Monforts to Showcase Advanced Textile Finishing Technologies at India ITME 2026

The German machinery specialist will highlight energy-efficient finishing, coating technologies and equipment modernisation as Indian manufacturers explore higher-value textile applications.

Monforts will showcase advanced finishing, coating and energy-efficient processing technologies at India ITME 2026, scheduled for December 4–9, 2026. The company sees opportunities in India's textile sector as manufacturers look beyond volume production towards higher-value fabrics for apparel, home textiles, technical textiles, activewear, sportswear, filtration and automotive applications.

The German textile finishing machinery specialist will also be supported by newly appointed Area Sales Manager for Asia, Daniel Rütten, who is taking over responsibility for India and the wider region from Hans Wroblowski.

Rütten joined Monforts in 1998 and has worked in head office sales and logistics before taking responsibility for customers in Latin America.

Focus on Productivity and Resource Efficiency

“India remains one of the most important markets for Monforts, not only because of the scale of its textile industry but because of the breadth of its manufacturing base,” he says. “Indian manufacturers are looking much more closely at energy, water and chemical consumption, as well as the level of automation required to achieve consistent quality. “Productivity remains essential, but increasingly it has to be combined with lower operating costs, greater flexibility and the ability to manufacture more sophisticated products.”

At India ITME 2026, Monforts will exhibit at Stand A5 in Hall 1, with a focus on technologies that can help manufacturers create greater value during textile finishing.

The company's MONTEX stenters and THERMEX dyeing and curing systems are being developed to support consistent production while reducing energy consumption. This is particularly relevant to drying, one of the most energy-intensive stages of textile finishing.

The Monforts Eco Applicator is designed to apply finishing chemicals using a minimum amount of liquor rather than unnecessarily saturating the fabric. By reducing the amount of water that must subsequently be evaporated, the system can help reduce water, chemical and energy consumption.

Coating Technologies for Technical Textiles

Monforts is also expanding its coating options for India's developing technical textiles sector.

The multifunctional MontexCoat supports knife coating, magnet roller coating, rotary screen printing and other application techniques. The coaTTex line, positioned as a more cost-effective option, is primarily aimed at manufacturers focused on knife coating. It is now also available with a table for specialised coating technology used in activewear.

These technologies address applications where fabric functionality and finishing requirements extend beyond conventional textile production.

Collaboration on Sustainable Finishing Chemistries

Monforts has entered into a cooperation with BW Converting, with a Baldwin TexCoat G4 digital spray unit installed at its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Mönchengladbach. The unit is being used for trials involving advanced sustainable finishing chemistries supplied by Archroma.

“Basic fabric production is increasingly competitive and commoditised, but finishing is where much of a fabric’s appearance, handle, functionality and ultimately its value are created,” Daniel Rütten says. “The opportunity for Indian manufacturers is not simply to produce more fabric, but to extract greater value from every metre produced.”

Partnership with A.T.E. Enterprises and Equipment Modernisation

Monforts' operations in India are supported by its long-established partnership with A.T.E. Enterprises, which has local business units across the country's major textile regions.

A.T.E. supports activities ranging from initial customer contact and project planning to logistics, engineering and aftersales services. These services are particularly relevant given the long operating life of Monforts equipment.

According to the company, many of its stenters have been operating for more than three decades. Modernising this installed equipment base is becoming an increasingly important part of its business.

Existing production lines can be upgraded with new controls, drives, monitoring systems and other technologies to improve productivity, energy efficiency and process control while extending their operating life.

“The combination of Monforts engineering and A.T.E.’s presence on the ground has proved very effective,” Daniel Rütten says. “Customers require a relationship that continues long after installation, covering service, spare parts, upgrades and increasingly sophisticated modernisation projects.”

Exploring Green Hydrogen for Textile Processing

Monforts also sees potential for further investment and technical cooperation between India and Europe, particularly in alternative energy technologies.

The company has undertaken work on adapting heating technology to use green hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas in energy-intensive processes such as drying and heat treatment.

India's developing renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors could provide opportunities for future cooperation in this area.

“Over the next decade, volume alone will not define competitiveness,” Daniel Rütten concludes. “Indian manufacturers have an opportunity to move further into specialised, higher-value fabrics, but doing so will require increasingly precise and flexible finishing technology.

“That is where we see some of the strongest opportunities for Monforts in India.”