes. These systems, such as the Orthopac RXVMC-20, utilize advanced sensors to detect fabric distortions in real-time. The data collected by these sensors is then used to make precise adjustments, ensuring that the fabric remains within specified quality parameters. The benefits to manufacturers include improved product quality, reduced rework and waste, and enhanced production efficiency. By automating the correction process, manufacturers can achieve consistent results and reduce the need for manual intervention, leading to more streamlined operations.

What can you say about Mahlo’s support and training services for customers? How does your company assist in the implementation of new technologies?

KK: One reason I decided to join Mahlo is, that we are dedicated to providing exceptional support and training services to our customers. We understand that the successful implementation of new technologies requires comprehensive training and ongoing support. Our global network of service stations and representatives ensures that customers receive timely assistance and expert guidance. We offer a range of services, including on-site training, remote support, and maintenance programs, to help customers integrate our technologies seamlessly into their operations. By providing these services, we ensure that our customers can fully leverage the benefits of our solutions and achieve optimal performance.

“We plan to continue investing in research and development to create cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of the textile industry.”

What are Mahlo’s future strategies and goals? How do you plan to respond to the sector’s needs in the coming years?

TH: Mahlo’s future strategies are centred on innovation, quality, and sustainability. We plan to continue investing in research and development to create cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of the textile industry. Our focus will be on enhancing our digital and sustainable technologies, ensuring that our products remain at the forefront of industry advancements. Additionally, we aim to strengthen our global presence by expanding our market reach and building long-term partnerships with customers. By staying attuned to the sector’s needs and continuously improving our offerings, we are committed to supporting the growth and success of our customers.